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' At a meeting of the Court of Common Council, on Thursday, a Committee presented a report on the office of the Common Sergeant, fixing his salary as heretofore at 1600/., and defining his duties. The report having been adopted, five candidates were proposed—Mr. Locke, Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Thomas Chambers, Sir W. Riddell, and Mr. Pulling. Mr. Chambers and Sir W. Itiddell laving obtained the largest number of votes on a division, the Council again divided ; when there were for Mr. Thomas Chambers 102, and for Sir W. Riddell 89 votes. Mr. Chambers was accordingly elected as Common Sergeant.

A deputation from a society for promoting the interests of the trading community had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exphequer on Tuesday, in order to procure the exemption from the Income-tax of all persons whose incomes do not exceed 150/. a year, and to exempt the first 1601, in all eases from the tax. Mr. Stratton, Dr. Chalice, and Mr. Gannon, were the _chief spokesmen. The ease laid before the Chancellor was, that poor tradesmen and shopkeepers feel severely, not only the amount of -the present poundage' but would be aggrieved by any poundage, in consequence of the increased prices of food, clothing, and houserent. No conclusive statement was obtained from Sir George Lewis ; and the conversation between himself and the deputation diverged from the main point to taxation in general, direct and indirect, as it affects the needy.

Two Metropolitan boroughs, Marylebone and Lambeth, held public meetings on Wednesday ; and, denouncing the Income-tax in general, as oppressive, unjust, and inquisitorial, passed resolutions demanding the remission of the war ninepence in April. Sir Benjamin Hall sent a letter excusing himself from attending the Marylebone meeting, on the ground that he could not leave Wales until the meeting of Parliament. His letter implied that he objected to the continuance of the war ninepence ; and as regarded the remainder of the poundage, he expressed " hope that a more equitable adjustment might be devised." Mr. Nichelay, commenting on this note, said " Instead of a bold and open avowal of his sentiments by the former Liberal Member for Marylebone, they had in this letter the Jesuitical emanation of a Minister of the Crown. He reichoed the sentiments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which told the country that he intended to do absolutely nothing. He would tell the Member for Marylebone, and he would tell the Government, that the country demands the removal of this tax, and that they are determined to have it removed ; ay, and they would have it of from the 5th of April next."

The meetings were both unanimous and decided in their hostility to the tax.

A Conference on Mercantile Law has been sitting this week at Willis's Rooms under the chairmanship of Lord Brougham. The first sitting took dace on Wednesday. Besides delegates from Bath, Birmingham, Belfast, Bradford, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Hull, Kidderminster, Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Plymouth, Southampton, Vrolverhampton, and Worcester, representing a population of 5,000,000, there were present six Members of Parliament—Lord Stanley, Sir Erskine Perry, Mr. Apsley Pellatt, Mr. George Ridley, Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Craufurd. Lord Brougham opened the proceedings by an introductory speech, explaining that there have been many changes made in the law of late years, and that it was for them to consider the benefit of these changes, and what further improvements can be made. He defended the course taken by the law Amendment Society on law-reform ; declaring that one great principle had pervaded all their proceedings,—" the substitution of natural for technical procedure with its incalculable benefits, for technical procedure with its incalculable evils."

Mr. Hastings, one of the Secretaries read a report describing the origin of the Conference—suggested by the great success of the Conference of 1852—and setting forth the agenda of the session. Among the subjects for consideration -were—the Law of Bankruptcy, Tri.bunals of Commerce, the Registration of Partnerships, and the Statute of Frauds. The report recommended that the Committee which had superintended the arrangements for the Conference should continue their functions as its representatives. The report was received, and the Committee were requested to continue.

The first paper read was one on the Bankrupt Laws, by Mr. Commissioner Ayrton, of the Leeds Bankruptcy Court.

