to the Standing Committee on Publications. present regulations were such as to render unprofitable, if not impractiThe proceedings of the Committee cable, the use of small stills; that their on Machinery were next submitted to general introduction was essential to the the meeting, and in terms of recent re- suppressing of smuggling, and to fulports by that committee, approved by fil the intention of the legislature, in the directors, the meeting voted the passing the recent act: That the refollowing premiums and honorary strictions complained of might be mo marks of the society's approbation :dified, so as to relieve the manufactuviz. The society's gold medal to Sir Alexander Gordon, for certain improvements made by him in the construction of wheel carriages, particularly his invention of a spring-draught gauge for ascertaining the power of draught animals, on a new principle.To John Graham Dalyell, Esq. advovate, for a self-regulating calendar (or mangle) on an ingenious and new principle, invented by him, the society's gold medal; and to Mr Samuel Morton, agricultural implement maker, Leith Walk, on account of the invention of his revolving Brake Harrow, or weed extirpator, a premium of ten guineas. J. H. Forbes, Esq. convener of the Committee on the Distillery Laws, after adverting to the measures which had formerly been adopted by the society to procure an alteration in these laws stated, that the operation of the late act had increased the revenue and diminished smuggling in a very great degree, but had not succeeded in wholly suppressing it, principally from certain regulations and restrictions which it required, having been found in practice so ill suited to the use of small stills, as completely to prevent their general establishment. MrForbes then submitted to the meeting resolutions embracing the substance of a report by the committee, and approved by the directors, stating the satisfaction with which the society had witnessed the exertions of the landholders, in suppressing illicit distillation, and the success which had attended them, the conviction of the society that the rer, without injuring the revenue: That copies of the resolutions, signed by the Vice-President in the Chair, should be transmitted to the Chairman of the Board of Excise, Edinburgh, and to his Grace the Duke of Atholl, Chairman of the Committee at London, according to whose suggestions the Distillery Act was framed. Thomas Mackenzie, Esq. younger of Applecross; in seconding the resolutions, stated, that the adoption of the alterations contemplated by the committee, would not only render practicable the use of forty-gallon stills, but would facilitate the operation of large stills; and laid before the meeting a model of the apparatus at present required, which he had received from the Duke of Atholl. After some discussion, in which Sir Patrick Walker, Sir William Honyman, Mr Forbes, and Mr T. Mackenzie participated, in the course of which it was stated by the three latter gentlemen, that no alteration of the general principles, but merely of some of the regulations of the late act, was contemplated by the committee, and that very accurate inquiries had shewn that the obstacles to the general establishment of fortygallon stills had arisen mainly from the nature of the regulations, though they had certainly been increased by the backwardness of the harvest, and general want of capital-the resolutions were adopted by the meeting. Henry Mackenzie, Esq. Chairman of the Committee on Celtic Literature, employed in the compilation and publication of a proper Dictionary of that ancient and expressive Language, submitted to the meeting the recent proceedings of that committee, with a minute and distinct report by the Reverend Dr Macleod, who had been intrusted with the chief conduct of the work, of the progress made in the compilation, accompanied by specimens by the Doctor and Mr E. Maclachlan, of Old Aberdeen. From these it appeared, that great advancement had been made by the compilers, and that they were proceeding with diligence in their arduous undertaking. The Chairman stated, that the former grant by the Society towards this object having expired, it would now be matter for the deliberation of the meeting, from the information before them, to determine whether and to what extent the Society's pecuniary support was to be afforded to a work which was calculated to fix and illustrate a language confessedly ancient, and so much connected with general literature, as well as with the history and manners of our ancestors. Upon hearing Mr Mackenzie's statement, with some observations by Mr Boswell of Auchinleck, and consider ing the papers referred to-in respect of the progress made in the compilation-the extent of the subscription already obtained—and the liberal contribution of 50%. annually, agreed to be continued by Sir John Macgregor Murray, Bart. towards this object the meeting, upon the suggestion of the committee, approved by the directors, resolved also to continue the sum formerly allowed by the society for two years longer, as there was every prospect, from the state of the subscription, that the society would not be called upon to defray any farther expence which the compilation and publication of the work might require. It was reported from the Standing VOL. X. PART II. Committee on Publications, that sufficient materials being now in possession of the society, to form a number or part of a 5th volume of Transactions, the same would be prepared for the press as speedily as possible. The meeting recommended that the essay by W. Fraser Tytler, Esq. Sheriffdepute of the county of Inverness, ou saving corn in the feeding of horses, for which the premium of twenty guineas advertised, had been awarded last year, should be included in this number. Several recent communications from the Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart. were laid before the society among these the introduction and two first parts of "A Code of Agriculture," about to be published by him, and a publication on the State of the Country in December 1816, the object of which last is to shew, from official documents laid before Parlia ment, the superior importance of agriculture, and its particular claims to the attention of the legislature, in its present state of depression. The meeting referred these communications to the consideration of the Directors, and unanimously voted the thanks of the Society to Sir John Sinclair, for his uniform and unremitting attention to the interests of agriculture. Sir George Clerk, in reference to the proceedings had in Parliament, for obtaining an equalization of weights. and measures, stated, that not having had an opportunity of attending last general meeting of the society, he now considered it proper to explain the cause which was understood chiefly to have led to the rejection of the bill, in the House of Lords, which had been passed unanimously by the House of Commons. This was understood principally to have arisen from the circumstance