'!Jr 3ittrnputio.

The bicentenary festival of the Sons of the Clergy was celebrated on Wednesday, by the usual service at St. Paul's, and the usual dinner at the Merchant Taylor's Hall afterwards. The Cathedral ceremony was distinguished from that of previous years by new arrangements. The centre of the Cathedral was so fitted up that about 6000 persons assem- bled there and in a portion of the central nave, and full service was per- formed under the dome. There were no fewer than 300 voices in the choir ; and the effect of the whole was very striking. Among those pre- sent, entering the Cathedral in procession, were the Bishop of London, the Archdeacon of London, the Dean of St. Paul's, several Bishops, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and Prince Albert, whose suite formed the rear-guard. The Archbishop of Canterbury preached a ser- mon from the text, " He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a pro- phet shall receive a prophet's reward." The collection after the service amounted to 6901. The first festival of the Sons of the Clergy was held at St. Paul's in 1655. The funds of the corporation annually assist about 1200 persons, of whom 700 are widows and aged single daughters of deceased clergymen. At the dinner in the evening, there were upwards of 450 guests; the Lord Mayor presiding. The first toast was " Church and Queen" ; the second, " Prince Albert, the Royal Steward of the year, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family." Upon this Prince Albert de- livered one of his characteristic speeches. " My Lord Mayor-Allow me to return you, on my own behalf and on that of the Royal Family, my best thanks for the manner in which you have proposed our health ; and to you, gentlemen, for the cordial response which you have made to the toast. I am indeed highly gratified to have been a witness to the two-hundredth anniversary of this festival ; testifying, as it does, that the people of this country do not relax in efforts which they have once undertaken, and do not forsake the spirit which animated their fore- fathers. When our ancestors purified the Christian faith and shook off the yoke of a domineering priesthood, they felt that the keystone of that wonder- ful fabric which had grown up in the dark times of the middle ages was the celibacy of the clergy ; and shrewdly foresaw that their reformed faith and newly-won religious liberty would, on the contrary, only be secure in the hands of a clergy united with the people by every sympathy-national, per- sonal, and domestic. Gentlemen, this nation has enjoyed for three hundred years the blessing of a church establishment which rests upon this basis ; and cannot be too grateful for the advantages afforded by the fact, that the Christian ministers not only preach the doctrines of Christianity, but live among their congregations, an example for the discharge of every Christian duty, as husbands, fathers, and masters of families-themselves capable of fathoming the whole depth of human feelings, desires, and difficulties. While we must gratefully acknowledge that they have, as a body, worthily fulfilled this high and difficult task, we must bear in mind, that we deny them an equal participation in one of the actuating motives of life-the one which among the ' children of this generation ' exercises, perhaps of necessity, the strongest influence-I mean the desire for the acquisition and accu- mulation of the goods of this world. Gentlemen, the appellation of 'a money-making parson' is not only a reproach, but a condemnation for a clergyman, depriving him at once of all influence over his congregation. Yet this man, who has to shun opportunities for acquiring wealth, open to most of us, and who has himself only an often scanty life-income allotted to him for his services, has a wife and children like ourselves ; and we wish him to have the same solicitude for their welfare which we feel for our own. Are we not bound, then, to do what we can to relieve his mind from anxiety, and to preserve his children from destitution when it shall have pleased the Almighty to remove him from the scene of his labours ? You have given an answer in the affirmative by your presence here today; and, although this institution can do materially but little, morally it gives a public recognition of the claims which the sons of the clergy have upon the sympathy and libe- rality of the community at large ; and as such it is of the greatest value. May it continue for further hundreds of years as a bond of union between clergy and laity ; and on each recurring centenary, may it find the nation ever advancing in prosperity, civilization, and piety ! "I have received permission from the Lord Mayor to propose the healths of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Right Honourable Lord Denman, the President and Vice-President of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy. Lord Denman is unfortunately obliged to be absent on this occasion, but the Archbishop of Canterbury we have the pleasure of seeing at this table. I beg to propose his good health; and, if you will allow me to be your spokesman, I beg to return his Grace our warmest thanks for the very eloquent and feeling sermon which he preached this day in St. Paul's Cathedral."

