tion and taxation combined, and Scotland is entitled to 75 members, while, on the same principle, Ireland is entitled only to 102. We ask, then, for equal justice; and we think we have a right, in such circumstances, both to the votes and warm sympathies of all who say that they would give Scotland more members, were it not that Ireland might have cause to complain. We say, put us in the same position in which Ireland is, and then let us run a fair race together. Again, it is said, that we cannot employ more members. Now, why should a great town like Dundee, with its 82,000 inhabitants, not have two members? Why should not Aberdeen and Paisley have each its two members, in order to be placed somewhat on an equality with the English boroughs? Why should such burghs as Dunfermline, Stirling, and Inverness, 'have each one member, when towns of one-half their size in England have members? And why should not our larger counties have two members each, as in England? Besides, our Scottish Universities are certainly entitled to have each one member, similar to what they have in England and Ireland, returned by the majority of the various graduates who will likely be the voters authorised by the act. We have just one word further to say, and that is, that whatever parliament, in its wisdom, may think fit to do respecting England as regards the franchise, or any thing connected with its exercise, Scotland should be satisfied with no less. Whatever right or privilege an Englishman is thought fit to enjoy, a Scotchman should be held equally fit to enjoy, and should be content with nothing less, trusting that we shall now obtain equal justice, as compared with the sister kingdoms.

XII.

GENERAL POST OFFICE, EDINBURGH.

By a parliamentary return ordered to be printed 29th November 1852, it appears that the officials of the Edinburgh Post Office occupying situations similar to those in London and Dublin, are, in common with all government officials in Scotland, wretchedly paid in

C

comparison. The following extract shows the comparative salaries allowed in Edinburgh and Dublin :

As an evidence of the extent to which centralization is carried, it may be stated that even the red coats, &c., of the Edinburgh postmen are contracted for and paid for in London. Why not contract with Peter Scott, 9 South Bridge, Edinburgh, or any other establishment of a similar description, who would, we doubt not, furnish them at a much cheaper rate and equally good?

XIII.

GLASGOW POST-OFFICE.

THE important Post Office business of the city of Glasgow has for years past been conducted in a mean and shabby building, quite unworthy of the character of a city second only to London in population and wealth. Lord Derby's administration acceded to the often repeated representations of the citizens, and arrangements were made far the erection of a suitable office in George Square; but with that parsimony which characterizes every government measure in Scotland, it has been decided that a building little superior to the one now in existence should be erected. The additional sum asked from the treasury to build the new Post Office was only £4000; yet it was refused, although the establishment transacts upwards of 500 money orders daily, passes upwards of eight million of letters yearly, and yields £47,000 per annum to the revenue.

How does the Glasgow Post Office stand at the present moment? It was first of all, for the sake of economy, built in so fragile a manner, that shortly after its ercction, they were obliged to take off the two upper storeys, and having done that, it has been left for nearly three years without any step being taken for the erection of a new Post Office; so that we have the important commercial city of Glasgow Post Office at the present moment without a roof.

XIV.

POSTAL MISMANAGEMENT.

THE abolition of the office of Postmaster-General for Scotland, and reducing the Edinburgh Post Office to a mere sub-district under London, have caused many delays and alterations in the mails and other postal arrangements, by which the people of Scotland are subjected to great inconvenience and expense.

The Post Office of the Scotch capital is now under a secretary, who has not the power of making our postal arrangements, and consequently is not responsible for them; neither has he the power of making direct application to the treasury for sums of money required for postal purposes in Scotland.

Hence, by the total subordination of the Scotch Metropolitan office to that of London, many of the provincial towns in Scotland are subjected to intolerable delay in receiving their letters and newspapers; while, to suit the London Mails, the necessities of the Scottish districts are invariably sacrificed.

XV.

STAMP INLAND REVENUE OFFICE.

THE centralization in this establishment is a grievous hindrance to business. There is now no official in Scotland who has sufficient authority to permit the exchange of one stamp which has been accidentally spoiled for another. An oath must be taken before a Justice of the Peace; the stamp and affidavit must be forwarded together to London, and after a fortnight's delay, a permission for exchange is granted there. Should a written deed require to be stamped, it must be forwarded to London for that purpose, and a delay of indefinite extent takes place, whereby great interruption to business and frequently heavy pecuniary loss are incurred.

In common with the Register House, Post Office, and other government establishments in Edinburgh, the whole of the stationery required for this office is sent from London, which benefits that city at the expense of Edinburgh, and is an intolerable inconvenience to the officials.

XVI.

SCOTTISH HONOURS.

THE Heraldic emblems of Scotland, as quartered upon the Royal Standards and Union Flags displayed upon Scottish soil, have been degraded from their first position to an inferior, and their place usurped by those of England, thus asserting a right of superiority over Scotland which she does not possess.

XVII.

REVENUE RETURNS.

SINCE the period of the Union down to 1851, annual returns have been published, showing the total amount and net produce of the Revenue of Scotland; but for the future, we are to be kept in the dark as to the share Scotland contributes to the revenue of Britain. The revenue of the Customs and Post Office arising in Scotland are no longer to appear separately in the public accounts, but are to be stated in cumulo with those of England, rendering the returns, so far as they relate to Scotland, incomplete and useless, and depriving us of the power of ascertaining a most important statistical fact connected with the progress of the country.

XVIII.

SALE OF CROWN LANDS.

DURING the reign of George IV., a treasury warrant was granted for applying the surplus rents of certain Crown Lands in Orkney to the formation and repair of roads and bridges in that district. But though frequent applications have been made for the rents so granted, no attention has been paid to these requests. During last year (1853) the Commissioners of Woods and Forests sold part of these lands for upwards of £15,000, the money so realized being transmitted to London. It is understood that a still larger portion will be sold this year, and the proceeds of the sale will doubtless reach the same destination.

XIX.

SCOTTISH POLICE NOT SUPPORTED BY

GOVERNMENT.

We have no police paid by government. The police or county constabulary of Ireland, which consists of .12,400 men, costs £572,000 a year, of which £543,000 is paid by the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain, and £29,000 by the counties and cities of Ireland. The Dublin police, during five years preceding 1851, received £191,700. Upwards of £131,000 per annum is given by the Consolidated Fund to the London police, and one-half of the police of English counties is paid from the same source. It is well known how difficult it is to get the Scottish counties to agree to an assessment for that purpose. A bill should be passed through parliament, to provide that all Scotland shall be furnished with a police, to be paid in the proportion of £29 by the cities and counties of Scotland, and £543 by the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain. We should then have the best police, and property in Scotland protected in a way that has never yet been effected or known in the country.

XX.

UNITED KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND SHOULD BE ALWAYS DESIGNATED GREAT BRITAIN.

AT the Union, it was agreed that the kingdoms of Scotland and England should in future be designated Britain or Great Britain. Scotland now demands that official communications, besides the army and navy, shall in future be called British instead of English. The Scotch do not, at the present moment, stand on an equality with the English, so long as the non-concession of the legitimate and correct phrase stamps us as inferiors. The very fact of Scotland's existence being ignored when explanations are given in imperial affairs, and when the word England is used to imply Britain, places this ancient and unconquered kingdom in a degraded position, which no gloss can do away with. Scotchmen feel this, and we must, therefore,