Tus Ktsio's Comsr.—His Majesty held a Court on Monday, at

Windsor Castle ; which was attended by the Duke of Clarence, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Wellington, most of the Cabinet Ministers, and the • Great Officers of State. Mr. Addington kissed hands on being appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court at Madrid. His Majesty then held a Privy Council, at which a proclamation was agreed to be issued convening Parliament to assemble on the 4th of February for the despatch of business. The Duke of Clarence was then invested as First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, in the room of the late Duke of York. The Right Honourable Stratford Canning received the honour of knighthood, and was invested by the King with the Grand Cross of the Order, as a Civil Knight Grand Cross; and the Court broke up. invested as First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, in the room of the late Duke of York. The Right Honourable Stratford Canning received the honour of knighthood, and was invested by the King with the Grand Cross of the Order, as a Civil Knight Grand Cross; and the Court broke up. In the Gazette of Tuesday, we find that the honour of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath has been conferred on Sir Robert Gordon, the British Ambas- sador at Constantinople. • The Duke and Duchess of Clarence dined with the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland at Kew on Wednesday. • The Duke of Cumberland, who was indisposed, has recovered, and has visited the King at the Lodge. The Duchess came to town on Monday, and dined with the Duchess of Kent at Kensington Palace. The Princess Augusta still remains at Worthing, where she will spend her Christmas, and probably remain till the end of February.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester left town on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Verulam, at their seat at Gormanbury, Herts.

The Duchess has been staying for some days past with the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, at Bushy Park. Prince Leopold has given several large dinner parties at Claremont. Immediately after the breaking up of the Court at Windsor Castle on Monday, the Duke of Wellington proceeded on a visit to the Duke of Buckingham at Stowe. But the Duchess of Wellington remains at Strathfieldsaye and the Duchess of Buckingham is at Avington. Lord Wynford has been closely confined at his residence at Chislehurst, by an attack of god. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of Kent, with the Princess Victoria, have been at the Adelphi Theatre this week. The

little Princess, after the play had terminated, rewarded the elephant's sagacity -with sweetmeats, which the wonderful animal received from the Royal hand with the manners of a thorough-bred courtier.

The noblemen and gentlemen of the county of Perth have resolved, that a por- trait of Sir George Murray, the Colonial Secretary, and member for Perthshire, shall grace the county Hall. This compliment is paid professedly on the ground

f Sir George's "military services ;" but we are inclined to think that his civil services must have had a share in it.

General Garth's will was proved on Thursday, and the personalty sworn under 16,0001. It is dated the 12th of September ; and gives to his beloved son Thomas Garth the moiety of an annuity of 30001., payable out of the Duchy of Cornwall, and held by letters-patent of Charles II., which the General had settled on himself for life, with remainder to his said son for life, and his lawful issue. The son inherits nearly all the General's property besides.

A meeting was held Oil Tuesday, at the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street, of the Ward of Farringdon Without, for the purpose of considering the measures which the City Lands Committee and Mr. Alderman Waithman had sanctioned in the case of Mr. Clark, the butcher in the New Fleet Market. The meeting was not nu- merously attended, but it was unanimous in approving of certain resolutions moved by Mr. H. Hunt, condemnatory in the strongest terins of the conduct of the Committee and of Mr. Waithman.

Some time ago the management of the Globe Insurance Company came under the consideration of a general meeting of the proprietors, and a very decided opi- nion was expressed by many that the Chairman and Directors were greatly over. paid for their services, and that there were too many of them besides. On Thursday, another meeting was held, at which Mr. Hunter moved, " that in fu- ture the allowance to the Chairman be reduced from 500/. to 2001. per annum, and that to each of the Directors from 150/. to 100/. per.annum.". A long dis- cussion ensued, and the motion was lost. Nothing very particular occurred, un- less we except an admirable e of prudence by one of the economical party, —who, when he perceived that his friends were likely.to lose the day, expressed his anxiety to know by whom be was to he repaid the postage of two twopenny letters, in obedience to which he had presented himself in the field.

On Thursday night, the biennial distribution of prizes took place at the Royal Academy, Somerset House. The candidates in all the departments were very numerous. Sir Thomas Lawrence distributed the medals, and delivered an elo- quent dissertation on painting.