[Every sentence of this address was made emphatic with cheers.]

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and some others, made brief speeches, chiefly of the complimentary order. The Treasurer reported that Prince Albert bad subscribed 100 guineas ; 113 stewards, 3500/. ; the dinner, 3145/. ; Lady Willoughby de Broke, 5001. ; and that the receipts for the year would amount to 12,0501.

In 1836, the Bishop of London called upon the public to assist him with subscriptions for the building of fifty churches in the Metropolis. The cum he asked for was 150,0001. Although he met with discourage- ment, he persevered ; and instead of the sum asked, 280,0001. was raised. This was called the Metropolitan Churches Fund. On Tuesday this *week, the Bishop presided over a meeting of the subscribers : it was then announced, that instead of fifty churches, seventy-eight have been built

since 1836 ; and that of these, thirteen were entirely built at the cost of the fund, while in the case of the remainder sums had been granted in aid only. Altogether, 530,0001. has been thus expended in church-build- ing; accommodation thereby afforded to 110,000 persons, and the ser- vices of 120 additional clergymen put in requisition.

Lord John Russell presided over the annual meeting of the British and Foreign School Society, on Monday. The report stated that there are 1031 children in attendance at the Model Schools in the Borough Road, and 31 pupil teachers appointed by the Committee of Council on Educa- tion ; that there are 170 young men, and 171 young women, students in the Normal Schools; that certificates of merit have been awarded to 86 students ; that 169 schools have been supplied with teachers ; that 21 schoolhouses have been either rebuilt or enlarged, and 48 new schools opened for 5000 additional children. Grants of materials have been made to many foreign schools. The finances of the Society are flourish- ing. The income last year was 15,183/, and the expenditure nearly the same. Lord John Russell addressed the meeting, mainly in argument against a secular system of education. At the end of his speech, he showed that there are at least a million of children who might and who do not receive education ; and asked whether, after forty-five years of la- bour, we can be thought to have arrived at a satisfactory conclusion ?

The annual meeting of the Protestant Association was held on Wednes- day; Lord Bernard presiding. The report showed that the income for the past year had been 8421., the expenditure 8261. The Reverend J. C. Miller of Birmingham and the Reverend Hugh Stowell were the more conspicuous speakers. The resolutions declared Popery incompatible with conscience, freedom, and constitutional government ; and approved of the proposed inspection of nunneries.

At the annual dinner of the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum, Lord John Russell presided, on Wednesday ; and upwards of 13151. was sub- scribed. The society supports 120 orphan children.

The fifth annual festival of the British Beneficent Institution was kept at the London Tavern on Saturday ; the Reverend Charles Mackenzie in the chair. The object of the institution is to afford incomes of 301. a year to the widows and orphan unmarried daughters of military and naval officers, clergymen, members of the learned professions, artists, bankers, merchants, and others. The evening's subscription was 12001.

The Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the Corpora- tion of London have issued 'a report, fully treating of the various points that have come under their notice, and giving reasons why they have or have not arrived at certain conclusions. One of these is remarkable. They decline to recommend a municipality for the whole of London, be- cause it would convert an area of 723 acres into an area of 78,029 acres, a population of 129,128 into a population of 2,362,236, and an assess- ment of 953,110/. into an assessment of 9,964,3481. "A change of this magnitude would not only alter the whole character of the City Corpo- ration, but it would, as it seems to us, defeat the main:purpose of muni- cipal institutions."

At the close of the report, the Commissioners recapitulate their princi- cipal recommendations.

