Four hundred noblemen and gentlemen, members of the Smithfield Club,
dined together at the Freemason's Tavern on Monday, Earl Spencer in the chair. The dinner was excellent, and the talk about the breeding of cattle very interesting to those present. The prizes were distributed by the Chairman.
The Proprietors of East India Stock held their quarterly general meeting on Wednesday. The principal business was a discussion of a motion by Mr. Montgomery Martin, for papers relative to the taxation of India. Mr. Martin delivered a long and desultory speech, to prove that the condition of the Asiatics under the Company's government was de- plorable; that the revenue was "rapidly declining," and the country generally in a "wretched state." Sir Charles Forbes, though not agree- ing entirely with Mr. Martin, seconded the motion, because he ap- proved of Mr. Martin's ultimate object—the improvement of the condi- tion of the natives in India. Mr. Weeding and Sir James Law Lashing- ton opposed the motion ; and it was rejected by a large majority.
Sir James Rivett Carnac will be invited to a public dinner previously to his departure for Bombay.
Deputations from the merchants of the City of London and from Liverpool waited on Lord Melbourne, at the Treasury, on Wednesday last, to present memorials against the atrocious warfare in Spain. Lord Palmerston was too unwell to attend. The Premier said, that every exertion had been made to enforce the execution of the Eliot treaty, and to consolidate the Queen's troops : he felt a strong desire to terminate the civil war in Spain, but could not state any intention of a change of measures adapted to that purpose.
A Finsbury Literary and Scientific Institution is springing up, under the patronage of Lord Brougham, who has consented to accept the Presi- dency. Premises have been taken in Finsbury Square.
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