kkl i19 7aA Zbe Metropolis.

On Friday, the Lord Mayor gave a splendid entertainment to the Judges, at the Mansionhouse. Amongst the guests were the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Baron Parke, Baron Gurney, Mr. Justice Patteson, Mr. Justice Coltman, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Sergeant Wratigham, Sergeant Gaze- lee, Sergeant Halcombe, Sir Claudius Hunter, Sir Matthew Wood, and several other Aldermen and officers of the Corporation. The Bishop of Llandaff, in returning thanks for his health being drunk, had a hit at Mr. Hunte's Committee on admission to national monuments: in allusion to St. Paul's Cathedral, "he hoped that the good feeling of the public would protect that great building from being subjected to desecration by being thrown open to all, and that the spirit of the party who were endeavouring to effect that object would always be successfully opposed."

The Lord Mayor, attended by the City officers, held a wardmote yesterday in the Ward of Bassishaw, for the electionof a fit and proper person to represent that ward in the Court of Aldermen, in the room of Alderman White, who has resigned ; being disqualified through the in- solvency of the house with which he was connected. Mr. M•Lean once had some intention of standing as a candidate ; but his friends had can- vassed the ward for him, and found that he had no chance of success ; and he retired from the contest on Thursday, leaving Sheriff Farncombe the only candidate. Mr. Farncombe was accordingly elected.

In the Metropolis, during the week, public meetings to petition for repeal of the Corn-laws have been held in Camberwell (Mr. Milner Gibson was among the speakers at this meeting) and the Tower Hamlets.

Public meetings to petition for the Ministerial project generally have been held at Southwark, Stratford-le-Bow, and the parish of St. Bride, in Southwark.

The meeting at Southwark was held in the Town-hall ; Mr. Holmes, the High Bailiff, in the chair. The speakers were, Mr. Weston the banker, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Alderman Humphery, and Mr. Benjamin Wood, the Member for the borough. Mr. Stevens proposed to add a rider to the petition, approving of the Ministerial plan for the present, until Parliament could be induced to adopt a Property-tax. Mr. Weston, who had moved the petition, seconded this amendment ; and it was carried by acclamation. Mr. Rose, a Chartist, endeavoured to address the meeting ; but desisted, on its being represented to him that it was a meeting of electors only. Two other Chartists created some confusion afterwards, in the endeavour to obtain a hearing ; but they seem to have been shouted down.

At the 'Power Hamlets meeting, which was held on Stepney Green, the Chartists offered a very pertinacious opposition. One of them moved an amendment, declaring that the abolition of the Corn-laws would be of no benefit to the working-classes : but it appears to have fallen to the ground, as another Chartist who seconded it was pro- nounced disqualified from taking part in the proceedings because he was not an inhabitant of the district. It is not so stated, but it looks very much as if the promoters of the meeting were partly defeated; for though their first resolution, "approving of the Government measure," was carried "triumphantly," no other seems to have been proposed—for the adoption of a petition, for instance ; and the chairman and com- mittee moved off, leaving the Chartists in possession of the ground. After they were gone, Mr. Anderson, a Tory agent, stepped forward, amid the cheers of the Chartists, and called upon them to join his party against the Liberals.

A correspondent of the Globe, who signs himself " A Hater of 'White and Black Slavery," is very indignant at seeing the Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society fraternizing with the Corn- monopolists. He anticipates that the general body of the Anti-slavery Society will not support the Committee in the course which they have adopted. It is, he argues, entirely at variance with the policy of the Anti-Slavery body ; and he draws his proof from the United States : there, the Slave States of the South, in order to retain a monopoly of produce-trade with England, are desirous of maintaining the English Corn-laws, so as to exclude from the British market the free-labour corn of the Northern States ; while the Anti-Slavery people of the North are fully alive to the necessity of abolishing the English Corn- laws, that they may break down one strong-hold of the Slave States. He adds- " 1 must not omit to state, that on the return home of the American depu- tation, the Anti-Slavery party there deliberated upon the plan of sending over a couple of lecturers to this country, to explain to the British people the unholy alliance between our Coni•monopoly and the inhuman and gigantic Slave-monopoly of the United States. To whom did they address themselves iu England for advice and cooperation ?—To the London Anti-Slavery Com- mittee? They had applied to them in vain. No; they put themselves in communication with an influential member of the Anti-Corn-law League; and it is probable that we may yet have the opportunity of hearing from the lips of American citizens those righteous denunciations of our slavery-fostering Corn-law, which we must not expect from the London Anti-Slavery Com-

mittee."

