13 MARCH 1847, Page 6

gbe jaetropolts.

The Court of Alderman met on Tuesday, for the despatch of general business. The Town-Clerk applied, on behalf of the Committee of the Court of Common Council, for a copy of the opinion of counsel on the case submitted to them by the Court of Aldermen in reference to the Qualifica- tions Bill. Mr. Alderman Humphery moved that the case and opinion be et once supplied to the Committee. Several members demurred; and an amendment proposed by Alderman Musgrove, to the effect that the appli- cation be referred to a Committee, was carried by a majority of 10 to 5. The subject of transportation was brought forward by Alderman Copeland, and the Government proposal to abolish it was condemned by the majority present: the speakers generally declared themselves in favour of the old system, and against the plan adopted at Milbank,—on reasons, however, purely empirical

A Court of Common Council was held on Thursday; and the great feud 'with the Court of Aldermen was still the chief topic. A report from the Committee of the whole Court, recommending that legal advice be taken, woe affirmed. After some discussion as to the subsequent procedure, Mr. Aahurat moved a resolution, stating that the Lord Mayor had refused to put the Qualifications Bill to the vote, and protesting against his right to refuse- The Recorder admitted that such a resolution would not compro- mise the Lord Mayor; and the feeling of the Court was that the terms of the statement placed the question on a footing favourable to future adjust- ment. The motion was put, and carried.

A meeting was held, on Monday evening, at the Eastern Institution in the Commercial Road, to oppose the Government scheme of education: the Reverend Dr. Andrew Reid presided, and several Dissenting clergy- men addressed the meeting. The speakers generally took one line of ob- jection, which embraced the standing arguments on the subject. Resolu- tions to the same effect passed unanimously, as well as a petition to Par- lament.

A public meeting of shipowners and others interested in navigation was held at the Eastern Institution, in the Commercial Road, on Thursday, to slowest measures for opposing the threatened repeal of the Navigation- laws. The great champion of those laws was Mr. George Frederick Young; but speeches were also delivered by Mr. Duncan Dauber, Chairman Of the General Shipowners Society, and others: all breathed uncompro- mising resistance. A petition to Parliament, demanding that the Naviga- tion-laws should be maintained inviolate, passed unanimously.

A numerous meeting of St. Andrew's Holborn, on Thursday, resolved to petition Parliament in favour of a poor-law for Ireland, on the basis of the 43d of Elizabeth.

Two meetings in the morning and evening, were held at the London Tavern on Thursday,—Mr. Luke James Hansard presiding at both,—to promote the collection of funds in aid of the distressed Irish and Scotch. Deputations from Ireland and Scotland were present, and made state- menu; and resolutions recommending increased activity in contributing were adopted. One resolution commended for support the United Relief Association, which is "wholly unseetarian in its principles and in its dis- tribution of funds."

A grand Highland dress ball took place at Willis's Rooms on Thursday, to aid the fends for the distressed Highlanders of Scotland. There was "a large array of philanthropic fashion."

A meeting was held at the London Tavern, on Wednesday, to promote the collection of funds to build a church for the use of sailors in the port of London. In the absence of the Lord Mayor, the Earl of Cadogan pre- sided. Mr. John Labouchere read a report setting forth that the sum of 7,8731. formerly collected for the erection of the church (now nearly com- pleted) fell short of the required sum by 1,9651.: 6,4951. had been spent on the building, 1,2001. had been paid to the Commissioners of Woods and Fo- rests for the site, and 1,0001. was wanted as an endowment fund. The Bishop of London, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Sir Edward Parry, Mr. John Abel Smith, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting in furtherance of its objects; and the sum of 5701. was subscribed on the spot.

The anniversary dinner of the Seaman's Hospital Charity was eaten at the London Tavern on Wednesday; the Earl of Auckland, as First Lord of the Admiralty, presiding. The inclemency of the weather caused a rather thin attendance; but a subscription in aid, amounting to 1,1001., was obtained. Among the contributors were the Emperor of China (1) and several of the crowned heads of Europe are mentioned. The chairman stated that 4,000 seamen had been relieved during the past year.

