Attropolis.

The annual festival of the friends of Polish nationality took place on Wednesday evening, in Guildhall. The interest in this reunion has been observed to flag of late years; but on the present occasion the as- semblage was unusually brilliant and numerous. Among other distin- guished personages present, were Lord Dudley Stuart, the Earl of Munster, Lord Arthur Lennox, the American Minister and Mrs. Bancroft. The amusements consisted of a ball and concert.

An advertisement has appeared in the papers this week announcing that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests intend to apply to Parliament next session for an act to enable them to erect a new Westminster Bridge, and pull down the old one. The announcement states that it is intended to apply for the amendment, alteration, or repeal, of the Bridge Acts; and for the vesting in the Commissioners of Woods the Bridge estates. Powers will be sought to remove the present bridge and to sell the materials- " Also to make a new street from the South-east side of Charing Cross, near the South-west side of Northumberland House, to the North Bank or shore of the river Thames, near the end of Whitehall Place, passing from, into, through, or over Angel Court, Craig's Court, the Eastern ends of Great gcotland Yard, and Whitehall Place respectively, and the North bank or shore of the river Tilarnex To construct a bridge across the river Thames from or from near the Eastern end of Whitehall Place to the South bank or shore of the river in the wish of Saint Mary, Lambeth. To make a new street from such intended bridge in or nearly in a direct line to the North side of the York Road at or near its junction with Sutton Street. And to make a new street from such intended bridge in a direct or nearly in a direct line to the East side of the Westminster Bridge Road, nearly opposite to Mason Street, in the parish of Saint Mary, Lambeth."

A public meeting was held on Wednesday evening at the Literary and Scientific Institution, in Edward Street, Portman Square, to consider the sanatory condition of the parish of Marylebone. Mr. Bond Cabbell pre- sided; and, after a speech from Mr. Cochrane, various resolutions were adopted. The first declared the deplorable condition of the dwellings of the poor from over-crowding and bad ventilation, the de- fective state of the sewerage and of the means for cleansing the streets, and the scanty supply of water. The second resolution proposed that these evils should be remedied at the expense of the parish, particularly with regard to cleansing and sewerage, the establishment of public " cabi- nets d'aisance " and urinal= in the poorer neighbourhoods, and the daily employment of men du ' day in sweeping the leading thoroughfares on the system so suoc adopted in the City. The' third resolution directed the formation of iation to carry out these objects.

held Meetings were on M

at Hall's Riding School, Albany Street, Regent's Park, and on Tuesdiy- -the Crown and Annhnr Tavern, in fur- therance of the agitation for " opening the ports." Resolutions were agreed to for memorializing the Government on the subject.

The system of cheap omnibus-fares has this week been further carried out: on Wednesday, a number of omnibuses began to run between the Bank and Brompton at twopence.

On Sunday, in consequence of the competition existing on the river Thames, the fares of nearly all the steamers underwent a permanent and very extensive reduction. The fares are now, consequently, between Gravesend and London, 6d. each person; between Woolwich, Greenwich, and London Bridge, 3d. and 4d. each; between the latter pier and Chelsea, 3d.; and between London Bridge and Nine Elms 2/1.; a similar fare is also all that is charged for conveying passengers between Hungerford Market and Chelsea. Other boats ran during Sunday between London and West- minster Bridge at the extraodinary lew fare of one halfpenny each person.— Globe.

Mr. Thomas Massa Alsager, the Official Assignee, longer and better known as the " City Correspondent of the Times," died on Sunday morning, from the effect of wounds inflicted by his own hand. On the morning of the 6th instant, Mr. Alsager was found in his bedroom with a deep gash in his throat, and a long in- cision in the left arm. The wounds were not immediately fatal; but, on the con- trary, for some days hopes were entertained of his recovery. On Wednesday last, he executed his will On Friday, inflammation of the wound in the throat came on; and after forty-eight hours of great suffering, the patient died. An inquest was held on Monday. The evidence was very voluminous, but con- tained little information as to the state of Mr. Alsager's mind when he wounded himself: It was proved that he had recently been in low spirits; ascribed by some to grief at the loss of his wife, the first anniversary of whose burial was on the 6th instant; but another possible cause was mentioned—the resignation of certain active pursuits by Mr. Alsager: he had ceased lately to write the Times City Article. His depression, however, was not so great as to make his family fear any act of self-destruction. He had always condemned suicide. There was no doubt that the wounds were inflicted by himself. He never referred to the subject daring the time he survived, except to ask how his wounds looked: he neither avowed nor denied that he had himselfproduced them. During his ill- ness he was in a sane state of mind. One of the Jurymen avowed a wish to "make him out to be a lunatic"; but Mr. Alsager's nephew, Mr. John Oxenford, who had much business intercourse with him, deposed that neither before nor after the suicidal act did he trace any signs of weakness in his uncle's mind. The Jury returned this verdict—" That Mr. Alsager was found with his thrbat cut; that he did it with his own band; but as to what was his state of mind at the time he did it, there is no evidence before us."

