C4t 314ztru1intio.

Mr. J. D. Coleridge, Secretary to the Commissioners for inquiring into the state of the Corporation of London, has offieially forwarded the fol- lowing letter to the Lord Mayor, dated Downing Street, October 22. "My Lord—I am directed by the Commissioners for inquiring into the state of the Corporation of the City of London to inform your Lordship, that at their first meeting, which they have held this day, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, they have taken into consideration the course of their future proceedings. "As full documentary evideoce with regard to the constitution of the City of London up to a very recent period already exists in an authentic form, the Commissioners purpose to commence their investigation with receiving the evidence of persons who may have complaints to make, or alterations to suggest, with respect to the present state and government of the Corporation. At a future stage of the inquiry, the Commissioners will be prepared to ex- amine the officers of the Corporation.

"With a view to afford the requisite information as speedily as possible to the persons more particularly interested in the proceedings of the Com- mission, the Commissioners will take steps to communicate to them printed collies of the evidence taken before them from time to time."

The Commissioners met on Thursday again. The Commissioners present were Mr. Labouchere, Sir John Patteson, and Mr. Cornewall Lewis.

At a Court of Common Council, held on the same day, Mr. Bennoch, referring to the letter alread quoted, wished to know whether the in- quiry is to be held at the West end, or in the City ? The Lord Mayor replied, that the inquiry would be commenced in Downing Street. With respect to the letter, be was surprised to see a copy of it in the news- papers: that copy was not taken from the letter sent to him. Ile had written to the Commissioners to express his surprise.

At the same sitting, a letter was received from the Commissioners ap- pointed to inquire into the dues levied in the port of London ; requesting to be furnished with the requisite information, and forwarding a copy of questions. There was also a debate on the proposed purchase of Southwark Bridge, for 300,0001., founded on a report from the Bridge Estates Committee. Some of the speakers thought 300,000/. too much, as the bridge is un- sound; but the Committee were empowered to obtain professional opin- ion as to the strength of the bridge, and to continue negotiations for its purchase.

A deputation of clergymen and others, headed by Sir Culling Eardley, waited upon Lord Clarendon on Thursday, to thank him and the Govern- ment for the exertions made to procure the liberation of Miss Curling- hame. In reply, Lord Clarendon stated that the despatch sent from the Foreign Office did not arrive in time to be acted upon by Mr. Searlett But Mr. Scarlett's conduct had been very judicious : he had represented to the Tuscan Government, that Miss Cuninghame was ignorant of the law; that the law was harsh towards-her; and that the people of Eng- land would be sure to take the matter up and demand her release. As far as Mr. Scarlett's reports go, the conduct of the Tuscan Ministers has been highly creditable to them: they Approved of Mr. Scarlett's efforts, and assisted him as far as they could. Since her liberation, Miss Cuning- hame had been ordered to quit Tuscany ; but on Mr. Scarlett's pointing out that it would be a hardship to her if she were separated from her mo- ther, who was then ill, the order had been withdrawn.

This is the jubilee year of the British and Foreign Bible Society ; and on Tuesday a meeting was held in the Mansionhouse to celebrate it ; the Lord Mayor in the chair. Lord Shaftesbury, the Reverend Canon Vil- liers, Dr. Tidman, and Mr. Samuel Gurney, made speeches. From a report read, it appears that the Society, since its formation, has ex- pended 3,950,9531., and distributed nearly 45,000,000 copies of the Bible; of which 18,000,000 have been scattered through the United 'Kingdom, 17,000,000 in Continental Europe, 8,000,000 in America, and 2,000,000 among Jews, klahometans, and heathens in various parts of the world- It is now proposed to establish a "jubilee fund," to pay-the expense-of

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an extensive system of colportage in Great Britain, and special efforts-in Ireland, India, China, and Australia, am:tether British possessions. The Society has not, fewer than 8332 branches; the 'Bible has been trans. lated-into 170issagnages115 eitwhich were never previously written.

There have been two Osieellings this'-'week Am the Turkish question; one iii-Pimlico;-the otherireibel'ower4lamlete. At both, resolutions were adopted censuring the ribliey of Ministers for "want of energy," denouncing secret diplomacy, &c.