Mr. Tredgold, Secretary to the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, has issued an address on behalf of the Committee, vindicating their conduct in opposing the Government measure for the reduction of the Sugar-duties, which has been questioned by several of their sup- porters. He calls to mind that the Anti-Slavery Convention passed a resolution last year, declaring that the introduction of slave-grown sugar into the British market ought on no account to be allowed by Government. When the proposed alteration of the Sugar-duties became known to the Committee, they memorialized Lord Melbourne against it ; and their memorial had been before the public several weeks without exciting animadversion. That was before any announcement of the Govern- ment intention to propose an alteration in the Corn or Timber duties. "If these important questions have become mixed up, as unhappily they have been, with that of the duty on sugar, the Committee are clearly not responsible for any consequences that may ensue therefrom. The resolutions last issued by the Committee were grounded on the an- nouncement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and had, in common with the memorial referred to, but one object in view, the exclusion of slave-grown sugar from the British market." The Committee wil- lingly agree to the admission of sugar the produce of free labour from every quarter of the globe ; for they are not opposed to free trade. Mr. Tredgold says that all the leaders of the pally hold with the Com- mittee.

The annual meeting of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society was held yesterday, at Exeter Hall. Mr. W. Allen occupied the chair.

Letters were read from the Duke of Sussex, Mr. Clarkson, and Dr. Lushington, regretting that circumstances prevented them from attend- ing the meeting. The report was favourable. The receipts of the Society for the last year amounted to 4,6731. 3s. Id., and the expendi- ture to 4,6261. 3s. Id.

The, proceedings were of a somewhat unusual kind. Mr. Ashworth, a manufacturer of Lancashire, attended the meeting to counteract what

he supposed to be its object, the carrying out of the views expressed by the Committee of the Society, against the Government measures for the reduction of the Sugar-duties. He was interrupted by the Chair- man, however ; who told him that the meeting was not convened for any political object, but for nothing more than transacting the ordinary business of the annual meetings. Early in the day, Mr. E. Buxton was checked in the expression of his disapproval of the Ministerial project, with deprecations of politics, and groans and hisses. Mr. O'Connell, however, launched into politics in full swing : be began by professing his anxiety to limit the importation of foreign sugar to the produce of free labour ; and then he poured forth some Anti-Slavery sentiments ; turning all against the Tories, the friends of the planters in former days, and now the " hypocritical" friends of Slavery-Abolition. Lord Palmerston, who "in the excess of his folly " had had the " audacity " to recognize Texas, was Mr. O'Con- nell's scapegoat for Ministers. The meeting seemed heartily to re- spond to Mr. O'Connell's politics. The Chartists made an irruption, but they were put down.

The Anniversary Festival of the Sons of the Clergy was celebrated in St. Paul's Cathedral, on Thursday. Prince Albert, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, and a crowd of holy-day-folks, assembled to hear the sacred music. After- wards there was a dinner at Merchant Tailors Hall. The Lord Mayor took the head of the table, with Prince Albert on his right and the Archbishop of Canterbury on his left ; and at the board were the Archbishop of Armagh, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Chester, Bangor, and Worcester ; the Marquis of Westminter, the Marquis of Downshire, Lord Melbourne, the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Mr. Justice Patteson, Sir Robert Inglis, M.P., Mr. George Byng, MP., and a multitude of City dignitaries and visiters. Prince Albert returned thanks when his health was drunk with " the rest of the Royal Family." His Royal wife was divorced from him in the toast-list, and wedded to the Church ; for the Lord Mayor first proposed " The Church and the Queen."

