Zbe Itlietropolis.

The Court of Common Council held an adjourned meeting on Tuesday; and the discussion on the subject of affixing the seal to some Hospital docquets was resumed. The opinion of counsel had been obtained since last meeting; but Mr. Lott, as Chairman of the Committee to whom the matter had been referred, advised delay; the Committee not having yet received a satisfactory legal opinion on the question. [An opinion had been obtained, and was in the Recorder's hands.] The Lord Mayor wished to proceed: he held that the sealing could not be postponed without inva- lidating an act of Parliament. A stormy discussion ensued; in the course of which the Recorder formally submitted the resolution adopted by the Committee in favour of delay. To this Mr. Alderman Hughes moved as an amendment, "That the case submitted to counsel, and their opinion thereon, be now read." The Recorder hinted that it was not advisable that the opinion should be promulgated to the advantage of their opponents. It was now discovered that " strangers " were present; and the discussion was continued with closed doors. Eventually, it was understood, the Court agreed by a majority of 31 (57 to 26) to affix the seals to the doe- quets; the opinion of counsel being that the question between the Corpo- ration and Christ's Hospital could not be prejudiced by so doing. Among the other subjects disposed of, was one relating to the qualification which should be possessed by Common Councilmen. By a resolution passed in 1716, no person was eligible for the office who was not a householder within the ward for which he was elected. Doubts, however, had arisen as to the meaning of the word " householder "; and, with the view of removing them, a Committee on the subject recommended the Court to apply for a declaratory bill, enacting that every freeman occupying a house, summon- able on juries, and paying scot and bearing lot, should be eligible to the office of Common Councilman. The Court deferred their decision.

The Court of Common Council held a special meeting on Thursday, to consider the propriety of addressing the Queen to open the ports for the free admission of food. Mr. D. W. Wire introduced the subject, and moved the following series of propositions; upon each of which he commented as he went along- " That great, powerful, and wealthy as this nation is, by far the greater por- tion of her Majesty's subjects in Ireland, and a great portion of her Majesty's sub- jects in England, Scotland, and Wales, have long been reduced for their principal support to potatoes. "That all classes, but especially the poor, have been, and still are, great suf- ferers from this result of the national economy. "That the blight which has now fallen upon that root has subjected the people to great anxiety and distress, and to the danger of famine. " That their sufferings are attributable to erroneous legislation; which, by ex- cluding the importation of food, and restricting commerce, shuts out from the people the bounty and goodness of God."

Mr. W. Johnson seconded these propositions, with several received argu- ments and statistics against the Corn-law. The position of Sir Robert Peel was too peculiar at the present moment to avoid notice— He believed that Sir Robert Peel had conscientiously seen the necessity of a change in these laws; but had been restrained by a power behind him more power- ful than his own, even though he held the reins of authority, which they were told he had just resigned. That power was wielded by the Aristocracy, in their right of voting by proxy, and placing in the hands of one man a majority of the votes in the Upper House of Parliament. He believed that one individual held that power which ought never to be intrusted to any single hand. (Loud or

Whea he had that day passed the noble monument erected in front of the Royal Exchange to the noble Duke to whom he alludcd,'he could not but admire the original, when he contemplated him as a warrior who had led the British arms to victory; but he could not help thinking he was placed in a posi- tion which the artist never intended, but the result of the great question with which the Cabinet had been agitated showed that the noble Duke had in reality turned his back not only upon the commerce of the country, but upon that beau- tiful quotation exhibited in front of the Exchange—" The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." (Great applause.)

Mr. Lawrence stated that he could not agree with the propositions; deeming them fallacious, and addressed to the sympathies rather than to the judgment of the Court— The resolutions stated that the great portion of the Irish population were fed on potatoes. That might be true; but if it was intended to give the Irish better -food, they must give them better wages. It was simply a question of wages, and had nothing whatever to do with the repeal of the Corn-laws. He had been much struck last year at Coleraine with the remarks of an intelligent Irishman, who told him there that the price of potatoes was 8d. a measure; but that though they were only 4d. in Tipperary, the people there were not half as well off as the people of Coleraine. On inquiring the reason for this, the answer was, "Rely upon it, where food is to be had cheap, the people are idle and unwilling to work." (Cries of "Oh, oh!") He asserted that the people of this country, especially in the larger towns, were better fed and clothed than in any other part of Europe. Still be thought the Corn-laws were highly injurious; but instead of total repeal, he would prefer a fixed duty of 5s. As to Sir Robert Peel, he could not but express some alarm and regret at the prospect of his resignation—

