ht Vrtraintio.

Sir William Molesworth having accepted the post of Colonial Secre- tary, a new writ was issued on Monday for the borough of Southwark. On the same evening, Sir William met an influential gathering of his constituents, at the Queen's Head Inn, High Street, assembled to secure his reelection. Dr. Challis presided, and opened the business by read- ing a resolution agreed to on that day by the Committee of the Adminis- trative Reform Association. It was communicated in the shape of a mi- nute, signed " Samuel Morley," and stated that the Committee saw in the appointment of Sir William Molesworth to the headship of the Colo- nial Office " an acknowledgment of the principle of Administrative Re- form which seeks to have the right men in the right places" ; and it ex- pressed the trust of the Committee that Sir William will not fail, in office, " to carry out those measures of Colonial Reform, by the able advocacy of which, as an independent Member of Parliament, he established in public opinion his fitness for the high office to which he has been nomi- nated."

Sir William, in addressing the meeting, vindicated the policy of the war; and declared that the determination of the Government was to bring the war to a successful termination by force of arms. A resolution to support his reelection was unanimously adopted.

A new writ was also issued for the borough of Marylebone on Monday, Sir Benjamin Hall having accepted the office of First Commissioner of Public Works. On Tuesday, the electors met at the Victoria Tavern, Mornington Road, and with great unanimity resolved to support his re- election.

At a meeting of the Court of Aldermen on Wednesday, the Lord Mayor, pleading great occupation in attending to the City charities and important meetings, gave notice that he should move that a rota, similar to that ex- isting at the Guildhall Police Court, should be established for the transac- tion of magisterial business at the Mansionhouse. Great surprise was ex- pressed by the Aldermen.

Alderman Wilson moved that the usual septennial view of the upper district of the Thames should this year take place. The motion en- countered the opposition of Sir Peter Laurie and Alderman Farebrother. Alderman Sidney moved and carried the previous question. A presentment from the Middlesex Grand Jury was handed in, point- ing out that Battersea and Putney Bridges are dangerous to navigation and prevent the free use of the river. The Jurors express the strongest opinion that the proprietors of the bridges ought to be compelled to pro- vide for the safety and convenience of the public travelling by land and water, and that, if they fail to do so, their privileges should be trans- ferred to other hands.

Alderman Sidney refuses to pay the duty on the civic state coach in- curred during his mayoralty. Hence burning disputes in the Common Council, and a threat, on the part of the tax-gatherer to sell what the ex-Lord Mayor indignantly describes as a "filthy old Machine."

The rival Administrative Reform society, called the " State Reform Association," held its second meeting on Wednesday, at the Freemasons' Tavern ; Mr. Jonathan Duncan in the chair. The speakers were the Chairman, Mr. William Jones, Mr. Ernest Jones, Mr. Bronterre O'Brien, Mr. Elt, and Mr. Ingram Lockhart. Resolutions in favour of manhood suffrage and the objects of the association were adopted. Mr. Duncan said he firmly believed that, notwithstanding the attempts which had been made at Parliamentary reform, there migla he found 658 work- ing men in the country of greater intelligence, patriotism, and virtue, than the 658 Members of Parliament who now professed to represent the people in St. Stephen's—an observation enthusiastically cheered. Some persons attempted to propose' amendments : but they were hooted down, and propositions made to turn them out by the advocates of "free discus- sion."

At a meeting of the Metropolitan Sewers Commission, on Tuesday Mr. Hawkes brought on his motion for putting an end to the increase of house-drainage until a system has been adopted for carrying sewage to Barking Creek and Plumstead Marshes, in order to relieve the Thames. Mr. Wade moved an amendment, to the effect that it would be inexpe- dient to stay or discourage house-drainage; and carried it by a small majority.

