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The annual dinner at the Royal Academy took place on Saturday. It was attended, as is customary on this occasion, by the bulk of her Ma- jesty's Ministers, by the chiefs of the Opposition, by the Speaker, by Judges, prelates, soldiers, and men of letters. Sir Charles Eastlake occupied the chair, and delivered a succession of speeches in proposing the toasts after dinner. The Duke of Cambridge answered for the Army. "My advice to you, gentlemen, is, pray don't forget the Army ; but maintain it in such a state that we may never find ourselves in less agreeable society than we do at present,"—advice received with cheers and merriment. For the Navy, Sir John Pakington briefly stood sponsor. The Lord Chancellor replied for the "guests." In proposing the health of her Majesty's Ministers, Sir Charles Eastlake reminded his

hearers that it was during the Administration of Lord Derby in 1862 that "the advancement of the Fine Arts" was first noticed in a speech from the throne as a subject worthy of attention in Parliament. But he made an appeal for more space on behalf of the Academy. "Attractive as this exhibition is said to be, it might, I believe, have been more so had an additional room been at our disposal, while a far more important object would have been attained by the display—or, at all events, the better display—of many works of great ability, and the prevention of disappointment to their meritorious authors. But if we cannot at present indulge a hope that our domain may be enlarged, it is at least reasonable to expect that we shall not be unfairly molested where we are." ("Hear, hear !" and a langh.) The Earl of Derby said he had promised himself that in attending this banquet he should be free from the importunities of those requests urged upon the Government. In Downing Street I expect, of course, three or four times a day at all events, to receive applications from clergymen for livings 'that are not yet vacant, from barristers for appointments which nobody dreamt of making, from numberless individuals for no end of commissionemhips; but I had fondly hoped when I came to the tranquil and classic regions of Trafalgar Square to have had no such solicitations made to me. I have been disappointed. (Laughter.) You, Sir, in the most persuasive tones and with most flattering allusions to what took place on former occasions, have hinted your confidence that the Government would not be deaf to the claims of art ; you have intimated that, great as are the services which the Royal Academy has rendered to the country, and which I cheerfully acknowledge, they might be greater still if you enjoyed greater ac- commodation,— ' 0 si angalus ille,

' Proximus accedat.'

(Laughter.) If there was another room, or another house, or a better house, it would incalculably increase the advantages which the public derive from your labours. (Cheers and laughter.) And, Sir, I owe you my thanks for recording that the first speech from the Throne which ad- verted to the improvement of the fine arts as an object of public interest was one which I had the honour of advising the Sovereign to deliver in 1852. Sir, that also reminds me that in those days, when we were yet green in office—(Laughter)—my right honourable friend who then, as now, was Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed, at one of these anni- versary festivals. not only his hope and wish, but also—deluded mortal! —(Laughter)—his sanguine expectation that the next year would see the Royal Academy and the National Gallery united in a much improved situation. Unfortunately., before that fiext year arrived we ceased to be

responsible for the administration of affairs. Liberal and progressive Governments ' succeeded us, and for the last six years, under their auspices, it is painful for me to say that of the improved site of the Royal Academy and National Gallery I have not seen the slightest indication. (Cheers and laughter.) With this experience I shall not repeat the errors of my right honourable Mend; but I have this consolation, that at least you will not think the present Government less attentive than its pre- decessors, and that, if we have not the good fortune to be esteemed a Go- vernment of progress at all events we Abaft not be considered one of re- action." (Cheers anhaughter.) The Bishop of Oxford spoke as the Chaplain of the Royal Academy. The health of Mr. Dickens and Mr. Thae,keray was proposed, and those gentlemen answered in the order of their names. Mr. Thackeray related an anecdote of his early career current in society, but probably never mentioned in public before.

"Had it not been for the direct act of my friend who has just sat down, I should most likely never have been included in the toast which you have been pleased to drink; and I should have tried to be, not a writer, but a painter, or designer of pictures. That was the object of my early ambition, and I can remember when Mr. Dickens was a very young man, and had com- menced delighting the world with some charming humorous works of which I cannot mention the name, but which were coloured light green and came out once a month, that this young man wanted an artist ID illustrate his writings, and I recollect walking up to his chambers with two or three drawings in my hand, which, strange to say, he did not find suitable. (Laughter.) But for that unfortunate 'blight which came over my artistical existence, it would have been my pride and my pleasure to have en- deavoured one day to find a place on these walls for one of my perform- ances. This disappointment caused me to direct my attention to a different walk of art, and now I can only hope to be 'translated' on these walls, as I have been, thanks to my talented friend Mr. Egg."