1. That a new charter be issued, containing all such provisions in exist- ing charters of the Corporation of London, and all such customs of the city, as it may be deemed expedient to preserve. 2. That the Lord Mayor be elected by the Common Council, from the Common Councillors, or from per- sons qualified to be Common Councillors. 3. That the Aldermen be elected by the Burgesses of the Wards for six years, and be reiligible ; that they be Justices of the Peace during their term of office. 4. That the powers of the Municipal Corporations Act with respect to the appointment of Stipendi- ary Magistrates be extended to the Corporation of London. 5. That the Court of Aldermen be abolished, and that its functions be transferred to the Common Council. 6. That the number of Wards be reduced to some num- ber not less than twelve nor greater than sixteen ; and that their area and population be, as far as possible, made equal. 7. That each Ward return one Alderman and five Common Councilmen to the Common Council ; and that their qualification be that prescribed by the Municipal Corporations Act for the larger class of boroughs-namely, the possession of real or personal estate of 1000/., or being rated on an annual value of at least 30/. 8. That the voters in the Wardmote elections be the occupiers of premises in the Ward rated to the amount of 10/. per annum, without any additional quali- fication. 9. That the elections in Common Hall be abolished.- 10. That the Sheriffs be elected by the Common Council. 11. That the Lord Mayorl Court and the Sheriff's Court be consolidated, and that an appeal be given from such Court to one of the Superior Courts at 'Westminster. 12. Thatthe Court of Hustings be abolished. 13. That the Court at St. Martin's-le-Grand be abolished.

" 14. That all regulations prohibiting persons not free of the City from carrying on any trade, or using anyliandiemft within the City, be abolished. 15. That the metage of grain, fruit, and other measurable goods, be no longer compulsory. 16. That the Fellowship of Porters be dissolved, and that other privileges of porters be abolished. 17. That the admission of brokers by the Court of Aldermen be abolished. 18. That the street-toll on carts not the property of freemen be abolished.

" 19. That the City Police be incorporated with the Metropolitan Police. " 20. That the conservancy of the river Thames be transferred to a Board consisting of the Lord Mayor,' the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Presi- dent of the Board of Trade, the Deputy-Master of the Trinity House, and the First Commissioner of Woods. 21. That the exclusive privileges of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen on the river Thames be abolished. 22. That the accounts of the revenue and expendit ure of the Corporation be consolidated. 23. That the money and securities of the Corporation be lodged in the Bank of England. 24. That the election of auditors be amended. 26. That the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Acts with respect to the mortgaging of lands, and the making of an annual return of revenue and expenditure to the Secretary of State be extended to the Corporation of Lou- don. 26. That the Irish Society be dissolved ; that its trusts be declared by act of Parliament; and that new trustees be appointed by the Lord Chan- cellor of Ireland,

"27. That the external boundaries of the City remain unchanged ; but that the municipal connexion between the Corporation of London and a part of the Borough of Southwark be abolished. 28. That the rest of the Me- tropolis be divided into Districts, for municipal purposes. 29. That in the event of such division being made, a Metropolitan Board of Works be created, composed of members deputed to it from the Council of each Me- tropolitan Municipal Body, including the Common Council of the city. 30. That the coal-duties now collected by the Corporation of London, so long as they remain in force, be under the administration of this Board ; and that, in case the coal-duties which expire in 1862 should not be renewed, the 4d. duty now levied on behalf of the City should cease at the same time. 31.

That this Board be empowered to levy a rate, limited to a fixed poundage, for publics works of general Metropolitan utility, over the Metropolitan Dis- trict. 32. That no works be executed by this Board unless the plans have been approved by a Committee of the Privy Connell." The Lord Mayor entertained the Mayor and Corporation of Leeds at a banquet in the Mansionhouse, on Thursday. Among those present were the Bishop of Ripon, the Bishop of Sodor and Man, Sir Charles Wood, Mr. Matthew Baines, and seventeen Members of Parliament representing places in the Northern counties.

