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It is now some weeks since Sir Benjamin Hall, the First COMmissioner of Works, with the amnion of the Prime Minister, introduced the regu- lar performance of music by a military band in Kensington Gardens after church-hours on Sunday. The experiment succeeded so well there—the many thousands of people collected behaved with so much decorum— that he extended the privilege of Sunday music first to the Regent's Park, and then to the Victoria Park. Last Sunday there were gathered together in these three public places nearly 260,000 persons, who-listened .to slow and solemn pieces of music with perfect order. From the moment that the band of the Horse Guards played for the first time-in Kensington Gardens, an opposition arose among those who deem-Sunday-music Sabbath-profanation. A pressurewas brought to bear upon the First Minister in and out of Parliament, not only by speeches but by petitions ; and the Morning Herald ventured to -predict that Lord Palmerston must either put down the bands or allow himself to be put down. It was freely stated that "the fate of Sabbath-observance" de- pended upon the issue of this contest about the bands ; and the new Bishop of Carlisle—Lord Clarendon's brother—did not scruple to say that " Exeter Hatt would be found stronger than Benjamin Hall." Mr. Baines of the Leak Mercury—brother of Mr. Baines the Cabinet Minis- ter—wrote, that "the whole question of the Sabbath" was at stake in England and her dependencies_ "The performance of military bands on the Sunday," he said, " may seem a small thing. But it is not small even in itself, still less in the pna- ciple which it involves, or in the consequences to which it must lead. That cannot be a small thing which collects 90,000 persons in the first city of the world, and is likely to collect still larger numbers as the season advances, and when the attraction is presented in several other parts of the metropo- lis. There may be many respectable persons in such a crowd, but there are sure to be great numbers of vicious persons of both -sexes, who come to se- duce the young and unsuspecting. This will be their chief hunting-ground. „ . . The strains of martial music cause the pulse to bound and fire the imagination, and they are wholly out of accordance with the sacred repose of the Sabbath. It * however, their fascination which here constitutes their chief danger. Crowds are sure 'to follow them ; and among these crowds, arrayed in their Sunday finery, ;thousands of young girls and young men, with no more than the average Amount of vanity and weakness, will be breughtinto circumstances of extreme peril." In 'reply to a memorial recently sent to the First Commissioner of Werke, Sir Benjamin direeted one Of his subordinates to state, so late as Friday the-9th instant, that the result of a revision of the whole subject had confirmed his conviction, " that temperate and innocent recreations during some part of each Sunday are most desirable, and are calculated to counteract the rapid increase of drunkenness and the dreadful crimes consequent upon that vice." The bands played on Sunday the 11th, in three places, to 260,000 people, for the last time. At the annual meeting of the- Protestant hl Hance, on Monday the 12th, the Earl of Shaftesbury, from the chair, stated that a letter had been addressed to the Prime Minister by the Archbishop of Canterbury upon the subject of the performance of the military bands in the Parks on Sunday ; by which, his.Grace observed, a severe wound had been inflicted upon the religious feelings of -the com- munity. In reply to this appeal, Lord Palmerston wrote, " that his only intention in permitting the band to play in the Parks on Sundays was to give the people an innocent and healthy recreation between the hours of Divine service, and in the hope of keeping the working men out of the alehouses; but that, as he found his plan had been received with so great repugnance—that as there was, at all events, so much difference of opinion, and that as even the working people themselves appeared to be indifferent on the subject—although he retained his own -views and opin- ions, yet, in deference to public opinion and to the religious feelings of the community, he would order that the playing of the bands on Sunday should be discontinued."

But it seems there were other and more potent influences at work than the appeals of Dr. Sumner.

" It so happens," says the Daily. News, "that at the beginning of the week, [last week, we presume,] an irruption of the aggregate Scotch repre sentation into th-epresence of the badgered and baited Premier was headed by that most solemn ofthe FreeKirk leaders the Lord Advocate. From the solemnity of these legislative sages it warrobvious that, for the moment, the souls of Knox and Cameron were burning within them—that they were- a re- suscitated 'Westminster Assembly of Divines.' Lord Pahnerston, it-seems ware bluntly told, that unless heiramediately commanded Sir Benjamin-Hall to silence his bands, be could no;longer count on a single Scotch vote. Tha Premier might have defied the Archbishop as he did the Presbytery ; but to be left in a minority in the House of Commons was a much more serious matter than clerical censures, and he yielded with as good a grace as he could."

