sbe Miletropolis.

Exeter Hall was filled to overflow on Wednesday by the opponents of death-punishment. On the platform were—Lord Nugent, Mr. William Ewart, M.P., Mr. John Bright, ALP., Mr. O'Connell, M.P., Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., Mr. W. J. Fox, the Reverend H. Christmas, the Reverend Dr. Mortimer, Mr. Sergeant Gunning, Mr. Samuel Gurney, Mr. John Meredith, Mr. T. B. Wrightson, the Reverend Doctor Campbell, the Reverend Doctor Candlish, Mr. J. C. Barclay, Mr. F. F. Buxton, and Mr. G. W. Alexander. Many members of the Society of Friends, of both sexes, were present. Mr. Ewart presided.

Mr. Ewart congratulated the meeting on the progress the question of abolition was making; a progress grounded as much in the increased strength of their position as in the weakness and receding opposition of their opponents. As a last refuge, Scripture was appealed to in behalf of inflicting the punishment of death for murder: but Mr. Ewart looked neon every principle of Christianity as ad- verse to the cruelty which, under a legislative form of retribution, was practised. As to the efficacy of capital punishments in repressing crime, all experience tes- tified that it was not so efficacious as a milder description of punishment. By the statistical returns of Mr. Wrightson, it was shown that in the three last years in which there had been executions for several classes of crimes, the number of crimes amounted to 7,522; but during the three first years in which capital punishments for such crimes had been abolished, the number was reduced to 6,640. Lord Nugent moved a resolution, "That the efficacy of criminal law depends less upon the severity of panithment than the certainty of infliction; and that laws which cannot be carried into execution without shocking the feelings of so- ciety, and sinking abhorrence of the crime in sympathy for the offender, are con trary to reason, inconsistent with morality, and opposed to the interests of jus- tice —objections which most forcibly apply to statutes enacting the punishment of death."

In enforcing this resolution, Lord Nugent remarked, that notwithstanding the increase of population in this country, prosecutions and convictions were de- creasing for every crime except one, and that the only one to which the punish- ment of death applied—murder, which had greatly and frightfully increased. In Sweden the same results were shown. But there was one nation in which the number of capital punishments doubled those in any other nation in Europe; and that was a nation in which murders were committed in the very streets—he al- luded to Spain. Next to her, he regretted to be obliged to say, were the British Islands; the amount of convicted murderers and executions nearly doubling, ac- cording to the population, the convictions and executions in France—more than quadrupling, according to the population, the number of convictions and execu- tions in Austria—and being more than eight times the number of those in Prussia. In Belgium, from the years 1830 to 1837, there were but six murders, and not one execution.

Mr. O'Connell moved, "That, in the opinion of this meeting, no fallible tri- bunal should be intrusted with the power of inflicting an irrevocable punishment. That awful instances of the condemnation and execution of innocent men, con- victed upon what appeared at the time the clearest evidence, prove the fallibility of ,the best-constituted courts, and the necessity of adopting some punishment which may be recalled in the event of subsequent proof of the innocence of the supposed criminal, in place of a punishment which takes away that which man is powerless to restore, and consigns to a premature end a helpless fellow being; thus closing the gates of mercy which God would leave still open, and shortening the time for repentance which he would still extend."

He submitted the resolution not in the vain hope of enforcing any portion of it by anything like oratory. The day of his oratory had almost gone by. He had fallen into "the sear and yellow leaf" of life; and he could now come forward more in the capacity of a witness than as an arguer on any public question. In

the present case, he was a Competent witness; for during thirty-five years of Eta professional career, he had been the advocate of more criminals than any other barrister that ever addressed a public court. In the progress of that career, he had witnessed the working of that system; and he would not be honest--he would not be able to account to his God, before whom in the course of a few years at the utmost he mast appear—if he did not give every facility—if he did not give his support and every possible intelligence he possessed—to put an end to an abominable system, which stained the judicial ermine with blood, and frequently covered the scaffold with innocent victims. In illustration, he mentioned a num- ber of instances in which the innocence of persons who had suffered the paniah- ment of death had been established.

Addresses were delivered by Mr. Bright, Mr. Samuel Gurney, the Reverend Mr. Christmas, Mr. Wrightson, and others. Petitions to the Queen and to both Houses of Parliament were adopted; and it was agreed also to form a society, to be called "The Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishments."

A meeting in aid of the fends of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts was held on Tuesday, at the Hanover Square Rooms; the Duke of Buecleuch presiding. The recent victories in the Punjaub were adverted to as a reason why Christians should give a "thank offering" of their means to promote the purposes of the society. The venerable Mr. George Byng, the Member for Middlesex, handed iu his offering, a hundred- pound note. The Chairman, the Bishop of Winchester, Lord Glenelg, Lord Robert Grosvenor, the Bishop of St. David's, Mr. Goulburn, Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Bishop of Jamaica, Lord John Manners, Lord San- don, and Archdeacon Manning, took part in the proceedings.