After the speechmaking the company wandered through the rooms and lingered around the pictures until a late hour.

A deputation waited on the Earl of Derby on Tuesday to represent the great social and moral evils resulting from the present state of the law regarding the invalidity of marriage with a deceased wife's sister, and to urge the necessity for an alteration of the existing law. It consisted of Lord Bury, Lord Goderich, Mr. M. T. Baines, Mr. Spooner, Sir john Trelawny, Lord Ashley, and many other Members, as well as of muni- cipal magistrates. Lord Derby said the inclination of his own mind was not in accordance with those who had addressed him.

At the same time, this question must be decided by the progress of public opinion ; and if the public opinion in favour of an alteration of the law is as strong and as general as the deputation seemed to think it was, that pub- lic opinion will be sure to have its effect upon the House of Commons, and, ultimately, upon the House of Lords. His own opinion, he candidly stated,

i is, that it s a question of no political party, and it ought not to be taken as a Government question. He for his own part, will not exert any influence whatever over a single individual in either House in opposition to the bill. His vote has hitherto been in opposition to the alteration of the law, but he will consider it, so far as the Government is concerned, a perfectly open question both in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords. A deputation of Metropolitan Members, clergymen, churchwardens, and guardians, headed by Mr. Locke Member for Southwark, waited upon the President of the Poor-law Board, on Tuesday, to set before him statements showing the inequality of the poor-rates in London, and to ask whether the Government would support Mr. Ayrton's bill. Mr. Sotheron Estcourt said he could give no definite answer ; but he for one should object to the second reading of the bill, because that course would imply approval of its principle. He could give no pledge. The subject is one that requires and deserves more general inquiry.

The Duke of Malakoff was entertained at dinner on Thursday by the members of the Army and Navy Club, Sir Fenwick Williams occupied the chair, supported on his right by the Ambassador, and on his left by Sir John Pakington. A great many speeches were delivered, loyalty and good fellowship forming the staple. The Marshal gave the toast' the

imperishable union of our fleets and armies." The health of the Em- peror, his master, a member of the club, was drunk with much heartiness. The speech of the evening was made by Sir Charles Yorke, Military Secretary to the Commander-in-chief. He said— It is never among generals and warriors that warlike ideas prevail, pug- nacity is generally most predominant among those who by a singular per- version of terms are called the "civil" portion of the community. (Laughter.) Formerly, when France and England were almost on the verge of war, a pee.ceful understanding was restored chiefly through the exertions of two individuals—the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Soult, and he was sure that if any future cause of misunderstanding should arise between the allied nations they could not do better for its pacific settlement than just to put the whole matter into the hands of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief and the Duke de Malakoff, and leave it to them to arrange quietly. (Cheers and laughter.)

The Duke of Cambridge was absent. He presided over the annual dinner of the Royal Benevolent Society, and he explained that to be there he had declined an invitation to dine with the Duke of Malakoff and had even disobeyed the injunctions of his Sovereign to attend her table ; an act of disobedience she had willingly excused seeing that his presence was demanded elsewhere in the cause of charity. The annual dinner in aid of the Royal Literary Fund took place on Wednesday at the Freemasons' Tavern. There was a large gathering of distinguished persons. Lord Palmerston presided, and he celebrated the benefits of the society in a speech of moderate length. The proceeds of the evening were 9001.

Those who have seen the hedges in blossom and the chestnut trees burst- ing into bloom will know that the congregations of the season are in full blow at Exeter Hall. The "May Meetings" have set in, like this east windy spring, with their "usual severity." But the proceedings are annually so similar to each other that if our readers will refer to the corresponding week's record of last year they will find a pretty fair ac- count of what has happened. We may mention that the receipts of the British and Foreign Bible Society have exceeded those of any preceding year, and that the Church Missionary Society is in a like state of pros- perity.

