gbe _Metropolis.

Alderman Johnson has announced his intention of standing for London, in the Conservative interest, at the general election.

Mr. Benjamin Hawes'e advocacy of the Government measure of Educa- tion has given dissatisfaction to a large portion of his Lambeth constituents; and a meeting has been held at the Horns Tavern to oppose his return.

The district of the Tower Hamlets vt ill be contested by Mr. Hutchin- son; and it is said that the Dissenting interest intend to put forward a candidate.

Sir Charles Napier has appealed to his constituents the electors of Mary- lebone. When he was elected, he pledged himself that if he were obliged to be absent professionally from his duties in Parliament, he would consult their pleasure as to his resigning his seat or not. Sir Charles has been ordered by the Admiralty "to hoist his flag' for service in the Tagus; and in redemption of his pledge he places himself in the hands of the electors.

The Lord Mayor gave a grand entertainment to the Ministers on Wed- !toxin, The appearance of Sir Harry Smith among the guests was "the feature" of the evening. His health was drunk with enthusiasm, as the "hero of Aliwal "; to which he responded with becoming modesty; attri- buting his successes to the teaching of the Duke of Wellington and to his gallant soldiers. Lord John Russell's speech declared that the aim of the Government was, to give the country all the advantages it could possibly receive "from the administration of sound measures applied in due season. Lord John seized the occasion of the feast to give advice how to meet a famine. "In these times of dearth, while on the one hand you ought to favour as much as possible the admission of a greater quantity of food, so likewise it is the duty of every master of a household to economize as much as possible the food we have." He paid a compliment to the gene- rosity of the people of the United States; and he expressed a hope that by a cheerful combination of all classes the present difficulties might be over- COMO.

A Court of Aldermen was held at the Old Bailey on Monday, to con- sider the bill now before Parliament on the conservancy of the river Thames. In the course of the discussion, during which the Recorder and several Aldermen spoke against the bill, as giving too much power to the Common Cbuncil, Sir Peter Laurie hoped they would not stultify them- selves by now petitioning against a bill abounding in advantages to the community. Ultimately it was decided that a petition against the bill in its present shape should be presented. The Remembmncer having "firmly but respectfully" refused to attend the Sheriffs in presenting this petition to the House of Common., it was unanimously agreed, on the motion of Mr. Alderman Willem, that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs should wait on the Speaker in reference to the petition, and also seek an interview with Lord Auckland and Lord Morpeth to ask for a postponement of the bill for a week.

The Marylebone Vestry met on Saturday, to hear Dr. Spry's report of his interview with Lord Morpeth respecting the Health of Towns Bill. Lord Morpeth had declared that the Government had no desire to interfere with the popular principle of representation; and the construction put by Dr. Spry on his language was, that a measure would be framed which would be found "unobjectionable." Mr. Williams, M.P., condemned the wholesale opposition of the Vestry to the Government measure. A stormy discussion subsequently took place on a motion empowering the Commis- sioners of Baths and Washhouses to purchase a site for the erection of the necessary buildings. The site proposed included part of the Yorkshire Stingo Tavern. The price was 5,5001.; which some considered exorbitant, being at the rate of 8,0001. an acre. The majority, however, thought otherwise; and the purchase was sanctioned.

The Exeter Hall meetings continue. The British and Foreign School Society assembled on Monday. The room was much crowded, in expectation of "a scene" about the Govern- ment Education scheme; but, at the instance of the chairman, Mr. Samuel Gurney, who depreoated any discussion on the subject, the speakers avoided the exciting topic; Dr. Burnet, however, could not help coming very close to it, inculcating voluntaryism. From the report it appeared, that the number of students in training during the past year was 233; in

the girl's school, 350. Since the establishment of the institution, 17,425 pupils had been trained. Daring the year, 146 new schools had been es- tablished, principally in the manufacturing districts and rural villages. The year's receipts had been 14,742L, and the balance in hand was 2871.

The annual general meeting of the subscribers to the Sailor's Home, the Destitute Sailor's Asylum, and the Episcopal Floating Church, took place on Wednesday, at the Hanover Square Rooms. The chair was taken by Admiral W. Bowles. The triple object of the meeting failed to collect more than fifty persons, and those principally females. Reports of the condition of the institutions were read and approved of. This is the sub- stance— The Sailor's Home is what its name indicates. Sailors are taken charge of from the ship, boarded, and their money and property taken charge of and in- vested. The number of boarders last year was 4,567; and as much as 22,4861. had been taken care of, either forwarded to their homes or applied in other ways. The year's income was 6,639L, and the expenditure 5,9711.; leaving a credit balance of 6681.

The Destitute Sailor's Asylum provides better food and clothing for destitute, seamen. In this way, since 1837, 25,361 poor sailors have been succoured. The accounts show a balance in favour of the institution of 2061. 16s.

The financial account of the Episcopal Floating Chapel was less gratifying; there being a debt of 1001.

An inquiry was commenced on Monday, at the house of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, into the validity of the recent presentation of Mr. Archdeacon Hale to the living of St. Giles's, Cripplegate. The proceedings were carried on before the Bishop of London, accompanied by Mr. Justice Patteson and Dr. Luabington as assessors: they were instituted at the instance of the Reverend J. Knapp, Sub- Dean of St. Paul's, who claims the preferment by virtue of his office under a statute passed by the Dean and Chapter in the year 1295. Dr. R. Phillimore, who appeared for Mr. Knapp, read the statute, and argued that it is now in force. Dr. Harding questioned the competency of the tribunal, on the ground of insuffi- cient notice to his clients the Dean and Chapter. This point was given against him; and, under protest, he proceeded to contend that the document relied on by the Sub-Dean was not a "statute." It was not uniformly so called, even by ifr. Knapp, who described it in the first instance as an "ordinance,' and then as * "resolution." Its being found in the "Statute Minors." was no proof; for among them were confessedly several instruments, not statutes. This was not the first. time that a Sub-Dean had claimed the living; and in a former instance the de- cision was an adverse one. There were two ordinances repugnant to the instru- ment relied on, and also long desuetude. The further hearing of the case was adjourned.

