rbc .ftletropolis.

A Court of Common Council was held on Wednesday, for the des- patch of business. Reports were presented on the Royal Exchange and the great City improvements : the material point of public interest was, that 25,0001. is to be ril,ed at once for the continuance of New Far- ringdon Street. A very long report was presented from the Com- mittee on the office of Town-Clerk, with recommendations— The Committee recommended that the officer should be elected during plea- sure, and subject to the standing order respecting the annual election of officers; that the offices of Town-Clerk and City-Solicitor should be kept separate, inasmuch as the duties are incompatible, and would interfere with each other ; that the income of the Town-Clerk should be 2,000/. per annum derivable from fees and payments in the chamber. The Committee abir: recommended that the Town-Clerk should be Registrar of the Lord Mayor's Court, and perform the duties hitherto performed by the Clerk of the Common Council ; which office will merge in that of Town-Clerk. On the motion of Mr. Richard Taylor, it was referred to the Com- mittee of General Purposes, to consider the standing order which re- quires candidates for any corporate office to be freemen of two years standing, with a view to ascertain what offices should be excepted. Mr. Anderton gave notice of a petition to Parliament for searching

investigation into bribery at Parliamentary elections and remedial mea- sures.

At a Special Court of East India Proprietors, on Wednesday, Mr. Montgomery Martin, after a long speech, in which he approved of the new Tariff, but contended that more favour should be shown to India, moved a resolution, that the Court should petition Parliament, in the revision of the Tariff, to place England and British India on a footing of complete reciprocity, treating the latter as an integral portion of the empire. Several letters were read, urging alterations in the laws re- lating to Indian commerce, and especially calling for encouragement of Assam tea. After a long conversation, Mr. Martin withdrew his resolution, and carried another, simply expressing Concurrence in the representations made in that correspondence.

The Literary Fund Society celebrated its fifty-third anniversary on Wednesday, at Freemasons Hall ; Prince Albert presiding. During

the last half-century, 27,828/. has been distributed, in 1,985 grants, to 1,000 individuals. The receipts last year were 2,0001.; the whole of which has been distributed. The following is an analysis of the cases relieved in 1841— History and Biography, four cases, 75!.; Theology, two cases, 251.; Topo- graphy, one case, 151.; Travels, two cases, 501.; Medicine, three cases, 851.; Law, one case, 10!.; Education, two cases, 65!.; Science and Art, four cases, 851.; Poetry. six cases, 1251.; Drama, two cases, 601.; Fiction, four cases, 701.; Miscellaneous, seven cases, 1201. Out of these, there were 27 males and 11 females, 6 authoresses, and 5 widows of literary men.

The following are some of the chief subscriptions just received—

The Queen, 100 guineas ; Prince Albert, 1001.; the King of Prussia, 1001.; the Duke of Somerset, 10 guineas annually ; the Marquis of Lansdowne, 501.; Lord Francis Egerton, 101.; Archbishop of Dublin, a percentage on the profits of all his works ; Lord Bexley, 10!.; Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, 10 gui- neas; Chief Justice Tyndal, 10 guineas.

Prince Albert took the head of the table at dinner. Among the -guests were Lord Ashley, Lord Mahon, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Monteagle, Lord Jocelyn, the Prussian Ambassador, the Russian Ambassador, Sir Robert Inglis, Sergeant Talfourd. Mr. Thomas Moore, Mr. Thomas Campbell, Mr. Gaily Knight, Mr. Henry Hallam, Mr. Barham, Sir Henry Ellis, Mr. Washington Irving, and Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce ; in all, the guests mustered 360. Prince Albert spoke frequently ; and there was in his manner much graceful familiarity mid heartiness. In proposing the toast of " The Queen," he added, "who, I am able to tell you, highly appreciates this excellent institution : I have her permission to say, that she is its sincere wellwisher, and feels much interest in its prosperity." He pleaded warmly for the charity in proposing " Success to the Literary Fund "— " The toast which I have now to propose is, 'Prosperity to this Institution '; an institution which stands unrivalled in any country, and which ought to command our warmest sympathies, in providing for the exigencies of those who, feeling only the promptings of genius, and forgetting every other consi- deration, pursue the grand career of the cultivation of the human mind, and the promotion of the arts and sciences. It is surely right gratefully to acknow- ledge the benefits we have derived from the disinterested exertions of those great and good men, and cheerfully to contribute to their wants and aid their necessities. I conclude with a warm wish that the object for the promotion of which we have assembled this day may be responded to in the most ample -and generous manner. I propose • Success to the Literary Fund.'"