Lord Ashley presided at the annual dinner of the Governesses Benevo- lent Institution, which took place on Wednesday, at the London Tavern. The Reverend David Laing, the originator of the institution, stated, that although it was only three years old, its balance-sheet embraced a sum of 18,000/. In temporary assistance to the objects of the society, out of 900 applications, 300 governesses had been relieved; nearly 7,0001. was invested to secure perpetual annuities for twelve individuals. The provident fund, in less than three years, comprised a sum of 20,0001. received from the savings of governesses, and invested in their names in Government annui- ties. The lease of a house in Harley Street, for a home for disengaged governesses, had been purchased at an expense of 1,700/., but the furniture would cost some hundreds more. The evening's subscriptions amounted to 1,680/. 18s. 6d.

A meeting of "friends of Ireland" was held on Wednesday evening, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, to express "abhorrence of the atrocious Coercion BilL" Mr. W. J. Rogers, M.D., was in the chair; and speeches were delivered by Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Dillon Browne, Mr. Richard Taylor, the Reverend Dr. Magee, and others. The other Repeal Members sent letters explanatory of their absence. Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Browne spoke in eulogistic terms of the exertions of Mr. Smith O'Brien to defeat the Coercion Bill; and the Reverend Mr. Moore promised to visit him in the Tower.

The Art Union Prizes were drawn for on Tuesday, at Drury Lane Theatre; the Duke of Cambridge presiding. The following were the principal prizes—

Mr. T. L. Robertson, Fredericktown, 100E; S. Vale, Coventry, 1501.; F. Ferdi- nand° West Ham, 3001; E. L. Betts, Tavistock Square, 100/.: J. Britten, Bir- kenhead, 2001.; J. Dudley, Mornington Crescent, 2001.; Mr. King, Newmarket, 1001.; E. F. Bladen, Regent Street, 3001.; Mr. J. Pyme, Welling Green, 1001.; Mr. W. Moffatt, St. Ann's Lane, 1501.; C. Davey, Yarmouth, 1501.; Miss Chubb, Atherstone, 1001.; Mrs. Evendin, Tunbridge, 1001.; J. C. Elliott, Northamp- ton, 1501.

Bailey's statue of the late Duke of Sussex was inaugurated at Freema- sons Hall, on Wednesday, in the presence of the Earl of Zetland, Grand Master, and a large party of the masonic brethren. In the course of the day, the Dutchess of Inverness, accompanied by the Earl of Zetland, inspected the statue.

At a meeting of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- land, held on Wednesday, at the Society's Rooms, Hanover Square, the following awards were confirmed—

To Mr. John Broxenden, surveyor, of Cirencester, the Society's prize of 501. for the best essay on the advantages or disadvantages of breaking up grass-land; to Mr. Hugh Raynbird, of Kingmves, near Bury St. Edmund's, a prize of 201. for the best essay on measure-work in its application to agricultural labour. Lord Portman communicated the results of some experiments made on the growth of potatoes from diseased tubers, of which on a former occasion he had reported progress. The most striking facts were these. Where eyes were planted, which had been scooped out but allowed to become stale, the great part has failed; but where fresh eyes were planted, all of them were growing. Of the autumn- planted potatoes, all are doing well in dry ground ; but only half promise well in ground less friable, the other half proving rotten. All the produce from diseased po- tatoes sown has proved to be sound and good. From tubers planted in a hot-house in October last, in dry heat, fine sprouts have been taken five times successively from such tubers and planted along with the original tubers, in the open ground, for a crop; and all the plants of this multiplied crop are now growing luxuriantly.

In the Lord Mayor's Court, on Monday, an action of some importance to traders within the City was decided by a Jury; the City Recorder presiding. Mr. Start, the defendant, carries on the business of a warehouseman at Wood Street; and he was sued by the City Chamberlain for the penalty of Si. for carrying on business without having taken up his freedom. It was admitted that Mr. Stunt dealt in cotton, linen, woollen, and other manufactured goods, which were purchased from manufacturers in Manchester, Scotland, and other places; that he received them in bales which were opened and exposed to parties wishing to purchase them; that these goods were purchased on the usual terms—a credit of two months, or a discount of 2i per cent for cash. Sir Thomas Wilde, for the City, contended that this traffic was essentially a "retail" trade, which rendered the person carry- ing it on liable to a penalty for not taking 1113 his freedom. The Solicitor- General, for the defendant, asserted that the business was a "wholesale" ono, and exempt, in consequence, from such penalty. The Recorder pat it to the Jury, as traders in the city of London, and as men of experience, to say whether the de- fendant came within the province of a wholesale dealer or not. He considered that the Corporation by-law which regulated the case did not apply to wholesale dealings; and that a warehouseman did not carry on an art, mystery, or handi- craft, within the meaning of the by-law or act. The Jury, after consulting together for half an hour, returned a verdict for the defendant.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Thursday, Mr. Barnard Gregory was brought up to receive judgment for his friar libels in the Satirist newspaper against the Duke of Brunswick. He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment—two months for each libel.

