'Of alttruinlig.

-The. Lord' Mayor gave a splendid banquet at the •Mansionlrouse, on Thursday, to the Chief Magistrates of the cities, towns, and boroughs-of .the 'United Kingdom, to stir up their-interest in the Exposition of 1851. At-the head teem list 'of other guests was Prince Albert. The hall was specially adorned 'for the occasion in the mast magnificent style, with arms of the Mantles and corporations, trophies characterizing local in- dustry, painted windows• allegorically representing the pacific and coin- - menlial influenees of the Exposition, &c. Before the banquet, shunt a quarter past six o'clock, Prince Albert held a levee in the grand drawing- - room of the Mansienhouse ; the Lord Mayor presenting the Magistrates - of two hundred and two English cities and boroughs, ten' -Scotch Pro- vosts, and- five Irish Mayors. The company incladed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Foreign Ministers, leading statesmen of all parties, the Commissioners of the Exposition, the Aldermen, Masters of Companies, • Chairmen•of -Committees in Common Council, and some leading gentle- messaonnected with the City. Prince Albert, the principal'Ministers and former Ministers, were among the speakers ; and although the speaking-was principally of a complimentary kind, it derived interest from the neatness of expression in which all vied with each other, and from the earnestness • with which they recommended efforts to carry out the idea of the Ex- ' -position. Among the most distinguished by this spirit were Prince Albert, the French Ambassador, Lord John Russell, Lord Stanley, and Sir Robert Peel. Prince Albert's was a striking and well-studied speech—in eha- ' 'reefer a sort of cross between the scientific generalization of Humboldt and the moro material or practical economy of England. Efts leadingidea was, that the modern developments of science and art, commerce and in- dustry---the intercommunication of language, the lightning interchange of thoughts the publicity of discovery—are all rapidly tending to realize

`the unity of mankind' ' • and that man, "'himself a divine instrument," is using his reason, created after the image of God," to fulfil " that „great and -sacred mission." Lord Stanley characteristically and -not un- - .profitably glanced at a distinguished attack upon the project ; to which • swoject he formally gave high Protectionist sanction.

'I am reminded by his Excellency the French Ambassador, who lately ad- dressed you with great ability on this occasion, that, widely as we may throw en our doors on this occasion, yet that wakeful'dragon the Chancellor of the Exchequer• will not sheath the terror of his claws. (Laughter and cheers.) - And though foreign products are to be admitted for general competition, yet they will not be admitted for general consumption, except they first satisfy the demands of that unsleeping dragon. (Continued laughter.) I have no appre- . henaione on thesubj set ; and Finest say I was surprised, within these few hours, to hear apprehensions of evil in a place to whichl will not further allude, from a learned and able but somewhat volatile friendef mine; who ironically con- gratulated the tradesmen of London on having, by the support thev gave to this institution, encouraged the introduction of goods which would ten's' to cheapen the price of their own industry I do not believe that English arti- sans are slew to take a hint, or that they-are incapable in a very short pe- riod of rivalling or even surpassing those• articles submitted to their view : therefore I look on this exhibition with no apprehension. I look with satis- feetion on the-encouragement that will be given to the industry of all na- tions, and as much as any to the industry of this country, by the great ex-

.' hibitaon •of 1851." -

As one of the Commissioners, Sir Robert Peel invited the whole tribe lintayord, ivh6 had shared the hospitality of the Manehashouse, to attend atWhitehrill -next niontiug 'and receive the information with Which the Commissioners would be 'glad to supply them. The guests broke -up about eleven o'clock.

The members of the 'United Service Club gave asnagnificent entertain- , • meat at their house, on Wednesday, to General Lord Viscount Gough, in • celebration of his retina from his •field of conquest in the East. Upwards of two hundred guests were present ; among there the Duke of Welling- ton, the Marquis of Anglesea, Viscount-Elardinge, and most of the naval

and military notabilities present in London. The speeches- charasteris- thslly blended a certain disciplinarian formality with very hearty warmth. of expression by all towards the veteran guest ; -whir was duly. brief,: me- - destrand enaphaticrin his acknowledgments.

