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A Court of Aldermen was held on Tuesday. The Lord Mayor produced a letter from Mr. Goodman, the chief Clerk at the Mansionhouse, stating that he had examined the contents of several large boxes of books in the cellars of the Mansionhouse; which he found to consist, with slight ex- ceptions, of the minutes of the various Mayoralties from the year 1686. These records, which were found much mildewed and very dirty, had been cleaned, dried, and properly arranged for reference. A report from a Committee on the nuisances at the West London Union, arising from the congregation of vagrants seeking relief, contained suggestions for abating the nuisance, by providing for the attendance of additional policemen to preserve order, and by representing to the Board of Guardians the inadequate accommodation provided in their premises for the persons awaiting admission.
A Court of Common Council was held on Thursday. The Lord Mayor presented a letter from the French Ambassador, announcing the transmis- sion of a picture from King Louis Philippe, commemorating the Corpora- tion's interview with his Majesty at Windsor. The Court voted suitable acknowledgments, and instructed the General Purposes Committee to fix on a place for hanging the picture; which is of large dimensions. The Court resolved that the freedom of the City be presented to "his Excel- lency James Brooke, Rajah of Sarliwak "; and the Rajah has been invited as a guest on the 9th of November. Lord Dudley Stuart and a deputation from the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland presented a pe- tition, asking the use of the Guildhall after the 9th of November, in order to a ball in aid of the Polish fund. Mr. Thomas was appointed collector of brokers' rents.
The parochial Committee of the Ratepayers of Marylebone met on Wed- nesday, to concert measures for averting the increase of pauperism in the parish. The Directors and Guardians of the Poor have undertaken to furnish nominal lists of all persons receiving out-door relief; and the parishioners, by means of committees in the different districts, will care- fully scrutinize the right of the different recipients, so as to expose cases of deception/ ,of, which there are understood to be many. uba4-21/a reading-room for the industrious classes has just been *paned in the district of St. George's-in-the-East, through the exertions of the Remold 41cilliam Quickett, the incumbent. There are already above 1 a hundred members, who are admitted at the low rate of ls. per quarter to the advantage of a well-selected library of books in useful and general literature. Newspapers are also taken in. It is the intention of the founder to have courses of lectures on popular subjects delivered occasionally, The annual meeting of the Associate Institution for the Protection of Women was held on Monday, at the Freemasons Tavern; Mr. Bond Cab- bell, M.P., in the chair. The Secretary read a report detailing the progress of Mr. Spooner's resultless attempt at legislation last session, and the con- tinuance of renewed endeavours for the next session. Resolutions in the same spirit were agreed to.
A public meeting was held by the Anti-State Church Association, at the London Tavern, on Thursday evening. The Chairman, Dr. J. Prim, stated that the Association had tried to obtain a room at Exeter Hall, but it was refused by the proprietors of that building. About eight hundred persons were present, including many females. The speakers were, the Reverend John Burnet, Mr. Scoble, Colonel Thompson, M.P., the Reve- rend H. Hinton, Mr. J. H. Tillett, Secretary to the Norfolk Electoral League, and Mr. Miall. The resolutions, voted unanimously, declared every compulsory method of sustaining religious institutions to be counter to the spirit and early practice of Christianity; declared the people pre- pared to receive instruction on the subject of politico-religious institu- tions; applauded the course taken by the Committee of the Association; and advised "the supporters of religious equality to strengthen their hands for the next great electoral contest, by a careful attention to the registration of voters in every part of the kingdom, and by pro- moting, in every legitimate way, the acquisition of the county franchise, by the purchase of forty-shilling freeholds." In the course of the evening, the Chairman stated that the Association was already in commu- nication with various gentlemen in different parts of England, whither they proposed sending deputations, to commence on Monday next. Since he took the chair he had received an offer from a gentleman to make oats of fifty to subscribe 501. each, or one of a hundred to subscribe 100/. to the Association. The proceedings closed with thanks to the Chairman, and a collection at the doors.
Another skilfully-devised swindling scheme has come to light. At Lambeth Police-office, on Thursday, John Marson, "builder," was charged with fraudu- lently obtaining a quantity of asphalt from Messrs. Neill and Co., of Bunhill Row. On applying for the asphalt, Marson referred Messrs. Neill to "Messrs. Thorn- ton, Oatrim, and Co.," of Essex Wharf, Limehouse, and Great Winchester Street; and this firm gave him an excellent character. Unfortunately, Thornton and Co. have since absconded; and evidence showed that the accused was closely connected with them. He was committed for trial on this charge; but he is to be brought up again to meet other accusations.
Seven foreign Jews and the wife of one of them are in custody on a charge of forging notes of the Russian Bank. They have been examined at the Mansion- house, but not at any great length. The Forresters described the capture of the people at two different times and places. Three men were seized at a house in Queen Street, Soho; the room-door was smashed in with hammers, and thus the Jews were captured while fabricating notes; in the room were a number of forged notes, lithographing-stones, and a printing-press. The other four men and the woman were arrested in the Minories: on one man a number of counterfeit notes were found.
The prisoners were again brought up yesterday, further examined, and remand- ed till the 20th November.
Bellcbambers, the engineer who was robbed and wounded near Vincent Square, last week, expired on Sunday.
While two workman were "larking" in a hat-manufactory near Southwark Bridge, on Saturday, one gave the other a push, which plunged him into a vat of boiling liquid: the poor man's life is in danger.
The St. James's Theatre has had a narrow escape from being burnt down. A fire was discovered on Tuesday afternoon in some cellars underneath the Theatre and the adjoining Bazaar. For a considerable time the efforts of the enginemen to put out the fire were unavailing; but at length, with the aid of a fire-proof dress, the foreman of the brigade was enabled to descend into the cellars, to ascertain the exact spot where the burning was—some three hundred feet from the spot to which the play of water had been directed. The fire was then extinguished; the damage being confined to the destruction of a load of straw and a small portion of a stock of wine.
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