Judgment was given in the Court of Queen's Bench on Wednesday on the application of the delinquent Directors and Manager of the British Rank for a new trial. All appealed to the Court except Mr. Stapleton. The bench was formed by Lord Chief Justice Campbell, and Justices Wightman, Erle, and Crompton ; and Lord Campbell delivered their decision. The rule for a new trial was refused. The Court held that there had been no "misdirection," and that the verdict of the jury was not "against the evidence."

The first suit for judicial separation was decided in the Divorce Court on Wednesday. The parties were a potato salesman and his wife' the plea for separation was cruelty. The husband did not deny that he beat his wife, the Jury returned a verdict for the wife, and Sir Cresswell Cresswell decreed a judicial separation.

In the course of the ease a remark made by the learned Judge elicited some applause from the persons in Court, upon which his Lordship ordered them to be turned out, and said that if such improper conduct were repeated he would order the offender into custody. When the verdict was delivered the applause was renewed, but the Judge immediately ordered silence to be restored, and said he was determined not to tolerate any manifestion of feel- ing in a Court of Justice over which he presided. It was not to be endured . that manifestations of that kind should be suffered to influence the minds of judges and juries. It would be better, if they could not be prevented, to sit with closed doors, and to have an authorizedreporter to publish to the world the next day what had taken place.

A cleverly-devised scheme to victimize Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, the jewellers, has attained a certain degree of success; • and has yet failed in the end, for the victimizer has been captured with the prey in possession. Louise Moutot, a woman of forty, was formerly " companion " to Miss Constance Brown. Moutot went to a house-agent, said her name was Constance Brown, and that she -wished to hire a furnished house for Sir John and Lady Campbell. She agreed to take a house for them in Radnor Place, and she paid 421. for a quarter's rent. She took possession hired ahoy as page, and dressed him in the usual costume ; then mistress and page went in a brougham to Hunt and Roskell's. Moutot stated that Lady Campbell wished to see some diamond ornaments, and desired they might be sent to Radnor Place for her inspection ; her own name, she stud, was Constance Brown, and she had an account at Cox and Biddulph's—the real Miss Brown has an account there. In the evening, two ehopmen took a casket of jewels to Radnor Place; one watched outside. The other was admitted by the page, and shown into the drawingroom ; "Miss Constance Brown" appeared ; and, after sonic demur, the shopman allowed her to take a bracelet, valued at 3201., to show to Lady Campbell. Miss Brown did not return; the shopman found that he had been locked in the room ; the window had been nailed ; he succeeded in forcing it open, but broke a finger in the effort ; he shouted from the balcony, and the police were fetched. "Miss Brown" was not to be found, nor any other person for that lady had sent out the page on a pretended errand. Some days after, Moutot was arrested in a railway-carriage at the Paddington terminus : she was about to proceed to Dawlish. A hundred-pound note, rings, jewellery, and the bracelet, were found upon her; also, in her boxes were discovered a man's cap, a wig, a pair of false whiskers, a false moustache, and two large pockets. Moutot was produced before the Marylebone Magistrate on Monday, and charged with the robbery. A second case was brought against her—that of fraudulently obtaining two rings, worth 60 guineas, from Mr. Roy, on pretence that they were required by Miss Constance Brown. She was remanded on both-charges.

Eliza Roffey, a young woman, has met with her death from a singular accident near London Bridge terminus. Running to catch a train she fell, and the pointed end of her parasol pierced her lungs.

The Coroner's Jury on the persons who perished by the fire in Gilbert Street reassembled on Tuesday, and met again on Wednesday. More evi- dence was taken ; but no new light was thrown on the origin of the cala- mity. On Tuesday, the Jury stated that they had arrived at the conclu- sion "that the fire had been accidental." On Wednesday, they gave a verdict that the majority of the sufferers had died from suffocation by mine- ral fumes and wood smoke, and that they could not account for the origin of the fire. They added a long presentment, censuring Mr. Taylor's neg- ligenee in not having a proper wall erected between the house and Mr. Cal- vert's premises ; and recommending an improvement of the Building Act, the Common Lodging-house Act, and the Metropolitan Local Management Act, and that there be a better organization of the fire brigade, fire-escape service, and water supply.