We mentioned a day or two since, that some proceedings were pending in the Committee of the Stock Exchange, relative to the conduct of an individual who had, as was alleged, contrary to an express regulation, entered into dealings with a Mr. Samuda, clerk to Mr. Ralph Ricardo, without the knowledge or consent of the latter. It would now appear, that some pretty warm discussions arose among the different members of the Committee, some of whom were disposed to inflict

• the extreme penalty against the accused—that of expulsion—he having been found guilty of the charge by a majority of the Committee ; while others wished a more lenient course to be pursued. The latter was carried, and in consequence the individual referred to was severely reprimanded by the Committee, and a re- solution passed on the occasion was posted in the Stock Exchange to-day (Thurs- day), and was to the effect, that " The Committee for General Purposes inform the House, that Mr. Lewis Sampson having, in violation of the regulation of 28th January 1828, carried on extensive transactions with Mr. Joseph Samuda, late rlerk to Mr. Ralph Ricardo, in his (Mr. Joseph Samuda's) name alone, has in- curred the great disapprobation of the Committee, and has been severely censured accordingly." It is still urged by the individual to whom the above 'Resolution refers, that his conduct was perfectly justifiable, and that, from the nature of the transactions between Mr. Ricardo and Mr. Samuda the latter was bond fide a partner. The matter, however, seems to have produced such a degree of excite- ment in the Committee, that we understand two of the members tendered their resignation this afternoon, and that a third is expected to follow their example to- morrow.—Morning Chronicle's City Correspondent.

The Commissioners of the New Police have addreseed circulars to a great many Medical gentlemen, for the purpose of ascertaining the lowest rate at which medical aid may be supplied by contract for the separate divisions of the Police force. At a vestry meeting of the parishioners of Lambeth, last week, it was moved and carried that application should be made to Parliament for extending the act that regulates the levying of the parish rates. Some opposition was offered to these expensive applications to Parliament. The last one cost Lambeth upwards of 1000/.

A meeting of the inhabitants of St. Bride's parish was held yesterday, at the Vestry-room in Fleet Street, to select their officers for the ensuine. year. The expenses of their present system of watching is 41,0004 a year ; while the new police, it was stated, would cost the parish less. A court of compensation was held at Guildhall on Thursday, for the purpose of deciding upon the claims of those whose premises must be removed in order to complete the approach to the New London Bridge. The Committee for the Relief of the Destitute and Shelter for the Howeless have opened their asylum in Grub Street.

The thirty-first annual adjudication of prizes for fat cattle was made on Thurs- day at Smithfield. The show of cattle was very fine, and the number of respect- able agriculturists present immense.

CORBETT'S Lac-ruurs.—Cobbett held forth at the Mechanics' Institute on Thurs- day night, on his old theme, the distresses of the country. He had stated in his first harangue, that all our sufferings had their origin in the disorders of the cur- rency ; and he devoted himself on Thursday to the consideration of the scheme which some have advocated, of attempting to relieve the community from the in- crease of pressure which the increased value of the currency adds to taxation, by doubling the nominal value—by attempting to invest half a sovereign with the ex- changeable value of a whole one. To such a measure Mr. Cobbett professed himself hostile ; and if we may trust the report of those who took the trouble to chronicle his oration, brought all his powers of prosing into play to illustrate the pernicious consequences that would result from it. One tenth part of the time which he seems to have wasted on the point, might have sufficed, we think, to prove not the frauds merely to which such a measure would lead, but its absolute inefficacy for any purposes beyond a legalized robbery of creditors. The foreign exchanges, to which, indeed, Cobbett seems to have alluded, would undergo the degree of reaction necessary to neutralize the effects of an arbitrary change in our standard of value. The internal exchanges would soon adapt themsehes to the new scale of prices ; while all the current expenses of Government, and all its fd,are loans would—unless Ministers can be forced by some power superior to their own to consent to an "equitable adjustment" of the amount of their sala- ries, and of the pay of the stipendaries at their disposal—simply require a more formidable array of figures to denote their amount. The ex officio informations filed by the Attorney-General against the Morning Journal, the Atlas, and the Age, are set down for trial in the course of this month. Sixty-two new bankruptcies are announced in the Gazettes of this week.

The Bank of England Branch Bank opened on Tuesday at Norwich.

The landlords in various parts of the country evince an increasing disposition to relieve their tenants to a considerable extent of the burdens which corn-laws

and high rents have imposed upon them. We notice in the provincial papers, accounts of returns to tenants of 10, 20, and 30 per cent upon the gross rental. We hope that this will be followed ere long by the landlords formally cOnsent- ing that agriculture shall find its level. There have been meetings at Maidstone, at Reading, and at Worcester, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament for the repeal of the malt and beer duties. A memorandum from the Horse Guards, of the 25th of November, conveys his Majesty's pleasure that those officers who, on retiring from the service, have been permitted to hold local rank on the Continent, may be considered as enjoy- ing that rank iu any country abroad not subject to his Majesty's dominions. Last week, General Bouverie, who, we stated some time ago, was appointed by Lord Hill to investigate the circumstances of a complaint by the Magistrates of Chester against the Honourable Colonel Molyneux, commanding a regiment quartered there, had a meeting with the civic authorities on the subject. After discussing all the particulars of the case, General Bouverie declared that Colonel Molyneux had been guilty of gross impropriety; but stated, that he held an apology to the Magistrates as a body, and a personal apology to Mr. Sheriff Allender, to be the only atonement of which the outrage on their feelings admitted. The Magistrates expressed themselves willing to acquiesce in this decision. The late Mr. Blades, of Ludgate-hill, is said to have left 250,000/. to each of his three daughters, besides several handsome charitable bequests. The pemonal property was sworn under 140,000/. The estates are very considerable. The Undergraduates of Queen's College, Cambridge, have subscribed 300 guineas for a whole length portrait of Mr. J. King, many years tutor and now moderator of that College, " in testimony of their esteem, friendship, and grati- tude for his valuable seta ices.?' Sir W. Beechy is to be the artist. Measures are said to have been taken, by persons whose wealth and respecta- bility ensure the success of their undertaking, to establish a College at Bristol.