In acknowledging the toast, the Marquis of Lansdowne mentioned that the Duke of Kent once honoured the society with his presence ; and on the last occasion that he promised to do so, he was only pre- vented by the birth of the Princess Victoria. Several other toasts were given and acknowledged : the other speakers were, the Prussian Am- bassador, Lord Monteagle, Mr. Thomas Campbell, Mr. Henry Hallam, Lord Mahon, Mr. Thomas Moore, Lord Colborne, Mr. G. P. R. James, Mr. Murchison, the Marquis of Northampton, Mr. Gaily Knight, Ser- geant Talfourd, Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. Washington Irving, Lord Ashley. Prince Albert did not retire till nearly midnight.

The members and friends of the British and Foreign School Society held their thirty-seventh annual general meeting at Exeter Hall on Monday.

Lord John Russell took the chair ; and on the platform were the Bishop of Norwich, Mr. Labouchere, and the Honourable William Cowper. The Chairman marked the progress of general education by the imita- tions .which had arisen of the acts of its promoters— The British and Foreign School Society was established, and in three yearsafter the National School Society ; the Penny Magazine was immediately followed by another publication of a similar kind ; London University by King's College ; and the Committee of the Privy Council on Education, appointed by the late Ministers, is continued by those who most resisted it at first. The prin- ciple upon which the Society had proceeded was, that children ought to re- ceive instruction in the Holy Scriptures : those who insisted that the formula and catechism of the Church should be taught to all children, excluded great numbers ; in order to prevent their becoming Baptists or Independents, they prevented their receiving Christian education ; and that in a country where out of a hundred prisoners sixty or seventy are ignorant of the name of God or Jeans Christ.

Lord John announced that his brother, the Duke of Bedford, would continue to the Society the support which it used to derive from his father.

The report gave a satisfactory account of the year's proceedings: the several schools, normal schools and training-establishments, had been maintained in a state of efficiency. The special subscription, which last year amounted to 9,0001., with the addition of 5,000/. from Govern- ment, this year amounted to 15,620/. Fifty-five new schools had been opened during the year ; and in St. Petersburg, Greece, the Ionian Isles, the Morea, the West Indies, Canada, and Australia, education ad- vances. The girl's school at Patras contains 450 children ; and another is about to he established for children above the station of the poor. The income of the society for the past year amounted to 7,0801. The report was adopted ; several gentlemen addressed the meeting ; thanks were voted to the Chairman ; and the assemblage broke up.

The Church Pastoral Aid Society held their annual meeting at Exeter Hall on Tuesday ; Lord Ashley in the chair. A long report was read which made out a case of general spiritual destitution. It was com- puted that if each clergymen had the care of as many as 2,000 souls, 1,000 additional ministers would be wanted in England and Wales. The Society had made during the year twenty-four fresh grants for curates, whose enre. Of SOWS veined 8,273 IP 11PD4bers5 pn4 w!)9§c

aggregate income averaged 1761. The total number of grants for which. the Society is at present responsible, is 280; being 246 for stipends for clergymen, thirty-four for lay-assistants. The annual charge to the Society for the maintenance of the respective grants is 21,800/. The income of the Society amounted to 18,9001.; being 765/. less than that of last year. The Bishop of Norwich, the Bishop of Llandaff, the Re- verend Henry Raikes, M.A., Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester, the Reverend Hugh Stowell, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting ; and the proceedings closed with the Doxology.

The Protestant Association took the field with its yearly demonstra- tion at Exeter Hall, on Wednesday. Lord Kenyon was in the chair. The report was very discursive : one of its most remarkable points was the congratulatory mention that the Prince of Lucca has joined the ranks of the Protestants. Mr. Plumptre denounced the Puseyites as entertaining a design to "rob the Church of the Scriptures" ; and he called upon them to withdraw from the Establishment. A variety of gentlemen delivered speeches.

The Anti-Slavery Society and its friends crowded the Hall, yester- day. The chair was taken by the Marquis of Clanricarde ; and among the orators of the day were Lord Clifford, Dr. Lushington, Mr. Joseph Sturge, Dr. Madden' Mr. Silk Buckingham, Sir George Strickland, Mr. William Allen, and Mr. L'Instant of Hayti. There was not much of novelty in the proceedings: the report repeated the usual admission, that in spite of all efforts to suppress it the slave-trade is but little di- minished. Among the many resolutions that were carried, some de- nounced the slave-trade as disgraceful to all governments that permit it, and asserted that the only means for its suppression is the abolition of slavery throughout the world ; called on Government to institute pro- ceedings against the British holders of mines or estates worked by slaves ; and expressed alarm at the contemplated removal of restrictions on the migration of labourers from India to Mauritius and of Africans to the West Indies.

Cooper the footpad, who shot Daly the Policeman and wounded two in resisting capture at Highbury, was finally examined on Mon- day, at Clerkenwell. and committed to Newgate for trial. The bottle from which he said he drank a mixture of laudanum and arsenic during his flight has been found in the fields, empty, but corked. It is sur- mised that much of his illness was caused by want of food ; and a mutton-chop, which he could not resist the temptation to eat, produced. a marked improvement.

