tht Rittrupnlio.

Wednesday was Lord Mayor's Day, and it was kept with a due ob- servance of ceremony. The "procession" to the Court of Exchequer had few of the characteristics of the old pageants. Its prominent fea- ture, indeed, was the military bands—that of the Volunteer Rifle Bri- gade taking its place among them. Nothing unusual marked the cere- mony of swearing in, except that the Recorder was somewhat less pro- fuse of biographical details than usual, on introducing the Lord Mayor Carter. The Lord Chief Baron made a dignified reply, with an allusion to the Lord Mayor's position in the Rifle Brigade, and a handsome com- pliment to Alderman Wire.

The banquet, of course, took place in the Guildhall, which was highly decorated with flags, armour, flowers, and works of art, greatly aided by gas. Among the Ministers present were the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke of Somerset, Mr. Gladstone, Lord Campbell, the Earl of Ripon, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir George Lewis; there were Judges, Members of

Parliament from both sides, diplomatists, and civic notables. The speaking was not brilliant or very striking in any way. In reply- ing to the toast of "the Army," Mr. Sidney Herbert said-

" This ancient municipality is the beat representative in the world of the interests of commerce, and therefore of the interests of peace ; but I may be allowed to say, in thanking you for the honour you have this day done to the army, that those pursuits have not enervated the citizens of London, bcause at the head of the great movement which has lately taken place for the formation of volunteer corps for the defence of the country stands the Lord Mayor of London. In acknowledging, my Lord Mayor, the toast, I will express my thanks, as the Minister charged with the administration of the army and the defence of the country, for the spirit which has been dis- played by the citizens of London, and which I have no doubt you will foster and encourage as your predecessor has done." (Cheers.) II Sir George Lewis congratulated the City on our domestic and internal prosperity, notwithstanding the disturbance in the building trade ; a matter on which the Government, though not unconcerned, have acted upon the principle of non-intervention. As to specific measures of Go- vernment, he said- " I need only state that the time of the Members of the Government has not been drawn away from the consideration of matters affecting their public duty. They rely upon being able, early in the ensuing session, to redeem the pledge which has been given with respect to introducing a measure for the improvement of the representation of the people in the House of Com- mons. There is, however, one portion of public business over which we have not so much control as over the domestic affairs of the country—I mean our foreign relations. In regard to these, we are dependent, to a great extent, upon the conduct of Governments of other nations, and we ourselves cannot always maintain undisturbed that tranquillity which, I am happy to say, characterizes our internal state. We have seen our Minister who was sent to obtain the ratification of the treaty at the Court of Pekin treated with outrage ; we have seen how, when he acted literally upon his instructions, by ascending the river which led to the capital of China, he was, without notice, fired upon by the Chinese, and a disastrous loss Of life ensued. It will be the purpose of her Majesty's Government, in concert with the Em- peror of the French, to take such measures as will enable us to obtain from the Emperor of China such terms as we are entitled to, which have been hitherto refused, for the ratification of that treaty, and /or the maintenance of our national honour. I sin afraid I am detaining you too long upon sub- jects unsuited to a large portion of the present company, but I will only

call your attention to those events which have occurred upon the Continent, and which have led to the sanguinary campaign in Italy, from which her Majesty's Government has abstained from all interference. The time may come when, treaties having been signed, ulterior measures may be contemplated by the great Powers of the Continent, and when, probably, invitations may be addressed to the Powers which were parties to the Treaty j

