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A deputation from the Corporation of the City of London, attended at the Home Office on Saturday, to explain their plans for a new metro- politan meat and poultry market in Smithfield. The commissioners who conducted an inquiry into the appropriation of Smithfield in 1856, re- commended that it should be retained as an open space. They propose to occupy part of the ground with market buildings. Mr. Waddington, on behalf of Sir George Lewis, promised to report the desire of the depu- tation to the proper authorities.
Prince Albert attended a banquet of the Clothworkers' Company, on Tuesday evening, at their new hall in Mincing Lane. The banquet was given by the Master and Court of Assistants to celebrate the opening of this handsome edifice.
On Tuesday, a deputation from Ramsgate had an interview with Lord John Russell, to propose that the town should be grouped with Sandwich in the new Reform Bill.
The "Ballot Society" met at their offices, on Tuesday, to consider the report of the division on Mr. Berkeley's motion, and to pass resolutions thereupon. The substance of them was—That the "serious check" which they were said to have sastained, was the result of the tactics of the anti-ballot party in forcing a premature division. The committee earnestly impress on the Parliamentary friends of the ballot, the evil which arises from their absence from divisions, even when paired, "public opinion on the division being formed on the numbers actually voting, without reference to pairs or to the number of friends absent un- paired. The absence of seventy-five members from the late division tends to dispirit the public."
"The Patent Type Founding Company" have obtained an order from Vice-Chancellor Wood, to inspect the type used in printing the Times news- paper, and for delivering to them a small portion of old type for the pur- pose of analysis ; it being alleged that the manufacture and use of that type are infringements of patents purchased by the company.
Miss Elizabeth Paxton, niece of Sir Joseph Paxton, has brought an ac- tion against the Reverend Henry Robinson for breach of promise of marriage, laying her damages at 3000/. The action was tried in the Sheriffs' Court, on Thursday, and the Jury assessed the damages at 300/. Briefly told, the circumstances of the engagement were these :—in 1&58, Miss Paxton met Robinson at Dr. Newland's Protestant chapel at Gores, Wexford, where he preached. Proposals were made. He was an army chaplain, about 38 years of age ; a widower, with one child ; his income was 300/. a year; he was 5201. in debt. He proposed to marry Miss Paxton, and the time was fixed for July. Sir Joseph Paxton had made preparations for the wedding at his house in Berkeley Square, when the matter was broken off. Hence the action to recover compen- sation. The plea set up by the defendant was, that he was in debt, and would not drag his wife into poverty.
Henry Francis Richardson, the late secretary to the council of the Lon- don Rifle Brigade' has been committed for trial. Evidence was given of his having been paid 241. 4s. 10d.—for which no entries had been made. His counsel urged, that whatever his irregularities might have been, there was no felonious intention on Richardson's part ; to which Sir Robert Carden replied—" If the prisoner be acquitted by a jury. I am sure no one will be more rejoiced at it than the council of the Brigade."
At the Mansionhouse, on Monday, Sidney Dyer, a youth of sixteen, was fully committed for trial on the charge of forging and uttering a cheque for 1241.411 the City Bank. He went two days running, last week, to purchase old coins of a Mr. Lincoln, in Blackfriars Road, to the amount of 2/. 101 on Thursday ; 161. on Friday. Mr. Lincoln's suspicions were aroused ; he did not believe the story of his customer, that he had been sent to make the purchases by his father, who was a retired builder, living at Wood Green, Tottenham, and requested Dyer to conduct him to his parent's residence. They went together by rail to Wood Green ; but, after walking about for three hours, or more, the prisoner said he must have lost his way, and Mr. Lincoln brought him back to London, and took him to his own house for the night. While he was washing, the next morning, Mr. Lincoln saw a book projecting from his pocket, which he said,was a book catalogue; but, as he took it out, Mr. Lincoln saw that it was a cheque-book. A police con- stable was fetched. To him Dyer confessed that he had obtained the cheque- book from the City Bank, by means of a forged order, purporting to be signed by Mr. W. Wright, of 27, King Street, Cheapside, and afterwards procured 124/. from the bank by filling up one of the cheques, and forging the same gentleman's signature. The inspector then searched him, and found on his person two other cheques, both purporting to be signed by Mr. Wright, and filled up for 3761., and 3761. 108. respectively, but which had not 'man presented. The cheque-book was identified by a clerk from the City Bank ; and Mr. Wright—in whose employ Dyer had formerly been— proved the signatures to be forged. Dyer lived with his parents. "who were very respectable people in St. Luke's." He had been in the habit of leaving and returning home at regular hours, and had represented to them that he was in the service of the Great Northern Railway, earning 128. 6d. a week. When asked what he had to say in reply to the charge, he an- swered—" Nothing—only I hope nothing will happen to my father and mother in consequence."
For several days past, a series of disturbances have been going on amongst the Irish in the neighbourhood of Thomas Street and Nelson Street, Cam- berwell. On Tuesday, these disturbances ended in a riot, in which one man lost his life. At the height of the fracas, there were nearly three hun- dred persons fighting with pick-axes, crowbars, sticks, and other weapons, and " running about like madmen." A strong body of police quelled the row, which, it is said, had its origin in some disputes about religion.
Mr. Galsworthy, the high bailiff of the Bloomsbury County Court, com- mitted suicide on Wednesday, by throwin himself from the third story win- dow of his residence in Gordon Square. He was highly repected by the Judge and officials of the Court. No reason has been assigned for the act.
We hear talk of some great mistake in the level of the sewers now being diverted in St. Pancras for the Underground Railway. It is stated that, after a large expenditure, the new sewer will require to be lowered six feet, and that the works are stepped.—Builder.
The destruction of old Westminster Bridge was commenced on Tuesday by the removal of the macadamised surface of the carriage-road on the western portion. Three houses in Bridge Street are to be sold forthwith, in order that the approach may be completed.
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