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The Merchant Tailors Company have refused to submit to the au- thority of the Corporation Commission, on the ground of its alleged illegality. In this proceeding they are fortified by the opinions of se- veral eminent law authorities, among whom are Sir James Scarlett and Mr. Follett. The Company have published a series of resolutions, declaratory of their determination, and their reasons for adopting it. In the first place, they state,

"That the Crown cannot by virtue of the prerogative alone compel any subject to make communications or disclosures upon oath,, or otherwise, except in it due course of the administration of justice. That a roving Commission to inquire for grievances, and to compel answers, is clearlycontrary to law. That the members of Corporations can cu no respect be compelled to make any answer to the Commissioners appointed by the Crown touching any of the matters propounded in their queries, or within the scope of the Commission. That the method prescribed for executing the Commission in gees- t iom—by summoning the officers of the different bodies whom the investigation affects ; forcing disclosures of title, or of defects of title, by an extra-judicial oath ; looking for abuses without a specific accusation iu legal form. and by causing the production on oath, without any cause depending at the suit of a party interested, of the muniments and other writings of Corporations,—is not only -a wide departure from the ordinary course a law, but a grievous violation of the liberty of the subject, and of highly dan- gerous example to the security of property. That the address or concurrence of one Braise of the Legislature only, TS the law now stands, can add noticing to the validity of the Commission in question. That although the House of Commons claims a power ts, enforce, by means of its own privilege, the attendance of witnesses and the production Gy papers and records before its own Committees of Inquiry, yet it cannot communicate such a power .to the Crown ; and the privilege of the House of-Commons is-not, like the Prerogative of the King, reducible to any control of a. court of justice. nor,. perhaps, to any strict definition; so that it must ever depend entirely on the discretion and mo- derntion of that assembly whether _that privilege shall be exercised for the real benefit of the people or in a manner wholly ineonsistent with justice or liberty, as it certainly must he whenever the House of Commons shall assume a jurisdiction which properly belongs to the legal tribunals. That the known and lawful mannerof inquiry into the Misconduct of a core oratimer into the Improper exercise °fits tiunchises, is by informa- tion in the Court of King's Becntic ; -winch eau only ba granted upon seine 4PedAe charge, or to redress some specific grievance." They moreover maintain, that even were the Commission itself legal, still than their Company is not a manicipal corporation, and therefore not liable to have its concerns overhauled by the Commissioners.

They say, •

" That. the term '-municipal corporations' seems to refer to those corporatiourconle which embrace cities or towns, as contradistiagnished from such as possess no locil jurisdiction whatever, but merely relate to persons, professions, trades, ni!ssteries, or commercial adventures, having no concern with the administration of justice; or -ate maintenance mud regulation of the police, or the preservation of the peace. That, if this be not the sense Or the words' municipal corporations,' it is difficult to conceive why they should not comprehend the Colls-ges iu the two Universities, the UniVersities themselves, which de by their Chao ecs invest the Vice-Chancellor with the aloe of Conservator of the Peace, the Dean a el Chapter in every cathedral town, the Bank or England, the East India Company, the College of Physicians, and many others of the like kind, as well as the trading corporations and fraternities of particular mysteries," Nevertheless, the Merchant Tailors protest that, " in declining to give any information whatever to the Commissioners appointed under and by virtue of the Commission aforesaid, they are desirous of assur- ing the Commissioners most respectfully, that there is nothing in• the history, constitution, or administration of the Merchant Tailors' Com- pany that the members of this Court have, collectively or individually, any wish or interest to withhold from inquiry."

The rate-payers of the parish of St. George, Middlesex, held a meeting on Monday evening, for the purpose of addressing the King for the Repeal of the Assessed Taxes. After the address had been carried, Dr. Lushington came forward to explain the vote he gave upon this subject. He was received with mingled cheers and hisses.

He commenced by expressing his conviction that his explanation would be perfectly satisfactory, and that he had never pledged himself to give particular votes. He reserved to himself the right of exercising his judgment as to what would be most conducive to the interests of his country; and he was deter- mined, on all occasions, to vote according to the dictates of his conscience. He knew there were times of excitement when this mode was not the way to -in- sure popularity. He admitted that on several occasions, dining his canvass and in Parliament, he had spoken against the House and Window 'faxes ; and it certainly was his full determination to vote fur tIze repeal ; but on apprising Lord Althorp of that determination, Ministers declared that if the Assessed Taxes and the Malt-tax were repealed, then a Property-tax would become in- evitable, and they must resign. He thought he should be rendering the great* service to his country if he supported the Ministers under such circumstances. He admitted that measures and men were deserving of the first consideration; but it was on that very account that he supported the present Ministry, because they had brought forward measures favourable to the people. As proofs, how- ever, that he was not blindly attached to the present Ministry, he reminded-the meeting that he had, on several occasions, voted against them ; and he in- stanced, in particular, the questions on the Vote by Ballot, Triennial Parlia- ments, and the Impressment of Seamen. He concluded by assuring them, that he was anxious to see the people relieved from taxation, and especially the House-tax, which was very partial. But he feared that was scarcely possible, because it would have a tendency to prevent the erection of large mansions and houses, and thus create a serious impediment to trade.