of Vienna to join in a Congress for the settlement of the affairs of Italy. Hitherto, I may say, no formal invitation with respect to a Congress upon the affairs of Italy has been addressed to her Majesty's Government. But if at any future time such invitation should be addressed to them, it will be their duty to deliberate upon the matter with a view to maintain the prin- ciple which they consider sacred—namely, that no force should be used for the purpose of dictating to the Italian people the choice of their rulers- (Cheers)—or for coercing them with respect to the form of government which, after mature deliberation, they may prefer. The recent campaign on the Continent has led to a general arming of many of the great Powers of Europe, and the storm which raged in Italy has created disturbances in other countries which have not yet completely abated. Looking to the un- settled state of Europe, it becomes us to be prepared with our national de- fences, and not to be dependent upon the sufferance of any other Power, however friendly. (Cheers.) I rejoice to know that all the assurances which her Majesty has received from foreign Powers are of a perfectly pa- cific character. Her Majesty's Government have no reasonable ground of belief that any nation of Europe, or of any part of the world, entertain hos- tile intentions towards this country, but it still becomes us to be on our guard, and to be prepared. It must be most satisfactory to consider that the wealth of this country, if any such danger should occur, will always enable us to meet the danger in an adequate and effectual manner. (Cheers.) But I trust that no person in this hall will think it is the wish of the Go- vernment to countenance any light or groundless alarm. We are bound to guard against not probable but possible dangers, for whenever a probable danger arises the Government will feel it their duty to take every step for the protection of the country, and in doing so they will feel confident that they can at all times rely upon the support of a great, a generous, and a mighty people." (Cheers.) The other speakers were the Duke of Newcastle, who spoke on behalf of " the House of Lords," and Mr. Gladstone for the House of Commons. Mr. Gladstone, in the course of his speech, said- " I trust, and I am confident, that when that House is called together to resume the exercise of its important duties, it will not, whether in the business of finance or of legislation, disappoint your reasonable expectations. If the constitution of that House is to be changed, we may feel assured, from the temper which prevails throughout the country—from the United attachment of the people to the Crown and the institutions of England—we may feel convinced that whatever changes are adopted' will be conceived in the spirit of the constitution itself, and will have no other object than to maintain it, and to make the House of Commons, in a still more increased degree, the organ of the reasonable wishes, the guardian of the great interests of the country. With respect to the finances of the country, I am certain that the House of Commons, while giving no countenance to the groundless alarms—while giving credit to other Christian nations for the possession of those Christian sentiments which we claim for ourselves— will, notwithstanding, respect the mature and clear wishes of the country, and leave nothing undone that pertains to the security and the honour of England. (Cheers.) And permit me, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to say that I trust when the House of Commons has fulfilled that great and paramount duty, it will also recollect that, next to the security and the honour of the country, it is its duty to adhere to those principles of good husbandry and thrift which ,have done so much for England during the time in which we live, and which have enabled successive Governments and Parliaments to amend the laws, to reduce the taxes, and to relieve the burdens, and to increase the comforts of every class of Englishmen." (Loud cheers.) The parish church of St. George's-in-the-East was reopened on Monday. We may regard the mediation as having partially failed. It has had some good effects. For instance, the Reverend Bryan King did not officiate in parti-coloured clothing, and the time fixed by the bishop for the service of Mr. Allen has been adopted. But Mr. King produced his choristers, performed a choral service, and bowed after the manner of the Roman Church. He preached a sermon of a Jacobite colour. At the afternoon service Mr. King was hissed and hooted throughout. He refused to officiate in the evening, and the churchwarden being un-

provided with a substitute, the congregation waiting outside the doors had to go home.

The vestry of St. George's-in-the-East held a meeting on Thursday to hear reports of progress in parochial affairs. It seems that Mr. Bryan King and his curate, Mr. Lowder, had seen Sir Richard Mayne and had afterwards prevailed on Sir George Lewis to permit the Rector to use special constables for keeping order. At a later date the Churchwardens followed in the same track. Mr. Churchwarden Thompson told Sir George that if special constables were allowed to use staves, their exertions would very speedily be followed by coroners' inquests. Upon this Sir George Lewis determined that special constables should not be allowed, but that some of the ordinary police should be selected and placed in different parts of the church under the control of an inspector, who should place himself in communication with the Churchwardens. At the same meeting Mr. Armstrong said that rather than see the Bishop so entirely helpless, and Sir Richard Mayne filling their church with de- tectives, he would willingly see tho Establishment go altogether, much as he was attached to it.

The special Sunday services at St. Paul's Cathedral will be resumed as soon as the great work of internal decoration now in progress has been completed. The committee arc desirous of carrying out the original designs of Sir Christopher Wren. The architect is Mr. Penrose, and he is assisted by a sub-committee of professional and amateur architects of eminence. The organ has been taken down, and is in course of reerection under the surveillance of a distinguished committee of mu- sicians. If the organ be finished, it is intended to begin the special services on Advent Sunday.

At a meeting held in the Christ Church schoolroom, St. Pancras, for the purpose of bearing an address from Bishop Tuffnell, the newly-con- secrated Bishop of Brisbane, an interesting incident took place. Captain Tomes, who, it appears, has property in different parts of Australia, was present at the meeting, and was so moved by the simple and touching statements of the Bishop, and especially by his announcement of the fact that he was going out to preside over his vast diocess on an income of exactly 2001. a year, that he came forward and in the handsomest terms there and then offered the Bishop a house which he owns in South Bris- bane. If the house should happen to be let before the Bishop arrives, the rent will then be paid over to him instead. This noble offer, so opportunely made, excited, as may be supposed, the enthusiasm of the audience to the highest pitch.

