future elections of the Deacon-Convener, but such a protest is unavailing unless the allegations it contains are relevant in themselves, and are established by competent proof in an appropriate action at law to be brought by the protester.

“2. In answering this query I assume, as was done at the consultation, that the objectionable words at the close of the motion, viz., the words 'or as may be defined by any future Act of Parliament,' are to be withdrawn, and that the rather vague expression 'the City of Glasgow as at present defined by Act of Parliament,' is to be made more specific, by substituting the words 'the City of Glasgow as defined by the Municipal Extension Acts of 1872 and 1878.'

"On these assumptions, I am of opinion that there is no legal difficulty standing in the way of the Trades' House enacting a new bye-law, to the effect of allowing those whose avocations or callings are within the municipality of Glasgow holding office in their respective crafts and in the Trades' House.

"In considering this query, it became necessary to give special attention to the Act of 1846, abolishing the exclusive privileges of trading in Scotch burghs, and providing for an application to the Court of Session to sanction new bye-laws that might in consequence require to be made by certain incorporations, but I am satisfied, that in the case of the Trades' House such an application is unnecessary, my reason being, that the Trades' House has, in my opinion, inherent power of its own authority to pass the proposed new bye-law, and if so, the Act does not take away or weaken that authority. On the con

trary, it provides that nothing herein contained shall affect the validity of any bye-laws, regulations, or resolutions that may be made by any such incorporation without the sanction of said Court, which it would have been heretofore competent for such incorporation to have made of its own authority, or without such sanction.'

"Any application to the Court of Session is therefore, I think, unnecessary, and, if unnecessary, it is obviously inexpedient-looking to the difficulty, delay, and expense that might thereby be entailed.

"3. I see no ground for thinking that if the proposed bye-law were passed, the Deacon-Convener's right, under the existing law, to a seat in the Town Council, would in any way be affected.

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4. The legislature has, of course, the power to make such an alteration of the law as is here suggested, but I am of opinion that it would not give its sanction to any bill which would try to make the passing of the proposed bye-law a pretext for lessening the present position of the Trades' House, or prejudicing in any way the right of the Deacon-Convener to a seat in the Town Council.

The Trades' House, on 18th August, 1882, having resumed consideration of the motion tabled by the writer, with the memorial to, and opinion of, Dr. Anderson Kirkwood, as before given, when late Convener M'Onie moved,

as an amendment, the previous question, and was seconded by Mr. William M'Call. After some discussion thereon, the vote was taken, when 22 voted for the amendment and 12 for the motion. The motion was therefore lost; and now, what cannot be cured must be endured.

CHAPTER XI V.

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE INTERNAL MANAGEMENT OF THE CORDINERS.

Ir does not appear, from a perusal of the minute books which Mr. Lamond, the clerk of the Cordiners, placed, with his usual courtesy, at the service of the writer, that the Cordiners ever passed any byelaws for the internal management of the craft before the year 1780. The bye-laws were again revised and re-enacted in 1802. Copies of these bye-laws are not now obtainable. In 1847, shortly after the passing of the Act abolishing the exclusive privileges of carrying on handicrafts or trades, the Cordiners, having in view the changes brought about by that Act, had under their consideration the advisability of changing the Incorporation into an Annuity Society. An actuary had been consulted, who had prepared elaborate tables, such as tables for widows' annuities, deferred annuities, and immediate annuities, together with a table showing the pensioners then on the roll. A set of bye-laws had likewise been prepared to carry out the annuity proposals, and a petition was thereafter presented to the Court of Session, asking the Court to approve of these bye-laws in virtue of the powers conferred by the Act of 1846. The following is

the public notice of the petition so presented to the Court of Session :

"INCORPORATION OF CORDINERS IN GLASGOW.

"Intimation is hereby made to all concerned, that a petition for the Incorporation of Cordiners of Glasgow having been presented to the Lords of Council and Session (First Division), praying their Lordships to interpone the sanction of the Court to the bye-laws or regulations and resolutions, and relative tables and schedules annexed to the said petition, or otherwise to make thereon such alterations or adject thereto such conditions or qualifications as their Lordships might think fit, and thereafter to sanction and approve of the same, all as more particularly mentioned in the prayer of the said petition, and all in terms of the Act 8 and 9 Victoria, cap. 17, intituled, 'an Act for the Abolition of the Exclusive Privilege of Trading in Burghs in Scotland.'-their Lordships, by interlocutor, dated 10th December instant, appointed the said petition to be duly intimated to all concerned. And it is also hereby further intimated that copies of the said petition, to which the said proposed bye-laws, regulations, and resolutions are appended, with the said interlocutor, will lie with Mr. Blyth, Deacon of the Incorporation, at his shop, Argyle Street, Glasgow, for the inspection and information of the members of the Incorporation, and all others having interest, for one calendar month from this date.

"ROB. LAMOND, Clerk to the Incorporation. "JAMES BURNESS, S.S. C.

"II December, 1847."