the Attropolis.

The Merchant Tailors Company gave their grand annual dinner yesterday, to celebrate the election of youths educated in their school to vacant Fellowships at St. John's, Oxford. As usual, some of the lead- ing Tory Members of both Houses of Parliament and some of the chief officers of the Oxford University were present. The speeches were eminently political, and triumphant in the success of the party ; bat brief and meagre. Sir Robert Peel was not present, as he was celebrating the marriage of his daughter ; but his health was drunk with honour due. Lord Stanley made this allusion to the progress of his party— It was now three years ago since, by the kindness and liberality of the COM- pony, he had been present in that ball, at the festival given to his right ho- nourable friend—a scene which was indelibly stamped upon his memory—when his right honourable friend found himself in the unparalleled position of being the leader of an Opposition of 312 gentlemen. That was a place in which no politics were to be spoken—(" Hear, hear!" and a laugh)—but he might be allowed to say that, whatever might be thought of that position, the country might rejoice to know that up to the present day it had been continually im- proving.

The other speakers were the Marquis of Londonderry, Dr. Wynter, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, the Marquis of Salisbury, 4ir Frederick Pollock, and Mr. Henry Kemble.

The Budget agitation has promoted public meetings in St. Botolph Within, St. Margaret and St. John Westminster, Chelsea, St. Pancras, and St. Mary Lambeth. The Pancras meeting was interrupted by the Chartists, but to no effect. The meeting in Lambeth was attended by the Members for the borough, Mr. Hawes and Mr. Tennyson D'Eyn- court.

At the Westminster meeting, several popular Free Trade speakers took a part. Mr. Charles Hindley, M.P., was the chairman ; the other speak- ers were Mr. Wilson, Mr. Sidney Smith, Mr. Leader, M.P., Dr. Bow- ring, Mr. Vigors, and Sir De Lacy Evans. The resolutions in favour of the Government propositions were all carried unanimously. Mr. Sid- ney Smith proposed a new rate in lieu of the Corn-rate- " And after all, it is not so much for the benefit of the landed aristocracy as they suppose. If we extend to them in good earnest and without subterfuge the Pension-list—which, in fact, they already have in protective duties—if we impose a Peer-rate instead of a poor-rate—we shall actually save, actually re- trench, if we pension off every one of them."

Mr. Leader warned the people against the strength with which they would have to contend-

" The people generally were not aware bow strong the Monopolists are in the House of Commons ; there was at least a majority of one hundred Members against Free Trade now in that House. Unless Reformers at the coming election made great exertion, that majority would be increased. The party of the Mo- nopolists were still stronger in the House of Lords. Several of the supposed Whig Peers had been ratting lately : several of them had sent to the Treasury to say that they could not support the new measures of Ministers. There was something in the aristocratic atmosphere of that House noxious to the good of the people. The very neighbourhood was contagious. Baring as a mer- chant, and Baring as an aristocrat, were very different persons. The senti- ments of the one were as different from the other as light from darkness. He wished to put them on their guard: they must be prepared to act against them vigorously. The middle and working classes must unite and determine that they would have free trade and a fair representation in the House of Commons."

A concert and dramatic entertainment, in aid of the funds for the relief of the Polish refugees iu this country, was announced lately. The Dutchess of Sutherland learned that there was a difficulty in pro- curing a suitable place for the performance, and she offered the use of Stafford House for the occasion ; and the entertainment accordingly took place on Saturday. The Duke of Sussex and the Dutchess of Inverness, several distinguished persons, and, notwithstanding the late division in the House of Commons on Friday, most of the Ministers, the Speaker, and many of the Members of either House, were present. Mr. Thomas Campbell was of course among the guests. The company amounted to about four hundred ; and such was the desire for tickets, that those originally fixed at two guineas were issued at five on the morning of the performance. No tickets were granted without vouchers under the signature of Lord Dudley Stuart, the prime mover in the affair. A prominent feature in the programme of the entertainment was the appearance of Mademoiselle Rachel. Miss Kemble also, whose first appearance in England was to have been made next season, consented to anticipate her regular debut, and contributed her aid. Liszt played a duet with Benedict, with his right hand only, in a style of extraordivary brilliancy. Several other of the most popular musicians rendered their gratuitous assistance.