The National Sunday League, President Sir Joshua Walmsley, held a meeting in St. Martin's Hall on Monday. The chairman, Mr. Bertolacci, Mr. Loud, and Mr. Slack were the principal speakers. The object of the League is to procure the opening of the National museums, galleries, libraries and gardens on Sunday afternoons ; and resolutions, not un- opposed, were put and carried in favour of that object.

It may be remembered that one Otto Frederick Hormeyer, a Prussian mer- chant, forged a bill of lading, and negotiated thereon certain bills of ex- change accepted by a Mr. Thiedemann of Newcastle and endorsed by the London agents of the Berlin Discount Company. The bills were presented to the Union Bank of London for payment. Mr. Thiedemann obtained an injunction restraining the endorsees from enforcing payment, and against this decision the endorsees appealed. The Lord Chancellor and Lords Jus- tices of appeal said there was no ground for the injunction, and dismissed the appeal; thus maintaining the title of endorsees as against acceptors.

The Court of Queen's Bench has granted an application made on behalf of Lord Brougham for a rule directing.] homes Atkinson, printer and pub- lisher of the Westmoreland Gazette and Kendal Advertiser, to show cause why a criminal information for libel should not be filed against him. The story out of which the libel arises is very complicated, but it relates to a mode of dealing with charity lands with which the name of Lord Brougham has been mixed up. The proceedings imputed to Lord Brougham are in- jurious to his honour, and he denies all the charges imputed in the libel.

In the same Court, Marshall, Mortimer, and Eicke, the traffickers in army commissions, and specially convicted of having taken 400/. from a Mr. Brictson, on the pretext that they could procure a commission for his brother-in-law, Mr. Cunningham. The commission was obtained by the employment of ordinary and proper modes. An attempt was made to obtain a mitigation of punishment. Mr. Justice Wightman, in passing sentence, said :—" You have urged several topics in mitigation of your pun- ishment, one of which is urged by you all—viz., that you were in entire ignorance that you were infringing the law in what you did. It is, how- ever, impossible for the Court to believe but that you must have known that this was an improper act, calculated to bring the public service into dis- repute, and that it was evil in itself, as contradistinguislaed from that which is made evil by Act of Parliament. In such a case parties should take care not to do that which, in point of morality and conscience, is evil, lest it should turn out to be against some express law which will subject them to punishment. To obtain a commission in the army by the influence of money is in itself improper, and to obtain money by pretending to have an influence which you had not is a fraud. Therefore the Court can give no weight to the argument that you were not aware of the existence of this Act of Parliament. There were some other topics urged in mitigation of pun- ishment. You, Marshall, have stated that you have suffered much in your pecuniary affairs ; that you have sustained great losses ; that your creditors have come upon you, and brought you to the verge of bankruptcy ; and that you have, besides, suffered great domestic affliction. For this the Court can do no more than express their regret. You, Mortimer and Eicke, have pleaded guilty and expressed your contrition. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, the Court is disposed to pass a lighter sentence than it would be disposed do under other circumstances, in order to repress crime. But it must be understood that in any future case the sentence will be a most severe one. The sentence of the Court upon you, Marshall, is, that you be imprisoned for six calendar months in the Queen's Prison, and pay a fine of 2001., that being the sum which you received, and that you be further imprisoned till the fine be paid ; and the sentence upon each of you, Mortimer and Eicke, is, that you each be imprisoned in the Queen's Prison for six calendar months, and pay a fine of 100/. being the amount which you each received, and be further imprisoned till the fines be paid."

The Court of Exchequer has been asked to grant a rule for a new trial in the case of Swynfen versus Lord Chelmsford. Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Swyn- fen's counsel, maintains that Lord Chelmsford committed n legal fraud" by compromising Mrs. Swynfen's case against her consent. The grounds of the demand for a new trial are misdirection by the Judge, Sir Cresawell Creeswell, that the verdict was against the evidence,. and the non-reception of evidence. The Court took time to consider its decision.

