tray filttropolfs.
The United Wesleyan Committees of Privileges and Education have issued to the members of the connexion throughout the country a narra- tive of their proceedings in reference to the Government Education mea- sure. The narrative is accompanied by a lengthy correspondence with the Educational Committee of the Privy Council. The main statements are the same as those contained in Lord John Russell's speeches in Parlia- ment. The result of the whole proceeding is, that the Wesleyan United Committees have declared that the force of their original objections has. been materially diminished by the Government explanations; and their final conclusion is- " That on this whole subject, surrounded as it is with many difficulties, these Committees, after long, deliberate, and prayerful consideration, have come to the almost unanimous resolution to advise the Wesleyan Methodist body, under pre- sent circumstances, not to offer any further connexional action in reference to the Government measure of education."
The Conference of Delegates met for the fifth and last time on Tuesday at the King's Head in the Poultry; but the proceedings were unimportant. Mr. Edward Baines made some observations on the debate of Monday night: the tone of his speech, however, shared the general conviction exhi- bited by the other speakers, that their opposition had proved useless. He said that the object now ought to be " to endeavour to intercept the ac- ceptance by Dissenters of Government money in any shape." Thanks were voted to Mr. Thomas Duncombe and Lord Duncan for their able and patriotic services in the House. The Conference then dis- solved itself, and separated; having previously passed a resolution to keep alive the spirit of the Conference in the shape of a Committee " with re- ference to" the next general election.
The annual meeting of the members of the Catholic Institute was held on Thursday, at St. Edward's School-room, in Great Windmill Street, Hay- market; the Earl of Shrewsbury presiding. The Institute is a charitable society for educating poor Roman Catholic children, and affording grants of money towards the support of schools. Some of the business was of a. formal nature; but the proceedings of interest had reference to the treat- ment of the Roman Catholics in the Government Education measure. A lengthened correspondence was read, which had passed between the Ho- nourable Charles Langdale and members of the Government.
The Roman Catholics claimed a share of Government aid for their schools; and the subject was first broached by Mr. Langdale in a note written on the 15th of June 1846, requesting an interview with Sir Robert Peel. But it was within a few days of Sir Robert's exit from office; which prevented the interview.
Mr. Langdale next wrote to Lord John Russell; who replied, on the 20th of August, that he had referred the matter to the Educational Committee. Mr. Langdale then wrote to Lord Lansdowne, urging the claims, and asking for an interview. Lord Lansdowne briefly replied, that the subject demanded mature consideration. After a pause, Mr. Langdale again wrote, on the 23d of January. On the 5th of February, Mr. Kay Shuttleworth replies, that any application from the Roman Catholics for aid on account of schools will be brought under the con- sideration of the Committee of Council. Another letter from Mr. Langdale elicits another reply, on the 18th of February, in which Mr. Shuttleworth asks, by what regulations poor children of Protestant parents are to be excluded, if the school be solely for Roman Catholics: if it be open to all, is the religions and se- cular instruction to be given at the same or at different hours; and what practical arrangements are to be made for excluding all but the Roman Catholic children from the religions instruction provided for them? Mr. Langdale writes again, in- quiring. Mr. Shuttleworth, on the 16th of April, defers reply to the queries; as their Lordships are considering whether they shall prepare separate minutes re- specting aid for Roman Catholic schools.
Meanwhile, an application from Bishop Griffiths obtained a note from Lord John Russell, dated the 17th instant, stating that Lord John "will name a day for re- ceiving the deputation of Catholic Bishops before the introduction of any measure relating to the education of the children of poor Catholics. Her Majesty's Min- isters, however, have no immediate intention of promulgating minutes of the Privy Council on that subject."
The reading of this correspondence led to many strong speeches, and to the unanimous adoption of a resolution complaining of the " outrage offered to the rights of conscience," and calling upon Catholics to unite in one cry of "indignant reprobation at this insulting exception from a public grant paid out of public funds." A petition to each House of Parliament was adopted before the meeting separated.
The Marylebone Vestry had their usual meeting on Saturday. A de- putation from the parochial committee of the ratepayers was introduced, to present some resolutions thanking the Vestry for their opposition to the Health of Towns Bill, and suggesting a deputation to the Government and other means for defeating " one of the most objectionable and unjustifiable measures ever introduced into the House of Commons."
