girobincts.

The Chapter of Exeter Cathedral held a meeting on the 14th instant, summoned by the Bishop to consider the propriety of enforcing strict conformity to the Rubric among the clergy throughout the diocese. The proposition was affirmed by twelve votes, including that of the Bishop, and opposed by six votes. The Exeter Flying Post states that "A subsequent meeting of the Chapter was held on Saturday, at which an address to the Bishop was agreed upon, soliciting him not to carry the resolution of the 14th instant into execution into his diocese, before the Archbishop of Canterbury had been requested by the Bishop to call a Convocation of the Bishops, to consider the practicability and propriety of conforming to the Rubric throughout England and Wales."

Mona's Herald states that Sir James Graham has been in communi- cation with the authorities of the Isle of Man, and has declared "in the most unqualified and unreserved terms," that if the people desire popular representation in the House of Keys, (an anomalous kind of local legislature and board of management,) Ministers are prepared to concede the boon to the fullest extent.

A public meeting was held in Birmingham Town-hall, on Tuesday, to promote the establishment of public baths and walks. The Mayor presided; and was supported by Lord Lyttelton, Lord Calthorpe, Mr. Adderley, XP., Mr. Spooner, M.P., Mr. Newdigate, M.P., Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Recorder Hill, the Reverend John Garbett and other clergy.. Men, Mr. Joseph Starr, and indeed the leading men of all parties, Tory, Whig, Complete Suffragist, and Chartist ; the meeting also being extremely well attended by the working classes. Letters of apology and concurrence were read, from the Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Wise- man, and other gentlemen of influence. Lord Lyttelton moved the fol- fowing resolution ; which he supported in an earnest speech- " That this meeting, considering the great extent, the dense and increasing population of the borough of Birmingham, and the growing difficulties of ob- taining for a large portion of its inhabitants ready access to places for ablution, fresh air, and healthy recreation, declares its opinion that the formation of pub- lic baths and public walks, or other open spaces for exercise and active sports, in the vicinity of the borough, would contribute greatly to the health, rational enjoyment, kindly intercourse, and good morals of all classes of our popula- tion."

In seconding the resolution, Mr. J. Taylor, of Moseley Hall, stated, on the authority of communications from Liverpool, that the cost of four sets of baths would be 15,000/. Mr. Mason, a Chartist, congratulated the meeting on the present aspect of affairs— It promised a better order of things. Now the nobility and gentlemen were disposed to make some little improvement in the condition of the working- men, he hoped they would probe the evils under which they suffered to the bottom. In conclusion, however, he begged to say, that the time was fast coming, when, unless the people were made free and happy, and their just rights conceded, the peace of the country would not be maintained. He only hoped the time was arriving when great improvements would take place, and that this was, as he thought it was, the beginning of a new tern in British society. The resolution, as well as others—that the public baths ought to be the first object to he carried out, that four sets should be established in different parts of the borough, and that a subscription should be opened—were carried unanimously. In speaking to these resolutions, Lord Calthorpe, the Reverend John Garbett, Rural Dean, and the Ho- nourable and Reverend G. York, emphatically alluded to the good effects which the meeting was likely to have in evincing the solicitude of the higher classes for the situation of the working-classes. Mr. Hill bore testimony, as Recorder, to the influence which cleanliness and re- creation have upon the morals of the people. The Mayor read a list of subscriptions : it began with contributions varying from 50/. to 2001., which made, in thirteen sums, the amount of 1,3501.; the total subscrip- tions at the close of the meeting were 2,700/.

A numerous meeting was held at Guildford Town-hall on Saturday, to promote the allotment system throughout the several parishes of West Surrey. Colonel Sumner took the chair ; and many of the principal landowners, gentlemen, and farmers were present. Mr. R. D. Mangles, M.P., made a very long speech, citing several previous speeches, with extracts from newspaper correspondence, and other documents, to show the uniform success of the allotment-system wherever it has been tried. The general purport of this evidence was, that not a single failure of the scheme had been recorded ; that it has been attended by marked diminution of the poor-rates, of idleness, and of crime ; and that the rents are almost invariably paid with punc- tuality, testifying that the holders are comparatively prosperous. There was some opposition. Even Mr. Henry Drummond, who moved one of the resolutions, "did not wish the allotment-system to be looked upon as a measure of public utility—it was only one of private charity, and would do the nation no general good." And one or two fruitless attempts were made to move amendments. But the general sense of the meet- ing was with Mr. Mangles, and no hand was held up against the reso- lutions. They were to the effect, that the condition of the agricultural labourers ought to be amended ; "that where the labourers cannot pro- cure sufficient employment on the land to occupy all their time, it is beneficial to them to have a piece of ground which they may cultivate for the benefit of themselves and families"; that the meeting would cooperate with the West Surrey Labourer's Friend Society ; and that a fund be raised by subscription to carry out the objects of the meeting.