And why did he do this? Because he knew no man so well able to carry Whig measures as was Sir Robert Peel. The Whigs themselves did not possess the power to act upon their own principles or carry out their own doctnnes. Sir Robert Peel could do so; and at present the right honourable Baronet evinced a stronger leaning than ever towards that course of conduct, He feared that the Whigs would never be able to carry all that might be hoped from Sir Robert Peel if he only remained in office: he, therefore, would be verysorry if the country were to lose so good a Minister.

Mr. Lawrence concluded by moving as an amendment a resolution simply recommending petitions to both Houses of Parliament, praying that the Corn-laws should be abolished.

Mr. Corney seconded the amendment; and subsequently delivered a speech in which he expressed regret at seeing the Court assuming an agitrAting tone." The members of that Court, be said, were not the re- presentatives of the nation at large; they merely represented the commer- cial and trading interests of the city of London. He was in favour of a repeal of the Corn-laws, but he wished to avoid any appeal to the Queen.

After further debate, in which several members of the Court were accused of changed opinions, a vote was taken: only three or four hands were held up for Mr. Lawrence's amendment, and it was declared to be lost.

Mr. Gadesden then moved another amendment- " That this Court is of opinion that it is inexpedient at this moment to inter- fere by petition or otherwise with the important question of the Corn-laws; inas- much as this Court confidently believes that the Ministry has been dissolved, and that it ought not, consequently, to present any address which might at this period add to her Majesty's embarrassments; and that therefore the further discussion of this subject should be postponed." (Laughter, and cries of Oh, oh.r) This amendment having been negatived, Mr. Frodsham moved a third; which advised the presentation of a memorial to the Queen, requesting that the ports be opened, and be continued open until Parliament should have passed a law to establish a fixed and moderate duty. The amendment, however, was withdrawn. Mr. Wire's propositions were put, and carried, almost unanimously; only three hands having been held up against them. There was some further attempt to ask for a fixed duty of 5s.; but ulti- mately an address founded on Mr. Wire's resolutions was agreed to; and the Court adjourned shortly after five o'clock.

The Lord Mayor has replied to the City electors who asked him to call a public meeting on the question of opening the ports. He declares his full confidence in the prudence of Ministers, and requests that his compliance may be accounted a purely ministerial act; but, not wishing to impede the free utterance of opinion by his fellow citizens, he fixes Monday next, the 15th instant, for the desired meeting in the GuildhalL Meetings to call for opening of the ports have been held at King,sland, and also by the Vestries of St. Pancras, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, and Clerkenwell.

The proceedings of the Agricultural Societies have assumed a new inte- rest since the promulgation of the reports that Ministers intend to repeal the Corn-laws.

The annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Protection Society was held on Tuesday, at their rooms in Old Bond Street. Present—the Duke of Richmond, (in the chair,) the Marquis of Salisbury, the following Members of the House of Commons—Mr. Gilbert Heathcote (Rutland), Mr. Newdegate (North Warwickshire), Mr. William Miles (East Somersetshire), Mr. Stafford O'Brien (North Northamptonshire); and several other gen- tlemen, in all fifty or sixty; each, we are assured by the Morning Post, being a person of" great personal weight and individual influence," or singly re- presenting a considerable district of the country. The Duke of Richmond began with a speech from the chair, of great bitterness in tone, though it fails in distinct statements. Ile alluded to defections from Protectionist ranks— "You, gentlemen, are aware, that since our last annual meeting, a certain number of individuals who formerly called themselves friends of the farmer—who

stated boldly on the hustings their adherence to our opinions, and who said that they were willing to give protection to agriculture—have since changed their opinion, and that now they are found to be the bitterest opponents to protection 01 British industry. It is not for me to impute motives to such persons. I will not impute to them motives other than those from which I myself would act. They are not here to defend themselves, and I am too much of an Englishman to attack any persons behind their backs. But I will say, that it is most unfortu- nate that they ever joined the cause of protection, that they ever stated on the hustings their willingness and determination to support that cause, and that they succeeded solely because they so stated." He assailed the Whig neophytes of the League—