A deputation of the inhabitants of Walwortli waited on Sir Benjamin Hall, on Saturday, to call his attention to the state of the Thames and the water-supply of the district in which they reside. They exhibited, samples of the water supplied by the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company. The samples were full of animal life, almost opaque with mud, and green with vegetation. Sir Benjamin said that a remedy for the state of the Thames would be speedily provided under the Local Ma- nagement Metropolis Bill, which he trusted would shortly become law. He also pointed out that the time allowed to the Water Companies, under the ant of 1852, to complete the works necessary for taking supplies from the Thames above Teddington Lock, would expire on the 31st of August ; and he promised that he would move the Government to issue a commis- sion charged with the duty of ascertaining how far the Water Companies have complied with the act, and to report thereon.

The Commissioners appointed to inquire into the conduct of the Police in the Hyde Park riots have continued to sit from day to day. On Tuesday, witnesses on behalf of the Police were called. The first was Sir Richard Mayne. He described the course he had taken from the beginning of these disturbances on the 24th, when the first occurred. Hearing that a larger meeting would be held on the 1st July, he made special arrangements to prevent it if possible, by issuing a warning, and to repress any disturbances that might arise. The Police were placed under the general command of Superintendent Hughes, and disposed about the Park, with orders to warn all persons making speeches or noises calculated to frighten horses, and to arrest those who wouldnot desist. Mr. Hughes joined the force in 1830; he had seen much service, espeCially in the A division, being employed on such occasions as the opening of Parliament, Drawiugroom days, and whenever disturbances seemed probable. He was, by the request of the stewards, em- ployed at Ascot and Epsom during the races, on account of his " tact and temper in dealing with crowds," and he received at the last race-week 10/. as a mark of approbation. During the riot on the 1st, Sir Richard Mayne received half-hourly reports from Mr. Hughes, and he sent back orders. At four o'clock the Superintendent reported that there was considerable noise, and a large number of persons about, some of whom had been arrested. Sir Richard ordered up the reserves, and told Mr. Hughes to " act vigorously,

compel all rioters to remove to a distance from the road, and apprehend and disperse rioters." "The number of Policemen assaulted, or resisted in the

execution of their duty, was 4; 1 struck with a stone, slight ; 1 knocked down by a blow on the head, slightly ; 1 thrown down, slightly injured ; 1 eye blackened, struck with a stone. Forty-five persons were assaulted, / kicked, 25 struck with stones, 13 struck with sticks or hurdles." (The reading of the statement respecting the Police caused great laughter.] Sir

Richard was examined respecting the refusal of the Police authorities at

Vine Street to take bail. He bad ordered them not to do so, because he thought the offences were not of that class which could be dealt with sum-

marily by a Magistrate. With regard to the state of the cells, he said that all that could be done had been done to provide proper accommodation, and I he believed the accounts by the prisoners had been exaggerated. Ten witnesses on behalf of the Police were examined on Wednesday. They were Mr. Samuel Fry, solicitor, Mr. Tidd Pratt junior, the Reverend Leonard Sedgwick, Captain Leopold Paget, Mr. Thomas Parsons, Captain in the Third Regiment of Middlesex Militia, Colonel Lindsay, M.P., and others of less note. Mr. Fry saw stones pitched in the air, but at nobody in par- ticular; the crowd was not good-tempered, in his opinion ; but he saw no- thing amiss except talking. Had not the Police acted with firmness thinks some serious disaster would have occurred. Captain Paget "heard a great noise " ; saw pieces of hurdles thrown into the drive ; saw no one struck. Mr. Parsons saw "no stones thrown." The Police seemed to be removing troublesome persons. Mr. Parker, bookbinder, heard cries more like those of wild Indians than anything else. He thought there appeared to be a want of harmony between the Police and the respectable people, inasmuch as the respectable portion of the crowd took the part of the " roughs." Mr. Pratt and Colonel Lindsay described what they saw in front of Lord Robert Grosvenor's house. The crowd were obstructing the street, and yelling fu- riously, but doing no acts of violeuce. The proceedings on Thursday consisted in the identification of several Policemen, and the examination of four constables. They denied using vio- lence or striking any one.

