jiftetropolis.

Last Monday, being Plough Monday, a Court of Aldermen was held for receiving the presentments of the several Ward inquests, and for swearing lit the constables. A presentment was made from Bishopsgate and Cripple- ate Within, and other wards, complaining of the number of unqualified per- . sons who carry on trades with impunity, to the prejudice of the freemen; from Coleman Street Ward, on the compulsory nature of the duties of inquest men; from Farringdon Without, against the return of Messrs. Lyas and Obbard as Common Councillors; and from St. Dunstan's, against certain old houses in Fetter Lane, which have become depositories of filth. Lord John Russell was entertained at dinner on Thursday by the very ancient Company of Weavers. The allusions to public affairs were scanty, and couched in the most vague terms.

The Central Society for the Protection of British Industry had a Com- mittee meeting on Tuesday, to consider the repeal of the Malt-tax. Reso- lutions were passed condemning the tax; pledging the Society to use every constitutional means to obtain its repeal "as soon as shall appear practi- - cable"; and appointing a deputation to convey the Society's opinions to -Lord John Russell.

A meeting of agriculturists and tenant-farmers, deputed from various local societies connected with agricultural protection, took place on Tues- day, at the Freemason's Tavern, to consider the best means for advancing the proposed testimonial to the Duke of Richmond. Mr. John Ellnsan, of Sussex, presided. The report of the proceedings is exceedingly obscure ; but it -would appear that the meeting decided to appoint a general committee, the individual members of which should exert themselves in their several localities; and that they then unanimously agreed to appoint the Duke of Richmond President of the Institution for the Relief of Distressed Tenant Farmers—the form which the testimonial is to take. Several subscriptions from the local Protection Societies in aid of the testimonial were announced.

A numerous meeting of farmers and agriculturists took place at Radley's Hotel, on Monday evening: Mr. Fisher Hobbs presiding. Mr. Shaw delivered the principal speech; in which he explained, that what the farmer ought to have was, either a lease for a term of not less than twenty years, or a "tenant right,"—that is, the farmer's right to compensation for all unexhausted improvements in case of eviction from his farm. This was the general sense of the meeting.

A public meeting was held on Wednesday, in one of the small rooms at Exeter Hall, to consider the existing famine and destitution in Ireland and Scotland. The Reverend G. H. Stoddard occupied the chair. The prin- cipal speakers were, the Reverend Dr. Beamish, the Reverend Mr. Black- man, the Reverend Baptist Noel, (who read some horrifying details o the distress at Skibbereen,) the Reverend Dr. Leifchild, Mr. Cochrane' and Mr. Luke James Hansard. In the course of the proceedings, Mr. Campbell addressed the chairman in favour of an effort for the future. He urged improvement in education, and in the dwellings of the poor Irish, as measures to restore prosperity in Ireland. The Reverend Dr. Carlisle also mentioned that the Society of Friends were raising more than 20,000/. as a relief fund. The resolutions adopted advised preaching by clergymen of all denominations in favour of a general collection; expressed sympathy with the sufferers, and gratitude to the munificent subscribers of the list headed by the Queen; and appointed a committee to carry out the contemplated objects. The attendance throughout was very thin, the numbers being sometimes below fifty.

The approach of the Parliamentary session has given renewed activity to the movement for the repeal of the Window-tax. On Tuesday, various deputations from the Metropolitan parishes met at the Marylebone Court- house to adopt measures for insuring the immediate abolition of this duty. After some speeches from Lord Duncan and Sir Charles Napier, a deputa- tion was appointed to wait on Lord John Russell, to press the subject on the attention of the Government.

At the weekly meeting of the St. Pancras Vestry, on Wednesday, there was a somewhat violent discussion touching Mr. Mills's recent conduct in publishing the report of an inquest on an infant named Woodward, to which he had appended some animadversions on Mr. Howarth. The wish, among some of the Vestry was to take legal proceedings; but a resolution to that effect was superseded by an amendment strongly expressing the Vestry's censure; which -was carried by a majority of 25 to 8.

