Ste jilletropolis.
The ceremony of electing an Alderman for the Ward of Cordwainers took place on Monday afternoon, in the Vestry-room of St. Mary-le-I3ow, Cheapside. The vacancy was occasioned by Mr. Alderman Thomas Wood's resignation; and the interest of the proceedings arose from the fact that Mr. David Salomans offered himself for election. The Lord Mayor pre- sided , with the City Solicitor as Assessor; Mr Alderman Sidney, Mr. R. L Jones, Mr. D. W. Wire, and several other known City Liberals, being also present. No other candidate having appeared, Mr. Salomalli was elected by a show of hands; 49 hands being held up for, and only 3 against him. The annual show of the Smithfield Cattle Club was opened to the public on Wednesday, at the old quarters in Baker Street. Though there was still a superabundance of fat, a decided improvement was noticed in the symmetry of the beasts. The judges have awarded prizes in many cases where mere size and weight were not the only recommendation. Prince. Albert has again been successful as a competitor for some of the more modest prizes. The finest animals noticed consist of an ox bred and fed by Mr. Manning of Rathersthorpe near Northampton, and of a heifer bred and reared by the Earl of Radnor at ColeshilL This last is pronounced by connoisseurs to be all but perfect. The exhibition of sheep equals that of any previous year; the Duke of Richmond carrying away the laurel for his South-downs. A pure South-down sent in by Mr. Fo!jambe as extra stock attracted much attention for the beauty of its proportions. But the triumph of the show is in its pigs. Mr. Whitefield of saaresbrook has gained the gold and silver medals for the best pen of pigs: they are of the improved Essex breed. Another, a Sussex pig, which gained the silver medal as extra stock, is described as " bursting its skin like a ripe gooseberry." There is besides a Berkshire pig bred by Mr. pasey, described as being as large as a young Scotch bullock, and having the grunt of a lion!
The Society for the Protection of British Agriculture met on Thursday, at its rooms in Bond Street. Among those present were, the Duke of Richmond, Viscount Ingestre, Mr. Augustus Stafford, Mr. Cayley, Mr. Newdegate, and several active Protectionists of the provinces; but the at- tendance was thin. Mr. Stafford read a report, of which great portion was an essay on the principle of protection, declaring the Society's faithful ad- herence to that principle. The report suggested a committee on the sub- ject of tenant-right. Two resolutions were passed—to have the report printed and circulated, and to appoint the committee suggested; the latter motion being made by the Duke of Richmond.
In the Court of Common Pleas, on Saturday, there was a somewhat curious trial for libel. An action had been brought by Miss Mary Elizabeth Smith, the young lady who not long since sued Earl Ferrers for breach of promise of marriage, against Mr. ConIton, the proprietor of the Britannia newspaper. After the former trial, Miss Smith published a pamphlet containing a statement of her case; the pamphlet was reviewed in the Britannia; and some remarks made in the course of the review constituted the libel now prosecuted. The publication of the article was not denied; and the Jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff—a farthing damages. The Judge refused to certify that the libel was wilful and malicious; the consequence of which is that each side pays its own costs.
At the Mansionhouse, on Tuesday, Samuel Uriah Stoter, a Post-office letter- carrier, was charged with forgery, under very peculiar circumstances. In July last, Mr. James, a solicitor of Ely Place, forwarded a letter to a Mrs. Hedlow in Scotland, containing, a check on Masterman's bank fur 55/. The letter never reached its destination. But the next day Messrs. Masterman received a letter, dated "Spring Cottage, Kensington," purporting to be signed by Mrs. Hedlow, enclosing the check, and requesting payment by post. Half-notes were sent; their receipt was acknowledged; and then the corresponding halves were forwarded. It appears that there is no Spring Cottage " at Kensington; but when the address of letters cannot be found at Kensington, they are handed to the postman for Ken- nington to try that district. Stoter was the Kennington letter.carner; and thus he contrived that the letters—answers to those written by himself—should come into his hands. The notes were traced to the prisoner. He was remanded on this charge; sad several others of a similar nature are to be brought against him, At the Mansionhouse, on Wednesday, John Prudence, alias Rust, alias Zeiller, was finally examined on charges of defrauding persons of money by promising to give or procure for them mercantile situations. The man had an office at Bush Lane, under the title of "Zeiller and Co."; he answered advertisements offering douceurs for appointments; and he seems to have succeeded in duping many per- sons out of their money. The case proved on Wednesday was that of Mr. Lucy. He had been induced to pay down 301. to the accused for a situation under " Zeil- ler and Co."; all be got was a week's wages and one pound, with some sort of charge on a quantity of pitch, from which he never got anything. Prudence treated the matter very lightly; but he was committed for trial on this and an- other case.
At the Westminster Police-office, on Tuesday, Thomas Davis, apparently the " man unknown," was brought up and charged with having been concerned in the murder. The Police had been seeking him for six weeks. It was proved that he was at the King's Head on the morning of the 11th October; that he drank with Mr. Bellchambera, and borrowed a shilling of him, though it was noticed that he had money of his own; and that he left the public-house after the other men. He was remanded.
The protracted investigation at the Police-office concluded on Thursday; when four of the men were committed for trial, Lloyd being discharged; but he was immediately rearrested on the Coroner's warrant.
The Coroner's Jury which sat on the body of Mr. Bellchambers concluded the investigation on Monday: they returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Sale, M`Coy, Doyle, Lloyd, and a man unknown; declaring Sale to be the " prin-
cipal in the first degree, and the others more or less implicated. •
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