The thirty-sixth annual meeting of the British and Foreign School Society was held on Monday, at Exeter Hall. Lord John Russell was called to the chair. On the platform were—the Dutchess of Bedford, Mr. E. A. Sanford, M.P., Mr. William Clay, M.P., Mr. William Strutt, M.P., Mr. John Randle, M.P., Mr. Walbanke Childers, M.P., the Honourable Charles Howard, M.P., Dr. Lushington, M.P., the Reverend John Barnet, and several other clergymen. The report stated that the num- ber of boys admitted during the year had been 659, and of girls 460 ; making the total number now entered on the books 51,696. The normal schools had been carried on with great activity : 234 candidates had been admitted ; of those 88 had been appointed to boys' schools, 53 to girls' schools, 17 had proceeded abroad, 25 had from various causes proved ineligible, and 41 were now under instruction. The new buildings in the Borough Road, intended to be occupied as the future normal school, are rapidly advancing. To complete them 19,2001. would be required ; towards which only 14,8001. had been received. The Committee, however, hoped that that sum would be soon realized. In the general operations of the Society, it was stated that above 200 teachers had been trained, 51 new schools had been opened, 4 agents had been more or less engaged in school-inspection, 13 new auxiliary societies had been formed, and 1,200 schools were now on the list of correspondence. The total receipts for the year were 5,902/. ; and a balance remained due to the Treasurer of 1671. Amongst the contri- butions for the year, the Queen had given 100 guineas, the Duke of Bedford 100 guineas, Lord John Russell 25 guineas, the Bishop of Durham 5 guineas, and the Corporation of London 1,0001. The thanks of the meeting were voted to the Queen for her patronage, to the Duke of Bedford for his liberality, and to Lord John Russell for presiding.

The Literary Fund Society met at their yearly dinner, on Wednes- day. The chair was filled by the Earl of Ripon, supported by Lord Colburn, Sir T. Canning, Commodore Napier, Mr. Milnes, M.P., Pro- fessor Backland, M. Von Raumer, Sir W. Beetham, Mr. Dickens, Mr. Macready, and others. The subscriptions amounted to 682/. In the course of the evening a song in praise of the achievements of Commo- dore Napier was sung.

The annual dinner of the Artists Benevolent Fund was celebrated on Saturday, at Freemasons Hall. About two hundred gentlemen were present ; Lord Mahon in the chair. The subscriptions amounted to a handsome sum ; the Queen appearing as a subscriber of 100 guineas, being her fourth donation to the same amount.

The annual meeting of the Protestant Association was held on Wed- nesday, in Exeter Hall ; and was crowded to excess. Mr. Chisholm was chosen Chairman ; and was supported on the platform by Sir H. Smyth, Sir J. Shaw, Mr. Plumptre, M.P., Mr, H. Pownall, Mr. J. Hardy, General Marshall, General M'Innes, General Welsh, and General Latter, Mr. J. Cator, the Reverend Hugh M'Neill, the Reve- zend R. J. M'Ghee, and several other clergymen. The report stated that the Society was 550/. in debt. Resolutions and a petition were adopted, regretting the spread of Popery in Ireland and the Colonies, and deprecating grants of public money for the support of Roman Ca- tholic institutions at home or abroad.

A meeting of the friends of the Scottish Church was held on Mon- day, at Willis's Rooms, for the purpose of receiving a deputation from Scotland to explain the intentions of the Church with regard to the Duke of Argyle's bill for settling the Nonintrusion question. The Earl of Monntcashel took the chair. Dr. MICellar, the Moderator of the General Assembly, addressed the meeting; and then the Reverend Mr. Candlish of Edinburgh proceeded to explain to the Londoners what Nonintrusion is, and the difference between the Earl of Aberdeen's

proposed bill and that of the Duke of Argyle. The Earl recognized, the right of every member to state objections to a minister presented to any parish, with power to substantiate those objections before the Church Courts ; who might refuse to admit the presentee to his living. That, however, was not Nonintrusion. ,The Duke 's bill prevented the ordination of a presentee who proved unacceptable to the people; and' that bill the Church has determined to support to the utmost of their power. The meeting agreed to a general resolution to back the Church.