"For my own part, I am not surprised at Lord John Russell's letter to his con- stituents of London; for after Iliad heard him say in the House of Commons, that 'protection was the bane of British agriculture,' I expected nothing whatever —at least, nothing better—at his hands. And I confess that I am glad that he has spoken out. I always regarded his proposal of a fixed duty as nothing but a declaration of an Anti-Protection principle; and I thought then, and still believe now, that if that proposal had reached a third reading, absolute free trade would have been established. There is another Lord—I mean Lord Morpeth—of whom I must also say a word. That noble Lord is everything one could wish in private life—honest, upright, straightforward, and most amiable; and I confess that Jam surprised that Lord Morpeth should have sent 51. to the League. A man of such high honour and noble principles—would he create fictitious votes in every county of England? Would he, personally and individually, give 5/. to a newspaper for promoting and publishing libels against the character of those with whom in politics he disagreed? Be, gentlemen, would do neither in his own person; but he sends 5l. that others may do for him the dirty work he is too honourable to do himself."

With respect to the alarm of a famine, so industriously spread abroad, he believed it to be a gross delusion. He exhorted the yeomanry of Eng- land not to be frightened because two or three noble Lords or half a dozen Members of the House of Commons joined the League- " Is their condition and is your condition so low that you dare not venture to maintain and uphold your own honest opinion in favour of yourselves and of the labourers you employ ? and dare you not do so because a few inconsistent men have deserted you? At the last general meeting of the Society, I said that I did not think it desirable that we should agitate the country in favour of protection. I felt that it was not our business as farmers. I knew that it would be against the wishes and inclinations and habits of us all to excite a general agitation in this momentous question—to set man against man—to beget those evils which in my opinion agitation must always produce. But in the present posture of affairs, I say that it is our bounden duty to speak out. (Loud cheering.) I say that it is the bounden duty of every farmer to proclaim his opinion and his determina- tion. I say it is our bounden duty to appeal to the yeomanry of our country, and to ask them if they have changed those views with which they triumphed four years ago?" (Continued cheering.)

He asked whether, if free trade were carried out, its advocates were willing to destroy the existing leases? "I should be willing to get rid of every lease: but what is the farmer to do with his stock? what is he to turn his hand to?" The matter does not admit of argument: it is ruin to the country, from beginning to end- " Lord John Russell may tell me that protection is the bane of agriculture; but I know what really is the bane of agriculture. It is the spirit of party— (Loud cheers)—those party politics which induce men to stick to thew party leaders when they know that those leaders are wrong. Yes, these party politics are the real lame of agriculture—the great and grievous cause of evil to the country at large—party politics, which induce the men in Opposition to bid higher than the Minister for power—which, if the Minister bids 2s 6d induce them to bid 58. This it is that has been, and still is, the ham of agriculture."

In the hands of the Protection Society, however, " rests the weal and welfare of this country "—

" I have not come to tide conclusion without much reflection. I beg of you not to be weak enough to be deluded into any compromise. Your real enemies, who falsely profess to be your friends' will say to you, ' Do it now, now consent to a compromise; later you cannot ; after this it will not be offered to you.' But, gentlemen, remember, this is a question of principle. Once consent to any compromise, and we ;hall not have a leg to stand on. So, I :ay to you, act according to the constitution of the comary-; for I will not recommend to others what I could not and am not ready to do myself; and come what may, I, for one, must stand by the constitution. But the constitution gives you power, and power enough, to accomplish our purpose. The Protection Societies throughout the country must be up and doing. By all fair and legitimate means you must show your determination to the Minister and to the Leader of the Opposition. I say nothing of the League, for the League would be nothing were it not led and sup- ported by such men as Sir Robert Peel and Lord John Russell. I hope and trust that the recent report of an intention on the part of the Government to move the repeal of the Corn-laws on the first or second day of the session is not correct. I, for my own part, do not believe it. I cannot believe, upon such authority at least, that such perfidy would or could enter into the mind of man. If, however, such should turn out to be the case, all I can say is, that I most sincerely hope that the House of Commons—that the representatives of the agricultural consti- tuencies returned for the express purpose of defending agricultural interests—will turn it out in the Lower House. (Loud cheers.) But, if they do not, I look to the hereditary Peerage of England." (Continued cheering.) A report, conceived in a very quiet, nay a subdued tone, was read by Mr. Stafford O'Brien—

