108 Mr Grierson 07* Competitions among Tradesmen. 



both. Indeed, however anxious a rich man may now be to 

 make himself useful to his poorer neighbours, he has it not in 

 his power. He comes seldom into contact with any of them, but 

 such as have already reduced themselves to beggary by idleness 

 and dissipation, and, finding ariy thing he may give them to be 

 worse than thrown away, he either abstains from charity altoge- 

 ther, or commits his contributions to some of the benevolent so- 

 cieties with which this country abounds. By them he is sure 

 that his donations will be judiciously administered ; but, when 

 thus made, they will do nothing towards securing him a place 

 in the affections of the persons relieved, who, being unacquaint- 

 ed with their benefactor, cannot, of course, make to him any 

 return of gratitude. But were the stamp of merit fixed on the 

 really deserving by these competitions, a class of persons would 

 be offered to the notice of the higher ranks, who would be 

 every way deserving of their countenance. To them it would 

 be given willingly and liberally. It would not fail to produce 

 corresponding feelings of attachment and respect, and the va- 

 rious ranks would thus gradually become bound together by all 

 those sympathies which enhance the joys and soothe the sorrows 

 of life. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN LIGHT-HOUSES. 



*' Pharos loquitur, 



** Far in the bosom of the deep 

 O'er these wild shelves my watch I keep, 

 A ruddy gem of changeful light, 

 Bound in the dusky brow of night. 

 The seaman bids my lustre hail, 

 And scorns to strike his timorous sail *." 



From the important nature of the experiments and trials late- 

 ly made with various lights at Gullan Hill, 12 miles east from 

 Edinburgh, by order of the Commissioners of the Northern 

 Light-houses, which we saw from the Calton-Hill, we have been 

 led to a perusal of Stevenson'*s splendid and interesting work, 

 entitled " Account of the Bell Rock Light-house,*^' for informa- 



• Lines written by Sir Walter Scott in the Album of the Bell Rock 

 Light-house, when he visited it in 1814. 



