4 FEBRUARY 1854, Page 8

Yartrupults.

The Convocation of the Clergy of this Province met on Wednesday in the Board-room of the Bounty Office at Westminster; and some not un- important steps were taken in the Upper House. Thirteen Bishops were present, besides the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first question arose on a report of a Committee appointed to inquire into precedents touching the claim of licensed curates to vote at the election of Proctors ; the Committee reporting that there is no evidence to show that the votes of licensed curates have ever been received at the election of Proctors. From this view the Bishop of Exeter dissented ; warmly contending that stipendiary curates must be included in the " totus clerus" ; for they derive their spiritual authority from the Bishop, and are as much a part of the dio- cese as the incumbents themselves. In the diocese of Exeter they are all summoned to the election. It was explained by the Bishops of Oxford and London, that the point was not whether the curates ought to have a vote, but whether they were disqualified. In the end the report was re- ceived and adopted. The Convocation of the Clergy of this Province met on Wednesday in the Board-room of the Bounty Office at Westminster; and some not un- important steps were taken in the Upper House. Thirteen Bishops were present, besides the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first question arose on a report of a Committee appointed to inquire into precedents touching the claim of licensed curates to vote at the election of Proctors ; the Committee reporting that there is no evidence to show that the votes of licensed curates have ever been received at the election of Proctors. From this view the Bishop of Exeter dissented ; warmly contending that stipendiary curates must be included in the " totus clerus" ; for they derive their spiritual authority from the Bishop, and are as much a part of the dio- cese as the incumbents themselves. In the diocese of Exeter they are all summoned to the election. It was explained by the Bishops of Oxford and London, that the point was not whether the curates ought to have a vote, but whether they were disqualified. In the end the report was re- ceived and adopted. But the most important step taken by the Upper House was a motion by the Bishop of London for a Committee of that House to meet seven members appointed by the Lower House, to consider whether any—and if so, what—reforms in the constitution of Convocation were expedient to enable it, with the full confidence of the Church, to treat of such matter as her Majesty might be pleased to submit to its deliberations. The Bishop of Bt. David's seconded the motion; which, he said, did not pledge him to any specific opinion or view upon the subject—that was one of its great merits. The rejection of the motion would be tantamount to saying that Convocation must continue to be a mere dead empty form: if such were the case, he heartily wished it might be abolished. The motion was sup- ported by the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Oxford ; the Bishop of Winchester would not oppose it, but would not allow his name to be placed on the Committee. The Archbishop of Canterbury doubted the real advantage of Convocation ; but he thought proper, under present cir- cumstances, to appoint the Committee. The motion was carried, nemine contradicente. The Committee appointed consisted of the Bishops of Lon- don, Exeter, Salisbury, St. David's, Oxford, Chichester, and St. Asaph's.

The second step was the appointment of a Committee to consider and report "whether the great increase and present condition of the popu- lation does not make some, and what, adaptation of the Church's rule needful, to meet the Church's needs." It was opposed by the Bishop of Winchester, on the ground that Convocation is incompetent to deal with the question : but the Archbishop of Canterbury gave his hearty assent. The Committee appointed consisted of the Bishops of Llandaff, London, Worcester, St. David's, Lincoln, Chichester, Oxford, and Lichfield.

Meanwhile, the Lower House had assembled; appointed a Committee on the standing orders, and a Committee to consider such schedules of " gravimina" and " reformanda " as might be presented to it by the Rouse; when the Prolocutor was summoned to the Upper House, and returned with a " desire " in regard to one case, and a " direction " in the other, that seven members should be appointed from the Lower House to form part of the two Committees appointed by the Upper House. Mr. Archdeacon Denison, the Dean of Bristol, and others, resisted this pe- remptory order—this "coup d'eglise," as Mr. Denison called it ; and the Dean of Bristol moved that the appointment of the Committee be post- poned until next session. A warm discussion ensued : the question went to a division ; the original motion was carried by 45 to 28; and the Committees were appointed.

Shortly after, both Houses were prorogued until the 30th June.

The City Commission is now drawing to a close ; and the evidence taken before it decreases in public interest. The subjects of the examina- tions this week have been the Gresham Trust Committee, which seems pretty nearly insolvent ; the Irish Society ; electoral corruption ; and the Southwark Bridge question.

At a Court of Common Council, on Wednesday, it was ordered that the office of one of the Bridgemasters, and that of Comptroller to the Chamberlain, recently vacated by the death of the officers who filled them, should not be filled up pending the inquiry before the Commission.