It stated, that as the demand for tracts, both for and against free importation, had ceased, the exertions of the Cornmitteeto print and distribute such papers had not been needed. The League, however, had turned to a new agitation—not to influence but to create constituencies; and in that mode of warfiire the rules of the Society forbade it to engage. " The last session of Parliament was not much occupied with questions affecting the agricultural interest; but the results of the divisions taken against Ministers, in reference to the principle of protection to British industry, were hardly such as would have been anticipated by the consti- tuencies of 1841; and when our friends see that such diversity of opinion exists amongst those who represent them in Parliament, they can hardly expect that any central society, however constituted, should realize the expectations formed at its commencement." The Committee had forwarded to every Protection Society in the country printed circulars, requesting returns of the quantity and quality of

the crops. These returns are not yet entirely completed; some of them only arrived yesterday, and some few societies have written to state that they cannot prepare them for a fewdays. The general conclusion, however, to be drawn from them is, that although the potato crop in parts of England and Ireland is deficient to a greater or less degree, yet the supply of food in this country is such as to set at rest all fears of scarcity: and, considering the unfavourable seasons of the past year, and the scarcity either at present existing or to be reasonably anticipated in many of the neighbouring countries, your Committee cannot but feel that the plenty in our own land may be a source of honest pride to the English agricul- turist, and of sincere thankfulness to Divine Providence." After sonic allusion to the failure of the bill for permitting the use of malt in the feeding of cattle duty- free, and to the expediency of landlords' encouragement of tenants iii "combined efforts" to keep up a domestic supply of provisions commensurate with the rapid increase of the population," the report hastily glanced at more stirring matters. "Your Committee have read, without astonishment, the recent declaration on the part of Lord John Russell, of his having abandoned, irrespectively of any temtempo- rarycause, all his former opinions in favour of a fixed duty; which declaration, however, on his part, is a conclusive proof of the little reliance to be placed in those who would propose further concessions." The report promulgated by the Times as to the contemplated Ministerial repeal of the corn-laws is mentioned with dis- belief. "The proceedings of the League render necessary every watchml exertion on the part of the friends of protection"; and the strenuous cooperation of agricul- turists is claimed.

This report was approved unanimously. Mr. Byron, the Secretary to the Society, read an analysis of reports which had been sent up from local so- cieties in almost every part of England respecting the result' of this year's crop: the general result was, that in every district from which returns had been received there was a full average of wheat and other crops, in many districts considerably above an average; that although in almost every district the potato crop was more or less diseased, still that disease had been in almost every instance greatly exaggerated; and that the labourers throughout the whole of the agricultural districts had full work, at good

wages.

Mr. Thomas, a tenant farmer, moved the following resolution; which also passed without dissent- " That the Agricultural Protection Society of England, having made inquiries in every county of England, into the probable yield of grain for the subsistence of man, have the most unbounded satisfaction in stating that an average crop of corn has been secured for the maintenance of the people of the nation."

In doing this, Mr. Thomas gave to wavering Agricultural Members a signifi- cant hint. The recent conduct of a few Members of Parliament was calculated in a great degree to shake their confidence in public men. Another election was, perhaps, near at hand—in the course of events it could not be far off; and then he hoped there would be no mistake as to the character of the candidates. (Loud cheering.) He for one would never consent to vote for any man who would merely give in his adhesion to the Ministry—who would vote that black was white one day, or that white was black the next, merely to please them: to such C man he would never adhere, much less vote for him. (Great applause.) Other speakers were, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. Allnatt, Mr. Mile; Mr. lleathcote, Mr. Newdegate, and a few more tenant-farmers. The general tone of the speeches, their distrusts and indig-nations, may be gathered from the foregoing specimens, and from the petition subjoined, unanimously adopted.

To the Honourable the House of Commons in Parliament assembled.