In the Consistory Court, on Wednesday, Dr. Lnshington gave judgment in the case of Fraser versus Fraser. The suit was instituted by the wife on the ground of adultery, and she prayed for a separation. Mr. Fraser was a barrister prac- tising on the Western Circuit, and having chambers in King's Bench Walk, 'Tem- ple. The lady was formerly married to a Mr. Blair; but she survived her first husband, and was left a widow in possession of considerable property. In July 1831, she married Mr. Fraser; and five children were the fruit of the marriage.

Her fortune was secured to herself. It was not a happy union: Mr. Fraser com- plained of his wife's excessivejealousy; and it seems that he gave her abundant cause. In 1842, Mr. Fraser fell into embarrassments, and he left his wife; but afterwards made various claims for assistance; and ultimately brought an action for damages against Mr. Bagley, a fellow barrister and a friend of his own, on a charge of criminal conversation with Mrs. Fraser. A verdict was given in favour of the defendant: but that verdict, said Dr. Lushington, ought not to influence the judgment in,the present suit; which was brought by Mrs. Fraser in1844. The charge of adultery against the husband was met by a similar charge against the wife; and the evidence on both sides was voluminous. The Judge held that the charges against Mr. Fraser were established: it was proved that he had been visited in prison by a Miss Edwards; that she had afterwards passed as his wife, both going by the name of Hart; and that he

bad also been guilty of adultery with a staymaker. The allegations in support of the counter-charge against the wife were numerous: it was alleged that she had staid from home all night; that Mr. Bagley had been visited in his chambers by a lady, who staid all night, and who was known by her cough to be Mrs. Fraser; that he had been heard to kiss her behind a door; that while she was staying at Broadstairs he visited her and sat up with her after all the others had gone to bed; that she had fetched her son out of Mr. Bagley's bedroom while he was in bed; with other circumstances. The Judge held, that although Mrs. Fraser had been guilty of great imprudence, especially in consulting Mr. Bagley rather than her own re- latives, who were at hand, no criminal conduct had been proved. Much of the evidence was given by discharged servants, who were not trustworthy: some of it was positively disproved,—such as the sitting up at Broadstairs, which was con- tradicted by Miss Ferrer, a governess, and a perfectly trustworthy witness. It was not proved that when Mrs. Fraser went out she went to Mr. Bagley's—she might have gone to her relations; and it was proved that a lady who visited that gentleman was not Mrs. Fraser. Other evidence as to identity, such as the cough, was very undecisive. The Court pronounced, therefore, that Mr. Fraser had failed to establish his allegation; but that Mrs. Fraser had proved her case, and was entitled to separation.

At the Worship Street Police-office, on Monday, Mr. Wilson, a tavern-keeper at ringsland, was charged with furious driving, and with assaulting a policeman who interfered to check his dangerous conduct. The accused drove against an omnibus, breaking the shafts of his gig, and pitching two companions into the road: then he violently resisted the policeman when he attempted to take him into custody. The charge was fully made out. Mr. Wilson's excuse was, that he had been dining with some friends. Mr. Bingham, the Magistrate, in accord- ance with a rule he had laid down to check violent conduct in people to whom a fine was no object, committed the accused to the House of Correction for seven days. In the course of the afternoon, three solicitors successively applied for the substitution of a fine in place of the imprisonment; but in vain.

