13 APRIL 1839, Page 4

A public meeting of the Protestant Association was held on

Monday, at Exeter Hall, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament against the clause in the New Prison Bill, which provides for the appointment of Catholic chaplains in English prisons, to be paid out of the national funds ; ou the ground that such a provision was a violation of Protestant principles.

The Bishop of London, it is said, has been. applied to, to revise the whole of the psalmody used throughout his diocese, with a view of

establishing one uniform system, and of getting rid of many objection- able hymns which have found their way into some Episcopal chapels.— Globe.

The annual report of the Society for the Discharge and Relief of Persons Imprisoned for Small Debts, throughout England and Wales, announces that their expenditure during the last year exceeded their ordinary income by the amount of 2,1241. 18s. 5d. The benevolent public, we trust, will soon replace this sum to the excellent charity, with a large increase.

The annual meeting of the Infirmary for the Cure of Diseases of the Rectum was held on Wednesday, at the London Tavern ; Alderman Copeland, M.P. in the chair. The report mentioned that the low state of the funds was caused by the numerous admissions, and that num- bers for whom there was not room within the walls received external assistance. Since the establishment of the Infirmary, in the year 1835, a vast multitude of cases had been cured and relieved. In the two first years and a half, 351 had obtained relief; and in the last year, tip to the 25th of December, 277 ; being nearly a threefold increase for the period. The United Society of Postmasters, at a meeting held at the Free- mason's Tavern, on Wednesday, agreed to petition Parliameut for a re- peal of the duties on post-horses and carriages.