This throws a new light upon Lord ShaftesburY's statement, and ex- hibits the Premier in an attitude " more consistent with the character of the man who wrote the famous letter to the Presbytery of Mdinburgh.

On Tuesday the 13th, Sir Benjamin Hall wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, who -sent the band of his Militia regiment to Victoria Park on Sunday, thanking him, and at the same time intimating‘that he. had "re- ceived instructions not to allow the bands to play any more in the Parks or Gardens on Sunday afternoon."

A Special Court of Proprietors of the East India Company was held on Wednesday, to consider and confirm, or otherwise, a resolution of the Board of Directors granting a pension of 50001. a' year to-the Marquis of Dalhousie. The Court was largely attended ; Colonel Sykes, theChair man of the Court of Directors, presided. The resolution, submitted -from the chair, described the eminent services of Lord Dalhousie and ex- pressed a desire on the part of the Court "to record their deep sense of thegreat ability, of the extraordinary zeal, and untiring energy displayed by that distinguished nobleman in all departments of the Indian Go- vernment," by granting him a pension of 50001. per annum. In stating the reasons that had induced the Court of Directors to arrive at this de- termination, Colonel Sykes drew a picture of the administration of Lord Dalhousie.

He has extended British territory on the West and the East. The'finan- cial results of his, policy are, that 4,330,000/. 'havebeen added'to the revenue --from the Punjaub, 1,5A9081.-; from Pegu, 270;000/. • from Nagpore, less tribute, 410,000/. ; from Oude, 1,450,000/. from SAtara, 150,0001..; from Shausi, 50;0001.; from Hyderabad, 500,0001. Nor were his merits conspicuous alone in conducting wars ; he had devoted his earnest atten- tion to public works, and had authorized an expenditure upon them of 7,997,3211.-.-works including roads, bridges, canals,. gaols, barracks, and the eleotric'telegraph. He had given India cheap postage—a letter can be conveyed from Cape Cemorin to Peshawar, 1800 miles, for •less than a penny. 'During his administration the revenue lues! increased from 26,000,0001. to 30,000,0001. There have been four years of surplus and four of deficiency—the deficiency arising only when the public works began The deficiency., 6,185,2171., is less than three years' estimates -for public works, 8,097,321/. Lord Dalhousie has saved 300,000/. a year by the eonvereion of the Five into Four per Cents. He has liberally promoted the extension of schools ; be has direeted his mind to the resources of India—cotton, tea, iron, coal, forests, agriculture, the improvement of porta, and the navigation of rivers,- inland steam navigation,, the suppression of suttee; thuggee, female infanticide, Meriah sacrifices, improvement of the condition of the European soldier, care of cadets, preservation of the ancient monuments of India; dis- pensaries, vaccination, silk, merino, sheep, &c. In short, nothing appears to have been too great, nothing too minute.for the grasp of his enlightened and vigorous mind. Mr. Mangles seconded-the motion; and it was supported by Mr. Soon Karr, of the Bengal Civil Service, in an abbe speech ; also by Sir James Hogg, and Dr. Beattie. On the ;other hand, concurring in the general eulogies,passed on Lord Dalhousie Mr. Lewin expressly condemned his policy of annexation, which "in the end will lead to the loss of our em- pire " ; and contended that Lord Dalbousie's services did not warrant the Company in granting a pension from money that does not belong to them. Mr. Jones and Major Rathbone took the same views. But when -the motion was put to the vote, it was carried by the whole meeting minus The graduates of the University of London entertain hopes that their " long-deferred claims " will be conceded. In a recent letter to Dr. Foster, Honorary Secretary to the Graduates' Committee, the Vice Chan- cellor of the University states that the Secretary of State " has in con- templation the preparation of a new charter, which he will transmit to the Senate for its consideration" ; and expresses hishope "that this will be found to be the most convenient mode of arriving at the solitMn of the questions which have arisen on the subject." At a meeting held in Willis's Rooms on Tuesday—the Duke of Beau- fort in the chair—it was resolved that a memorial should be placed in the chapel of Eton College to commemorate those Etonians who have died, either by sword or pestilence, in the late war. As there is no room for a monument, it was agreed ;hat the memorial shouldconsist of one or more painted windows, in the panels of which the names of the dead may be emblazoned. In order to include the largest number of subscribers, the subscription is limited to 10/.