The resolutions passed on Easter Tuesday by the Vestry of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, were presented.to the Bishop of London last week by a deputation, including Mr. Grenville Berkeley M.P., Mr. Sergeant Jones, Mr. Westerton, and Dr. Hunter. After an hour's conference, the Bishop said be would consider the allegations and communicate the results to Mr. Westerton in a letter. That letter, dated "London House, May 6," hes been published. The Bishop does not recognize the deputation as duly appointed by the Vestry ; but finds no fault with the manner in which they expressed themselves on the subjects of the resolutions. He promises to inquire into the statement that the congregation of St. Paul's is collected from various parishes, and that, however agreeable to the congregation, the mode of celebrating divine service is highly offensive to the majority of members of the Church of England resident in the dis- trict : he will ascertain in what Mr. Liddell has departed from the mode of performing divine service introduced by him on his appointment to the incumbency, and which mode "gave general satisfaction" : he is pleased to learn that Mr. Liddell's pulpit ministrations are not objected to and as regards the unsound doctrine imputed to his curates, the Bishop can- not call upon them to answer any charge not reduced to writing, nor any that does not refer to some sermon preached within the last twelvemonth : he will forbid the curates to make obeisances to the cross, and require them to read the service audibly and distinctly, as the law enjoins. With respect to the alms-chest, the Bishop says that "the Churchwardens, in their corporate capacity, have a right to be consulted as to the appropria- tion of all alms collected in the church, and have the authority to pre- vent the introduction of decorations or ornaments not allowed by the rubrics or canons, or sanctioned by established custom."

Mr. Liddell, in a letter to the Bishop of London, dated "May 8," denies that the congregation of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, is collected from various parishes ; he denies that the teaching of his curate is un- sound ; and he explains that there are three alms-chests, two for general purposes, and one for gathering offerings towards St. Banishes building- fund. This last, since that account was closed, has been "devoted ex- clusively to the maintenance of the choir." Mr. Liddell declares that his congregation are indignant at the way in which their pastor has been persecuted ; that he will resist to the utmost of his power all attempts to remove any part of his church-furniture or to alter his services ; that he is not ashamed of anything he does, because it is all enjoined by the Church ; and he challenges his accusers to meet him in a court of law.

At the usual meeting of the Society of Arts, this week, Dr. Neil Arnot read a paper on a new smoke-consuming and economical fireplace. He showed the great evils connected with common coal fires ; how London smoke increases the cost of washing by a million and a half sterling per an- num, destroys clothes, furniture, books and paintings, kills plants and trees, and is inimical to health. In an ordinary fire, five-sixths of the heat goes up the chimney with the smoke. To save a third part of the coal burned in London alone, would save nearly a million sterling a year. Dr. Arnot gave this description of the new fire-grate- The charge of coal for the whole day is placed in a box immediately be- neath the grate, and is borne upwards as wanted by a piston in the box, raised simply by the poker used as a lever, and as readily as the wick of an argand lamp is raised; and the fire is under command, as to its intensity, almost as completely as the flames of a lamp. The fire is lighted with singular ease and speed. The wood is laid on the upper surface of the fresh coal filling the coal-box, and a thickness of three or four inches of cinder or coked coal, left from the fire of the preceding day, is placed over it. The wood being then lighted, instantly kindles the cinders above, and at the same time the pitchy vapour from the fresh coal below rises through the wood-flame and cinders, and becomes heated sufficiently to inflame itself, and ao to augment the blaze. When the cinder has once fairly ignited, all the bitumen rising through it afterwards becomes gas, and the fire remains quite smokeless for the remainder of the day. Great advantages would result there would be no more smoky chimnies, no more flues on fire, no more chimney-sweeping, and there would be capital ventilation.