In reply to an intimation from the Secretary, that the Royal Commis- sioners would have much satisfaction in receiving any suggestions from the Corporation "tending to the amendment of the constitution" of that body, it was resolved, on the motion aMr. Wood, that suggestions should be prepared. The Court resolved itself into a Committee to take the necessary steps, and sat throughout the day.

A numerous meeting of municipal authorities, including the Mayors of York, Birmingham, Sunderland, Nottingham, Walsall, Southampton, Portsmouth, and several lesser towns, was held in London on Thursday, "to consider the unconstitutional scheme proposed for the centralization of the Police Force of England." The resolutions pronounced the con- templated measure for consolidating the Police of Counties and Boroughs "an unjustifiable attack on the rights of Municipal Corporations" ; and a deputation was appointed to urge that view upon Lord Palmerston.

A deputation, headed by Lord Shaftesbury, comprising nearly twenty Members of Parliament, and several gentlemen deeply interested in the subject, waited on Lord Palmerston on Wednesday, for the purpose of presenting the memorial adopted at the recent Birmingham Conference on the subject of Reformatory Schools. Sir John Pakington was the spokes- man of the deputation. He recited the demand of the memorial for re- formatory schools, where miserable beings who have nothing but a career of vice and wickedness before them might be converted into honest and industrious citizens. Such schools should be promoted, not only by vo- luntary but by State assistance ; and to check parental negligence, a por- tion of every child's maintenance should be recoverable from the parents. Urging the widespread character of the demand, and its necessity, Sir John said he hoped to induce the Government to take up the question. Lord Robert Grosvenor stated that the Middlesex Magistrates are anxious that the bill they proposed on the subject should be superseded by one emanating from Lord Palmerston. The Honourable T. H. Liddell said, he had in his hand a petition on the subject, signed by the Mayor iii Liverpool on behalf of a public meeting. Mr. M. D. Hill said, he bad been in communication with all his brother Recorders, and all wenn]; approved of the opinions expressed by the Conference. Lord Lovaine. speaking for the county of Surrey, the Honourable Arthur Kinnaird for Scotland, the Earl of Harrowby and Mr. John Ball for Ireland, and Mr.. Adderley for Staffordshire, urged similar views.

Lord Palmerston commenced his reply with the complimentary remark, that the deputation itself was a pretty good proof of the weight due to the resolutions.

The question is so important and so interesting, and must have made se deep an impression on the mind of every man who has considered it, that one representative would have been sufficient to carry out the purpose of the deputation. He was quite convinced that this matter is one of the most im- portant that ought to attract the attention and excite the action of Govern- ment. It is manifest, that unless they could devise some method of reform- icioiignys:uotfhpfuunl wwaosuwldelliekndoriwynenthfurtherat un is and nf further ritnhge leidtte mature years seldom produced the reform desired. fn regard to the topic introduced by Sir John Pakington with respect to the change which had taken place in secondary punishments, he observed that, in consequence oe the Colonies having refused to receive any more convicts, it is imperative on the Government to endeavour to stop the source of crime. He quite un- derstood that a measure of this sort could scarcely be brought forward with any hope of success by independent Members of Parliament, especially in a session which already presented a largeish bill of fare. But he was ready to admit that it is the duty of Government to undertake the question ; at least, he should feel it his duty to do so, and he would give his best attention to it. He hoped to receive the advice and cooperation of the other members of the Government. Relying on the cordial support of those gentlemen present, as well as of many others, who had turned their attention more practically to+ the subject, he hoped that in the course of the present session they should be enabled to pass into a law some measure to stop this growing evil.

The Conference on Trades Combinations, Strikes, Lock-outs, and Wages, held at the invitation of the Council of the Society of Arts, took place on Monday ; Lord Robert Grosvenor in the chair. The large room of the Society was well-filled. There were present not only representa- tives from trades associations, but numbers of persons who have shown interest in the subject,—like Lord Stanley, Lord Goderich, Mr. Charles Hindley, the Reverend Frederick Maurice, Dr. Arnett, Mr. Bridges Adams, Mr. W. E. Hickson, Professor Pryme, Mr. Henderson, of the firm of Fox and Henderson, and Mr. Edwin Hill. At the outset of the business, Mr. Ernest Jones, the demagogue, attempted to dictate the mode of proceeding, by calling upon the Conference to pass a preliminary reso- lution,—a sort of Frenehified declaration of "the rights of labour"; but the meeting supported the chair in putting a stop to Mr. Jones; and, amid some laughter, he left the meeting denouncing it as onesided. The dis- cussion turned mainly upon the usefulness of combinations, and the working men came out in great force in support of them ; meeting With four opponents, among them Mr. Fort, a manufacturer, and Professor Pryme. One of the questions considered was "Would a law of limited liability in partnerships tend to render such combinations unnecessary ?" Mr. Blaney, late Member for Shrewsbury, ably contended that it would ; and all the speakers save one—again Mr. Fort—agreed with him. After four hours' discussion, going over the whole questions under considera- tion in a summary fashion, a resolution in favour of a law of limited lia- bility in partnerships was put and carried. With respect to strikes there

was not the same unanimity ; but the working men stanchly defended them as the only ultimate means of sustaining their claims. Nor was

there absolute unanimity in favour of arbitration as a means of arriving at the same end. Therefore upon these two questions the meeting came to no decision.