A desperate attempt to murder was made at Islington on Saturday evening. About six o'clock, George Wilmot, a broker of King's Cross, called on Mrs. Haines, the wife of a journeyman painter, living in Paradise Place—a dark, dis- mal alley leading from Liverpool Road to Pocock's Fields—and entered into con- versation with the woman, with whom he was acquainted. While Mrs. Haines was attending to some cooking, Wilmot seized an iron candlestick, struck her with it repeatedly over the head, and forced her into a corner of the room, clutch- ing her throat. She screamed, struggled, and succeeded in reaching the house- door; this alarmed the ruffian, and he made off. Mrs. Haines was found stretched on the floor of the passage, insensible, and covered with blood. Her bonnet was cut through in many places, and a number of deep wounds were inflicted on the head. A hat was found in the garden, which was identified as Wilmot's; and when taken into custody, blood was observed on his trousers. He exclaimed to Mr. Haines, "I did it! and you know what I did it for.", At Clerkenwell Police-office, Haines, the husband, stated that he and his wife had been on the most friendly terms with the prisoner; he had taken tea with them on Friday: witness be- lieved the motive for the crime was the money which his wife had on her person. The prisoner is about fifty years of age. On Monday evening, it was announced to Mr. Greenwood, the Magistrate, that Mrs. Haines was in a dangerous state, and that it would be advisable to take her depositions: accordingly, he proceeded to Paradise Place, the prisoner also being conveyed thither. The sufferer's statement was taken in his presence. She de- tailed the circumstances of the attack as narrated above. Wilmot had on more than one occasion spoken to her about money, and had fished from her the fact that she carried a sum in her pocket. She had lent him money, because she thought he had been unfortunate. He did not utter a word while he was beating her. When asked if he wished to put any questions to Mrs. Haines, Wilmot de sired that the might be asked about a conversation on two points which they had on Saturday: Mrs. Haines denied that she had made any remarks on the subjects —a man that used to call there, and the giving information that Wilmot had de- serted his wife. The patient now grew very weak, and the examination closed. The prisoner was greatly agitated during the proceedings.

A desperate highway robbery was effected in Tooley Street on Sunday night at half-past nine o'clock. As Mr. Everett, the master of a steam-vessel, was walking along the street near the wall of the railway, accompanied by his wife, three men sprang on him, knocked him down, and robbed him of his watch. One of the thieves was captured, Mrs. Everett having raised an alarm and run after

him. He has been committed for trial by the Southwark Magistrate. It is said that the prisoner has certain gunpowder marks between his fore-finger and thumb, denoting that he is one of a gang of robbers infesting the South side of the Thames under the name of " the forty thieves." Robberies like these have of lete been frequent in the district.

An inquest was commenced on Saturday on the body of Casey, the man who was killed by the fall of some new houses at Old Brompton. The evidence did not clearly show what was the cause of the disaster; but it seems to have been insufficiency of some kind in the buildings, or the running them up too quickly. One witness ascribed the accident to the wet weather, while a great many men were continually ascending and descending the ladder placed against the houses; this motion shook down a stack of chimmes, and they knocked down the build- ings. The district surveyor said that the foundation was formed of " bats " in- stead of bricks: he had to look to the thickness of the walls, not to what they were made of. Mr. Blore, the surveyor to the ground landlord, thought the walls were run up too quickly; but he could not interfere to stop this. Two witnesses

considered that the clause of the Building Act which prohibits the use of wood in party-walls has rendered houses less substantial; the iron hoops used in place of wood often bend. Collins, the man who was descending the ladder with Casey, was a good deal hurt, and could not attend the inquest. It was adjourned till Wednesday. The inquiry terminated on Wednesday. Collins reluctantly admitted that the materials employed were not of the best kind: for mortar, four bushels of sand were mixed with one of lime; he thought more of the lime should have been used. Mr. Blurs attributed the disaster to the walls' having been run up too quickly, especially as the weather was wet. The Jury returned this verdict—" That the deceased man was killed by the falling of certain houses in Alfred Place West, Old Brompton; and that the houses so fell because they were not securely built. And in returning this verdict, the Jury express their convictions founded upon the evidence produced before them, that the said houses were built more rapidly than they ought to have been, considering the dampness of the weather, the height Of the houses, and the directions-of-the act of Parliament, which compelled the

builder to construct the party-walls without bond-timbers." They also expressed a wish that the Legislature should reconsider the question of bond-timbers for party-walls.