'Oat ifttitopolts.
At an adjourned meeting of the parishioners of St. Stephen's Wal- brook, in the Vestry-room, on Wednesday, a motion was carried to re- sist a rate levied at a recent closed meeting of the Select Vestry. Dr. Croly, the Rector, who had hitherto maintained a neutral position, now acted as reporter of the proceedings at the closed meeting, and bore down upon Alderman Gibbs in a speech of much humour and purr:- gency. The meeting adjourned to the 22d February.
The Literary Association of the Friends of Poland met at their chambers, on Saturday, to commemorate the three hundredth and versary of the promulgation of the solar system by Copernicus. Lord Dudley Stuart, as Chairman, Colonel Leicester Stanhope, and several well-known members of the Association, were present. Colonel Szyrma read a paper on the life and scientific career of the astronomer. On his great work Copernicus bestowed thirty-six years' labour, and he only published it at the solicitation of his friends. The notion that he was a German was absurd : not one word is said by his biographerea ancient and modern, in confirmation of it. Copernicus was born in 1473, at Thorn, which was a town of Regal, i. e. Polish Prussia. That province formed at his age an integral part of Poland, and continued for three hundred years after him to belong to that kingdom, until the first partition of it, in 1772. Besides, the father of Copernicus was not a native of Thorn, but settled there as a citizen of Cracow(civis Cra- coviensis.) Several others addressed the meeting. Before separating, they voted thanks to the Chairman and Colonel Szyrma.
The Surrey Epiphany:Sessions were opened on Tuesday, at the Courts house, Newington St. Mary's, with an unusually full attendance of Ma. gistrates. In his introductory observations, Mr. Puckle, the Chairman, stated that crime was not on the increase in the county ; which he attri- buted to the activity of the Police and the useful effect of the Surrey Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders. On an average, twenty-four offenders were annually admitted to the Asylum, of which twelve became thoroughly reformed. The Chaplain of the County Gaol reported 228 prisoners to be in confinement. The Treasurer reported that be had a balance in hand of 7,000/., and that he required a rate of 2d. in the pound to meet the expenses of the ensuing quarter : the rate was,granted. A discussion arose on a rule requiring the attendance of prisoners at Divine worship ; several debtors having refused to attend chapel under various excuses, and among them, some said that they were of no religion. Mr. Hawes thought it would be improper and dangerous to punish those men for refusing to attend. The matter was referred back to the Visiting Justices. Tbe Reverend Mr. Rowe was elected Chaplain of Horsemonger Lane Prison, in the room of the Reve- rend Mr. Benson, who had resigned.
Mrs. Margaret Edmonds, whose name is known in connexion with the bill transactions of Lord Huntingtower, was again examined in the Court of Bankruptcy, on Wednesday. Commissioner Evans, not con- sidering that the bankrupt's account of the disposal of her furniture was correct, adjourned the examination sine die. In spite of Mr. Wakley's interposition, the sale of Lieutenant Munro'a effects took place, at his house in Brompton Square, on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday the company in attendance consisted chiefly of brokers.
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