Her Majesty-has-given her presentation to Christ's 'Hospifal te sesonSif 'the brave-and lamented Brigaffiet Pennyeuick, -who fell, with another of his sons, at the head of his regiment, on the fatal 'field of ChillianwaRah. Prince Albert has given his presentation to a son hi' the' Reverend'Afr. -Waal, of Tenterden, ieho.married the reputed. daughter Of lard 'Nelson.

A Court of Common Comma, summoned forthe purpose .on Thursday, elected.. Mr. Edward Bullock to the office of Common Sergeant fortie City of London. Mr. Bullockintisnated that he should resign his Judge- alaimof the Sheriff's Court as soon as a successor should be appointed.

-Mr. James M. Bendel, civil-engineer, has been making official incmity on behalf-ether Admiralty, as their Commissioner, concerning-the project brought before Parliament in the Victoria Docks by' Mr. George Bidder the engineer and others. It is proposed to construct docks of :vast extent., nearlythree miles long, en the margin of the Thames from a point a-little below the Illaeksvidl steam-boat pier down to • a point opposite to Woolwich and .rather beyond it. . The land is already in the possession .of the promoters. The cost ;of the docks is estimated. at 400,000L, that .of docks together with projected warehouses at 1,500,000/. The • new,ac- commodation thus offered would suffice to withdraw the whole of:the colliery, shipping from the overcrowded thoroughfare of the Pool; ,it would be abmt.equal in'area to the whole of the existing London decks. Captain Charles' Rowland, the principal harbourmaster of London, -has -given-evidence highly in favour of the project.

• At Idarlboroughlitreet Felice Office, on Monday,Ifenrietta Stanley, • mid Henry John Stanley,- a returned 'transport, were charged with having ob- tained divers sums 'of-money from the Duke of Wellington on fraudulent pre- tences. The prisoners- -are known as begging-letter impostors. Whewap- prehended, they had in their possession two halves of five-pound notes, 251. in coin; two gold watches, a silver watch, and three gold chains. The man has-only one leg. ,Idr..Bodlein'stated that the female prisoner had plundered the Duke of Wellington by representing herself to -be the.orphan doughteriof many military officers in •suceession. At last the fraud was suspected. A letter was prepared, addressed by-the Duke himself, with an eneleesmuof money. This letter was registered at the post-office in Down Street, and sent -to- a 'post-Office at•Xessning,ben. The woman called for it ; received it, joined the-man in' the street, !and handed him the letter; .hestere :off thmen- velope, which a constable picked up. They were followed and sarrested. Witnesses proved the facts respecting the posting and receipt of the letter, but there-was no evidence as to its contents. Mr. Parry objeeted for the prisoners,, that such evidence did not warrant their detention. But Hereford, the officer of theMendicity Society,shaving deposed that he .believed he-coni bring forward evidence in a few slave to prove this and other fraads, :Mr. -Bingham renrandedthes prisoners. its is intended to. take them to the Ses- sions.

On Thursday, the case was proceeded with. :Much interests was earitied by the appearanceof the .Duke of Wellington as a, witness. The Duke was twice examined. He stated that he enclosed the half of a five-pound. note to- the female- prisoner, under the name of "'Mrs. 'Whitmore." He had re- ceived divers ap lications -from: thin Mrs:' Whitmore; who represented herself as belonging te -Leicester ; 'one- set forth thabhis assistance had on a parrtieu- lar occasion enabled the woman to return. home : ' Mrs. Whitmore andsher father and- mother returned 'thanks. The 'Duke: had received ,Dlidly letters under different names, which were written in very similar .hrmdwritangsand he now believed. that theyall came. from.the female prisoner. . Ile described

i

the contents of the letter in answer to which he sent the half-note : it was signed "Charles" -or "Charlotte Whitmore." A number of witnesses-were examined to prove particular facts. 'The prisoners had received many money-letters at the Kennington post-office : 'the cou'plerepresented them- selves as man and wife. On one -occasion the woman applied- 'at Apsley House to see 'the Duke, and left a card—" Mrs. Julia Walton!' subee- suently she-wrote a letter in' that name, asking for pecuniary aidsand.spen- mg along -tale. The prisoners were again remanded.