Last night, a meeting of Irish Repealers took place at the Crown and Anchor Tavern. The large room was about half fall of Repealers ;. amongst whom were Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Dillon Brown, and Mr. O'Neil Don. There were also many Chartists present ; and Mr. Martin from Birmingham attacked Mr. O'Connell as the paid agent of Ireland. Mr. O'Connell retaliated in his usual strain of ridicule and vituperation.. Somme scuffling occurred, but the Chartists were outnumbered.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Monday, Lord Denman gave judgment in the Bloomsbury betting-case. On the 16th June, Mr. Pugh, the plaintiff in the case, laid 'a bet with Mr. Jenkins, the de- fendant, that the horse Bloomsbury had won a race on the preceding day. The statute 9th Anne, c. 14, to prevent the recovery of bets in- games of chance for any amount above the value of 10/, was pleaded in bar of the claim ; but the Court held, that as the bet referred, not to a matter of chance and futurity, but to the parties' knowledge of a matter of fact, the statute did not apply ; and so judgment was given. for the plaintiffi In the Court of Exchequer, on Thursday, judgment was given for Mr. Sturge, in the action brought against him by Mr. Muntz, the late. Mayor of Birmingham, as returning-officer, for Mr. Sturge's share of the expenses of the last election. Mr. Sturge retired from the contest immediately after the nomination ; and the question was, whether he could be considered as a candidate at the election. The Court held that he could not.

The validity of baptism by Dissenters was decided by Sir Herbert Jenner, in the Arches Court, on Saturday last. An action had been brought by Mr. Cliff, an inhabitant of Gedney, in the county of Lincoln,. against the Reverend Thomas Sweet Escott, Vicar of the parish, for having refused to bury the corpse of the prosecutor's infant daughter.. The proceeding was instituted under the 68th Canon, whereby it is de- creed, that " No minister shall refuse or delay to bury any corpse that is brought into the church or churchyard, convenient warning having been previously given to him ; and if he shall refuse to bury the same (except the party deceased were denounced, excommunicated for some grievous crime, &c.) he shall be suspended by the Bishop of his diocese from his ministry for the space of three months." The defence was, that " in the Rubric of the Book of Common Prayer, which was part and parcel of the statute 13th and 14th Charles IL, c. 4., in the order for the burial of the dead, it was enjoined that such office was not to be used for any that are unbaptized, excommunicated, or having laid violent hands upon themselves ; that the deceased having been baptized by a Wesleyan Methodist minister, any rite of baptism performed by' him was null and void; and that the child was therefore unbaptized in the eye of the law and the church." Sir Herbert Jenner, in a speech which occupied between four and five hours in the delivery, decided that baptism by a Dissenting clergyman was tantamount to lay baptism ; that Mr. Escott was bound according to the canons and constitution of the Church of England to bury the child ; and that by refusing to do so he had subjected himself to ecclesiastical censure. It had, Sir Herbert said, with a most praiseworthy and benevolent spirit been de- clared, that the party proceeding was only desirous that Mr. Escott should be admonished, and not canonically punished ; but the Court had no discretion in the case : Mr. Escott was therefore sentenced to be suspended for three months, and to pay the costs.

" George White," the girl who was found in Tothill Fields prison in man's clothes, was liberated on Wednesday. Two turnkeys were told to follow and watch her. They did so ; and twice interrupted her, without her seeming to recognize them, as she approached the basin in' the Green Park. She was taken before Mr. Burrell, at Queen Square Police-office on Thursday ; and there she avowed that she had not altered her determination to destroy herself. She was again recom- mitted for three months.