The argument closed yesterday; and the Bishop said that he would communi- cate his decision to the parties at some future day.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Friday, Lord Denman delivered ju the case of two Jersey prisoners, (Regina versus the Governor ef Iditban=onitl involving the right of the Royal Court of Jersey to send convieteOlons to this country. The two prisoners in question were boys,. who had beea found guilty of ari a burg , and sentenced to "transportation." Being sent to this country in pur- suance o the sentence, they were lodged in Milbank Prison; and were now brought up on a writ of habeas corpus, with a view to being discharged, on the plea that the Royal Court of Jersey had no power to pass sentence of transport- ation. Lord Denman said that the imprisonment in England was authorized by the 17th section of the 5th George IV.; and he held that the fact of the transport-. ation was sufficient, its validity not being questionable here. The Royal Court of Jersey must be held to be a competent tribunal, and the imprisonment in Eng- land was warranted by law. The motion must therefore be refused.

In the Court of Common Pleas, on Saturday, Chief Justice Wilde gave judg- ment in the case of Wontner versus Shairp; in which he confirmed the previous finding of the Jury, that an allottee of railway shares can recover the amount of his deposits. In this ease, the plaintiff was induced by statements in a certain prospectus to apply for sixty shares in the Direct London and Exeter Railway Company, on winch he paid deposits. The terms of the prospectus not having been observed, the plaintiff brought his action against the defendant, one of the provisional committee, and obtained a verdict. Counsel then moved for a rule nisi in order to a new trial, and the case was reargued. Sir Thomas Wilde considered that there was no ground for a new trial. The defendant had applied for one de- scription of shares, and had got shares of a different kind; and the deposit was- therefore paid under a misrepresentation. There was therefore no valid contract, and the rule must be discharged.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, Richard Graves, a medical student, and James Edward Green, both of whom are respectably connected, were tried for defrauding Mr. Whieher, a surgical-Instrument maker, of 91. 18s. Graves bought some instruments of the prosecutor, tendering in payment a check signed by Green; Mr. Whicher, suspecting no fraud, gave change for the draft; 011 presenting it, there were no effects at the bank. It appeared that in 1842 the prisoner Green had an account at the banker's, which he had overdrawn when it was closed. A verdict of guilty was returned. There were other similar charges against the men, and they pleaded guilty to two of them. Graves was sentenced to eighteen months' and Green to two years' hard labour in the House of Correction.

On Wednesday, three men, Kerp, Wilbeam, and Alexander, were tried for utter- ing a forged bill for 5001. on Messrs. Fuller and Company, the bankers. The document purported to bear the acceptance of a customer of the bank; it was at once paid in notes; and these were immediately changed for gold at the Bank of England. Alexander seems to have been instrumental in causing the other men to be arrested; and there appeared to be no legal evidence against him ex- cept that he had concealed his knowledge of the fraud up to a certain time: there- fore he was acquitted. The other prisoners were found guilty.

Alexander was afterwards convicted of stealing half-a-crown from the house of an acquaintance. The three prisoners were brought up to receive judgment on Thursday. Mr. Baron Alderson, in passing sentence, observed, that although Alexander was ac- quitted on the charge of forgery, there was very little moral doubt that he was equally guilty of that offence; and that the others were the wicked instruments in his hands, by whose means the city of London had been plundered to a very large amount. He ordered Keep and Wilbeam to be transported for fifteen years, and Alexander for seven years; that being the maximum of punishment fixed by the law for the offence of larceny. On Thursday, Mr. Michael Sweetman was indicted for a niisdemeanonr, in having unlawfully practised as an apothecary, being unlicensed by the Apotheca- ries Company. f he defendant admitted the fact : he had regularly studied for the profession, and be was not charged with want of skill or knowledge; but he must admit he had no licence, though be would now take means to obtain one. Mr. Clarkson stated that the Company had resolved to prosecute all unqualified persons. The defendant was ordered to find sureties for his appearance to receive judgment if required. William Graburn, ayonth of seventeen, pleaded guilty to a.charge of uttering a cheek on Coutta and Company for 801.; the document having beenudrawu tor 81. only, and the prisoner having added a cipher to the numeral and y " to the written sum. Mr. Clarkson stated that the young man belonged to a family of the highest respectability; and prayed for a lenient sentence. that his parents might not be heartbroken by their son's offence. He called witnesses to the pre- vious character and respectable connexions of the accused. Mr. Baron Alderson, after taking time to consider the sentence, eventually sentenced the youth to be imprisoned for eighteen months.

Garrett and Downes, two keepers at the Grove Hall Lunatic Asylum, at Bow, were tried for the manslaughter of William Rank, a patient. The particulars of the case were recently stated. Rank had been violent towards one of the men: they broke his ribs by kneeling on him, and inflicted other injuries. Both were found guilty : Garrett was sentenced to be imprisoned for six months, with hard labour; and Downes, who was a subordinate to Garrett, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.