at same time his Lordship authenticated an Advertisement of the pursuers to be inserted in said Newspaper. As I had been accused of Theft by these worthy characters, I must now put up with an accusation of Falsehood, although they themselves were the guilty persons. For, in consequence of their Advertisement appearing in the Chronicle, 4th July, while mine was withdrawn, the public had reason to conceive I had been guilty of said crime. The first salutation I received on going to Aberdeen that morning.Here it is:

10 THE PUBLIC.

A Card having appeared in the Chronicle of Saturday last, in name of Mr Leslie of Powis ; Mr Shand, Advocate in Aberdeen, in his own name, and as agent for Dr Gerard, as common Procurator for King's College, and Dr Ogilvie, as one of the Ministers of Old Machar, and the Trustees of Bishop's Hospital of Old Aberdeen, pursuers, in the conjoined actions, at present depending at their instance, against the said Hugh Leslie, before the Sheriff of this County, thinks it proper to inform the public, that the pursuers appeared upon the day appointed, and gave their oath of calumny, in said conjoined actions in consequence of which the Sheriff Depute pronounced an Interlocutor, allowing a proof, which is instructed by the following extract, under the hand of the depute-Clerk of Court:

Attested Copy Interlocutor in Causa, The Revd. Dr Gerard and others, against Hugh Leslie of Powis.

(Signed)

Abdn. 4th July, 1857.

ALEXR. MOIR, Sherif-Depute.

WM. THOMSON, Sheriff-Clk. Dep,

I was somewhat curious to know how they had managed the business, as I had not at that time seen the interlocutor 1st July, nor extract of their solemn emission, as they are pleased to call it. In my humble opinion, if Counsellor Shand and his associates had dared to accuse me of Falsehood, they ought to have tacked the above solemn performance to the tail of their Advertisement; the public would then have had an opportunity of seeing who was worthy of credit. I however treat the public with a Fact Simile of said oaths, emited by these honourable pursuers, (no doubt with great delight) with the ingenious marginal note, which these pursuers gave out was directed by the Sheriff-Depute. For the truth of this assertion I by no means vouch, the report comes from these worthy pursuers. If his Lordship did so, it was rather presumptuous, he being only a Doctor of Laws, to instruct three Doctors of Divinity with regard to the nature of an oath. They likewise report, it was the Sheriff-Depute's particular desire, they might retire to the Clerk's Office, as more decorous for Gentlemen of their high ́ respectability.

Other Falsehoods circulated by the hon. pursuers; that one Printer, and then another, refused to print for me. The first I applied to, readily agreed to print for me; I suspect there afterwards had been influence used with said Printer. However, he did not refuse, but told me he did not know when he

might be able to put this work in hand; on which I applied to another.

After such usage, I shall not be on the smallest ceremony with these honourable Gentlemen. The malice of Drs Gerard and Shand did not surprise me in the least, in raising this most infamous action: I own, however, Parson Ogilvie's ingratitude towards me, in joining these gentry, did. I have to my cost long known the abilities of Mr Shand, as one of the Proprietors of Nether Don Fishing, have I been involved in Law, with Mr Fraser of Fraserfield, for many years. This Gentleman, from the time he succeeded his brother, in 1793, till the day of his death, was, by Mr Shand's instigation, constantly embroiled with all his neighbours. And during all that time, (except a decree in absence) * did he ever get an interlocutor of the Supreme Court in his favour, but was repeatedly fined by them, though he was made-believe, whenever an interlocutor was given against him, it had been given in his favour, (of which I can bring proof.) Who gave Mr Fraser this information, I will not pretend to say. I likewise take on me to affirm, that after poor Mr Fraser had been for years in a state of perfect imbecility of mind, Mr Shand gave out, that foresaid profitable Law Pleas had cost Mr Fraser Ten Thousand Pounds Sterling. Many people said Mr Fraser's melancholy state was occasioned by vexation, and that when he granted a commission to Mr Shand and others, to manage his affairs, he was not in a *Not in Nether Don cause.

state to execute such a deed. I by no means assert this to be the case. A quotation from

Blackstone, Book IV. chap. x. sect. 11.

"Common Barretry is the offence of "stirring up Suits and Quarrels between.

"his Majesty's subjects, either at Law or otherwise; the punishment of this offence, in a

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"fine and imprisonment: But if the

common person, is by offender, (as is too fre

"quently the case) belongs to the profession of the Law, a barretor, who is thus able as well as willing, to do mischief, ought also to be disabled from practising for the fu46 ture. And indeed it is enacted by Geo. I. Stat. XII. chap. "xxix. That if any one, who hath been guilty of Forgery, 66 Perjury, Subornation of Perjury, or common Barretry, "shall practise as an Attorney, Solicitor, or Agent, in any "suit; the Court, upon complaint, shall examine it in a summary way; and if proved, shall direct the offender to be "transported for seven yeas."

The extension of said Statute to this part of the United Kingdom, might be of material advantage to his Majesty's lieges.

In one of Mr Shand's Thirteen Actions against the Aberdeenshire Navigation, he raised a prosecution against me, for having, as a Magistrate, preserved his Majesty's Peace, and the blood, limbs, and probably the lives of some of his subjects; when he, with a banditti at his tail, was acting in defiance of the Navigation Act, as well as the Common Law of the Realm. In said action he has had the insolence to make a little too free with my Character. I hope I shall be enabled to pay my debt, as I al

ways wish to be just. At same time his ignorance is evident. Had I, (instead of acting meritoriously, as I then did) acted in the most oppressive manner, Mr Shand must have been non-suited, as he failed to give me the notice required by Geo. II. Stat. XXIV. chap. xliv.

A Few Statutes anent Schireffs, and uther Fudges.

William began to feign 1165.

1. Statute, chap. xxv. "All Judges sould carie in their "hands ane paire of ballance: (judge equalie) for all

"Na thing is mair wicked, nor to tak buds in judgment, "because buds and gifts, blinds the eyes of the wise men; "and perverts the words of the just men: In quhat mea

sure thou judges, in that samin measure thou sal be "judged; therefore ane Judge sould fear GoD the Great "Judge; that quhen God comes to judge, he sal nocht be "condemned. 3d. Na foole nor wicked man sould be ane Judge; because ane foole be ignorance, and ane wicked man "be avarice, will corrupt justice."

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Stat. Hob. I. chap. 2.

2-" It is the King's will, and he commands, that common "Law, and common Justice, sal be done alsweil to pure as to "riche; conform to the auld Laws and Liberties used of be"fore in auld times.