the greatest affliction to which our nature is liable, or be of a description of men, (if such are entitled to the appellation), of which we are fully convinced there exists not another solitary individual throughout the extended dominions of your Majesty.

THE magnanimity displayed by your Majesty, on so trying an occasion, will ever, on recollection, fill the eyes of your faithful subjects with tears of gratitude, as establishing your entire confidence on your affectionate people, and as having had an effect pleasing, we are well aware, to your Majesty, of preventing many and serious mischiefs, among the great concourse of your subjects then assembled, whose fears were alive for the safety of their beloved Sovereign.

"WE take this opportunity of assuring your Majesty of the purity and simplicity of our ancient order, and of our sincere attachment to the glorious constitution of our country, founded on a basis, which, from its stability, cannot be shaken by foes foreign or domestic; and conclude with our most anxious wishes for the long continuance and prosperity of your Majesty's reign, and for the permanent, unimpaired, and undisturbed felicity of your Majesty, and of every branch of your illustrious house.

"SIGNED

"SIGNED in name of, by appointment, and in presence of the Grand Lodge of Free Masons of Scotland, this 9th day of June 1800.

Charles William Earl of Dalkeith, Grand-Master.
Robert Dundas, Esq. of Melville, Deputy Grand-Master.
John Clark, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master.

John Trotter, Esq. of Morton-Hall, Sen. Grand-Warden.
Sir Charles Douglas, Bart. Junior Grand-Warden.
John Hay, Esq. Grand-Treasurer.
Rev. Dr Touch, Grand-Chaplain.
William Guthrie, Esq. Grand-Secretary.

Mr James Bartram, Grand-Clerk.

Ir was agreed upon, in the course of this year, to divide Scotland into different districts, and to appoint provincial Grand-Masters over each of these. After proper regulations and instructions were drawn up for these office-bearers, several gentlemen were appointed provincial Grandmasters.-See Appendix, No.

4.

A

À CHARTER was this year granted to the officers of the 51st regiment, stationed at Columba, in the Island of Ceylon, to hold a lodge under the denomination of the Orange Lodge.

THE Grand Lodge received a message from the Magistrates of Edinburgh, informing them that the foundation-stone of the Wet-Docks at Leith was to be laid on the 14th May 1801, and requesting their company and assistance on the

occasion.

WHEN the appointed day arrived, the brethren, amounting to about 1200, set out from the Leith Assembly Rooms, a little before nine o'clock in the morning, and advanced in the following order.

THE Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council of the City of Edinburgh, with the Magistrates of Leith, in their robes, preceded by the insignia of their office, and a band of music.

The Engineers and Architects of the proposed building.

The Grand-Tyler, in his proper clothing, carrying a drawn sword.

The Grand-Stewards, with their rods.

The Golden Compass, Square, and Plumb, carried by operative masons.

The Golden Mallet, carried by an operative brother.

The cornucopia, filled with corn, and two silver cups or goblets, the one filled with wine, the other with oil, carried by operative brethren.

The inscriptions and medals to be deposited in the stone, carried by operative brethren. The Grand-Secretary and Grand-Clerk. The Grand-Treasurer and Grand-Chaplain. The Senior and Junior Grand-Wardens. The Holy Bible open upon a cushion, carried by Brother Peacock.

The Grand-Master, supported by Sir James Stirling, Bart. last Grand-Master, and Sir Patrick Murray, Bart. Deputy Grand-Master P. T.

Lord Downe, accompanied by the Substitute Grand-Master, and the Provincial Grand-Master for Peebles, Selkirk, &c.

The Master of Proxies, supported by his Depute and Substitute, and accompanied by all the Proxy-Masters and Wardens, according to their seniority.

The Masters of Edinburgh Lodges, accompanied by their Officers and Brethren, according to their seniority; with Bands of Music attached to several of these Lodges.

The Masters, Wardens, and Brethren, of the Trinity-House, Leith, accompanied by a great number

number of the most respectable Merchants and Inhabitants of Leith.

WHEN the procession arrived at the spot, the Lord Provost and Magistrates went to a theatre erected for them on the west side of the foundation-stone. The Grand-Master, with his officers, went to one on the east, where a table was placed, upon which were laid the Jewels, and other emblems of the craft. The Substitute Grand-Master then ordered the stone to be slung, and let down gradually, making three regular stops before it came to the ground; and, while this was going on, the bands played the anthem.

THE Substitute Grand-Master then placed a large phial in the stone, which contained all the present current coins in this country, with a number of beautiful medals, of the first characters of the present age, which were previously inclosed in crystal. Above the phial were deposited two plates, on one of which the following Inscription was engraved.