There was a " testimonial dinner " at the Freemasons' Tavern on Thursday, to Dr. Hassell, one of the Lancet Commissioners, in honour of his services in detecting adulterations in articles of food. In the un- avoidable absence of Lord Ebrington, Lord William Lennox presided. The testimonial presented to Dr. Hassell is a work in silver representing Ithuriel touching Satan with his spear.

The long-pending trial of William Palmer of Rugeley, removed from Staffordshire to the Central Criminal Court in London, began on Wednes- day. At an early hour crowds were waiting outside; none but those who held tickets were admitted. Among the distinguished persons present at the opening of the Court, were the Earl of Derby, Earl Grey, the Marquis of Anglesea, Lord Lucan, Lord Denbigh, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Lord W. Lennox, Lord G. G. Lennox, and Lord H. Lennox. The Lord- Advocate of Scotland sat.by the side of the Attorney-General during the trial.

The Judges were Lord Campbell, Baron Alderson, and Mr. Justice Crom- well ; the Lord Mayor, six Aldermen, and the Sheriffs, also sat on the Bench.

The counsel engaged in the case were—the Attorney-General, Mr. E. James Q.C., Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Welsby, and Mr. Huddleeton, for the Crown ; Mr. Sergeant Sheet Mr. Grove Q.C., Mr. Gray, and Mr. Kenealy, for the prisoner. William Palmer ie described in the calendar as aged "thirty-one, sur- geon, of a superior degree of instruction." He is said to look full five-and- forty. "His countenance is clear and open, his forehead high, his com- plexion ruddy, and the general impression which one. would form from his appearance would be rather favourable than otherwise, although his features are of a common and somewhat mean cast." Throughout; his " behaviour was respectful and attentive." The indictment charged him with the wil- ful murder of John Parsons Cook, who died at Rugeley on the 21st Novem- ber last. Palmer pleaded to this indictment "in a clear, low, but perfectly distinct and audible tone, Not guilty." The Jury were then empanelled— one declining to serve because he entertained "a feeling of prejudice" ; and all the witnesses were ordered out of court, except the medical-men. The case for the prosecution was opened by the Attorney-General, amid breathless silence, in a speech full of detail, that occupied four hours and a half in the delivery. In the early part of his narration, after reminding the Jury that their duty was to be impartial, the Attorney-General said that the case he should urge against Palmer was—" that, being in desperate cir- cumstances, with ruin, disgrace, and puniahment staring him in the fitee, which could only be averted by means of money, he took advantage of his intimacy with Cook, when Cook had become the winner of a considerable sum, to destroy him, in order to obtain possession of his money." It is right to look at the motives which might induce a man to 'commit a crime charged against him. As early as 1853, Palmer, in difficulties, began to raise money on bills • in 1854 his circumstances became worse. Among the bills on which he raised money, was one for 20001. ' it-bore the acceptance of his mother : that acceptance was forged by Palmer.'m It 1864 he owed a large sum ; he insured the life of his wife ; she died in. September ; by her death he realized 13,0001., and by means of that discharged some of his most pressing liabilities. In the course of the.same year he, insured, his brother's life ' • issued fresh bills-12,5001. in all—and got them discounted at 60 per oent; and "there was due in November 1855 no less than 11,5001. upon bills, every one of which bore the forged acceptance of..the prisoner's mother." Palmer's