A public meeting was held at the Westminster Literary and Scientific Institute, on Monday, to consider the proposed removal of Westminster Bridge and the erection of a bridge at Charing Cross. The chair was taken by Sir De Lacy Evans; supported by the Dean of Westminster and Mr. B. Hawes, M.P. Resolutions were passed, protesting against the change, or against the appropriation of public funds in aid of it; and de- claring a determination to oppose the measure by every legitimate means.

The half-yearly General Court of the Royal Humane Society was held, in Trafalgar Square, on Tuesday; Mr. Bond Cabbell, M.P.,- in the chair. From the report it appeared that the total number of persons who had skated in the Parks, during the sixteen days between December 14th and January 3d inclusive, amounted to 279,482; that of this number forty-five were immersed in the water, and that one only had died. Silver medals were awarded to thirteen individuals who had distinguished them- selves in rescuing persons from the water. The Society's income for the past year amounted to 2,785/.; the expenditure for the same period, 1,9141.

A spacious building has been erected in George Street, St. Giles's' at the rear of the French Protestant Church, intended as a lodging-house for the poorer classes. The entire erection covers an area of 2,700 square feet, and is seven stories in height: with the exception of the ground-floor and basement, the premises will be converted into dormitories. Baths and wash-houses are to be added to the other accommodations, without extra charge for their use.

Claridge's asphalte pavement at Whitehall, having -worn into holes, is:to be replaced by Portland stone.

In the Court of Chancery, on Monday, Mr. Cooper stated that in Mrs. North's case an arrangement had been come to between the mother and grandmother of the children, which rendered any further proceedings in court unnecessary.

At the Centre Criminal Court, last week, George Fitts was tried on two charges of obtaining money under false pretences: in both cases he had pretended to be an attorney, and in that capacity had got money from two women on the pretence that he could obtain remissions of sentences which had been passed on their husbands for offences they had committed. The man was convicted, and ordered to be transported for seven years for each offence.

At the Thames Police Court, on Tuesday, the charge against Colonel Wright for an infraction of the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act was reheard. In addition to Captain Harvey Tuckett, Lieutenant William Neath Butts, Cap- tain Gabriel James Michael Maturin, and Sir W. Ogilvie, were examined. They all gave evidence tending to place the object of the Flores expedition in the light of a military enterprise; and Colonel Wright was again held to bail to answer the charge at the Central Criminal Court.

On leaving the Court, Mr. Tackett was arrested for debt; much to the delight of the assembled crowd, who hooted the gallant informer, and, according to one account, threatened him with personal violence.

Mr. Head and Mr. Cockman, two tradesmen of Walworth, have been astounded by the way in which Mr. Elliott, the Magistrate of the Lambeth Police-office, has punished them for assaulting the police. The culprits bad been drinking; Head struck a brother-in-law, and was given into custody; he attacked the officers' • and a mob, Cockman being one, rescued him from their hands. Before the Ma- gistrate, the defendants treated the matter very lightly—if the police had not interfered the family quarrel would have been easily settled. Mr. Elliott observed, that imprisonment being the only punishment to deter persons in their station from committing such violence, the sentence of the Court was, that Head stand com- mitted for twenty-one, and Cockman for fourteen days, to the County Prison. 'The prisoners implored his worship not to send them to prison; for as tradesmen uit-woald be a senons injury to them in their business, besides casting a stigma on their characters through life. Mr. Elliott was inexorable, and the rioters were ...conveyed to prison.

Mr. Maltby, the Magistrate at Marlborough Street Police-office, has resigned, in consequence of a severe nervous disease, under which he has been some time "suffering. Mr. Maltby WU distinguished for the promptitude and extent of relief which he bestowed in cases of urgent distress. Mr. gingham, from the Worship 'Street office, is to succeed him.

Mr. Yonatt, the well-known veterinary surgeon, committed suicide at his resi- dence in the New Road, on Saturday. He had recently speculated largely; and his schemes having proved unfortunate, he had suffered great mental depression, and at last took poison. The deceased was in his seventieth year.