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The members for the Metropolitan districts, and deputations from several of the Metropolitan parishes, had an audience of Lord Althorp on Tuesday last, to impress upon him the necessity of repealing the whole of the Assessed Taxes. Mr. Corder, the Vestry Clerk of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, Mr. E. Brown, Mr. Hume, Dr. Lushington, Sir J. C. Hobhouse, and Mr. Briscoe, advocated the repeal of these taxes. Lord Althorp, in reply, stated that, as a single member of the Government, he could not decide upon the expediency of repealing any particular set of taxes ; and although he knew that his answer would be unsatisfactory, he felt it his duty to confine it within those limits. He hoped that Sir John Key's motion on the subject would be post- poned till after he had made his financial statement, which would be soon after the Easter recess. Sir J. C. Hobhouse said, that Lord Al- thorp might depend upon . it that the sixteen Metropolitan members would all vote for the repeal of these taxes. After the deputation bad withdrawn, they came to the determination not to press the ques- tion until after Lord Althorp had brought forward his Budget.
A Quarterly General Meeting of the Proprietors of East India Stock, was held on Wednesday. On the motion of Mr. Rigby, seconded by Sir Charles Forbes, the whole of the papers which led to the proceedings in the Court of King's Bench connected with the despatches sent out to Bengal, were ordered to be laid before the Pro- prietors. Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Poynder, and Mr. Weeding, wished the Chairman to give the meeting some information relative to the re- newal of the Charter. The Chairman promised that the subject should be brought forward with as little delay as possible: that was all he could say in their then state of preparation. Sir C. Forbes was not sorry to bear that their character as merchants was to be disunited from that of sovereigns ; but he should very much regret the loss of the profitable trade to China: Sir John Malcolm wished for inquiry into the claims of British subjects upon the native Princes of India, and a motion for copies of certain correspondence on those subjects was agreed to.
A meeting of Bank Stock Proprietors, being one of the quarterly courts prescribed by the Charter, was held on Thursday. Mr. Horsley. Palmer, the Governor, announced a dividend of four per cent. out of the profits of the Bank. He also stated, in answer to a question from Mr. Young, that the amount of notes in circulation was eighteen million or thereabouts ; and that the dividend was made out of profits which had actually accrued to the Bank, or at any rate very nearly so. The rest, or surplus fund, had not undergone any material alteration since the last court was held. The Governor also said, that no terms whatever had been settled with Government as to the renewal of the Charter. It was stated to be the wish of several proprietors, that Mr. Palmer should remain in office another year; but this he declined doing, although he was highly gratified by the approbation of the Court; he said that his successor, Mr. Raikes, would prove a most able Governor. Mr. Palmer has been Governor for three years.
The fiftieth anniversary of the benevolent Society of Saint Patrick was celebrated on Saturday last, at the Freemason's Tavern. The Marquis of .Abercorn presided. Among the company, were the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis of Downshire, the Earls of Wicklow; Bandon, Kerry, Hillsborough, the Bishop of Derry, Lord Cloneurry,, Mr. Stanley, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Spring Rice, and Sir Augustus D'Este. Subscriptions were announced to the amount of 1,2141.; being 300/. more than last year. Mr. O'Connell subscribed 51., and Lord Anglesea 25/. Both these subscriptions were announced amidst mingled cheers, and marks of disapprobation.
The anniversary dinner of the friends of the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund was celebrated on Wednesday, at the Freemason's Tavern. In consequence of the delicate health of the Duke of Sussex, the Marquis of Clanricarde supplied his place as chairman. Mr. Harley made a speech full of encomiums on the benevolence of the subscribers, and of assurances of the great assistance and benefit which poor actors received from the Fund. In the course of the evening, subscriptions to the amount of 1,100/. were announced. Among the principal subscribers were these—the King, 100 guineas ; the Duke of Devonshire 1001. ; the Dutchess of St. Albans, and the Duke of Bedford, 50/. each.
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