One of the cases arising out of the affairs of the Honourable Frank Vil- liers, who absconded some time since, was heard in the Court of Chancery on Monday. Wright sued Lord Maidstone to recover 10001., the amount of a bill drawn by Mr. Villiers, accepted by the defendant in September 1853, and discounted by Wright. The bill had been renewed from time to time; and in January Mr. Villiers handed in a new bill purporting to be accepted by Lord Maidstone; the old one being destroyed. It turned out that the new bill was a forgery; whereupon Wright sued the defendant. Lord Maidstone put in a demurrer, contending that the equity court had no juris- diction in the case of a bill destroyed, although it had in the case of a lost bill. Sir Page Wood said that was so ; the remedy was in a court of law.

The ecclesiastical conflicts between the Reverend Robert Liddell and his parishioners have come before the Consistory Court. On Tuesday two aotions were commenced ; one brought by Mr. Beal against the Reverend Mr. Lid- dell in regard to the proceedings at St. Barnabas, the other by Mr. Wester- ton, in regard to the decorations of St. Paul's, two churches in Belgravia. Both were argued together, as the principle in each was the same. Mr. Westerton applied for a licence to remove from the altar of St. Paul's the altar-cloths of varied hues employed for covering the altar, the credence-table, the wooden cross, two feet high, standing on the altar, and two gilt candlesticks for holding candles, a yard high and eight inches round. At different periods of the year the altar is covered with cloths differing in colour, each embroidered in a fanciful manner and adorned with lace. In reply, it was stated that the altar was a convenient and decent table, such as the law requires; that the wooden cross was not contrary to the laws and customs of the Church ; that the credence-table was necessary ; that the candles were only burnt when needed to light the minister; and that the use of lace was conformable to the laws of the Church.

The case of Beal vetsus Liddell and others was a business of monishing them to remove the rood screen, brazen gates, cross, stone altar, and altar- cloths, the jewelled cross, candlesticks, marble credentia, and cloths for cover- ing the same, from the church of St. Barnabas. These cases were learnedly and lengthily argued by Dr. Bayford, on be- half of the promoters of the suits, and by the Admiralty Advocate and Dr. Swabey on behalf of the parties cited, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

The case of the bankrupts Straban, Paul, and Bates, again occupied the Court of Bankruptcy, on Thursday. It was intended that this should be the last examination meeting, but it was arranged that an adjournment should take place to the 9th October, when the balance-sheet will be prepared; and that there shall be a dividend meeting on the 12th October. Two soli- citors applied for information with the view of tracing missing securities; and facilities were afforded.

The Lord Mayor, from the Mansionhouse bench, on Tuesday, said he had received many communications on the state of the river ; among those who addressed him was Sr John M'Neill, an eminent civil engineer ; and he had requested the attendance of the gentleman, together with the City Solicitor, in order that the latter, if possible, might suggest a remedy. Sir John M'Neill complained that the river had been filled up above the bridges, and that embankments were in process of construction which greatly damaged the river. The more water that flows up the river, the greater will be the "scour" down ; the embankments and obstructions prevent the up-flow of the water, and consequently the scour down ; he therefore proposes to en- large and widen the river, and to form reservoirs "for the penning of the dear water, and the letting it come down afterwards when the tide is out." The City Solicitor said he had no suggestions to offer. A suit, not likely to be settled, is pending between the Corporation and the Crown, respecting the claims of both to the bed and soil of the river. When the Corporation, ten years ago, proposed an effective mode of dealing with the river, the Crown obtained an injunction to restrain the Corporation, and set up a claim to the hereditary revenues and profits of the embankments on the river.

Burglars penetrated into the house of Mr. Kitson, Warwick Street, Pim- lico. It was inhabited by Martha Roaf and her grandfather. They beat and nearly killed the girl and carried off the contents of the plate-chest. In like manner, but without violence, some men, passing through two other houses, and breeching a wall two feet thick, earned off 20001. worth of jewellery from the shop of Mr. Barber in Cheapside.

"Manslaughter." A Coroner's Jury found this verdict against Henry Watts, publican, who had pitched his wife down stairs, dashed her head twice against the hearth-stone, placed her, almost insensible, in an upright position, in order that he might kick her down, and perpetrated other bru- talities.