Mr. Garnett, the spokesman for the deputation, dwelt on the " un-English prin- ciple of centralization" involved in the measure. As the City of London was to be exempted from its operation, Marylebone, being only second to London, was entitled to the same consideration. The new measure, he said, would double the rates; and at a time when the middle classes were in such unparalleled distress, it was " disgraceful " for a Government calling itself Liberal to bring forward a measure involving so large an increase of taxation. Sir Peter Laurie said, it was quite true that the City had succeeded in obtain- ing exemption from this precious bill: but how was it? In the first place, the Corporation had the power of going up to the Throne; and secondly, the Prime Minister was one of the Members for London. The Ministry had no great desire to see the great lumbering gilt gingerbread coach going up to Buckingham Pa- lace, nor the Prime Minister a desire to receive a particular expression of opinion.
Sir Benjamin Hall stated the general feeling to be, that even if Government carried out the measure, the Metropolis ought to be exempted from its operation. His own belief was, though he had no authority for saying so, that from the state of business the bill could not be brought forward this session; and the probability was they would never hear of it again.
Sir Charles Napier condemned the centralizing propensities of Government; and observed that Lord John Russell, as Member for London, dared not persevere, as he knew that if he did the Corporation would turn him out
A general conference of the delegates of the Metropolitan parishes, of Brighton, and of other provincial towns, was held on Monday, at the Mary- lebone Court-house, in opposition to the Health of Towns Bill. The Reverend Dr. Spry presided. There was a variety of speakers; whose avowed ground of opposition was, that the measure was based on the principle of centrali- zation, and not of representation. It would also enormously increase Go- vernment patronage. Mr. Daniell thought that the proper title of the bill would be " tyranny unmasked." Other gentlemen merely expressed the determination of those they represented to offer the most determined op- position to the bill. Resolutions in this spirit were carried unanimously.
More meetings against the Health of Towns Bill have been held during the week. On Monday the Vestry of St. George Hanover Square met in opposition; and on Wednesday the deputations invited from the several towns in England met at the London Tavern. Adverse resolutions were passed at both.
A crowded meeting took place on Monday, at the Hanover Square Rooms, in aid of the funds of the London Society for teaching the Blind to read. The Bishop of Oxford presided. Speeches were made by Lord Dudley Stuart, the Bishop of Tasmania, and Archdeacon Robinson. The report stated that the funds were flourishing; that 500 blind persons bad been taught to read in the Society's schools, besides receiving instruction in music, basket-work, and fancy needle-work. An interesting feature in the proceedings was the attendance of several of the blind pupils, who, without preparation, read extracts from different parts of the Bible, by means of the raised type, and sang and played several sacred airs.
The annual dinner of the Printers' Pension Society took place on Mon- day evening, at the London Tavern. Mr. Luke James Hansard presided, supported by Lord Dudley Stuart. The subscriptions amounted to 3211., including 501. additional from the chairman, and 251. from Prince Albert, who had expressed his willingness to become a patron of the Society.
The contested case of Mozley versus Alston is still occupying the attention of the Vice-Chancellor, in various of its technical forms; and has also been taken by appeal into the superior Court of Chancery. The Vice-Chancellor gave judgment on Wednesday, on a motion for injunction. His decision was in favour of granting the injunctionagainst the twelve Directors; but he threw out a hint that the remaining six would be competent to act at their discretion.
Mr. Richard Dunn reappeared in the Court of Queen's Bench on Wednesday, to move for a new trial, or in arrest of judgment. He made a long speech on some technicalities of law; and the Court took time to consider.
In the Bail Court, on Wednesday, Lady Elizabeth Thynne was sued by Mr. Gleniston, a bill-discounter, on a dishonoured bill for 6001. The bill was drawn by Mr. Thomas Sliugsby Duncombe, accepted by Lady Thynne, and endorsed by a Mr. Taylor. The money was given on the bill on the assurance of Lady Eliza- beth that she was unmarried; having been divorced from her husband, Lord Ed- ward Thynne. The defence set up was that she was a married woman. The Anancive being proved, as well as the face tb4t, 141411 Brlwrird Thynne was living, the Jury returned a verdict for the defendant; adding, "that thej:were very
sorry for it." F .
