Zbe Aletropolis.

The position of Alderman Thomas Wood gave unusual interest to the generally dry routine of the election to the civic chair. After the formal swearing-in of the new Sheriffs, Alderman Hooper and Mr. Jere- miah Pitcher, on Wednesday, the few Aldermen present retired to the Old Council Chamber ; and although only nine were there, thirteen being necessary to constitute a quorum, at the request of the Lord Mayor they took their seats in order to hear a statement from Mr. Wood. He said, that in consequence of what had taken place in the last Court of Aldermen, he had begged the Lord Mayor to call a special court on the subject ; but the Lord Mayor declined to do so ; intimating, that as a court would probably be formed after the swearing of the Sheriffs, he could then make a statement or answer any charge that might be brought against him. He now challenged any person to make such charges, and complained that his earnest call for strict inquiry was met by the refusal of any inquiry at all. He declared that one Alderman had made a gross misstatement of what he had said some years before, when a candidate for the office of City Solicitor ; for he never made any statement as to the amount of his property. He denied that he had re- fused in Jape last to have an inquiry instituted by the Court of Alder- men. And he again repeated his demand that grounds should be shown for the accusations against him. Alderman Farebrother observed, it was quite clear that several charges had been brought against Alderman Thomas Wood, and that Alderman Wood asked for an investigation ; but it was quite impossible for the Court of Aldermen to come to a conclusion upon the inquiry before the day of election ; and the most judicious thing that Mr. Wood could do was, that he should defer taking the office for a year, in order to procure evidence against the charges ; saying—" Here am I accused, bat, although most unjustly accused, I will not allow myself to be put in office until I have shown satisfactorily that the charges against me are false."

One of the charges was, that good coal had been exhibited, to the Alder- man's knowledge, in Ireland as the coal of the Talacre Mine, which was wholly incapable of producing such coal itself. Now, he certainly could not think that any man could be so great a fool as to subject himself to the contempt and ridicule a deception of that kind would most inevitably excite : still, there it was in print, and the libel ought to be exposed before the election should fall upon him who was charged as principally concerned.

Mr. Wood again repeated his complaint that inquiry was refused, and that charges were not distinctly made in the Court-

* 10. 1104,..atd scritation had been made. Was he obliged to answer the slanderous been said that he ought to set himself right with the public to whom

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:--ebeertions. ofa .41acnious paper, (he spoke not of the respectable newspapers nallianabie' IL the public were well acquainted,) the editor of which had been brought before him in his magisterial character, and, though mercifully treated, had proceeded to libel and traduce him in every possible way ?

A letter was read from Mr. Alfred Mayer Randall, Alderman Lain- son's medical adviser, stating that the Alderman would be unable to at- tend on Michaelmas Day, in consequence of ill-health, and that he de- sired on that account not to be put in nomination.

The election of the Lord Mayor took place on Michaelmas Day, Thursday. The Lord Mayor, the new Sheriffs, and several of the Cor- lioration, assembled at the Guildhall, and at noon walked in procession to the church of St. Lawrence Jewry ; where a sermon was preached by the Lord Mayor's:Chaplain. They returned at one ; and the busi- ness of the day commenced in Common Hall. The Common Sergeant read the names of the Aldermen who had not passed the Chair, omitting the name of Alderman Lainson. Alderman Thomas Wood then pre- sented himself, and reiterated his demand that distinct charges should be made. The names were put, and the Common Sergeant announced the opinion of the Sheriffs, that Thomas Wood, Esquire, Alderman and framework-knitter, and John Humphery, Esquire, Alderman and tallow. chandler, were elected on a show of hands to be returned to the Court of Aldermen. The Lord Mayor and Civic Officers retired to the Court of Aldermen ; Mr. Wood addressing the Hall in the interval, and de- claring that he would appear before them each succeeding year.

On the return of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, after an absence of about half an hour, the Recorder announced that the election had fallen on Mr. Humphery. The announcement was received with loud cheers and yells. It is understood that there were five votes in favour of Mr. Alderman Thomas Wood, and twelve for Mr. Alderman Hum phery. The Lord Mayor Elect declared that he would do his duty. He had wished Mr. Wood to be returned, and he would have offered to pay the fine sooner than accept the office; but if he had done so, Mr. Wood must have been placed again in nomination with a junior Alderman, all of whom were ready and anxious to take the office. The Lord Mayor Elect was then invested with the insignia of office.

Thanks were voted to the late Sheriffs, and to the present Lord Mayor ; who briefly acknowledged the compliment, and the meeting separated.

Yesterday, the new Sheriffs were presented by the Recorder, in the Court of Exchequer, for the Queen's approval ; many of the Corporation being in attendance. They were received by the Cursitor Baron, Mr, George Bankes. The usual compliments passed ; and the needful cere- monies of chopping sticks and counting horse-shoes and hobnails were performed by the senior Alderman that has not passed the chair, Al- derman Thomas Wood. The Sheriffs gave their inauguration-dinner at Vintner's Hall, in the evening ; the Cursitor Baron being present.

The Lord Mayor, the City Remembrancer, and other Civic function- aries, proceeded on Wednesday to the residence of the Prussian Minis. ter, in Carlton Terrace, to present an address to the King of Prussia. Compliments were exchanged, and the visiters were entertained with a a collation.