The workmen of the Middleton colliery, to the number of 250, with their wives, were entertained by Mr. Brandling, the proprietor, at dinner and tea, on the 11th instant, " to mark his approbation of their good conduct during a series of years, and more particularly of their exemplary behaviour during the late strike" in the colliery districts. Several gentlemen and clergymen were present. Mr. C. J. Brandling, the son of the proprietor, was to have presided ; but he was obliged to leave the room an account of indisposition ; and Mr. Embleton, the manager of the colliery, took the chair. Each man sat with his own wife and family. A band of music and glee-singers were in attendance. In the course of the after-dinner speeches, Mr. Embleton stated, that when he came to the works, he found that a system of kindness to- wards the men had been pursued for nearly a century ; and that sys- tem he had continued—

His maxim was—a maxim that had been strangely perverted of late and used for other purposes than the real one—" a fair day's wage for a fair day's

work." How he had carried out his meaning of this maxim it was for the present company to judge; but he would say, without fear of contradiction, that during the late strike there was not a workman at the colliery, either luau or boy, but who cheerfully came to his work day after day, and when requested even did more than a fair day's work, because it was for the interest of his em- ployer; and by thus attending to their work they had all gained the esteem of every one connected with them, and they were able to meet together on the present festive occasion.

The Reverend Josiah Wardle adverted to the late strike as setting masters and men against each other—" In many instances the men had not been well used. The masters had too much competition among themselves : they were continually lowering the prices of the coats; and as no masters would carry on their works to a loss, they were

obliged to reduce the men's wages until the men could bear it no longer." The Reverend J. Jenkins was reminded by the scene before him of the time when master and men met at the same board ; and he trusted that at no distant day Mr. Brandling's example would be followed by others

engaged in the business. After the wine-drinking, tea was introduced ; twelve of the men's wives, who had volunteered, performing the arduous duties of the tea-table. At the close of the evening, Mr. Enableton invited the wives to come to him on the following day ; and then, after partaking of some refreshment, they went away each with a present of money. The men talk of inviting Mr. Brandling to a tea-party.

Strikes for higher wages are in progress in various manufacturing towns. Meetings have been held at Ashton-under-Lyne,ao organize en extensive combination ; and Richard Pilling, so noted for his share in

the events of 1842, took an active part. At Stock port, the masters have agreed to an advance of 5 per cent; and while some of the hands have returned to work, others still hold out for a greater advance. At War- rington, one firm have agreed to give an increase of 10 per cent. At Oldham, an advance of about a shilling a week has been demanded, and partially assented to.

Three respectable persons—Miss Railton, the sister of a postmaster, Mrs. Hildreth, and Mr. Sheriff, a surgeon's assistant—are in custody at Wolverhampton, on a charge of infanticide ; the infant supposed to have been murdered being Miss Railton's. Miss Railton has confessed that she was delivered of a child, after a surgical operation had been performed by Sheriff to hasten the birth. Mr. Sheriff's master and another medical man had previously been invited, in a mysterious way, with large offers of money, to perform a similar operation. Au investi- gation into this extraordinary case is proceeding.

Harriet Candler, a widow, who kept a chandler's shop at Yarmouth, was found murdered in her shop on Tuesday night. Her head was dreadfully mangled, there was a wound in her neck, and one of her fingers was cut off. The poor woman had received a legacy of 150/. on Saturday ; but this escaped the murderer, though some money from the tilt was carried off, A farmer's lad, at Parton near Watlington, has committed suicide, out of fear for a game-law prosecution. He had been shooting spar- rows in a wheat-field, when he saw a pheasant ; be was tempted to shoot it ; a gamekeeper came up and threatened him : on the following day the boy hanged himself, having first failed in an attempt to obtain poison.

William Hawes, a labourer of Oakley in Buckinghamshire, has been killed by failing from an oak, while beating down acorns for sale. It appears that he resorted to this means of livelihood to preserve his family from starving. At the inquest, the wife stated that "the parish had not found her husband any work for five years ; that he had re- cently applied for labour, and was refused, being told that he must look out for himself; that they at times had not had a bit of bread for two days together; and that on the day of the accident they were entirely without food or money, which was the cause of their going to get the acorns to sell." The Orford Chronicle of this morning, which reports the case, says the abode of Hawes was a wretched shed, with an earthen floor, and all within it denoting misery. The state of the labourers of Oakley is described as very bad.

Two youths were killed, and several persons more or less injured, at a coal-pit near Wigan, on Monday, by an explosion of fire-damp. The gas escaped, with a great quantity of water, from a boring which was made to discover a bed of coal.

Many fires are reported in Norfolk, which are said to be wilful. Three have occurred in the neighbourhood of Reepham, and five more are mentioned in other parts of the county.