In the Court of Common Pleas an application for a new trial in the case of Wallington versus Wood was refused. The parties were attorneys, and

the quarrel arose out of circumstances attending the arrest of Edwards- Wood for debt. The libel was contained in a pamphlet which repeated cer- tain comments of Lord Campbell on the character of Mr. Wallington, and used other libellous expressions held to be not justified. The facts have already been stated in our columns.

Some time ago a fire occurred on the premises of the Patent Paraffin Light Company in Bucklersbury. An inquiry was instituted, and it was found that the fire was an "accident," but that much neglect of proper pre- cautions prevailed in the management of the concern, and that paraffin cannot be stored in large quantities without danger. On Monday there was a long discussion at the Mansion-house Police Court on the future steps to be taken to give effect to the verdict. Mr. Hubbard, solicitor, who lives next door to the Company, was most persistent in fighting for precautions. At first the Company's counsel agreed to keep in store ten casks or 300 gallons only, to keep it in a fire-proof warehouse, not to litter straw about, and to visit the place with no other light than a Davy lamp. Mr. Hub- bard protested against a compromise. Lord Mayor Wire said he could not prohibit trade in the City. Mr. Hubbard—" I do not wish you to do so, but as Lord Campbell has said, in Lester's case, every man 1/3 entitled to have a quiet mind and not go away with the impression that he is to be blown up as he passes here or there." The business must be wholesale or removed altogether. The Lord Mayor would not agree to this. Mr. Hub- bard objected to the " smell." The Lord Mayor said he had nothing to do with that. Then Mr. Hubbard objected to the retail business, but with no better success ; and finally fell back on the quantity to be kept in store. At length it was agreed that only seven casks should be kept in the fire- proof room, and that the filling of cans should only go on by the light of a Davy lamp. The security that all the conditions shall be complied with is the supervision of Mr. Pearson. Mr. Hubbard seemed to be at length ap- peased.

Mr. Bohn, the bookseller, summoned a cab-driver for demanding and re- ceiving an undue fare. It seems that Mrs. Bohn engaged the defendant's cab on the stand near the Surrey Chapel at 40 minutes past 2 in the after- noon, and desired the defendant to drive them to Leadenhall Street. Front there they drove to Conduit Street, Regent Street, then to the Burlington Arcade ; got in again at the Piccadilly end, thence to the Blackfriars Road, and finally drove to the Waterloo Station, where they reached at a quarter past 6. The defendant then demanded 14s. as his fare, and on her re- monstrating with him on such a charge he said he should take 128. ; she then offered him 7s. 6d. and her card, when he replied that this was no use to him, but he would take 10s. and nothing less, and she paid him that sum. The Lambeth Magistrate ordered the cabman to refund 6s. 6d., and pay the costs.

One Thomas Brooks, who has been previously convicted, is in custody on a charge of obtaining from the London Joint Stock Bank a cheque-book by means of a forged request. It seems that after the book was obtained twenty-three cheques were cut from it, and used ; that they all came to the bank, but that luckily none were paid for the good reason that only one of the firms drawn upon had an account at the bank. Brooks is remanded.

The Lambeth Magistrate has sentenced three journeymen bricklayers to pay fines or undergo varying periods of imprisonment, for having, by threats and intimidation, sought to force one John Roy to belong to the Bricklayers' Association. It appears that Roy exercises the liberty possessed by every one of working or not working for what wages and on what terms he pleases. This is contrary to the spirit of the Bricklayers' Society, and three of its members grossly threatened Roy and called him a "black." The lawyer for the three men appealed against the conviction.

Nicks and Richardson have been further examined, again remanded, and admitted to bail. Taylor, the person supposed to have stolen the bristles, has also been caught. The Magistrates refused to take bail for him. Mr. Matthews, who bought the bristles from Nicks, has completely cleared him- self of any suspicion of being mixed up with the criminal part of the transaction.

Thomas Cook, a private of the 2d Battalion of Coldstream Guards, bas been sent to prison for twenty-one days for having committed a brutal and unprovoked assault upon a woman. He was half drunk ; some one insulted him, and he wreaked his vengeance on the woman who happened to be near, by beating her on the head with his belt.

Another guardsman was also fined by the Marlborough Street Magistrate for disorderly conduct, and a threatening use of his belt.

A constable of the D. division has been sent to prison for three months. He had, while drunk on duty, committed an outrageous and wholly un- provoked assault upon a woman. Fortunately other constables were near, and gave the poor creature protection. Surely three months imprisonment is a light infliction for a double offence.