A novel proceeding took place last week before Mr. Ray, Master of the Court of Common Pleas, with reference to Charles Gregory Maynard, who was COR-

victed with Garrett respecting the railway robberies last November. By a recent act introduced by Lord Denman, the evidence of convicts is now allowed in courts of law; and actions having been brought against Messrs. Prance, Collard, and Nash, in connexion with those cases, the defendant Nash obtained leave from the Secretary of State to examine the convicts prior to their leaving England. This examination of Maynard occupied two days, and was attended by counsel: a short- hand writer also took notes for the Government. Garrett had been examined in like manner before being sent to the Colonies.

A most extraordinary assault, of a murderous tendency, whatever the intention may have been, was committed in Drury Lane on Saturday night. Thomas Blewitt, a young married man, employed by Messrs. Graff and Sorry, lithographic printers in Oxford Market, was returning to his lodging in White Horse Yard, Drury Lane, about half-past eight o'clock, when, as he approached Prince's Street, a youth fired a pistol at him, wounding him in the chest. The wounded man was taken to Charing Cross Hospital; where it was found that a bullet had passed through the thorax. For the first hour the patient went on well, but after that he grew worse; and a Police Inspector was despatched to hear any declara- tion he might have to make. He said he had no reason to suspect any one; he Lad no quarrel with anybody; nor did he see his assailant. The wounded man afterwards rallied, and has proceeded favourably. After the youth had fired at Blewitt, he ran up Drury Lane. He was met and seized by a Policeman, who had been attracted by the smoke and noise, and was hastening towards Prince's Street: but the lad exclaimed that a pistol had gone off by accident; and as the crowd were calling out that a man had shot himself, the Policeman let him go. Fisher, a chimney-sweeper, had observed the culprit slip a pistol into his pocket; seeing him run towards Great Queen Street, he fol- lowed him, and, after a smart chase, captured him at the East end of Great Queen Street, took him to Drury Lane, and gave him in charge to the Police. As he was taking him along, Fisher noticed that the prisoner had his band in his left pocket, and asked him what he had there? "Only a little pistol, that I have just let off as I was going to the shooting-gallery in Drury Lane," replied the prisoner. Fisher then took it from him. On arrival at the station-house, the prisoner was questioned. He said his name was Graham; that he was a clerk to a solicitor in Regent Street; that the pistol had gone off by accident; and that he was fifteen years old. On his person were found a powder-flask containing powder, percussion-caps, and bullets. On inquiry, it was found that his parents are very respectable people. In the prisoner's bedroom were discovered an old fowling-piece, a musket, several small cannon, and powder and bullets. The father stated that hia son had a great taste for fire-arms, and was in the habit of Mooting birds in the suburbs. The culprit was examined at Bow Street Police-Office on Monday. A young woman deposed, that on Saturday night the prisoner abused her in Prince's Street because she had accidentally jostled him; he threatened to "do for her that night, but for one thing "; and she saw a pistol in his hand, which he was holding under his coat. She called out " Police ! " and the prisoner ran away. Hathaway, a compositor, was passing by Prince's Street on Saturday night: he met the prisoner, who had a pistol in his right hand, presented so that it nearly touched witness's face. Hathaway was alarmed, and moved on one side; in a moment the pistol was fired; Graham staggered against him, and then ran. Policeman Duston stated that the prisoner asserted on Ins way to the station that the firing of the pistol was entirely an accident. Fisher was examined, and de- tailed the circumstances under which he captured the accused. The Magistrate complimented him for his prompt and energetic conduct, and promised that it should not go unrewarded. The prisoner was then remanded till Saturday. The scene of this mad act is not two hundred yards from where Wicks,so re- oently shot his master; and it appears that Graham had dealings for fire-ems with a shopkeeper in Drury Lane of whom Wicks purchased a pistol.

A very ungrateful fellow was charged with robbery at Southwark Police-office on Tuesday. Thomas Swainson had been a patient at Guy's Hospital, in a ward appropriated to sufferers from blindness; when he recovered from his disease, he took advantage of the unhappy state of his fellow patients to rob several, and then absconded. The proceeds of his thefts he expended in debauchery, which brought on his former illness: he applied to St. Thomas's Hospital for admission; but having been recognized as the robber of Guy's, he was handed over to the Police, and was committed for trial.

A fatal accident happened yesterday week, at Sheldon Lodge Wharf; Milbank. Five men were engaged on a platform which projected over the river hoisting a block of marble from a barge -by means of a crane; the marble had been just lifted from the barge, when the platform gave way, and the workmen were thrown a depth of sixteen feet into the barge or the water. One was killed on the spot; another died soon after he was taken to the hospital; and the others are yet in danger. On Monday an inquest began. It was stated that the crane and machinery were erected to lift a weight of twenty tons; the block of marble which the men were raising on Friday weighed twelve tons. A clerk to the London Marble Com- pany, to whom the marble belonged, said the whole machinery of the crane ap- peared to him to be of slight construction. It was built of pieces of old ship's timber, instead of picked stuff.