In describing the present state of bankrupt law, Mr. Ayrton set forth two great complaints,—it is too expensive ; the punishments are uncertain, and inadequate. In working a bankruptcy with 1601. assets, the expenses are 100?.; as the assets increase the expenses swell up, though not in the same ratio, to hundreds and thousands. There is now paid out of bankrupts' estates 28,000/. a year in pensions and compensations. This will cease m a few years, and another saving of 18,000/. will be effected by the reduction of the Commissioners to four in London and seven in the country. The gross expenses of the Bankruptcy Courts mount up to 85,715?.; and the sum paid to solicitors, official assignees, and messengers, is 149,600/. Mr. Ayrton suggested that the 28,000/. for compensation shouldbe paid out of the Consolidated Fund ; that the Registrars should be dispensed with as unnecessary; that the office of messenger should be abolished, and his duties transferred to the Official Assignee ' • that the " broker" should not be a permanent officer ; that the Official Assignee should be paid a fixed salary ; that there should be an official solicitor, to be paid a fixed salary ; that a simple form of accounts should be substituted for the present complex balance-sheet; that where a trader does not pay 15s. in the pound, and cannot prove that his failure arose from causes over which he had no control, he should not have any sort of protection or certificate ; and that appeals to the Lords Justices should be abolished, the precaution being taken to have two mercantile men to sit with the Commissioner and have a voice in the determination of the case.

A discussion ensued, enlivened by the passing comments of the Chairman, and giving rise to a variety but no great divergence of opinion.

The Conference adjourned for dinner, but reassembled in the evening, at the rooms of the Law Amendment Society. Mr. Heath read a paper advocating the establishment of Tribunals of Commerce for deciding strictly mercantile disputes, and he moved a resolution to that effect. After a spirited discussion, showing considerable opposition, the resolution was withdrawn.

The Conference sat again on Thursday. The subjects considered were the practicability of a commercial code, the Statute of Frauds, and the Registration of Partnerships. It was resolved that a commercial code is desirable ; that partnerships of all kinds ought to be registered; and that section 17 of the Statute of Frauds ought to be repealed, and an act passed dispensing with the mention of any amount, and that in specified contracts the agreement should be reduced to writing. The proceedings were brought to a close by a vote of thanks to Lord Broughain, for his exertions in promoting law reform and his kindness in presiding-over the Conference.

A deputation free:lithe Conference' headed by Lord Brougham, waited on Lord Palmerston, at Cambridge House, yesterday afternoon. lord Brougham concisely stated the subjects discussed at the Conference, and the conclusions arrived at on the points under consideration. In reply, Lord Palmerston with many compliments to Lord Broughara, said that the subjects pointed out should receive the most deliberate attention of her Majesty's Government. On the part of himself and his colleagues, he thanked the deputation for coming to tell him the result of their deliberations. Another of those extraordinary gatherings—a meeting of ticket-ofleave men—took place at Farringdon Hall, Snowhill, on Tuesday night. They were called together by the Earl of Carnarvon, who took the chair. Upwards of seventy were present; they were admitted by presenting their tickets, and the police were excluded. Most of the men were seedily clad, but some were "got up" in a style that left no doubt of the class to which they belong—the "swell-mob." Lord Carnarvon, taking the chairs' invited them to say whatprevented them from redeeming their characters, and whether the ticket-of-leave had been of any use to them in obtaining employment. Six or seven addressed the meeting. One general complaint 'was, that the police prevented them from getting and 'keeping employment ; one man bitterly described how the police hunt him ; others said that an institution is wanted to receive prisoners on leaving "those hotbeds of demoralization our public prisons." At the close of the meeting, the Chairman asked for a show of hands to ascertain whether the men would prefer to have a ticket-of-leave in England or a ticket-of leave in the Colonies ; and found that they all, without a :single exception, signified their choice of the latter. They were dismissed with an exhortation to persevere in the paths of honesty.