" The humble petition of the Landowners, Tenants, Labourers, and others into• rested in Protm :ion to Agriculture,

" Showetb—That in consequence .4' the declarations made by several leading members of her Majesty's Governm, la in the last session of Parliament, indi- cating that further deductions might be made at no distant period 011 the already greatly diminished amount of protection now afforded to agneultare, and in con- sequence of the interpretation put on these declarations by some influential Mem- bers of your Honourable House, as well as by the public press, we deem it expe- dient to press upon the members of Government and your Honourable House, that such an impression whether wdl or ill founded, is calculated to destroy all con- fidence in the stability of the present Corn-laws, and to arrest the progress now making for the permanent improvement of the inferior soils of this country, by which the production of grain has very nearly kept pace with the rapid increase of our population. " That your petitioners, being practically engaged in cultivation, and employ- ing a large omount of capital and labour in farming, are enabled from their ex-

perience to state that the frequent diminutions of protective duties which have occurred since 1815 have led to the total loss of a vast amount of farming capital, and have consequently acted as a bar to the greater extension of agricultural im- provement. "Your petitioners have ascertained from the most unquestionable sources the prices of wheat and other corn during the last twenty-five years in the shipping- ports of central Europe; and find that the different descriptions of grain could be imported into the markets of this country at such low prices as must prevent the cultivation of a very considerable portion of the inferior soils of this country. " That during the operation and in consequence of reliance upon the con- tinuance of protective laws, a vast amount of capital has been invested in the purchase of lands, in the purchase of leases, in the erection of buildings and fences, and in draining and other expensive permanent improvements; which capital would in many instances be either partially or entirely sacrificed were foreign corn admitted duty-free. " That the doctrines of those who advocate a free importation of foreign corn have no reference to these circumstances, or to the ruin which must fall on the capital and labour of by far the most extensive interest in the country; but are based entirely on the principle that if corn can be imported cheaper than it can be grown in this country the cultivation of our own soil should be abandoned. "That the inevitable consequence of carrying out this doctrine would be the ruin of the cultivators of the soil, and the labourers now employed by them.

" Impressed by this conviction, your petitioners feel it their bonuden duty re- spectfully but firmly to call upon the Legislature either to uphold in their in- tegrity the present system of the Corn-laws, or, by an appeal to the constituencies of the United Kingdom, call a national opinion upon the expediency and policy of adopting, or not, the principles of free trade. "And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray."

With some formalities—reelection of officers, thanks to the Chairman, and so forth—the proceedings closed.

A special meeting of the London Farmers Club was held on Wednesday evening, at their rooms in the York Hotel, Bridge Street, to discuss the question of" tenant rights." The attendance was not limited to the mem- bers of the Club, but included a number of farmers from various parts of the country, who had been attracted to the Metropolis by the Smithfield cattle-show. Mr. Shaw delivered the opening address, and cleared the way for discussion. The meaning attached by the speakers to the term tenant rights" was, compensation for improvements effected at the cost of the farmer, for which he had not received an adequate return whilst in possession. Much complaint was made also of the hardship of the present practice; but diversity of opinion existed as to the best remedy; some re- commending legislative enactment, and others leases. The discussion closed with the passing of a resolution asserting that it would be desirable to establish a system of tenant rights, without indicating how that should be done.

The annual show of the Smithfield Cattle Club took place on Wednesday, at the Horse Bazaar in King Street, Portman Square. As a public exhibi- tion it proved as attractive as ever; numbers of visiters arriving early, and continuing to increase as the day advanced. As to the show itself, the animals were more numerous than last year, equally good as regards breed, but showing less over-feeding. Prince Albert's name appears in the prize- list, along with several other titled competitors: but the bulk of the awards seem to 'have fallen to the side of the farmers. Many of the superior animals were disposed of at good prices during the exhibition.

At the annual meeting of the members which took place in the com- mittee-room' the office of President, vacant by the death of Earl Spencer, was conferred on the Duke of Richmond,

The dinner took place yesterday evening, at Freemason's Hall; the Duke of Richmond presiding. The proceedings, except an eulogium from the Chairman on the worth and service of the late Earl Spencer, were of the usual routine cha racter.

Dr. Lyon Playfair delivered lectures on Wednesday and Thursday, at the Royal Institution, Albemarle Street, before the Royal Agricultural Society, on subjects connected with the potato disease. The cause of the rot Dr. Playfair attributed to a decay of organic matter, arising from the peculiarities of last season; and his suggestions for the preservation of what is sound were the same as those already promulgated.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Thurday, judgment was given in the long-pending snit of the Baron De Bode versus the Crown. Some readers may require an index to the general nature of the case. At the breaking out of the French Revolution, the Baron's father, who owned estates in Germany, be- came alarmed for his own safety, and transferred the land to his son. The terri- tory was seized by the French; and at the peace a large sum was received by the English Government, as indemnity for lands ' unduly confiscated" and belonging to English subjects. Part of this money was claimed by the present Baron, as an English subject. Commissioners, however, decided that the transfer of the property was only colourable. In June last year, the case was formally tried by a Jury; when a verdict for 361,2661. with interest was given in favour of the Baron: but issues passed for the Crown to the effect that the claim was excluded by the statute of limitations. The Baron next endeavoured to recover the money by " petition of right"; but the Crown resisted the claim, on various grounds. At the conclusion of an elaborate speech, Lord Denman observed that judgment must pass for the Crown, as there was nothing to show that money had been re- ceived by the Sovereign to compensate persons who had lost property in Ger- many, or that any money had been received for the use of the Baron De Bode.