The Preston question was discussed by many of the speakers ; and Mr. Cowell, the leader of the Preston operatives, was present. Mr. Charles Hindley, speaking with great animation, described the contest as really one between Blackburn and Preston. It would be settled tomor- row, he said, if the manufacturers of the latter would give the prices paid by those of the former : Mr. Cowell was not the cause of the strike, he was but the feather on the wind ; and it would be as false to say that the feather was driving the wind as to say that Mr. Cowell possessed the

power assigned to him. Mr. Hindley said that the conduct of Id. r.

Cowell throughout had been highly creditable to him. Mr. Cowell lum- self subsequently spoke, with calm decision. He denied that there had ever

been any intention to beat the masters in detail ; for the great majorrtY of the masters had given the men what they wanted before the strike commenced. That strike might be settled in three ways : first, if the masters would meet the operatives in equal numbers ; secondly, if the masters would consent to refer the matter to arbitration ; or thirdly, if the masters would really tell the men what they want.

Among the suggestions made was one for the establishment of local boards of arbitration. On this subject a letter was read from Withal, Knott, a working shipwright of Sunderland, and one of the Chairmen or the Court of Arbitration there, showing how efficient the court had been in the settlement of disputes. The Conference broke up about six o'clock. '

The Marylebone Savings Bank made satisfactory progress last year. There were no fewer than 2611 new deposits. On the 20th November 1853, the number of open accounts was 23,308; of which 17,836 held balances averaging less than three guineas each. The balance des to depositors on that day was 369,7554 168.; of which 367,973/. 2s. 3d. WO invested in the Public Securities.

According to the report of the Committee for promoting the el: tablishment of Baths and Washhouses, there were in the Metropolis, last year 877,699 bathers, and 269,040 washers ; yielding a swil 16,1121. 9s. 3d. This is exclusive of the George Street and Lambeth 66- tablishments. The return of the receipts for the past eight years shows a gratifying increase both in the total monies derived from bathers and from washers. Nevertheless, the report laments that several parishes rejected motions, last year, for the establishment of baths and washhouses. From the 9th November to the 26th January the Lord Mayor distri- buted to 914 individuals or families no less than 3511. from the Mansion- house poor-box.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Monday, Sir Frederick Thesiger and Sir Fitzroy Kelly showed cause why a criminal information should not be filed against William Harrison, the publisher of the Times, for an alleged libellous article published in the Times of the 22d November. The rule was granted on the application of Mr. Francis Scott and seven other directors of the South-Western Railway Company. The libel was put hypothetically, and under that form seemed to convey a charge of "swindling," of " tam- pering with some votes and creating others of a fictitious character," against the directors. It was argued by the counsel, that Mr. Scott had assumed more authority than was given to him by a resolution of the shareholders passed in May last, and had promised the House of Commons that a railway should be made from Southampton to Exeter with a double line of rails, in order to secure that district from the Great Western Company. The Attor- ney-General appeared in support of the rule. Lord Campbell decided that the rule should be made absolute ; apparently on the ground that the affi- davits did not disclose any justifications for some of the charges in the libel.

In the Court of Common Pleas, on Tuesday, the Lord Chief Justice gave judgment in the case of M. Drouet, the Belgian Charge d'Affaires. M. Drouet was one of the defendants in an action to recover 250/. deposits upon shares of a company of which he was one of the directors. A rule was granted to show cause why the name of M. Drouet should not be struck out of the pro- ceedings, as a privileged person, exempt from all jurisdiction in such cases. The Court decided that the rule should be discharged. M. Drouet had almost sought the action ; the plaintiff was obliged to sue all the defendants ; and it was not open to M. Drouet to put a stop to the proceedings at that stage. If a writ should be issued against his person or personal property upon the judgment in this action the Court would be ready to protect him.