A ease of considerable interest was heard in the Court of Queen's Bench on the 23d. There is in Hartlepool a body called the "West Hartlepool Improvement Commission." It has been the custom to publish reports of theirmeetings in the local papers. At one of these meetings there was an angry discussion, during which some of the Commissioners made use of observations that hurt the feelings of a Mr. Davison. The Durham and County Advertiser published a report of the debate, whirls report has not been impugned. Mr. Davison thereupon brought an action, not against the speakers of the offensive matter, but against the publisher of the journal. The defence was, that the report was a correct and fair report. The plaintiff demurred to this plea, and the Court was called to decide its admissibility-. Lord Campbell expressed an opinion, that, as the law now stands, the plea was bad. As the law now stands, a fair account of what takes place in a court of justice is privileged, if made bonfi fide. The public has great interest in knowing what takes place in courts of justice, and what passes there is under the control of the judges ; and the inconvenience from allowing that privilege is infinitesimally small compared with the benefit which is conferred upon the public. But when an attempt was made to extend that privilege by legislation, it failed, and till now in a court of justice the doctrine has never been contended for. It might be desirable -that the doctrine should be extended ; but, without some guarantees for the protection of private character, Lord Campbell thought such publications ought not to be permitted. If the plea were good, a fair account might be published of what took place at a public meeting, whatever injury it might do to private character, from a meeting of the county down to a meeting of a town-council—a meeting to levy a rate, or for the removal of-a pauper. At such meetings there might be a great number of things said extremely injurious to private character ; and if such a plea as the present were a defence, there would be no opportunity for the party to vindicate his character from the aspersions cast upon it. If the Legislature saw fit, it might extend the privilege to certain meetings under certain qualifications: but the Court had to decide according to the law as it now stands. —Judgment for the plaintiff. Mr. Justice Coleridge and Mr. Justice Crompton concurred in this decision.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Wednesday, arguments were heard and judgment delivered on a rule calling upon Sir John Dodson, Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Province of Canterbury, to show cause why a

mandamus should not issue commanding him to admit a libel of appeal from the decision of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the case of Ditcher versus

Denison. It was intimated that Sir John Dodson declined to show cause against the rule, conceiving that it would be snore respectful to the Court to adopt that course. Lord Campbell said, there could be no disrespect in Sir John appearing by counsel. Dr. Barford, on behalf of Mr. Ditcher, having showed cause against the rule, Lord Campbell delivered judgment. Even if the caae were doubtful, it would be the duty of the Court to grant a mandamus; but it was not a doubtful question. The Archbishop, when sitting at Bath, was pro hoz vice sitting as the Bishop's substitute, as provided by the statute. The appeal would not be from the Archbishop to the Judge of the Court of Arches, but from the Archbishop acting for the diocesan to the Dean of the Arches, in accordance with the statute, which provides that the appeal from a diocesan court shall be "to the Archbishop, and shall be heard before the Court of Appeal of the Province," that is the Court of Arches. Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Justice Wightman, and Mr. Justice _Crampton concurred in this view.—Rule made absolute for a mandamus.

An action brought by Mr. Hancock, a jeweller, against Lord Ernest Vane Tempest, to recover the sum of 1501. 19s. for jewellery, was tried on the 231 in the Court of Exchequer. The defendant pleaded "never in.debted" and "infancy." Mr. Edwin James, for the plaintiff, urged that the articles supplied were "necessaries "—that is, necessary for a person in the social position of Lord Ernest Vane Tempest. The first article in the plaintiff's bill was a diamond and ruby ring, which article it had been decided was a necessary for a nobleman. The next thing was an enamelled hair-locket. Mr. Baron Bramwell—" What is that for, Mr. James ?" Mr. James—" It is what you put a piece of hair in when you are attached to a young lady." Mr. Baron Bramwell—" Then all that I can say is that I have been without necessaries all my life." Mr. James—" Your Lordship was never an officer in the T.ife Guards." The next articles in the bill were a pair of onyx sleeve-links, 31., and a set of gold studs, 21.; was it to be said that these were extravagant or unnecessary articles ? The next item was a gold latch door-key. It was a piece of pride among the officers in that regiment to have their latch door-keys made of gold, and nearly every one of them possessed one of this metal. What would his mamma say if she heard that he had a latch-key of steel or iron, instead of gold as the others heel? Why, he was surrounded by persons of great wealth, and he must do as they did; and from his position such things became absolute necessaries. Then there was a gold turquoise Alma locket—that was to put somebody else's hair in most likely, or to give to one of his family in remembrance of that battle. Then came an enamelled pearl chain necklace, 71. 7s. : that he could not wear outside his cravat at all events ; however, he had it. It was proved that goods to the amount of 65/. 15s. had been delivered-' but the delivery of the remainder was not proved, as the-witness is in Egypt. No defence was offered. The Judge directed the Jury to return a verdict for the sum proved-651. 15s. In doing so, the Jury expressed their strong opinion that the plaintiff ought to have been paid the whole of his demand.