brother Walter died. in August 1865; his life had been insured for .13,0001. ; but the offices declined, to pay. In the August of that year, cook executed an assignment of his horses Polestar and Sirius to Pratt, a solicitor, in order to enable Palmer to raise money. Pratt sent down a check for the amount; but he struck out the word " bearer," and wrote " order " in its place ; the effect of which was to neces- sitate the indorsement of the check by Cook. Palmer forged the name of John Parsons Cook on the back of that cheek. Cook never received the money." Within ten days from the period when C,00k came,to his end the bill would have fallen due, and it would have become apparent that Palmer forged the indorsement. In September, Palmer asked a person named Bates to propose his life for insurance ; representing him as a man of substance. Bates declined at first ; Palmer pressed him, and Cook interposed, saying, "You had better do it ; it will.be for your benefit; you will be quite safe with Palmer." Bates proposed for 25,0001., Cook attesting; but the pro- posal failed. On the 6th November,.Pratt issued but did not serve two writs for4000/., one against Palmer one against his mother, and pressed hinr to meet the bills. On' the 13th November 1855, Cook's horse Polestar won a handicap at Shrewsbury Races ; Cook won a total of 2050/. ; on the ensuing Monday he was entitled to receive at Tattersall's 1050/. ; he had in his pockets between 700/.- and 800/. Within a week from that time Cook died. He was a young man, only twenty-eight. Slightly disposed to pulmonary complaints, he was under the care of Dr. Savage, whom he saw from time to time ; and who would state that within a fort- night of his death Cook had nothing on earth the matter with him except a certain degree of thickening' of the tonsils or some of the glands of the throat. These were the newer incidents in the case. From this point the Attorney-General dealt with facts more generally known. He described the' cene at the inn in Shrewsbury on the 14th November, where one Fisher found Palmer and Cook drinking together, and heard Cook say, after drink- ing a glass of brandy, and water, " Good.God ! there's something in it ; it burns my. throat" ; how Palmer drank up himself the last drops, and then handedit to Fisher to taste. Cook was sick and ill that night, and he gave Fisher 8001. or 9001. to keep. Next day he grew better, and Fisher restored the money. The Attorney-General here alleged, that having been prepared by antimony, Cook was killed by strychnine. He described the operation of strychnine, which affects the voluntary, muscles of the body, and leaves the power of consciousness unimpaired. He showed that Palmer was not ignorant of the effect of strychnine; for in a medical work' found in his house he had written—" Strychnine kills by causing tetanic -fixing of the res- piratory muscles." Next the counsel narrated the incidents at Rugeley. Cook and Palmer arrived there on the loth. On the 17th, Cook took coffee ordered by Palmer, and was shortly afterwards sick. Toast-and-water was brought to him from Palmer's house ; broth was sent to him by Palmer ; in both cases sickness ensued ; and the chambermaid, Elirabeth Mills, who took two spoonsful of the broth, was also sick and obliged to go to bed. Palmer called in Dr. Bamford, an old man of eighty, saying Cook had a bilious at- tack. Dr. Baniford could not discover a single bilious symptom. Barley- water was given to Cook when Palmer was not there and it did not produce vomiting. Two hours afterwards, arrowroot was given when Palmer was

present, and again Cook vomited. This took place on Saturday the 17th. During Sunday Palmer was not present ; Cook took Damford's medicines, i