The annual general meeting of the Royal Literary Fund was held on Wednesday; Sir Robert Inglis in the chair. The report stated that the amount distributed during the last year in relief to distressed authors, their widows and orphans, was 1,4071.; the subscriptions and donations amounted to 1,0091., exclusive of a legacy of 1001. from Mr. John Harris, the bookseller of St. Paul's Churchyard. The President, Vice-Presidents, Council, and Committee, were refilected; with the addition of Sir Roderick Murchison, Sir Percy Shelley, and Mr. James Prior.

The Medical Society of London held its seventy-fourth anniversary meeting on Monday, at the Albion Tavern; the President, Mr. Walter Cooper Deady, in the chair. Dr. Golding Bird delivered the customary annual oration, touching freely on medical reform; and prize medals having been distributed, the proceedings ended in a dinner.

The House of Lords sat on Tuesday in its judicial capacity; and after disposing of some appeal cases, proceeded to hear counsel in support of Martin's Divorce Bill; which passed the second reading. The suitor was Mr. Montgomery Martin, the well-known writer on the Colonies. From the evidence it ap- peared, that Mr. Martin was married in 1823 at Sydney, to Miss Jane Francis Keith; and that up to 1831, although they had no children, the parties were living to- gether on affectionate terms. In that year they resided in the Strand, and received .Dr. Sheridan as a friend: no improper intimacy was suspected, until Mrs. Martin eloped with the Doctor. Search was made by the husband, but the fugitives were not found until 1833; they were then ascertained to be residing in Pimlico, u man and wife.

Some proceedings in the Vice-Chancellor's Court this week have had reference to the Walbrook case. Alderman Gibbs's accounts as trustee of certain parish property had been referred to the Master; who reported that Mr. Gibbs was a creditor to the amount of more than 5901.; and he now claimed payment of this sum, with costs. Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce considered that, on a long series of years, this sum was, "in a sense," due to Mr. Gibbs; yet inasmuch as it was a condition inherent in the trust to apply the annual receipts to the annual ex- penditure, and as this had not been done, Mr. Gibbs must lose the money. He censured the conduct of Mr. Gibbs in neglecting to furnish accounts for twenty years, and in claiming at first a larger balance as due to him: but he attributed this to mistake, and not to dishonesty. Mr. Gibbs was adjudged to pay the costa of the hearings before the Master of the Rolls, subject to certain limitations.

At the Thames Police-office on Saturday, a nefarious system of unlicensed pawnbroking was brought under the Magistrate's notice. An information was laid, at the instance of the pawnbrokers, against Barnett, a Jew, for carrying on the business of a pawnbroker without a licence. Barnett confessed, and was sentenced to pay a mitigated penalty. During the proceedings, it was stated that there are in the Metropolis some five hundred of these illegal pawnbrokers, who keep what are called dolly shops": these places are kept open later than the hours allowed to pawnbrokers, and on Sundays; they take pledges, charging an enormous interest; and they receive articles from children of all ages. The Solicitor of Stamps and Taxes has promised to prosecute the keepers of these shops.

The Whitstable smack-men have raised the wreck of the schooner Rose, which was run down by the steamer Royal Victoria, and have got it on shore; the cargo is expected to be saved. The damaged state of the vessel shows that the collision had been most violent.

The bodies have been taken from the wreck, and were found to be those of three men and a boy; the first account of the loss of life having been exaggerated: there were no passengers on board. One seaman seems to have been struck on the head by the bow of the steamer; another was found half dressed, as if he had been ascending to the deck when he perished.

A fatal mischance happened at Dulwich on Monday morning, from the ad- ministration of a wrung medicine. Mr. Cbristopuer Graham, a gentleman en- gaged in trade in the City, had recently been suffering from lumbago; an embro- cation was applied extemaly for the complaint, while medicines were also taken. On Monday morning, Mr. Giaham asked a servant for his draught; she policed out the embrocation; and the patient, though with great difficulty, swallowed it. The mistake was soon discovered, and surgical aid was obtained; but in a few hours the patient died. The embrocation was compounded of laudanum, cam- phor, and ammonia, and had acted fatally on the stomach. The Coroner's Jury pronounced the death accidental.

A plate-layer on the Eastern Counties Railway was found, early on Tuesday morning, near London lying on the rails, with his left leg cut off; a train having knocked him down while he was walking on the line.