Mr. Commissioner Fans gave judgment on Saturday, in the case of George Rennet, railway contractor, who failed some months ago for a very large sum. His business transactions had been enormous. Mr. Hennet owed to secured creditors about 96,000/., and the property held against this was about 86,0001.; he owed to unsecured creditors 343,000!.; and the general assets were about 146,000/. ; so that there would be a considerable dividend. Mr. Pane explained, that Hennet had become a bankrupt partly on account of great losses by railway and other shares and the failure of a country bank ; but chiefly by having recourse to those money-lending knaves who are the pest of society." Had he not struggled on so long, it would have been better for himself and his creditors. Mr. Fans awarded a first-class certi- ficate.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, James Murray Rawlings, a young clergyman, pleaded guilty to uttering a check the amount of which he had altered from 81. to 801. 31r. Bodkin, on behalf of the prisoner, said that this case was one of a very painful nature. His unhappy client was an ordained clergyman of the Church of England, and son of a late Rector of Limehouse, who died from the cholera, which seized him whilst attend- ing the sick of his parish. In August last the prisoner married the daughter of a clergyman in the West of England, and, at the time of this occurrence had a living in the country. He had become embarrassed in consequence of some church repairs he had undertaken, and had come up to town to en- deavour to relieve his necessities ; and having the check in his hand, had been led, whilst scarcely cognizant of his actions from the intense excite- ment under which he laboured, to commit the ace he had pleaded guilty to. He had since than resigned his living ; and all that was left for him, when be got free from the penalties of his present conduct, would be to quit the country with his young wife, who had consented to accompany him. Several gentlemen gave the prisoner a very high character. Mr. Wilkinson, a bar- rister, who knew the wife's family, said that he saw the prisoner on the day the offence was committed, sed he looked like a madman. His living was stated to be in Lancashire, and worth 180/. per annum. Sentence, two years' imprisonment.

On Tuesday, Wallis, a law-writer, was convicted of maliciously wounding his wife: the Jury acquitted him of "intent to murder." He had assailed his victim with a razor while she was in bed; cut her on the ear, neck, and fingers ; and afterwards said he was sorry he had not "done it effectually." Sentence, transportation for life.

Policeman Woods has been acquitted of the charge of setting on fire the house of the hairdresser at Bermondsey. The testimony of the chief witness, Sergeant Squires, broke down. Woods has been in, the force sixteen years, and bears an excellent character.

Daniel Lloyd, the Holloway lettercarrier who plunderedletters by whole- sale, pleaded guilty to three charges. Sentence, transportation for twenty years.

Mr. Justice Crompton has admitted to bail Mr. Latham and Mr. Ashcroft, the officers of the Eastern Counties Railway against whom a verdict of "Man- slaughter" was returned by a Coroner's Jury.

Kingston, a labourer, has complained at Guildhall Police Office of shabby treatment by the Post-office authorities. His mother found at a dust-yard to which the Post-office refuse is taken, a letter containing an order for 20/. payable at a London bank, sent to England from the Ballarat Diggings. _Kingston was offered 101. for the order; but, though in distress, he resolved to remain honest. He took it to the Post-office ; no remuneration was offered him for his trouble ; on asking for it, he was ordered out, and threatened with arrest if he persisted. At the Police Court, Kingston was informed that he had no legal claim for remuneration; but if he had taken the letter to a Police-station he would have received a reward.

George Churchman, foreman shipwright at Mr. Green's at Blackwell, has been fined 3/. by the Thames Police Magistrate for assaulting George Wyatt, clerk and shipwright to Mr. Mare. A turn-out has occurred at Mr. Mare's, ill consequence of a dispute about the privilege hitherto allowed to the men of taking " chips " ; other men have been got from Plymouth, Wyatt hav- ing been the agent employed. There is much ill-feeling among the ship- wrights in consequence ; and this led to "chaffing" and blows ; Wyatt be- ing the special victim.

Three batches of gentlemen have been captured in reputed gaming-houses in St. James's Street, Bennett Street, and Rupert Street, with the usual re- sult. The supposed gamblers were secured, but no gaming-implements to 'warrant their punishment ; so the Marlborough Street Magistrate at once liberated them.

The inquest on the boy Afedhurst, at East Acton, has terminated in a ver- dict of "Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown."

There was an extensive fire early on Saturday morning at Bankside, South- wark, by which several houses were destroyed and others damaged It ori-

ginated on the_premises of Messrs. Jones and Co., coal-factors, which were swept away. There was a lack of water for the land engines, and but for the floating engine the ravages of the fire would have been still more exten- sive.

Dr. Howard, a physician of Upper Gloucester Street, who has published books on the effects of salt, and other matters denoting mental aberration, has committed suicide by swallowiag prussic acid, lie was a gentleman of independent means; his manner was "odd," but no one feared any violence.