of the measure not having H undergone that full discussion in England, which it had done in this country. He was now hopeful that this objection would be removed, and he stated his intention, early in the ensuing session, of again calling the attention of Parliament to this import ant subject. The Society were highly sensible of the great attention and trouble bestowed by Sir George Clerk on this business. In a matter of such magnitude and importance to all parts of the empire, as a general equalization of weights and measures, the meeting was of opinion, that any future expence, which the prosecution of this object might occasion, should be borne by the public, or by the counties, the society having charged itself exclusively with the expences hitherto incurred in maturing the measure. CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Report respecting the intended Survey of the present State of Horticulture in Holland, Flanders, and the North of France. September 9, 1817. Your council have the satisfaction of being able to inform you, that the horticultural survey of the Netherlands, which was recommended to the society two years ago, by Sir John Sinclair, is now carrying into execution. The subscription which was set on foot some months ago, for raising one hundred guineas, with the view of defraying the unavoidable expence of this survey, had made such progress, that your council had no hesitation in making an offer of that sum to three gentlemen, who were, in their opinion, in every respect well qualified for the office, to assist in defraying their neces sary expences. The three gentlemen, who, at our request, have undertaken this important duty, are, first, Mr Patrick Neill, secretary to the society, whom we consider as one of the most distinguished scientific gardeners among the class of amateurs in Britain, and whose excellent writings on horticultural subjects do him very great honour. The second is Mr James Macdonald, who has been for many years gardener to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, at Dalkeith Park, and who has enriched your me. moirs by many useful practical observations, particularly on the improved culture of currants, onions, and other culinary vegetables, and who is justly esteemed one of the best practical gardeners in Scotland. And the third is Mr John Hay, who has for several years past been much distinguished as having furnished plans for the best new gardens, which have lately been formed in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, particularly that of Prestonhall, formed by the late Sir John Callender; that at Calderhouse, where much was done, by our sincerely lamented fellow member, the late Lord Torphichen; and that at Dalmeny Park, the seat of the Earl of Rosebery, where a garden is at present forming in a style that will do honour to Scotland. Mr Hay is also favourably known to you, by the plan which he lately presented to our society, for an experimental garden at Edinburgh, and for which our gold medal was deservedly awarded to him. From three such intelligent and discerning surveyors, your council cannot help entertaining very sanguine expectations. It is indeed true, that, of late, horticulture, as well as agriculture, has made a more rapid progress in Scotland than perhaps in any other nation in Europe. But, for the commencement of our knowledge in gardening, we were much indebted to our continental neighbours, and particularly to the Dutch. Not many centuries have elapsed, since, from them, we derived not only our best seeds, roots, and fruits, but even some of our most common esculent vegetables. History informs us, that, in the days of Malcolm Canmore, who reigned in Scotland about the end of the eleventh century, even the common garden lettuce, which then appear ed only as a rare dainty at the royal table, was entirely imported from Holland, and was not at that time cultiva ted in Scotland. Since that period, indeed, such has been the progress of horticulture in Scotland, that we can now produce from gardens in the environs of Edinburgh, a dessert of fruits, which, for variety of kind, and delicacy of flavour, cannot be excelled, and, perhaps, hardly equalled, on the face of the globe. This, your annual festival of Pomona has repeatedly demonstrated; and we confidently trust, that, notwithstand ing the present backward season, the competition of this day will afford additional proof of the skill of our operative gardeners. Great, however, as our progress has been, much yet remains to be discovered; for in arts and sciences human invention has no bounds, and by the intelligent and discerning philosopher, useful discoveries have often been derived from observing the procedure even of the most ignorant labourer. Your council need not, therefore, state to you the expectations which they entertain from the present horticultural survey of the Netherlands. The abilities of the men, whom they have induced to undertake this survey, are not unequal to the task; and the kingdom of Scotland does not, perhaps, at present, contain three men better qualified for such an undertaking. We confidently trust, that no horticultural knowledge worth importing, from improved varieties of the most common culinary vegetables, to plans of orchards, gardens, and conservatories, on the most extended scale, will escape their discernment. We are not, therefore, without hopes, that this survey will do honour to our society, and be materially beneficial to Scotland. Nay, we even flatter ourselves with the expectation, that, by the publication of future volumes of the memoirs of our society, the benefits resulting from it may, in some degree, be extended to every corner of the civilized world. Your council regret much, that the state of our funds does not permit us to bestow even an adequate pecuniary indemnification on those gentlemen who have undertaken this important mission. All we have hitherto been allowed to offer them is one hundred guineas, to aid in defraying their necessary expences. This sum we were autho rised by a former meeting to offer, for the expence of two of our members; but, as three gentlemen have, at our request, engaged in this survey, we hope the society will not object to the sum of fifty guineas to each of the three, to aid in defraying the charges of the journey; and we trust, that a subscription of a single guinea each, from such of our members as may wish to encourage this undertaking, will be fully sufficient to cover that expence, without, in any degree, encroaching on the ordinary funds of the society, already pledged for other useful purposes. We cannot conclude this report without mentioning to the society, the very liberal conduct of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch on this occasion, both by the manner in which he has granted leave of absence to Mr MDonald, and bythe introductions which he has furnished to the continent, for promoting the success of our survey. Respecting the progress made by our surveyors, we can only at present |