grtrovnlig.
The Fishmongers Company entertained a party of notables at dinner in their hall, on Tuesday. In the course of the evening, the unusual course was taken of introducing the competitors for "Doggett's coat and badge " ; the chairman awarding the badge, and giving wine to the jolly young watermen.
There was a ballot at Lloyd's on Wednesday on the subject of closing business at two o'clock on Saturdays : 260 were in favour of the altera- tion, 35 against it. The change will commence on the 12th.
London is threatened to be left without omnibuses after the 1st of Oc- tober. Sir Richard Mayne has notified that no licences will be granted after that day to omnibuses unless they are higher in the roof and wider,
so as to 'snow more space to the passengers. The owners say the require- ments are excessive; that two horses could not draw the huge vehicles, and that the streets would be blocked up by them. Omnibus-builders de- clare that the vehicles now in use cannot be altered to meet the Police Commissioner's demands. The proprietors, who say the proposed regula- tions are illegal, are in communication with Mr. Fitzroy, Sir Richard Mayne, and Members of Parliament, and they intend to petition the House of Commons on the subject.
A number of the North-Western Railway engine-drivers met at Cam- den Town on Sunday evening, and appointed a committee to communi- cate with the Directors on the contract system, to which the majority of the men appear to object, as well as to ask for an inquiry into the ma- nagement of the locomotive department generally.
An important question of copyright has been decided by the House of Lords, upon a writ of error brought upon the unanimous judgment of the Court of Exchequer Chamber reversing a judgment of the Court of Exchequer. The parties to the suit were the music-publishers Mr. Jeffrey and Mr. Boosey. The facts of the case are these. In 1831, Bellini the composer, then residing in Milan, assigned the copyright of La Sonnambula to Ricardi, also a resident in Milan. Ricardi came to England in the same year, and assigned the copyright to Mr. Boosey ; who pub- lished the opera, complying with the usual regulations. Subsequent- ly, Mr. Jeffrey published a cavatina from the opera, without licence from Boosey. Hence the legal proceedings. The question was, whether Ricardi, an alien, could assign a copyright to an English subject ? The Court of Exchequer decided that be could not, and a verdict was entered for Jeffrey. The Court of Exchequer Chamber reversed this decision on appeal ; and then the case was carried before the House of Lords. After arguments, the Judges were consulted ; when Mr. Justice Crompton, Mr. Justice Wil- liams, Mr. Justice Ede, Mr. Justice Wightman, Mr. Justice Maule, and Mr. Justice Coleridge, expressed the opinion that the publication in this country by Jeffrey gave Boosey a right of action against him, inasmuch as that the assignment of the copyright and property therein was a complete and valid assignment. Lord Chief Justice Jervis, the Chief Baron, Mr. Baron Parke, and Mr. Baron Alderson, intimated a contrary opinion. The Lord Chan- cellor, Lord Brougham, and Lord St. Leonards, concurred with the minority ; holding the law to be, that a foreigner, residing out of England, cannot make a valid assignment of a copyright; but if he resided here, subject to the law, and published his work, then the law would protect him. The judg- ment of the Court of Exchequer Chamber was therefore reversed.
i.Jain nal" has been committed for trial by the Marlborough Street Magistrate, on several charges of fraud. His real name is said to be Lulus- dame; his father is an officer in the Indian Army, and he himself had been a Lieutenant of the Bengal Native Infantry ; but for the last year he has been a private in the Second Life Guards. Lately he deserted, went to various tradesmen, called himself "Sir John Hill" ; and by a tale about his recent arrival from India, his connexions, a worthless check, and other devices, he obtained a good deal of wearing apparel.
Haas, the young Dutchman accused of four or five murders at Amsterdam, has been conveyed thither this week ; the chief officer of police having ar- rived from that city, with proper credentials, to take charge of him.
Mr. It. Bell, a lucifer-match manufacturer in Cannon Street West, has been held to bail by the Lord Mayor to answer an indictment for keeping large quantities of matches on his premises, to the danger of surrounding buildings and the terror of the inhabitants. The City Solicitor appeared as prosecutor. In September last there was a fire during the night at Mr. Bell's, apparently arising from spontaneous combustion. Dr. Letheby, who bas examined the matches, testified to their dangerous character : they might take lire merely from the heat of the atmosphere, or by rats knocking them down.
The new act to abate the nuisance arising from smoke in the Metropolis came into operation on Tuesday. Furnaces in the Metropolis are to consume their own smoke, as also steam-vessels on the Thames above London Bridge. The penalty on a summary conviction is to range from 40s. to 51. for the first offence, and 10/. for the second. Constables may be empowered to enter and inspect furnaces and steam-vessels. Proceedings can be initiated only by the Home Secretary or the Commissioners of Police. It was rumoured that the bakers were refusing to carry out the provisions of the act ; that they had formed a "Master Bakers Smoke-Protection Society," and threatened to close their shops in order to avoid the penalties. It does not appear that they have acted up to their resolutions.
A number of the Metropolitan Police, who had volunteered to go kr the East to act in the rear of the forces for the protection of the stores, have withdrawn their applications for appointments, on learning that they would be under martial law, flogging included.
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