It is in contemplation to form a canal fo connect the Oxford canal with that of Worcester and Stratford, and to name the new branch the London and Birmine,. ham Junction Canal. The expense is estimated by Mr. Telford at less than 500,000e At a highly respectable meeting of the inhabitants of Worthing this week, it was resolved to erect a new bridge over the river, Adur, at the west end of Shore- ham, and to connect the bridge with the great road between Lancing and Worthing. These measures are calculated to prove highly beneficial to that quarter of the country. The Chain Bridge at Pont Kemeys, which is situated three miles above the town of Ussk, is now completed. When the new line of road is formed, the distance front Abergavenny to Usk will be shortened two miles ; and, whatwill Le of still greater advantage, all hills will be avoided, so as greatly to facilitate the intercouse between these towns and the communication with Bristol. There is now an approach to the bridge along a good parish road, entering a mile above Usk tend coming out into the turnpike road above Pontygoitree House.—Mons mouth Merlin.

At the Old Bailey Sessions this week, there have been few cases of the slightest

interest. , • John Brannan was tried on Saturday, for stealing a 1000/. note from his em- ployers, Messrs. Bowman and Winter. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to transportation.

Francis Full was tried for stealing ten guineas from a Mrs. Nutt, his aunt. It appeared that this worthy lady had cost that sum, but there was not a shadow of evidence that the prisoner had stolen it. His character was proved by his em- ployers to be very good ; and he was of course acquitted.

Jeremiah Reading was indicted for having in his possession a mould for the purpose of making counterfeit shillings. It was contended for the prisoner, that the mould was so imperfect that no person of common prudence could be im- posed upon by the coins which the prisoner might execute by means of it—and on this ground the Jury acquitted the prisoner ! Mary Fitzgerald and Catherine Conolly were then tried for a similar crime, and acquitted on similar grounds—and because, among other reasons, it did not ap- pear that the prisoners had taken the precaution to bolt the door of the room in which they plied their trade.

These odd acqeittals gave rise to a conversation between the Judge, the Jury, and Mr. Scarlett, the counsel for the Crown. Mr. Baron Vaughan said—" The imitation need not be exact; but there must be such a resemblance as would be calculated to impose on the unwary. However, if such was the opinion of the Jury as to the sixpenny mould, he should think it would be hardly worth while to proceed with the next indictment." Mr. Scarlett said, that after the opinion ex- pressed by the Jury (though the counsel for the Crown had certainly not expected to hear such a statement), he would not press the other indictment against the prisoners ; and he should therefore consent to the Jury hieing charged, and an acquittal. The Jury were accordingly charged; and no evidence being adduced, a verdict of acquittal was pronounced. Mr. Baron Vaughan said, " in every case where this sort of charge was preferred, if the door happened to be shut, and there was time to deposit the mould under the bed, or in the next room, it would be in vain to attempt to convict any one. . Having it in their possession did not in law mean actual possession, but such a control over it as implied that it belonged to the party. A Juryntan—" But in this case the prisoners were not locked in." al r. Baron Vaughan admitted that that was the case ; but neverthe- less it would be very dangerous to require evidence of such close possession. The Juryman observed, it also appeared that the woman did not make any stir till the landlady (upon whom he looked with a most suspicious eye) spoke to them in Irish. Mr. Baron Vaughan said it was not at all his intention to question their verdict ; he was only anxious to have the law put right, and after that the facts were exclusively their province. Mr. Scarlett—" The Crown can never pr duceetronger evidence than this in any case ; and therefore, if we cannot con- vict under this, we must have a new statute."

The Jury, before leaving the box,' said they wished to acquaint their lordships, that the reason of their acquitting the first prisoner tried was, that the mould found in his possession was so imperfect that no person using ordinary caution could be deceived by shillings made in it.

The Old Bailey Sessions closed on Tuesday. Ten individuals have been con- demned to death, two to transportation for life, nine for fourteen years, and seventy-one for seven years The Middlesex, the Surrey, and the London Sessions, have been sitting during the week, but they have been employed on cases of the most trifling description.

The Winter Home Circuit commenced at Hertford on Monday, before Mr. Baron Garrow, and Mr. Holland. In his charge to the Grand Jury, Mr. Baron Garrow stated, that the calendar, though numerically large. contained no atroci- ous cases; and we have not yetirioticed any that are in the slightest degree in- teresting.