EDINBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 740, 3 February 1866, Page 7

EDINBURGH.

(from a correspondent )

25th November, 1865. The Presbyteiian Church has been earnestly engaged during the month discussing the Sabbath question and the obligations on the part of Christians to observe the fourth commandment. Dr Norman M'Leod has freely expressed his conviction that more liberal allowance should be made for differences of opinion than has been the practice. His views were warmly opposed, and the Doctor has annouueed his intention to publish his speech, in order to counteract the misrepresentations of what he said, which have been freely circulated. The worth > gentleman has for a long time been held as one of the foremost men in our Scottish Church, even though suspected (like others) of a too-liberal breadth of view in theological opinions; but his opponents, and certainly his detractors, will find that he can give a good reason for the faith that is in him, either on the observance of the Lord's Day, dogmatic standards, or ecclesiastical organization, all of which in their turn have been exciting some attention of late. Folks wonder if a prosecution will follow in the Church Courts; but of course that now depends upon what he himself puts in print. The newspapers connected with ecclesiastical parties have had very strong articles, some condemning his views, and giving their help to excite and ii fluence the minds of those who unreservedly condemn him.

The cattle plague ha« ma<ie steady progress, and now four-nftns of our dairy cattle in Edinburgh are dead. Many other places are suffering equally severely, and others not so badly; while some counties, such as Argyle shire, have escaped altogether as yet. In England and Scotland, 15,000 head have been lost in the pact four months, exclusive of those killed where the plague had broken out, in order to save at least the carcase of the animal for butcher meat. Difference of opinion exists as to whether all movement of beasts from one place to another, should be allowed, or not. The disease is extremely contagious, and exceedingly fatal among the herds to which it has been carried ; and no specific has yet been found which can avail more than to save here and there a favorable case, so that the restriction, far less the cure, is for the time ghen up on all hands. By the contact of cattle at markets or sales, aud by the inevitable dissemination of the virus attending all movement by road or rail, this practically iucurable contagious disorder, is with stealthy sureness finding its way from farm to farm, from county to county, and no part of the country, however remote, can rely on long -continued immunity from its ravages. The Government Commission, in their report, differed as to whether there should be absolute prohibition of movement ; but all observation, since the publication ot that document, tends to prove the necessity for a complete stoppage of the movement of cattle, by which, and by which almost alone, the disease seems to live and grow. Though large quantities of meat are thrown upon the market, in consequence of many dealers and breeders killing off their beasts to save the loss consequent upon the breaking out of the plague among their stock", yet the price keeps up, and butchers must be realising great profits. I should fancy that large quantities are being salted, to meet the inevitable future scarcity that must arise in the end of winter or throughout the spring.

In general news there is very little stirring. Mr Gladstone has vacated the Rectorship of our Univeisity, which he held for the last six years, and Thomas Carlyle has been elected, in opposition to Disraeli, in hi* stead. John Stuart Mil!, opposed by Lord Kinnaird, has been elected to the ame office in Saint Andrews. The Lord Justice Clerk to that in the University of Glasgow. David Masson's appointment to the chair of English Literature, has been well received ; but the election of aMr Oakeley to the Chair of Music, over Mr Hullah, has been adversely criticised. The filling sf the Scots Law Chair by Mr Norman Macpherson has not occupied much notice, except in so far as that a son of Mr Duncan M'Laren, M.P.,was a candidate with some expectations.

The election of Mr Wm. Chambers, the publisher, as Provost, is a change that may bring about some good in Edinburgh. He seems determined to signalise his civic reign by some attempts to benefit the community, in its sanitary condition, and is goinir into the work heartily, according to all accounts. Official slowness is beginning to rub its eye?, and wonder if the derisive saying that "new brooms sweep clean" is to be literally realised. I hope to be able to tell that our closes and wynds are to be paved and drained, and that hovels and cellars not fit for beasts, shall be shut np or pulled down, and better accommodation furnished by grasping, greedy proprietors and factors ot house property. The youngest son of flobert Burns died at Cheltenham, a week ago — Lieut. Colonel James Burns, aged 71. His

eldest brother, William Nicol Burns, if now the sole surviving member of the poet's family. The deceased gentleman had two daughters, the eldest of whom married Dr Hutobinson, now settled in -Australia, and whose children are the only direct descendants of Burns in the third generation. Miss Annie Burns, the Colonel's second daughter, is still unmarried. The eldest son of the poet has no family and is a widower.

A serious collision in the Tay this day week, between an out- going London, and an in-coming Newcastle steamer, resulted in the sinking of one ship, and the running ashore of the other. No lives were lost, but a good deal of property. There is to be an investigation by the Admiralty, which will likely result in finding some one to blame, as the afternoon was light enough for both ships to have easily kept their proper course. The new General Post Office is fast approaching completion, and the New Theatre Royal will be opened next Satur day.

The Annuity Tax, which is a chronic sore in Edinburgh civic matters, has had another attempt at doctoring. A deputatation from " the League" waited on the members for the city, with a proposed Bill of theirs, to see if either or both would father it in the House of Commons ; when much discussion of the question took place and both members declared, though from different points of view, their disapproval of the production, and decidedly refused to support it. This was expected from the Lord Advocate ; but, that the "gracious Duncan" should so shortly give the strongest supporters of his candidature a snub so direct, was hardly looked for. It will t&ke a deal of talking to blot out this offence.

If any of your readers are curious in copy-right property, let me conclude with the following bit of local gos-ip. One half-share of the Nnrlh British Advertiser has been sold for L 20,000 — rather a risky venture I fancy.