The  secretary  replied,  that,  though  chief  ma*
gistrate,  he  could  have  no  authority  but  ly
lawf  and  such  authority  could  only  be  exer*
cis€»d  in  a  UmoI  itwyy  that  was,  upon  a  com«»
pla'mt  lodged,  and  judicial  proceaure  follow-
ing :—

'<  Lord  Provost. — ^I  insist  upon  your  depart*
ing  hence,  you  may  meet  in  any  private  houses,
but  vou  srudl  not  meet  here. — A  Member^—
My  lord  this  is  a  private  house,  and  the  house
is  ours  for  the  time. — ^Wm.  Skirving.— Yes,
my  lord,  I  have  taken  this  house  for  a  time
certain  for  the  use  of  the  convention ;  it  is  a
Mason's  Lodes  and  nothing  can  be  more  pri*

vate  than  a  Mason's  Lodge. Lord  Provost.