An action was tried in the Guildhall on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Erle, brought by Messrs. Waterlow, .printers, against the Dean of Bangor, to re- cover a debt of 1501. for the printing of a newspaper in the Welsh language called the Cymro. In 1848, the Dean of Bangor and others determined to establish a Welsh newspaper, for the purpose of disseminating the doctrines of the Church of England. The first editor resigned in 1850, and the managing committee appointed a Mr. James as editor, and authorized him to find a printer and publisher in London. The Messrs. Waterlow undertook it upon the authorized representations of Mr. James. But in 1851 Mr. James died ; the printers applied for a settlement of their account, and suc- ceeded in obtaining 1001., but could get no more. They waited two years, and than commenced this action. For the defence it was urged, that the committee only authorized Mr. James to find a printer, not to pledge their credit. Mr. Justice Erle observed, that there was a resolution that when 1001. became due Mr. James was to inform the committee, who were to .pay it: therefore they contemplated a debt to the printer. Having authorized Mr. James to order the pnnter, wasjust the same as if the committee bad ordered it themselves. Verdict for the plaintiffs, 1301. 10s.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Tuesday, John Wolff pleaded guilty to obtaining a gold watch on the false pretence of being the Earl of Dalkeith. It was stated that the young man is respectably connected, and had never before misconducted himself. Sentence, imprisonment for six.months.

Moses Moses pleaded guilty to thirteen indictments for receiving stolen

i goods. He had warehouses in Bell Lane, Spitalfields, and there received stolen property by wholesale. His counsel attempted to obtain a lenient sentence, by urging that Moses had only recently taken to dishonest pur- suits; that he had been led astray by another man who has escaped; and that he had given useful information to the Police. The Recorder did not believe that Moses had offended only at a recent period; and, after enlarg- ing on the enormity of the offence of receiving stolen property, as it directly led to robberies, he sentenced the prisoner to be transported for fourteen. years.

Robert Richardson, a lad of seventeen, was convicted of stealing a porta- monnaie containing money from the coat of Mr. Kingdom barrister ; the coat having been left in his charge at the robing-room of the Court of Queen's Bench. A chief witness was O'Brien, who proved the spending of some of the money ; but he also admitted that he accompanied Richardson when he spent it, and introduced him to an abandoned woman. Mr. Robinson urged that it was most probable that this man had led the lad to do wrong, and had shared in the proceeds of the crime. The Recorder pronounced O'Brien's, conduct " most infamous." He reserved the sentence.

Three of the cases of uttering forged bank-notes came on for trial on Wed- nesday. William Turner pleaded guilty to passing two counterfeit five- pound. notes. Eleanor Baker, a young woman, was convicted of uttering a forged ten-pound note : she had been engaged in other offences of the kind. The Jury recommended her to mercy : she had behaved well till she went to live with a foreigner named Fuchs ; himself awaiting his trial for uttering forged notes. John Rowann, an Irishman, was convicted of two utterings. On Thursday, Henry Fuchs was convicted of uttering a forged note for ten. pounds. Mr. Justice Cresswell, after alluding to the fact that the prisoner had not only uttered counterfeit notes himself, but, after seducing the young woman Baker, had sent her out on similar errands, sentenced him to fifteen years' transportation. Eleanor Baker was sentenced to imprisonment for one year, and William Turner to be transported for fifteen years.

Two cases of murder were on the calendar for trial ; but in both the real inquiry was as to the sanity of the accused. Rebecca Torten was charged with strangling her husband, and Catherine Saville with drowning her in- fant : it was clearly proved that both women were insane at the time, and since ; and the Jury pronounced verdicts accordingly.

Daley, the pugilist who killed Francis Anderson, a hairdresser, after the trial had proceeded to some extent, retracted his plea of "Not guilty," and pleaded "Guilty" to the charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

The trial, on Tuesday, of a man named Garrett, on a charge of embezzle- ment, led to the discovery. of a startling practice in the coal-trade. Garrett was a carman in the service of Honeysett and Clark, coal-dealers, Fetter Lane. He was sent on several occasions to the wharf of a Mr. Neal, coal- merchant, to buy coals of a particular quality at 21. a ton. He brought coals of an inferior description, but with a receipt for the higher price; for instance, where 31. les. was paid for two tons of coals, he brought a receipt for V. On examination, Mr. Neal admitted that it was the practice to give receipts for sums larger than the sum actually paid. The object of this he also admitted, was to deceive the customer, to whom the middleman might sell the coal. In the present case, he thought Garrett's master was only act- ing as carman. The Recorder observed, that it was a most improper pro- ceeding, and he was not prepared to say that all the parties would not be in peril if an indictment for conspiracy were preferred. On this occasion, Gar- rett was found " Not guilty" ; but, when indicted for similar offences next day, it was shown that he had obtained many false receipts, and he was sent to prison for two months.