• The Newspaper Press Benevolent Association celebrated its fourth anniversary, by a dinner at the London Tavern, on Saturday evening. Viscount Sandon presided. Many ladies were present among the hundred and fifty persons who dined. The most eminent musicians in town, Italian, German, and English, volunteered their services for the entertainment of the company. A letter was received from the American Minister regretting his inability to attend, and enclosing 5 guineas. The principal subscriptions were those of the Duke of Cam- bridge 301., Viscount Sandon 10 guineas, the Attorney-General 10 guineas, Sir George Cockburn 51., Mr. Disraeli 51., Mr. Bond Cabbell 10 guineas, Sir George Murray 5 guineas, Sir James Dowling 51.

In the Exchequer Court, on Thursday, the Chief Baron gave judg- ment in the case of Chappell versus Purday ; refusing to continue the injunction against the publication of the opera of Fra Diavolv by the defendant ; but directing him to keep an account of the sale of the work, that Mrs. Chappell might bring her action at law to try her alleged right, on an assignment of the copyright from persons in France.

Astley's Theatre was burnt down, we believe for the third time in its history, early on Tuesday morning. The fire was first discovered by a police-constable, in the stables at the back of the theatre. He gave the alarm ; and found three watchmen and a policeman, who were sta- tioned in the theatre, asleep. The flames then burst into the body of the building. The water-plug in the theatre was found to be covered by an immense quantity of " properties" ; and before the engines kept in the place could be brought into play, the men were obliged to flee.

The neighbourhood was alarmed, and the fire-office engines summoned; but the fire could not be checked ; and by six o'clock the building, which was constructed principally of wood, was destroyed, all but the bare walls. A woman, Mr. Ducrow's housekeeper, lost her life, in re- turning to save some of her property. The greater part of the stud was saved, but three valuable horses and a donkey were killed. Ten houses at the back of the theatre, inhabited by poor persons, were levelled with the ground ; and the backs of the houses in Stangate Street were much injured. The loss of property is very great. The musicians and actors will suffer severe loss; and hundreds of people will be thrown out of employment. The last time this theatre was destroyed, Mrs. Astley perished.

A statement by Mr. Ducrow himself has been published. He and his family went to bed at about half- past twelve o'clock. He was awakened by Mrs. Ducrow, who was alarmed at the room being full of smoke. He roused the family, but not before the flames burst into the rooms through the windows-

" Finding that not a moment was to be lost in effecting their escape, he and Mrs. Ducrow, family, and servants, immediately ran down stairs to the entrance leading into the Westminster Road, in the hope that they would be enabled to

escape by the door; but finding that it was firmly secured, they were obliged to retrace their steps and descend through an intricate staircase which led into the court-yard. In going along, they were encountered by hot clouds of dust

and smoke, which nearly suffocated them. They, however, reached the court- yard in safety ; but of what afterwards occurred he had not the slightest recol- lection. Until he saw an account of the fire in the newspapers the following day, he was not aware that the unfortunate female, Elizabeth Bolton, who had been in his service a great many years, had perished in the flames. He recol-

lected meeting the poor creature in the grand entrance ; where she used, along with himself, her utmost efforts to unfasten the door ; but finding their exer-

tions were fruitless, she exclaimed, ' Oh, Sir ! oh, Sir ! we shall be burnt in the flames.' Whether she followed him when he retraced his steps he has no recol- lection, nor did he think he saw her afterwards."

The cause of the fire is now thought to have been burning wadding from guns fired in the performances, which may have dropped upon an artificial floor called the Mazarin stage, and ignited the sawdust and rubbish generally lying there. Almost the whole of the Theatre was built of spars and other ship-timber, bought many years since by Astley.