and his health improved. On Monday Palmer 'went to Loudon ; but before he started, he gave Cook some coffee—the vomiting returned. And what did Palmer go to London for ? He went to arrange Cook's accounts ; and he directed one Herring to obtain the money at Tattersall's, and pay his own debts with it. " Palmer did not hesitate to apply Cook's money to the pay- ment of his own debts." He returned to Riore.ley the same evening, and bought three grains of strychnine of one Newton, assistant to Mr. Salt, surgeon. That evening took took pills—whether those prepared by Dr. Bamford, or pills substituted iby Palmer' the Jury must say. At midnight Cook roused the house, shrieking dreadfully, shouting " Mur- der !" and calling on Christ to save his soul; his eyes starting, his body convulsed. rainier was sent for ; he came instantly, and gave Cook some medicine, that instantly made him vomit. Cook soon after fell asleep. The next day, Tuesday, Palmer bought two drachms of prussic acid, six grains of strychnine, and a certain quantity of Batley's liquor of opium, He did not purchase it at Salt's ; he got it from 31r. Hawkings, a druggist with whom he had not dealt for two years. On that Tuesday, Mr. Jones, a personal friend of Cook, came from Lutterworth at Palmer's call—Cook was " suffering from bilious diarrhoea." Jones found no sign of bile. The three medical men—Palmer, Jones, Bamford--consulted, and it was agreed that Bamford should make up some pills. Palmer followed Bamford to his sargerv, and asked him to write directions on the box. Before Palmer gave Cook the pills, he called Jones's attention to the writing on the lid—so dis- tinct and vigorous for a man upwards of eighty. That was about half-past ten. Jones slept in Cook's room that night. He had scarcely been in bed fifteen minutes before Cook started up. with a frightful scream crying, " Send for the doctor!" Palmer camo immediately, remarking, "I never dressed so quickly in my life." Cook was gasping for breath, screaming violently ; his body convulsed with cramps and spasms ; his neck rigid. Palmer ran out, and instantly returned with two pills, which he said were ammonia—a drug that requires much time in preparation. Cook took the pills. " He was instantly seized with violent convulsions ; by degrees his body began to stiffen out ; then suffocation commenced. Agonized with pain, he repeatedly entreated to be raised. They tried to raise him, but it was not possible. The body had become rigid as iron, and it could not be done. He then said, Pray turn me over.' They did turn him over on the right side. He gasped for breath, but could utter no more. In a few mo- ments all was tranquil—the tide of life was ebbing fast. Jones leant over him to listen to the action of the heart. Gradually the pulse ceased—all was over—he was dead."

The Attorney-General described, in conclusion, how Palmer busied him- self about the burial of Cook ' • how he was found overhauling. his clothes ; how the betting-book of the dead man and his money were missing ; how he produced a pater stating.that Cook was liable to him for 4000/. worth of bills ; how he tried to obtain from Cheshire the postmaster his signature to thatpaper, as evidence that he witnessed its signature by Cook ; how Dr, Bamford was induced by Palmer to certify that Cook died of " apoplexy " ; how at the post-mortem examination the body was found to be healthy,; and how, when it was exhumed two months afterwards, Palmer tried.to play tricks with the jar containing the intestines, and offered to bribe a poet- boy to upset the fly and break the jar on the road. The Attorney-General, towards the close of his speech, in speaking of strychnine, said that when it has been _usedit is sometimes found and sometimes not. The medical men never said that it cannot be detected. " What they have asserted is this—the detection of its presence, where its administration is a matter of certainty,. is a matter of the greatest uncertainty." " If in the end all should fail in satisfying you of his guilt, in God's name let not the innocent sutler! If, on the other band, the facts that will be presented to you should lead you to the conclusion, that he is guilty, the best interests of society. de. mend his conviction."