In the-Court of Bankruptcy, on Saturday, Mr. Lawrence applied to Commissioner.Holroyd to order certain creditors of the Royal British Bank and their solicitors to give an account of their harassing proceedings against shareholders : some creditors have initiated many actions, and on pretence of staying them they and their attorneys have levied a black mail on shareholden, really amounting in-the whole to more than the debts due. In one case fourteen notices had been issued for one debt. This conduct will drive

shareholders out of the country. Mr. Linklater agreed with the observa

tions made by Mr. Lawrence. mentioned that a committee is now sitting which it is hoped would lead to a final arrangement of the affair' s of the bank. The Commissioner stated that he had no power to interfere in the matter complained of by Mr. Lawrence.

An inquiry was held before Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Willes, on Tuesday, respecting the property formerly held by Pierce, Burgess, and Tester. After hearing counsel for the various claimants, the Judges ordered. that the South-Eastern Railway Company should receive so much of the property as was shown to have been the produce of the gold-robbery; the remainder to be placed in the keeping of Commissioner Mayne, to abide any future orders that may be given respecting it.

The Local Marine Board of London, Mr. Duncan Dunbar chairman, have held an inquiry into the mortality among the Chinese on board the Duke of Portland between Hongkong and Ilavannah. It seems that the Chinese increased the mischief arising from disease by their own mutinous and perverse conduct, and by their dirty habits. The morality of this slave-trade does not seem to have been touched on in the inquiry. This was the decision of the Board—" That no blame attaches to the owner and master, or any one connected with the ship. That Captain Seymour's conduct to the emigrants appears to have been kind and attentive, and that every possible precaution was used by him to decrease the mortality. Dr. Ludgate appears also to have exerted himself for the same purpose. It appears to this Board that the mortality was greatly aggravated by the great heat and unusual length of the passage (150 days), caused by the sailing of the ship in an improper season. She sailed fislly one month later than she ought to have done to enable her to get down the China seas."

A large number of :distressed labourers, part of those 'who assembled in Smithfield, applied to the Clerkenwell Magistrate on Monday for advice-: they had sought relief at Islington Workhouse, and could not get it. Mr. Corrie questioned some of the crowd, and came to the conclusion that they were really in want of aid ; so he sent for a relieving-officer, and that ftmetionary promised to attend immediately to the most urgent eases.

On Tuesday, a body of men applied to the Lambeth Magistrate : they had been refused relief at the workhouse unless they did so many hours' work— how could they do that and seek employment at the same time ? Mr. Elliott sent an officer with the crowd to the workhouse; but as the applicants refused to do any work, the Guardians declined to give them anything. Mr. Elliott said he was not surprised at this result—he believed the object of the pretended paupers was merely to snake a display.

" Betting-houses" still flourish. The Police have made an attack upon them at the West-end; and the Marlborough Street Magistrate has inflicted heavy 'fines in two cases.

After repeated examinations before Sir Robert Carden, sometimes carried on with an extra-judicial warmth, the " Samaritan" ease came to an end on Saturday. The charge against Mr. Barber, the secretary, was that of obtaining goods under false pretences with a view to defraud,—that is, extracting from several firms flour, biscuits, and beer, on pretence of distributing them to the poor, while they were used by Barber and his family, or sold. Sir Robert Carden—whatever his opinion of the secusesTs conduct might be—felt that the legal proofs in support of the charge were insufficient, and he discharged Barber.

John Paul, the defaulting clerk to the City Union, has been adjudicated a bankrupt : he is described as a corn and seed merchant of Bedford and St.

Mary Axe. This is the third time that "honest John Paul" has been a bankrupt—on the second occasion, at any rate, his creditors did not get a farthing.

Richard Smith, a pot-man, has been remanded by the Lambeth Magistrate on suspicion of having killed William Kieffe. On the 27th December, Kieffe was found in the stable of the public-house at Peckham Rye where Smith was employed, with a large wound on his head ; he died of the wound ; it was supposed that it had been caused by a fall while he was drunk. Suspicion, however, has now suggested that Smith struck the deceased with a large wooden mallet: in the workhouse Kiuffe had told people he had been struck. Smith denies the accusation.

The Directors of the Crystal Palace Company have now ascertained the extent of Robson's frauds : 10,996/. of Preference Shares, 16,890/. of Ordinary Shares, and 915/. of Season-Tickets. These figures, however, do not correctly represent the amount of money involved : the Preference Shares are at a slight premium ; while the Ordinary Shares neat a great discount, so that the 16;890/. could, be replaced by less than half that amount of money.