The same Court VMS occupied on Monday and Tuesday with a case in- volving the liability of an insurance-office. The plaintiff was Mr. Topham, an electro-plater, in the Strand, and the actual defendants were the Protestant Dis- senters Insurance Company. In March 1843, the plaintiff entered into an arrangement with Mr. Gadsden for the purchase of his interest in a printing- office in St. Martin's Lane; on the 3d July he effected an insurance of 1,500/. with the defenders against fire; in twelve days after, the premises were burned down. Payment of the policy was claimed; but resisted by the Company, on various grounds, which at the trial took the shape of distinct allegations—want of interest in the property; that fraudulent accounts had been produced; and also that the place bad been set on fire with the plaintiff's knowledge. Volumi- nous evidence was adduced on both sides; but a few facts will suffice to show the general bearings of the question. Gadsden, who made the alleged sale to the plaintiff, bad been frequently in difficulties, but he had succeeded in arranging matters; and at the time of the transfer, the types and printing-office were farmed to a Mr. Foale, at 2101. a year. The plaintiff had been a waiter in various hotels, and be appears to have been acting in that capacity at the Royal Hotel in Slough, when the agreement was gone into for the purchase of Gadsden's interest; but no money passed between them. Five days after the insurance was effected, Top- ham married Gadsden's daughter; and the burning took place on the night that they returned from their marriage-jaunt. Witnesses averred that the stock had , , , ,tsee,u,overrated in value, and that it was constantly lessened by *efts: but the I 11 t

evidence to show that the plaintiff had a guilty knowledge of the fire was not deemed conclusive by the Jury; and they returned a verdict for the defendants on all the counts save that one.

At the Arches Court, yesterday, Sir H. Jenner Fust pronounced sentence of deprivation from office against the Reverend Mr. Heathcot; who had been con- victed of an attempt at crane.

At the same sitting, the Reverend Mr. Loftus, Vicar of St. Martin Fincham, whose trial for immoral offences excited considerable scandal, was sentenced to deprivation of all his preferments, with costs; time being allowed to appeal.

At the Mansionhouse, on Tuesday, Mr. Chaniock, a barrister, applied to the presiding Alderman for a summons against certain parties who had made an im- proper use of the name of Mr. Richard Garde, to serve the purposes of a bubble railway. The first intimation which Mr. Garde received of the use to which his name had been applied, was from a circular dated 30th October, addressed to him by "Andrew Ellison"; stating, that as one of the " Provisional Committee" of the Thames, Southend, and Northern and Eastern Junction Railway, he was entitled to an allotment of one hundred shares; and requesting him to fill up and sign one of the forms usually appended to railway prospectuses, which binds the person to pay the deposits and sign the deeds. Mr. Garde lost no time in waiting on Mr. Ellison, 53, Cornhill, at the Company's " temporary offices"; but as he could not see that person. he in-tructed one of the clerks to remove his name from the prospectus. The clerk apparently complied with the request, and Mr. Garde thought he was secure from further annoyance: but the receipt of a circular dated the 8th November, convinced him that he had not yet been lost sight of. This circular requested his presence at the Company's offices on a day named," to take into consideration the proceedings of the Company." He did not attend; and on the 0th instant he received a note from Messrs. Cope and Estes, of Cork Street, Bond Street, requesting payment of 1,0811. 128. 9d., the amount of a survey_ account. Mr. Garde sent a reply to these gentlemen, repudiating all connexion with the company; mentioning the means he had adopted to get his name erased from the prospectus; and intimating that be should adopt measures to bring "the parties to justice." As Mr. Charnock, however, was not in possession of a copy of the prospectus which bore Mr. Garde's name, Mr. Alderman Gibbs thought that a summons could not be issued against any of the parties involved in the transaction, unless such proof were adduced. Mr. Charnock undertook to procure the necessary document.