The. Court adjourned for a short time after this address and on its • re- turn the witnesses for the prosecution were examined. During the first two days of the trial, the witnesses were Ishmael Fisher, wane-merchant; George Read, " keeper of a house frequented by sporting characters" ; William Scaife Gibson, assistant to Mr. H.ft, thcote, surgeon, Shrewsbury • Rlivabeth Mills, chambermaid, and Lavinia Barnes, waitress at the Talbot Arena, Rugeley ; Mr. Gardner, solicitor, of Rugeley ; Mrs. Ann Breda, who " lives at Manchester, and is in the habit of attending races " • Ann Row- ley, " charwoman employed-by Palmer " • Charles Harley, gardener dener. occa- sionally employed by Palmer ; Sarah Bond, housekeeper at the Talbot; William Henry Jones, surgeon,. Lutterworth ; Dr. Savage, physician.; and Mr. Newton, assistant to Mr. Salt, surgeon. These witnesses deposed' to the circumstances that occurred at Shrewsbury and Rugeley during the 'week previous to the death of Cook, as deacribedby the Attorney-General. The chief witnesses were—Fisher, who heard Cook complain that something had been put in his brandy-and-water ; Mills, Barnes, and Jones, who detailed the incidents at the Talbot Arms; Savage, who spoke to the health of Cook ; and Newton, who deposed' that he had given Palmer three grains of strych- nine on the 19th November. Newton said he had. not mentioned this fact at the inquest, because he thought it would displease Mr. Salt if he knew that his assistant. had given Palmer anything. But Newton had mentioned a conversation between himself and Palmer on the 25th November. "'He asked me how I was, and to have some brandy-and-water. No one eke was present. He asked me what was the dose of strychnine to give to kill adog ? L told him, a grain. He asked me what would be the appearance of the sto- mach after death? I told him that there would be no inflammation, and that .I didnot think it could be found. Upon that he snapped his finger and thumb in a quiet way, and exclaimed, as if communing witlikmself, That'sall rightl"' Sergeant Shee tried to shake the testimony of Mille as to the transactions at the Talbot, but not with much success. She had not stated some things before the Coroner—why ? "I did nothing but answer the questions put to me." The Attorney-General-called Mr. Gardner to show that the way in which the Coroner conducted the ease, omitting to ask questions, neglecting to take down answers, Ind led to frequent expostulations. The depositions were read, and Mr. JusdeerCresswell remarked that there was nothing to show whether any questions had been put at all. For all that appeared, the witnesses might have made voluntary statements. Mrs. Brooks 'is evidence was to this effect—that one evening, during the Shrewsbury races, she called upon Palmer, and found him holding a tumbler, in which there seemed to be a small quantity of something like water, between him and the light, and now and then shaking it.

William Hobson Aubert, a "gentleman ," twenty-fret years of age, and said to be highly connected, was charged before the Southwark Magistrate with assaulting two little girls. His conduct was pecaliarly abominable. He pretended that he was surgeon to the British.Orphan Asylum, and that he had been directed to examine the children previously to their admission to the asylum. After the first examination at the Tolice.Court, he was ordered to find sureties, himself in 5001. and two other bail in 2501. each. He was to have appeared again on Saturday—he was not forthcoming. It was stated that a number of other charges could be brought against him. A solicitor announced that the money forfeited on the reeoginzanees was ready : he supposed there was an end of the case.. But the oounsel for-the

prosecution intimated that Aubert would be indicted. On Monday, Aubert's solicitor handed a check for 1000/. to the Chief Clerk at the Police Court for the amount of the forfeited recognizances.

Some people seem infatuated on the subject of smoking. Mr. Sutton, so- licitor to the Brighton Railway, has been fined for smoking in a carriage on the South-Western Railway,—doing that for which he might be required to prosecute offenders on the Brighton line. But the case was peculiarly bad. Mr. Pulman, Usher of the Black Rod, his fellow traveller, requested. him not to smoke : he replied that he should, even though the complaining party Should inform the guard : Mr. Sutton did smoke, and continued to do so after the guard bad warned him. Mr. Sutton did not attend before the Lambeth Magistrate, but he had admitted his indiscretion in a letter.

Mr. Charles Robinson, a surgeon in the Old Kent Road, has been held to bail for pursuing a new branch of " practice." A publican complained in Mr. Robinson's presence that Harriet Jordan, a woman who visits public- houses and gets liquor without having money to pay for it, is "a perfect pest and nuisance," and he wished some one would put her in the horse- trough. Mr. Robinson took up the case, and put the woman in the horse- , trough; from which hydropathic treatment she became very ill.

An unusually painful feeling has been caused by the death of Mr. Charles Russell, late Chairman of the Great Western Railway, under a morbid im- pulse. Mr. Russell was found by his servant on Thursday morning, lying on his bed, with two pistols by his side, unconscious, but breathing heavily. One of the pistols had missed fire, but the ball of the other had entered the roof of the mouth, and lodged in the brain, wounding in the passage some of ire blood-vessels. Medical advice was called in; but the wound was at once pronounced to be mortal : still he lingered on until two o'clock in the afternoon. The Reverend Whitworth Russell, Inspector of Prisons, who also died by his own hands, was Mr. Charles Russell's brother.