An elector asked the Doctor, if lie would then pledge himself to vote for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes.. Dr. Lushington said he would not. Mr. Blornfield said, he heard Dr. Lushington say, at -a meeting at Mile End, during his canvass, that he would vote fur the abolition of the Assessed Taxes; but- he had not kept his word. His explanation was very good ; but it mattered not to the people who were in office, so long as they got rid of the taxes. Mr. Knight asked the Doctor, why he voted against the abolition of Sinecures ? Dr. Lush- ington replied, that he voted in favour of Lord Ebrington's motion for an inquiry into them, with a view to their abolition. In reply to ans other question, he said, that he gave a plumper to Mr. Byng at the last Middlesex election, because Mr. Hume was opposed to the emanci- pation of the slaves! ! A vote of thanks to Mr. Clay (who was unable to attend) for his consistent Parliamentary conduct, was agreed to. Mr. Johnson proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Lushington, for his kind attendance that evening ; for which a great number of hands were held up, amidst much noise; but the Chairman did not announce the result of the vote.

A respectable meeting of the inhabitants of St. Saviour's parish, Southwark, was held in the vestry-room on Tuesday night ; when a petition to the King, praying for a repeal of the Assessed Taxes, was agreed upon.

A meeting of the inhabitant householders of the united parishes of St. Andrew, Holborn-above-Pars, and St. George the Martyr, Mid- dlesex, including the major part of the Governors and Directors, was held on Monday, in the hall of the Workhouse in Gray's Inn Lane. The Chairman was happy to inform the assemblage, that none

of the warrants which the Sheriff now holds had yet been put into exe- cution, although, according to notice, it was generally expected that

they would have been enforced that day. It was resolved unanimously, " That this meeting do adjourn until after his Majesty's Ministers shall think fit to order the execution of the warrants of distress already placed in the hands of the Sheriffs." A Government reporter was very attentively engaged in taking down copious motes.

On Tuesday afternoon, the parochial authorities of Marylebone tempted to make a seizure of the goods of a cow-keeper, in Upper Park Street, Dorset Square, for arrears of taxes. A mob of persons, about four hundred in number, soon collected ; and the driver of the van intended for the conveyance of the goods deemed it prudent to drive off. The parochial authorities were locked out of the house, and they found it impossible to make the seizure.

Thirteen persons were selected in the Holborn district who had refused to pay Assessed Taxes, and who had made themselves the most prominent as members of associations to resist payment. Of the thirteen, five paid their taxes, costs, and poundage, on being applied to, and three promised at once to pay. Levies were made upon four, and no evidence of any inability to pay was visible in any of the houses. One of these was a Mr. Stephen White, a chemist, and keeper of a twopenny-post-office in Lamb's Conduit Street. The demand upon him was under 101. He stated that he had pained his watch -to pay thelast taxes, and refused to pay. The house was well furnished; and the Sheriffs proposed to take-some books from a book-case full,o- books in his back-parleur, as the least inconvenient to him. He begged them to leave the books and to take his bed; that his wife was not up, but that he would set her out of.hed for the mime., ?Sheriffs very properly declined, and the matter ended by their taking a washing-stand. If the Sheriffs had accepted the offer of the husband, no doubt we should have had a pathetic story of a bed remorselessly torn by the ruffians of the law from under a delicate and interesting lady, in SD infirm state of it ealth.— Times.

The Corporation Commissioners arc making considerable progress tea collecting the municipal constitutions of the London Corporation and City companies. The Guildhall investigation of the general sub- jects of inquiry will not commence till next month.

The Benchers of the Inner Temple met on Thursday week, by ap- pointment, to hear Mr. Harvey's renewed application to be called to bar. At seven o'clock, the Masters, among whom were Sir J. Scarlett, Sir G. Rose, Sir E. Sugden, and Sir C. Wetherell, assembled in the Library, for the purpose of hearing Mc. Sergeant Wilde on behalf Mr. B arvey. No other persons were admitted to the room, except Mr.

H arvey, his solicitor, a short-band writer for Mr. Harvey, another for the Masters, and the witnesses, as they were severally required to give testimony. Mr. Sergeant Wilde, having opened the case of his client, proceeded to call witnesses to vindicate his professional character from imputations which had been cast upon it by the refusal of the Benchers to admit him to the bar.t At half-past ten o'clock, the hearing was adjourned, and resumed on Wednesday evening. Other witnesses were examined ; and Mr. Harvey himself entered into ex- planations, and replied to various questions put to him by some of the Masters. Shortly after ten o'clock, the hearing was again adjourned to last night, at a quarter after seven o'clock. It is expected that the ease will occupy more than one more evening. The proceedings excite the deepest interest in the county of Essex, and also among the legal profession generally.— Chelmsfbrd Chronicle.

The Conservative Club has taken possession of the whole of the apace so long vacant on the south side of Pall Mall, and the necessary excavations for their new mansion are already commenced.

Sir William Blizard, at the age of nearly one hundred years, has tendered his resignation as surgeon of the London Hospital.

The London and Westminster Bank is likely to commence business shortly ; and it is understood to be the intention of the managers to allow a small interest on deposits, but only in the case of those which are to a certain degree permanent. They also contemplate charging a commission to those who keep accounts with them, instead of requir- o ietg a balance left in their hands as an equivalent for the trouble given. Among the numerous projects on foot, is one for making a tunnel and railway to extend from the North end of London Bridge to the Uxbridge Road, with branches to the extreme of the Birmingham rail- way adjoining the Hampstead Road, and to the entrance of the great Western railway at Milbank. The work will be carried beneath some of the most populous streets in the Metropolis, in the same way as the Brunel at Liverpool. The distance will be about five miles.