Mr. Smith, of the Chancery bar, waited on the Lord Mayor at the Mansion. house, on Wednesday, and stated that Mr. Ellison, mentioned above, had aban- doned all connexion with the scheme before the appointment of the Provisional Committee.

At the Worship Street Police-office, on Tuesday, a person named Edwards was charged by Mr. West, the minister of the "Free Church," in White's Row, Spitalfields. with creating a disturbance in his church. Edwards, a prominent member of a body of Free-thinkers who meet in Whitechapel " Hall of Science," had induced Mr. West to enter into a public discussion with him and some others, on the comparative merits of Christianity and Atheism. The Free-thinkers abandoned the field, and Mr. West claimed the victory; taking care to have it ratified by resolutions passed at a public meeting, in which it was asserted that he had "triumphantly overthrown the theory of the Infidels." According to the complainant, Edwards had waited for a fitting opportunity to gratify his spleen; and such occurred on Monday evening, when a "New Zealand chief" was to lecture on the habits of his countrymen, and to describe the happy effects which had arisen from the labours of the Missionaries. In the course of the lecture, Edwards created much disturbance by putting offensive questions to the "elder; calling him an impostor, and alleging that his object was to make gain of godli- ness. In this irregular proceeding he was assisted by a number of persons, who set up hideous cries, greatly to the alarm of the audience, and especially of ladies. In defence, Mr. Edwards stated, that no sooner did he enter the church than he recognized in the bedizened chief an Irishman named Byrne, whom he had knmen twenty years before as a fellow actor at the Garrick Theatre; and he considered it right to denounce him as an impostor. The Magistrate doubted Mr. Edwards's legal right to interfere as he had done: but Mr. West did not press for punish- ment; and the defendant was discharged, on finding sureties to keep the peace for the next three months.

At the Thames Police Court, on Thursday, the Magistrate decided that the claim preferred by the City to levy coal-dues on what is called " Wylam's patent fuel" could not be sustained; time article being manufactured, whereas the act of Parliament must have contemplated the real produce of the mire.

At the same Police-office, on Monday, Sir George Stephen applied to the Magistrate for assistance under the following circumstances. He had learned that some twenty men who had come from Muscat in a ship which had brought presents for her Majesty were slaves, and were now in a state of slavery on board a vessel in the London Docks; some were slaves to the master, others to the super- cargo or to the boatswain. He wished to have a summons against the master or supercargo, that they might be made aware that slavery was not permitted here. Sir George had been informed that one man had been murdered on the voyage hither: but this, he feared, was a matter not in the Magistrate's jurisdic- tion. Mr. Broderip inquired if the men had signed articles to navigate the ship from Muscat and back again ? Morris, an English seaman, said they had; but they were not free agents at the time. Mr. Broderip reminded Sir George, that he Auld apply to the Thames Police; an officer could go on board the ship, inquire if any one was aggrieved, and point out how redress could be obtained. Instructions were accordingly given to an Inspector to make the visit.

