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At the Court of Common Council, on Thursday, it was announced that the Emperor Napoleon, as a mark of his appreciation of the flattering re- ception which his Imperial Majesty and the Empress Eugenie experienced on their visit to the city during the shrievalty of Sir H. Muggeridge and Sir C. I). Crossley, had bestowed upon those gentlemen the cross of the Legion of Honour.
Driven from the betting offices and the taverns the "betting men' have resorted to the streets. They congregate by the hundred, and have made "rings" in Bride Lane, parts of Bridge Street, and Fleet Street, to the great annoyance of the shopkeepers and some danger both to them and the public. A deputation has waited on the Lord Mayor and he has promised to do his utmost to put the nuisance down.
The meeting in behalf of the funds which it is desirable to raise to release the trustees of the London Mechanics Institution from their lia- bilities was duly held on Monday, the Earl of Carlisle in the chair. Among those presents were Earl Granville, the Bishop of St. David's, Mr. Slaney, Mr. Frank Crossley, Mr. William Brown, Members of Parliament, Alderman Finnis, the Reverend Charles Mackenzie and Mr. J. l'arkes. The claims of the institution and of its trustees upon the public were strongly urged by the speakers, and at the close of the meeting a list of subscriptions, headed by the name of the Prince Con- sort, 100/. was read. The total amounting to 1773/.
The Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society held its annual meeting on Saturday. The Earl of Carlisle was in the chair, and he was supported by Mr. Byng, M.P., Mr. Melly, of Liverpool, Mr. Monckton Mines, and the Reverend Sidney Godolphin Osborne. From the report it ap- peared that the operations of the Society have been extensive and useful. It has given its assistance in no fewer than 556 cases. During the last twelve months, the cases of 362 men and 62 women had engaged the at- tention of the committee ; 157 "had been employed, or offered employ- ment, in the country ; 103 had been aided in other ways ; 97 men and 16 women had been assisted to emigrate ; 52 were still under the active operation of the Society, and 83, who were still in prison, were looking forward to its help. Of those classed under the first head, 117 men and 29 women had retained their situations and were going on, as far as could be ascertained, satisfactorily.
At the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society on Monday two in- teresting papers were read. One was the "Notes of a voyage up the Yang the Kiang from Wosung to Han kow," by Laurence Oliphant—a paper describing Lord Elgin's famous trip. The other was a view of the great valley of the Yang the Kiang before and after its occupation by the Rebels." This was by Sir John Davis. Both papers were full of useful and instructive details ; and they led to an animated discussion, in which the President Sir Roderick Murchison and others took part.
The body of John Hunter, the great anatomist, was on Monday afternoon, removed from the Church of St. Martin's in the Fields by the Royal College of Surgeons and buried with great solemnity in West- minster Abbey, near the grave of Ben Jenson. No service was, of course, read over the grave, that was done in 1793; nor was any ora- tion made. A very full representation of the medical profession were present at the ceremony.
Andrew Foster, William Wagner, alias Curtis, Frederick Humphreys, and William Wynn Bramwell, are in custody on a charge of forging bank- ers' checks. The evidence implicating them conies from one George Wat- kins, a baker, who was engaged by the prisoners to pass the cheeks. Wat- kins was "hard up," and Bramwell prevailed on him "to present a check on the cross." 11 atkins was subjected to a severe examination by the con- federates, who were anxious not to have the wrong man. At length it was
agreed that an advertisement for a porter should appear, and that Watkins should apply for the situation. The object of this was to enable Watkins, if taken, to plead that a gentleman had given him the check. Wagner, for this purpose, disguised himself, and took the name of Curtis. Watkins went to the University Hotel, Grafton Street, Haw Curtis, and applied for the place. Curtis gave him a forged check to cash, drawn on the Union Branch, Argyle Place, by "J. Feetum." Poster went with Watkins to the bank and waited outside while Watkins went in to cash the cheek. Judge of Foster's surprise when he found himself in the custody of Constable Joy ! Watkins had kept the police informed and Joy had watched the conspira- tors all day. The other prisoners were taken in their homes. They are remanded.
Edward Mortimer and Thomas Robert Marshall, military tailors, Jerrayn Street, have been charged before the Bow Street Magistrate with unlaw- fully conspiring to bargain for the sale of a certain commission in the army. They are prosecuted at the instance of the Government. According to a statement made by Mr. Bodkin "Armstrong and Co.," a firm suppose to have no existence, undertook to obtain a commission for a Mr. Cunning- ham for a consideration of 400/. to be paid by a Mr. Bridson his brother- in-law. The arrangements were carried ont by one Pugh, who was to have been paid a large share of the money. The transaction was completed, and the commission obtained ; but Pugh found himself in Whitecross Street prison, and those who he says were his confederates would not pay him the sum he demanded. Thereupon he informed the Commander-in-chief of what had been done. Pugh was a witness in the court, and stated his side of the case, implicating Mortimer and Marshall, both of whom say they are innocent. The ease is only partly developed ; the accused hitve been remanded and admitted to bail.
A heavy fall of snow occurred in London on Wednesday. As the flakes, driven by a North wind, fell on the roadways and pavements, the snow partlY thawed, and speedily covered roads and paths with slush. For several hours the snow fell. In the parks and on the trees it remained unthawed; and in the night frost came and hardened the soft mass. Thursday was brilliant and sunny ; but the wind was cold.
Sir Robert Carden has announced at the Mansionhouse that he has been enabled, by the subscriptions received, to place Frances Johnston -and her sisters in business, as milliners and hosiers, at No. 37, Bishopsgate Street Within. It is hoped that the public will continue to assist those young ladies in their endeavours to obtain a livelihood. They arc most deserving of the sympathy so kindly shown them in their affliction.
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