At the Middlesex Sessions, on Thursday, Major Beniowski, the Pole who as- saulted Mr. Urquhart, surrendered himself to receive judgment. The Assistant Judge, after commenting on the fact that the defendant had committed the assault not under the influence of present provocation but after a lapse of six years from the time when Mr. Urquhart had made an imputation on his character, sentenced Beniowski to be imprisoned for a month in the House of Correction, and then to provide sureties for his good behaviour. The prisoner implored the Judge to alter his sentence, for it was fraught with ruin to him: on the 17th of May he had to perfect three patents which had been granted to him for inventions; and if in prison at that time he would suffer irreparable injury. Under these pecu- liar circumstances, the Assistant Judge consented to change his sentence: he fined the defendant 501., with imprisonment till paid; ordering the sureties as before. The money was soon afterwards proluced. The Secretary for the Home Department has notified to the Court of Alder- men, that he has instructed the Magistrates of the Metropolitan Police district, not to allow certificates to Policemen for their attendance, and to take care that in no matter whatever they shall directly or indirectly receive any personal bene- fit. This will effect a considerable saving of the county rate; besides making the Policemen less anxious to get every culprit committed to the Sessions, by exag- gerated representations of his ingenuity, his general character, desperate asso- ciates, &c.
At the Mansionhouse, on Tuesday, West and Farmery, the men charged with uttering forged shares of the South-western Railway, were brought up for re- examination. The evidence went very hard against them. Witnesses proved that Farmery had gone under the name of " Thomas Wadson" at Liverpool and Manchester; at the latter place he sold forged shares to an amount that produced him 1,2501, with which sum he left the town. The prisoners were again re- manded, till Monday next. West is only eighteen years old.
At Southwark Police-office, on Saturday, Mr. John Sugden appeared in answer to an information for infringing the Metropolitan Building Act by erecting a house within five feet of premises at Bermondsey, belonging to Mr. Boulanger; Who, being a hatter, carrries on a dangerous trade. It was contended for the de- fendant, that there was no danger to be apprehended: but the Magistrate was of a different opinion, and ordered that the house should be pulled down. There were informations against Mr. Sugden respecting two other houses; but they were not proceeded with, as he undertook to have the buildings demolished. At Bow Street Police-office, on Monday, John Denby, a Post-office letter-carrier, was charged with stealing a letter containing 1101.; and his wife was accused with negotiating bank-notes which formed a part of the plunder. The case was clearly made out against the male prisoner, and he was committed; but the wife was discharged, as she seemed only to have spent the money which her husband gave to her, unconscious how it was obtained.
From statements made to Sir Peter Laurie at Guildhall, on Monday, it ap- pears that the directors of the defunct Parcel Post Company have not yet settled the claims of their servants, who had deposited money as security, and had not been paid all their wages. In the note which was given when the deposit was made, the amount was promised to be returned whenever the men left the Com- pany's employ. Two of the directors could not be found at the addresses attached to their names. Mr. Humphreys, who appeared for no fewer than sixty-eight claimants, hinted that proceedings would probably be taken in a criminal court against the directors with respect to the money-deposits.
The men charged with plundering a van of goods at the Camden station were brought up at Marylebone Police-office on Tuesday, for reexamination. Six were in custody for the theft, and two for receiving the property. Page, a carman, who had been engaged in the robbery, appeared as a witness; and gave a minute account of the manner in which the theft was accomplished, and how the pri- soners were implicated in it It was announced that some 4001. worth of the property had been recovered. The accused were all remanded for a week.
A frightful tragedy occurred at Lower Norwood on Sunday morning. At a small shop in the High Street, there lived a couple named Young, the husband about seven-and-twenty years of age, the wife twenty-six: they had an infant daughter. A little business was carried on in artificial flowers, caps, and similar articles; but the family were very poor. Young had lately exhibited symptoms of insanity, and had been under the care of friends at Hackney; on Saturday afternoon he was taken home to Norwood, though with a good deal of trouble. Mrs. Young appears to have sat up during the night to execute an order, and had probably fallen asleep when her husband made an attack upon her. A little after six o'clock on the Sunday morning, some neighbours were alarmed by hear- ing screams of " Murder 1" and, on being admitted by a girl who lived in the house as servant, they found Mrs. Young dead on the landing up-stairs, with her throat cut; Young came out of the bedroom, and the neighbours ran away " for assistance." On their return with a Policeman, they discovered that Young had that moment inflicted a frightful wound on his throat: he died in a quarter of an hour. In another room, on a bed, was the corpse of the infant, also with its throat cut. The instrument used by the madman was a table-knife. There was a fire in the grate; and it seemed that the ill-fated couple had recently taken tea. The fingers of the woman were cut, as if she had struggled with the assassin. A Coroners Jury have returned a verdict that the mother and child were wilfully murdered by Young, and that he destroyed himself while in a state of insanity.