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The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress gave a sumptuous enter- tainment to several of the Ministers on Saturday last. The occasion was one on which it is customary to make no allusion whatever to political matters, and the number of guests was limited to between eighty and ninety. Among them were Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Normanby, Lord Morpeth, Lord Clarendon, the Bishop of London, Sir Henry Parnell, Sir Charles Felix Smith, Mr. Mark Phillips, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India Com- pany, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Matthew Wood, M.P., Mr. Crawford, M.P., Mr. Humphrey, M.P., Sir T. B. Leonard, M.P., Sir Peter Laurie, with several others. The speeches were merely complimentary.

Sir Jeremiah Bryant was yesterday elected a Director of the East India Company, in the room of the late Mr. John Thornhill.

The election of a Common Councilman for Coleman Street Ward was concluded on Saturday, when Mr. Cousins was chosen, by a majo- rity of 112 to 95. It has been attempted to convert the result of this election into a Conservative triumph.

A Court of Aldermen was held on Tuesday, at which a petition was presented against the return of Mr. Cousins, founded on the same ob- jections as the former petition—want of qualification. At the same- Court, the petition against the return of Mr. Wells, as Common Coun- cilman for Farringdon Street Ward, was taken into consideration ; and, after a long discussion, the question was adjourned.

At a Court of Common Council, held on Thursday, Mr. Wire moved. the thanks of the Court to Admiral Stopford, Commodore Napier,. Major-General Smith, and the officers, seamen, and marines under their command in the late operations on the coast of Syria; also that a sword be presented to each of the Commanders. Mr. Peacock moved an amendment, that instead of swords, the thanks of the Court be pre- sented in boxes of heart of oak. The amendment was carried by a large majority.

At a meeting of Members of the House of Commons, on Saturday, at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's Street, resolutions passed• in favour of a more liberal system of commerce. It was resolved that the operations of the existing tariff of import-duties present the most serious obstacles to the extension of the trade of this country. Mr. Hume presided at the mtetiag ; and the resolutions were moved and seconded by Mr. Ellice, Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Hastie, Mr. Strutt, Mr. Hutton, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Thorneley, Mr. Warburton, Mr. Ewart, and Mr. R. Steuart. A Committee was appointed. to invite the- cooperation of all Members of Parliament, and to call meetings from time to time.

The annual general meeting of the proprietors of the London Uni- versity College was held on Wednesday, to receive the report of last year, and to elect officers. The principal subject of interest was the contest for the office of Treasurer ; Mr. John Taylor had been brought forward to oppose Mr. Tooke, whose conduct in using his influence as Treasurer of the Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge to forward his electioneering views in the borough of Finsbury, has excited a strong feeling against him. Mr. Warburton presided at the meeting ;- and among the Members of Parliament present were Mr. Leader, Mr. Easthope, Mr. T. Duncombe, and Mr. Hume. The result of the elec- tion was, that Lord Brougham was reelected President, and the Duke of Somerset Vice-President, unanimously ; and the numbers foi. the office of Treasurer were—Tooke 91, Taylor 89; majority for Tooke 2.

At a meeting of the proprietors of Waterloo Bridge, on Monday, a resolution was passed for reducing the toll on foot-passengers on and after Monday next to one halfpenny.

At the half-yearly meeting of the South-Western Railway Company, on Saturday, a dividend of 11. 10s. per share for the last half-year was declared ; being at the rate of about 6 per cent. per annum. It was stated that the branch line to Gosport would be opened next July. A vote of thanks to the late Chairman, Mr. Easthope, was passed ; and it was expected be would have taken the opportunity to explain more fully the circumstances of his resignation. He did not, however, touch the subject.

At a meeting of the Great Western Railway Company, on Thursday, the report stated the receipts during the last half-year to have been 153,9121., and the number of passengers conveyed 645,481.

The long-pending question on the validity of the new Charters of Municipal Incorporation (affecting the local government of Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton, and Devonport) was decided on Monday, in the Exchequer Court Chamber. The question was raised in a suit, Rutter versus Chapman, tried in 1839 before Baron Maule, at Liverpool ; in which that Judge directed the Jury to find for the charter of Manches- ter, subject to a bill of exceptions for argument in the court above. The points were twice argued at great length before the Judges, their Lordships not being fully satisfied by the first discussion. The At- torney-General conducted the case of the Liberals, Mr. Cresswell that of the Tory opponents of the Corporation. Judgment was affirmed on all points, with costs, in favour of the Privy Council charter, by a ma- jority of four to three Judges, and substantially by a majority of five to two—Lord Denman and Sir John Williams being the, only real dis- sentients. Of the Judges who heard the argument, to were absent ; viz. Sir J. Littledale, who has retired ; and Mr. Justice Erskine, who is on circuit—both reported to be favourable. The seven Judges present were Lord Denman, Sir N. C. Tindal, Sir John Patterson, Sir John Williams, Sir J. T. Coleridge, Sir J. B. Bosancmet, and Sir Thomas Coltman.

An injunction was granted in the Vice-Chancellor's Court, on Satur- day, to restrain the negotiation of a promissory-note alleged to have been obtained at play from Mr. Pearse, after a dinner given to him by some parties at the Albion Tavern, Brighton.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Saturday, an action for libel was tried against Mr. Young, the proprietor of the Sun, for having in a report of a meeting of the South Dock Company, inserted some libel- Ions expression which the Chairman applied to the plaintiff. Mr. Young had offered to insert an apology. The report was admitted to be accu- rate. The Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, with 501. damages.

At the Court of Bankruptcy on Saturday, a meeting of the creditors of Mr. C. J. Carttar, the Coroner for Kent, took place. The bank- rupt's liabilities exceed 10,0001.; and amongst the creditors who proved were the whole of the servants, consisting of a footman, a gardener, cook, housemaid, needlewoman, nurserymaid, and governess.

The appeal in the case of the will of Mr. Wood, the Gloucester banker, is fixed to be heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on the 6th of April.

The mortality among the convicts at Woolwich continues. Inquests were held yesterday on the bodies of three who had died from fever.