The City Magistrates are looking sharp after the begging impostors who still frequent their streets. On Monday, Susan Bailey, a little girl, was brought up charged with begging. When arrested, she told the Inspector that her mother sent her out to beg ; and that on Friday last she had taken home 48. 8d. The mother was also brought into court ; where, with great affectation of tenderness, she put a cloak over the shoulders of her daughter. It was then discovered that the true name of the girl was Bella Jefferson. When the Magistrate asked her how much money she took home, the girl, looking at her mother, who menaced her, said she did not know. The mother solemnly denied that she sent the child out to beg ; but a neighbour deposed that she had seen not only the child sent out to beg, but the mother herself go out in rage in the morning, and return home in the evening, dress herself in good style, and "go to Mr. Savage's chapel." The Magistrate sentenced the woman to two months' imprisonment. She threatened to "serve out" the witness when at large : whereupon the Magistrate added an order to find bail to keep the peace for twelve months.

Captain Blake, a gentlemanly-looking man, has been remanded by the Bow Street Magistrate on a charge of stealing a ten-pound note, the property of Mr. Mannock, who is staying at the Imperial Hotel, Covent Garden. Mr. Mannock missed the note ; he insinuated that one of the hotel servants must have taken it ; the Police were informed, and they traced the note to Cap- tain Blake, who hadpaid it away to a butcher. He was arrested. Captain Blake is an intimate friend of Mr. Mannock ; who was very desirous not to make a charge against him. But the Magistrate compelled him to state what he knew ; Mr. Bacon, the proprietor of the hotel, observing that it was only doing justice to his servants to investigate the case. Captain Blake says he received the note from an auctioneer. The Magistrate refused bail.

The Thames Police Magistrate has committed John Charlton, a ship's steward, for uttering forged bank-notes; and his wife for having three such notes in her possesaion. There were no fewer than twelve cases against Charlton.

Morris Hartob, a master tanner of Antwerp, and Macknielsone, his father- in-law, fled from Belgium after the former had got possession of a large sum from the bank of De Coek on a false pretence. Webb and Funnel', City Detec- tives, succeeded in tracing them in England ; and eventually they were cap- tured in Whitechapel, and 55001. retrieved from their possession ; they were then set free, as they could not be reached by the English. law. The De- tectives were rewarded with a hundred guineas each.

Pieces of lead on the roof of the terminus in the Waterloo Road having been repeatedly stripped off by robbers, a Policeman was set to watch. On. Saturday evening he detected two men in the act, and seized one of them; while the Policeman was conducting him towards a ladder, the thief broke from his grasp, and tried to escape by running over the roof ; in his flight he fell through one of the skylights to the rails beneath—a depth of fifty feet—and fractured his skull. When taken to the hospital his case was pro- nounced hopeless Reid and Carter, men employed by the Eastern Counties Railway Com- pany as carters, and in whom considerable confidence was placed, as they had to deliver large quantities of goods for which they received the carriage- money, have been committed by the Worship Street Magistrate, Reid for defrauding a person by obtaining more money for a package than was due, and Carter for embezzling sums received for the Company.

Watts and Bartingale were charged before the Worship Street Magistrate with misbehaviour in a second-class carriage on the Eastern Counties Rail- way. On entering the carriage they began to smoke ; there were ladies in the carriage, and they were requested to desist ; they refused, and one of them added abominable language. Mr. North, a gentleman who was tra- velling with his daughter, resolved that the ruffians should be punished ; and at Shoreditch he gave them into custody. Both were fined for smoking, and another fine was imposed on Watts for his bad language : he could not pay, and was sent to prison.