24 DECEMBER 1836, Page 3

At a meeting of the Middlesex Magistrates, on Thursday, a

long discussion took place on the working of the Prisoners' Counsel Bill ; the effect of which, it was asserted, would be to more than double the expenses of prosecutions. Sir Peter Laurie stated, that the expenses of prosecutions at the November Session of the Central Criminal in 1835 were 3211., whilst the expenses at the Session in the last month were 8051. After some observations from other Magistrates, in opposition to the existing system, Sir Peter Laurie gave notice for the next County Court, "That a Committee be formed to take the whole subject into consideration, and communicate with his Majesty's Government, and then to report."

At the Union Hall Office, on Wednesday, several students at Guy's Hospital were held to bail to take their trial for a riotous attempt to break into a room at St. Thomas's Hospital, where a curious surgical operation was to be performed. It was contended that the Guy's stu- dents had the privilege of entering a certain part of St. Thomas's Hospital ; but this was denied, and the point will be settled in a court of law.