Cooper was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday, and he pleaded "Not gailty " ; but the proceedings went no further. Yesterday the trial was postponed till the next sittings of the Court.

The inquest on Daly the Policeman, at Highbury Barn, was con- cluded on Wednesday. The evidence corroborated in essentials the previous accounts. The Coroner's Jury returned a verdict that "Timothy Daly was wilfully murdered by a man who has been repre- sented to us as calling himself Thomas Cooper." Mr. Wakley, the Coroner, was at issue with the Magistrate at Clerkenwell, because the latter had made no arrangement to facilitate the appearance of Cooper at the inquest ; and he announced his inten- tion of submitting the case to the Secretary of State : in this intention he was supported by the Jury.

A young man was seized in Hornsey Wood on Wednesday, who was at first supposed to he an accomplice of Cooper. When taken to' Clerkenwell Police-office, he said that his name was George Hopson. Some letters were found upon him, describing the writer to be in great distress, and hinting that he meant to commit suicide. He was re- manded. His wife has since appeared at the Police-office, and she says his name is Elves : according to her account, though poor, they were not destitute of friendly assistance; and his behaviour is unaccount- able except on the score of insanity or the despair of incorrigible idleness.

The real George Hopson, a decent tradesman, has also appeared at th e office, and stated that he had been subjected to much annoyance by the purloining of his name.

The trial of Daniel Good for the murder of Jane Good or Jones took place yesterday, in the Central Criminal Court. The place was crowded to the Invasion of the very Judges' seats ; several women, even young ladies, were among the auditory ; and the number of barristers was great. On the bench were Lord Denman, Mr. Baron Alderson, Mr._ Justice Coltman, and the Recorder ; and by their side were the Duke of Sussex, the Chevalier Bunsen. several Aldermen, and Mr. John Dennistoun, M.P. With Good, Molly his reputed wife was placed at the bar; which both the prisoners approached with a firm and confident. step, and both pleaded "Not guilty." Molly Good was removed; and the trial of Daniel proceeded.

It was conducted by the Attorney-General; whose statement, with the evidence which followed, added little of interest to the facts already known, only that they were marshalled in a more skilful order.

Lydia Susannah Butcher now appeared to admit that her intercourse with Good had been more familiar than she formerly confessed. Tho- mas Sales, the waiter at a public-house at which Good called after the murder, with Mary Good, overheard him say that she " would not be troubled with that — any more." The son was brought into court,.

but he was not examined, apparently from a spirit of forbearance. Mr. Doane, for the defence, reminded the Jury, that the case against the prisoner rested entirely upon circumstantial evidence, and that there was no proof that the woman had not destroyed herself ; while there was a total absence of all probable motive. The Attorney- General waived his right of reply. The Chief Justice, in summing up, likewise reminded the Jury of the necessity of caution in judging on

circumstantial evidence. That the deceased met with her death by' violence, appeared to be clearly proved by the medical witnesses ; who declared their opinion that death was occasioned by the severance of

the windpipe, the carotid artery and the jugular vein, and that the body was instantly drained of blood. If she had destroyed herself, it was most improbable that a man with whom she had long been living on intimate and friendly terms, instead of calling assistance, woad& proceed at once to dismember the body.

The Jury retired at a quarter to eight in the evening, and in about half an hour returned into court with a verdict of" Guilty.9 When asked what be had to say itby sentence of death should not

be pronounced upon him, Good made no answer. Lord Denman then pronounced the sentence: telling him that he had been convicted on the clearest testimony; that it was absolutely necessary that his life should be forfeited to the laws of God and man, which he had so grievously offended; and that his case would bear the aggravation that he would leave the world regretted and pitied by no one.

Good then burst out into a passionate asseveration of innocence : de- claring to the Judge and Almighty God that he had not killed the woman • that Susan Butcher was the cause of it all ; and that Good destroyed herself—she cut her throat while he had left her alone in the stable. He afterwards saw a man of whom he occasionally bought matches, told him, and asked him what he should do; and the man said the body must be concealed: Good gave him the axe and the knife found in the harness-room ; and, while he was away, the man cut off the head and limbs : then he told Good that he must have a fire to burn the body : Good gave him a sovereign: he took away some of the burnt bones, and was to have come next day for the trunk, but he did not. Good took off the dead woman's wedding-ring, which bad be- longed to his wife—for she was not his wife ; and he gave it, with a shawl, to Susan Butcher, telling her of the event ; at which she ex- pressed her satisfaction. Good finished his story by saying, " Good night all, ladies and gentlemen : I have a great deal more to say, but I am so bad I cannot say it"

Mr. Doane informed the Court that the prisoner had made no such statement to him : he had adopted his line of argument from a convic- tion that it was the only course left to him. Good was removed from the dock, just as the announcement of the verdict was greeted by the crowd outside the prison with tumultuous cheers.