In the City of London Court, on Tuesday, Mr. Christie gave a deci- sion of some importance respecting residence. Mr. Francis Collison, a freeman and liveryman of the Grocers' Company, was struck off the list last year, on the ground that he had not resided in the district for six months before the registration. He now renewed his claim to be ad- mitted an account of his dwellinghouse in Size Lane, the same for which his claim was rejected last year. It was objected, that he had by this time been abroad for two years consecutively, and that it was not even known when he would return. Mr. Christie said that he had looked into the legal authorities on the subject ; and he found the Judges generally contending against disfranchisement. He came to the con- clusion, that though a man might be absent, and even have gone to the East Indies, yet if his family were resident, as was the case with Mr. Collison, and he was under no legal incapacity to return to his home, he must be taken to:be resident. The name, therefore, was inserted in the list.

In the Westminster Court, on Saturday, Mr. Arnold gave several de- cisions. In the first case, that of William Holmes, the question turned upon the validity of a claim to be rated, which was made on the 13th July last year, and therefore not during what may be termed the cur- rent year of registration, which would commence on the 1st August. The claim, though made in July last year, was made with reference to a rate which was in existence in the present year of registration; and therefore it was declared not necessary to be repeated during this year. James Handford Taylor occupied and paid rent for a garret in the house of his brother, which he used as a dwelling-room and bed-room; but he had a bench fitted up there for his work as an engraver, and he claimed to be registered in respect of that room as a "workshop." Mr. Arnold observed, that it was simply the case of a party lodging in the house where the landlord resided, and the lodger was not qualified by the fact of using his dwelling-room for purposes of working at his trade.

John Hodgson, objected to as belonging to the Police force, was pro- nounced entitled to vote, as he received no salary, and the appointment had only been applied for to enable him to do certain duties, formerly executed by the parish-constables and not now undertaken by the New Police. Thus he could not be considered a member of that body.

An objection was taken to Mr. David Barker, on Thursday. He was the occupier of premises which were conveyed to him by his father be- fore he became of age ; but he attained his majority before the 31st July last. It was contended that by the 27th section of the Reform Act, it was necessary that the party should be of full age during the whole period of occupation required by the act, namely, twelve months. Mr. Arnold decided that it was quite sufficient for the party to have been in possession twelve months, and to be of full age on the 31st July.

In Marylebone, Mr. James Tilbury had been objected to, as being an Assessor appointed under the Income-tax Act, and disqualified from voting under the Act 22 George III. c. 41, which enacts that persons engag,ed in managing and collecting the House-duties shall not be al- lowed to vote. On Saturday, Mr. Alfred Austin said that he did not consider that Mr. Tilbury came within the disqualifying clause of the set, as he could not be held in his capacity of Assessor of the Income- tax to be employed in managing the Hasse-duties.

Mr. Austin decided, on Wednesday, on the claim of Peter Graves, whose vote was objected to because he had not occupied the house which he held for a sufficient period. The Reform Act directs that no person shall be entitled to vote unless he shall haveoccopied premises conferring the qualification for twelve calendar months "next previous to the 31st of July in such year." Mr. Graves entered into occupation on the 1st of August 1841. Mr. Austin thought that the 31st of July was to be excluded from the twelve calendar months, as the lists of votes were obliged to be made on or before the 31st of July ; and the name, therefore, was struck out.

The adjourned meeting of the Royal (West India) Mail Steam-packet Company was held on Wednesday. Mr. Corbyn, the Deputy-Chair- man, stated that the Directors had determined to propose an addition to their number, of such men as would be likely to be useful ; and at the close of the year the accounts would be regularly audited. Govern- ment had contracted to contribute 240,0001.: the Company expected to have an average of fifty passengers on the main line, (seventy-four had been booked for the 1st October,) which would produce 96,0001.; and with other items of receipt, the Company calculated upon having a ba- lance of 38,500/., after paying 235,000/. for working the contract, be- sides insurance, &c. He dissuaded the shareholders from throwing up the enterprise after Government had consented to a new arrangement. Mr. Poynder moved a resolution, expressing confidence in the Directors, and urging them to persevere ; but recommending that in future they should convene a public meeting of the Company every six months, and report their proceedings, and that they should secure the aid of professional persons experienced in the machinery and construction of steam-vessels. Mr. Leggins moved as an amendment—" That a Com- mittee of seven proprietors be appointed to inquire into the present state of the Company's affairs and its future prospects, and report the result to a future general meeting ; such Committee to have power to call for persons and papers." After considerable discussion, the amend- ment was put ; when only sixteen hands were held up for it ; the ori- ginal motion being carried by a large majority.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Friday and Saturday, Philip Partridge, the master of the Jarrow merchantman, was tried under several indictments for the murder of seamen under his command. The first trial trial was for the murder of Jose Maria Balager, a Spaniard, one of his crew, by beating him, and also by neglecting to provide him with sufficient food and nourishment. The vessel left Benin in October, in a leaky state ; and great exertions were required to prevent her from being wrecked ; and in order to urge the necessary efforts, the master conducted himself with great severity towards the crew generally ; but he seems especially to have ill-treated Jose, who is not a strong man ; beating him frequently and cruelly with a rope. A witness said, that on one occasion Mr. Philips flogged Jose on the hands so severely that they festered and broke ; and a few days before he died, the master, after beating him, had him put upon half-allowance. The defence was, that the danger in which the vessel was placed, and the necessity of the most desperate exertion to save her and the lives of the crew, justified such conduct. A verdict of acquittal was returned.

Mr. Philips was next indicted on another charge of a similar nature, in which the treatment was of the same description, only the man killed was originally in better health than the other sufferer. The same defence was pleaded as in the other case ; and the Jury returned a verdict of " Guilty " on the modified charge of assault. A third in- dictment was preferred ; but the counsel for the Crown declined offer- ing any evidence ; and a verdict of " Not Guilty" was returned. Mr. Philips was sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the House of Correction for six months.