The Commissioners of Police, with the approbation of Lord Palmerston, have issued a oircularforbidding officers of the force to attempt "to ob: tain promotion bymeans of applications from private friends." In future promotion will strictly depend upon the reports of superior officers; and thus "merit, not favour, will be the ground of advancement"

The master shoemakers have intimated-to theirworkmen that they will

make a stand against any further rise in wages : the raw.rnaterial has largely increased -in cost, while the price of the made-up goods does not permit of more pay to the workmen. The export trade has already sof. fered by the disputes.

The carpenters of London have given notice to their employers that they will no longer continue "systematic over-time"; but in cases of emergency, or when extra hands cannot be got to perform task; they will work longer hours.

The basketmakers have returned to work ; the masters have given an advance of 71 per cent, instead of the 10 per cent demanded.

Battersea new Bridge and Park are creeping at a most unsatisfactory pace on their long journey towards completion.

The Central Criminal Court has-been in session this week ; but only three cases are of public interest. Nathaniel Mobbs was arraigned, on Thursday, for the murder of his wife, The evidence against him was very complete. Mobbs lived in Enoch Court, Whitechapel ; and the dwellers in the court narrated the whole transaction. On the 23d August, Mobbs came home" tipsy, and his wife took refuge from him in the room of-Franees Lancaster. The same night, she again sought shelter ; and sat up all :the night with Julia Angling, a poor sack-maker, and did not go away until her- husband fetched her on the fatal morning. Mrs. Mobbs had no sooner reached her room, than screams were heard ; she then appeared at the window, and asked Julia Angling to satisfy her husband that she bad not been out all night with a policeman. The next acne was the actual deed. All these witnesses heard screams of "Murder!" They ran to the door • they could not open it ; a child was heard to cry "Oh mother, mother !" then a heavy weight was moved from the door on -the inside ; and Mrs. Mobbs, with hair hanging down, and a bleeding throat, ran out into the mut. She was taken to the hospital, and died. John Featherstone, a policeman, went into the room, and found Mobbs-lying on the floor with his throat cut, but still living. ' The policeman found a whetstone recently used, and Mobbs subsequently confessed that he had whetted the knife before he cut his wife's throat. The Jury unhesitatingly found the prisoner "Guilty"; , and Mr. Justice Cresswell, with due solemnity, passed sentence of death.

I The second case was that of the two omnibus-drivers, who in racing, killed the keeper of an oyster-stall in Regent Street. There was no doubt that the men were racing in the most reckless way. They were tried in the New Court, and each was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard Is- hour. I 'The third case of a larger interest was that of Mr. Massey, watchmaker in Birchin lone, who was indicted for perjury, alleged toilmee been com- mitted at Guildhall Police Court, in proceedings taken to eject. a tenant, the present prosecutor. The indictment was preferred before the Grand Jury without. any preliminary inquiry before a Magistrate. The first witness put an end to the ease: Mr. Wood, chief clerk at Guildhall, stated that he did not believe the defendant was sworn, or that anything said by him was upon his oath. -The Recorder asked Mr. Wood if he stated this fact when he was examined in support of the bill before the Grand Jury ? Mr. Wood said, he stated to them most distinctly his belief that the defendant was not sworn. Mr. Parry—" And yet they actually returned a true bill for perjury !" The Recorder said, there was an end of the case; the charge had entirely failed on the proof. Mr. Parry thought it right to say that the defendant was a person of high respectability, and that there was not the slightest pretence for the charge that had been made against him. It was a most fearful thing that a respectable man should be placed in a position of peril under such circumstances. The Recorder said, he had repeatedly expressed his disapprobation of persons preferring charges in secret before the Grand Jury, and he had done all that lay in his power to discourage the proceeding. A verdict of "Not guilty" was then given, and the defendant left the court.

Mason, the bank-note forger, has been sentenced to transportation for twenty years.

In a trial for burglary, the Judge took occasion to condemn the practice of placing policemen to listen at cells to overbear the conversation of prison- ers in order to collect evidence against them : officers thus employed na- turally have a bias to believing the accused guilty, and may give an uneon- scious twist to what they hear, so that it may support the foregone con- clusion.

Mr. Charles Lane Fox, of the Grenadier Guards, has been bound in his own recognizances for 1000/. to keep the peace for twelve months, as he de- clined to give his word of honour to the Marlborough Street Magististe.not to fight a duel with Sir Robert Clifton.

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