It was the largest of the Minor Theatres, and was capable of holding

upwards of 3,000 persons. Of the entire wardrobe, including several of the dresses worn at the Shakspere Jubilee at Stratford-on-Avon, and the Eglintoun Tournament suits of armour, not a fragment has been saved. It now appears that Mr. Ducrow was wholly uninsured. His loss will be at least 10,0001. The houses injured or destroyed are about thirty in number ; and they are insured to the amount of 8,300/. ; chiefly in the Imperial Fire Office.

An inquest walk held yesterday on the body of the woman who was burned to death. The chief witnesses were the Policeman, Cotterell, who first discovered the fire, and Edward Howell, the fireman of the Theatre. The latter was first found in the porter's lodge, where he had no business to be. The evidence was contradictory. The drift is told in the following verdict which the Jury returned-

" That the deceased, Elizabeth Brittoh, was accidentally burnt to death by going into Astley's Theatre, which had taken fire by accident. Yet why she

went therein we cannot ascertain. We are at the same time of opinion, the fireman, Edward Howell, did greatly neglect his general duty, or the fire might have been extinguished, or at least a knowledge of its existence sooner known by him."

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Bunn, the manager of Drury Lane Theatre, waited upon Mr. Ducrow, and stated that he was deputed by the lessees of the Theatre and the German Opera Company to tender their gratuitous services and the use of the building. The day fixed upon for the benefit is next Monday week. Several other managers have offered their assistance to those whom the calamity has throws} out of employment, many of whom are reduced to a state of poverty. The "Great Wizard of the North" also, Mr. Anderson, is to be shot at on Monday next, at the Adelphi, for the special advantage of Astley's company.

On Saturday, Charles Cotterell was examined at Bow Street on a charge of stealing an ornamental lion's paw and several pieces of silk

from Buckingham Palace. Mr. Bailey, an upholsterer, who had em- ployed the prisoner for twenty years without intermission, and fre- quently in the Palace, gave him an "unexceptionable character"; and it appeared to be doubtful whether he had taken the things feloniously, or under an impression that they were proper perquisites, such as Mr. Bailey's workmen were customarily allowed. Upon this view of the case,—although Mr. Hall, the Magistrate, thought that no such mistake had been made by the prisoner, and that the evidence was so conclusive that no Jury could hesitate upon it,—Mr. Vizard, the Crown Solicitor, said that the Lord Chamberlain would not press for a com- mittal : at the same time, he would have it clearly understood by Mr. Bailey, that no perquisite could in future be allowed at the Palace ; nor could the prisoner be permitted to work there again. On that under- standing Cotterell was discharged.

On Saturday, Mr. Wakley held an inquest in Chelsea Workhouse, on the body of Thomas Lloyd, aged fifty-one, who killed himself by leaping from the tower of Chelsea New Church, on Monday afternoon. John Simmonds, the tower-keeper, said he had shown deceased the belfry, when he desired to see the steeple also. This part of the church was -out of Simmonds's usual care ; so that Mr. Lloyd had to wait till he went to borrow the keys. They both went to the top of the tower. When there, Simmonds called the attention of deceased to the view of Westminster Abbey from the east side. At that moment he heard his voice, saying, " It's all over with me"; and turning round, he saw his fingers leave hold of the outside of the parapet-wall. He ran down, and 'found him dead on the gravel-walk. He seemed perfectly sane and col- lected, but in a great hurry,to get to the top of the tower. Mr. Jones, a warehouseman, who had known Lloyd for five years, said he had lately heard him declare, with great excitement, that he had left a good business in the country for an uncertainty in town. His appearance at those times was one of decided insanity. Some time ago, he was placed in a private asylum, on attempting to poison himself ; and he was only released three weeks since. His affairs were by no means embarrassed; but he dreaded poverty, and that made him miserable. Mr. Lloyd's medical attendant was present, and said that he had bled him on Sunday, for some disease in the brain. The Jury returned a verdict, that ,deceased destroyed himself, being in an unsound state of mind at the time. Mr. Lloyd has left a wife and six children.