At Marlborough Street Office, Mr. J. Connington, a retired.gentlemare-ac- cused'MrsReisberi Amiss, a tailor in Conduit Street, of a strange outrage. He said that in a recent quarrel• and personal struggle he applied a hand- kerchief to Mr. Connington's face,' which caused him in a few seconds to swoon, and subsequently to be ill with an ulcerated, throat and nose. -The charge is still under examination.

-.At the Thames PoliewOlficecon Monday, the eight Customhouses-weighers accused of stealing tobacco were brought up for final examination. • -The 'chief new witness was Howe, a eat:Maker,. who 'edgedut Inch's house. -He -deposed to divers visits by all the -prisoners :except Smith, whom he weld not identify. The tobacco was . always weighed in the. back-parlour, where reales and weights were kept 'for the 'purpose. Smith was liberated on .his own recognizanees, to appear-at the Sessions and answer any charge against him ; but the others were committed for trial.

George Lyon, charged at the Mansionhoese with -forging the name of air. Curling and the names of the -Messieurs It. and D. Chambers to bills of •ex- change, was committed,-on Wednesday, for trial.

Mr. Walter Watts, the lessee of the Olympic was brought up agairrat the Mansionhouse on Saturday, merely tote remanded till Monday next, with the'assent of allparties.

"ice understand that the less sustained by the Globe AssmuncesCompany from-the recently-discovered defalcations of one of their clerks will prove to be-of large amount, ranging•prebably above 50,00W. or 60,000/.—Tirsier.

The most destructive fire that has occurred in. London for some time broke out early caiWednesday -morning, on, the premises of Messrs'. Wackerbaith and Collings, sugar-refiners in St. George's-in-the-East Street, formerly Ratcliffe Highway. The establishment is of -great extent, 'the ground :em- ployed extending to three or four acres. The buildings form three aisles of a square, 'ranging • in height from six te.eight stories, and of great depth. • About two eelock in the morning, a watchman discovered fire in the second floor of the building called the "single house " ;_ he immediately raised an alarm, and mama -were attempted to stop the flames. But the building, which was sr. hundred feet high and ninety deep, was speedily one mass of fire. The firemen could not even confine the fire to this range ; it spread to the "old house," and that too was soon blazing throughout. At four o'clock the fire had reached its highest point : the scene was magnificent—all London was'illuminated. The sugar-house is near to the London Docks, and fears were entertained for the Safety of the buildings and -shipping ; but many vessels having been removed to a more 'distant spot, and other precautions having been taken, no damage was done. The "old house "and. the "single house," with a vast quantity of sugar, were destroyed, and, other-.porticos of the buildings were damaged. The proprietors are insured in a -number o..

-offices. The disaster is supposed to have. been caused by a spark falling from the lamp of a Customhouse-officer who went -into a warehouse soon after midnight to inspect ; Messrs. Wackerbarth and Collings holding large quanti- -ties of sugar in bond.

An extensive fire occurred on Saturday nghtiinHolywell Street, Millbank, on the premises of Mr. Rigby, a ,builder. The extensive buildings appear to have been nearly.all destroyed.

A valuable , horse belonging to Messrs. Smith and Pearse, contractors at Copenhagen Fields, has been found.in its stable,. writhing in agony, with its tongue cut out by the- roots. The cruel perpetrator is suspected to be John Blackburne, a carman.