On Wednesday, Inspector Maddox, of the Thames Police, reported to the Ma- gistrate the result of his visit to the ship. It did not appear that any of the men were in a state of slavery, nor had any murder been committed on board the Caroline. Sir George Stephen, and some other gentlemen connected with the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Association, had seen the Arabs on board, and conversed with them; but only four had taken advantage of the offer made them to be sent back to Zanzibar. The others were content to remain on board the Anne until the repairs of the Caroline were completed; and then they would return to their own country. The men had no grievances to complain of. Shortly after, Sir George Stephen came into the Court with a different tale. He reiterated his statement that twenty of the crew were slaves, and had been ill-used; one man had declared the fact. Their food was good, but the clothing was insufficient for this climate. He asked them all if they wished to return to Zanzibar; and four only availed themselves of the offer he made to send them back. They said they wished to join their wives and families in their own country. Some were afraid they would obtain a bad character if they did not return in the Caroline. The whole of the slaves were very apprehensive and distrustful; a feature of slavery wherever it was found. He intended to repeat the communication he had already made to the slaves; and he had made arrangements for lodging the four who wished to leave the Ann; in the Sailors' Asylum till he could ship them for Zanzibar. He insisted on his charge of murder: if he could bring the case before the Magistrate, he could prove it by the evidence of Grant, by that of another seaman, and of the carpenter. A few minutes after Sir George had left the office, a gentle- man attended from Messrs. Freshfield, the solicitors, with the captain of the Caroline, an old Arab, his son, and several others connected with the ship. The Arabs indignantly denied that there were slaves on board their vessel, or that a murder had been committed. Mr. Clarkson then addressed the Magistrate. He said that the 'mum of Muscat had executed treaties with this country to repress slavery; and all his promises and engagements had been executed with the great est sincerity. The Caroline sailed from Zanzibar in March last, with a valuable cargo and numerous presents for the Queen of England. The crew were shipped tinder articles of agreement in the ordinary manner. He was in a condition to prove that they had all received their wages; that they had experienced the most humane treatment, and had been supplied by the agents with money and clothes beyond what they were entitled to by the articles. It was really too bad to make such a serious and unfounded charge. Some persons, with a spirit of knight- errantry, were constantly seeking adventures; and in their Quixotic expeditions did great mischief Sir George Stephen had conjured up a phantom. Some Black men were in this port; of course they must be " slaves "; and then a story was told about a murder. Mr. Broderip remarked, that Sir George Stephen still laboured under an idea the men were slaves. Mr. Clarkson—" Slaves, indeed ! the captain of a slaver who would bring his slaves into the port of London must be as excited as Sir George Stephen." He hoped Sir George would be more care- ful in future.

The further examination of Johnstone, the master of the Tory, has been post- poned till next Tuesday; the prisoner having been too ill to appear at the Police- office on Wednesday.

At Queen Square Police-office, on Monday, the case of Martha Browning, ac- cused of murdering Elizabeth Mundell, an old woman with whom she was living, at Brewer's Green, Westminster, was resumed. It had been partly investigated on the previous Wednesday; but the evidence now adduced was more conclusive of the prisoner's guilt. The " Bank of Elegance" note which she had stolen from the old woman and attempted to change, thinking that it was a genuine i bank-note, was identified by certain grease-spots which t bore. A piece of cord, of exactly the same kind as that found about Mrs. Mundell's neck, was discovered in the prisoner's box; and the medical testimony went to show that the deceased could not have been strangled by her own hand. The prisoner, on finding that she was suspected of the murder, had became conscience-struck, and made several avowals of guilt: but at the examination on Monday she did not adhere to them,— crying, "I did not do the murder." The Magistrate committed her for trial.

A fire occurred on Monday night at a printing-office belonging to Mr. George John Ford, in Brainses Buildings, Barbican; but it was extinguished after doing considerable damage. The circumstances were suspicious; and on Wednesday the City Coroner held an inquest to inquire into the cause of the fire. The printing- office had not been used for some months; it was insured, and recently the insur- ance had been extended: Mr. Ford had dropped words of an equivocal nature; and some time ago a strange light was seen on the premises. Atter the fire had been extinguished, Mr. Mallett, a Fire Brigade engineer, examined the building: lie found some paper saturated with turpentine in the further corner of Mr. Ford's premises; there were also some shavings and a layer of gas-tar near the same spot, together with some brimstone; the cap of the gas-pipe was found at some distance from the main. The cap was produced, and appeared to have been broken off by force. Mr. Ford endeavoured to account for these appearances, and said he thought he had been robbed. The Jury returned a verdict, "That the Ere was wilfully caused by George John Ford"; and the Coroner committed him for trial.

Buckingluim Palace is in future to be supplied with water from the wells at the back of Trafalgar Square. Workmen commenced laying down pipes from the Horse Guards across St. James's Park on Wednesday.

The Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week end- ing on Saturday last shows the following general results.

Number of deaths, Autumnal average. Annual average.

Eymotie (or Epidemic, Endemic. and Contagious) Diseases 189 ... 201 184 Dropsy, Cancer,and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat 90 ... 109 106 Diseases of the Brain. Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses 153 ... 155 159 Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration 326 ... 323 292 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 33 ... 27 24 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 64 ... 68 71 Diseases of the Kidneys, etc

6 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, fie 11

10 Rheumatism, diseases of the Hones, Joints, fie 9

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, &e.

t ... i

'1

Old Age 43 ... 74 .... 70 'Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 27

28

— — — Total (including unspecified causes) 962 ... 1,020 ... 963

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 5170 in the sun to 31.7° in the shade. The mean direction of the wind for the week is South-west by West.