ebt VetrapaIii.
The Metropolis was disturbed in the beginning of the week by the proceedings of the Trades Unions. On Sunday, there were three fu- nerals in different parts of the town, attended by large numbers of the Unionists, who marched in procession, distinguished by crimson ribauds and rosettes. One of these processions passed in front of the Horse Guards : it was formed principally of coalheavers dressed in clean white smock-frocks, and extremely orderly in their demeanour. During the whole of Sunday, there was much activity at the Police-offices. The Chief Magistrate, Sir F. Roe, issued a notice to the inhabitants, warning them not to join the threatened procession of the Unions on Monday, to do all in their power to keep their workmen at home, and to stay at home themselves : the procession was styled an improper one. Considerable bodies of troops were stationed about Chelsea, Pimlico, Kensington, Kennington, Vauxhall, Hammersmith, Knightsbridge, and the Regent's Park. Some cannon were brought from Woolwich to the Riding-school in Pimlico. Special constables were sworn in, during Sunday evening, in all parts of the Metropolis; and large bodies of policemen were stationed in the neighbourhood of the streets through which the procession was expected to pass. The watermen belonging to the Admiralty were in attendance at the Admiralty. The Tower was closed, mid the garrison kept under arms. Fortunately there was no occasion for any interference of the Mili- tary or Police. About six o'clock on Monday morning, the Unionists began to assemble in Copenhagen Fields ; which is an open spot three miles due north of Somerset House. The Central Committee assem- bled in a room of a tavern called Copenhagen House. Two tricoloured flags were displayed at a cottage in the neighbourhood ; but at the re- quest of the Committee they were taken in. About eight, the mem- bers of the different lodges commenced marching on the ground, five and six abreast, in good order. At nine, Mr. Owen, Dr. Wade, and some friends arrived at the Committee-room. The Doctor was dressed in full canonicals, with a crimson collar round his neck. He wished the Committee to allow him to make a short prayer on the ground be-
fore the procession began to move ; but this they would not permit. The great majority of the lodges having arrived and taken up their sta-
tion on the ground by half-past nine, orders to march were given. The petition, which was to be presented by a deputation of five, was placed in a ear decorated with blue and crimson calico, fixed on poles and car- ried by twelve members. The Central Committee, six abreast, headed the procession ; then came the men with the petition, and the deputa- tion appointed to present it ; the principal officers of the different lodges followed ; and then the members of the nineteen Unions, whose re- spective places had been settled by lot. Dr. Wade and Mr. Owen walked with the deputation, and were much cheered. The line was preserved by conductors on horseback, who rode on each side of it. Large numbers of persons crowded the road and street sides. There was some groaning as the procession passed King's Cross, where there is a Police-station ; but it was soon stopped. In Gray's Inn Lane, the shops were all closed ; the hackney-coaches and cabs were removed to one side of the way, in order to give room. Sir Willoughby Gordon was seen on horseback in Derby Street. The procession passed through Guildford Street, the North side of Russell Square, Keppel Street, Store Street, Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Street, Regent Circus, Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Coelsspur Street, and Charing Cross, to Whitehall ; where the heads of the pro- cession halted, and the deputation proceeded with the petition to the Home Secretary's Office. The whole line of shops, except the gin- shops, into which no one entered, was closed. Many persons appeared on the balconies, and some waved their handkerchiefs. Crowds of spectators thronged both sides of the streets. Very few policemen, and not a single soldier was to be seen. The gates of the Horse Guards were closed, and the sentinels removed.
The deputation with the petition were shown into the Under-Secre- tary's, Mr. Phillips's, room. They inquired for Lord Melbourne, and were told that they could not see him. Mr. Owen said that Lord Melbourne had promised to be at his office from eleven till five, and wished to enter into discussion with Mr. Phillips; which that gentle- man declined, as Mr. Owen was not one of the deputation. The de- putation then left the room, but soon returned without Mr. Owen. Mr. Phillips asked if they had accompanied the procession from Co- penhagen Fields. They said they had. He then told them that Lord Melbourne was in the office; that he bad seen the petition, and had no objection to lay it before the King, as it was respectfully worded, if it were properly presented to him ; but he would not receive it in such a manner. If it were brought to him another day and in a becoming manner, he would certainly present it. The deputation then retired, without speaking. While this was going on, the procession marched forwards over Westminster Bridge; and then to Kennington Common. About 4.50 Policemen were seen in the inclosure belonging to the Fishmongers' Almshouses in Newington Butts; but no taunt or abuse was given on either side. The deputation soon arrived ; and one of their number communicated Lord Melbourne's answer to the multitude. It was re- peated several times, in various parts of the common ; accompanied with an exhortation to all to retire peaceably to their several lodges. This advice was followed, and all moved quietly off. Only one accident occurred during the day. A man who was driving a flock of sheep, near the New Bedlam, in his eagerness to get them out of the way of the procession, came in contact with a carriage, and was knocked down : the wheels went over his body, and he soon died. The numbers of the Unionists who walked in procession have been variously estimated from 12,000 to 120,000! but we believe they may he safely reckoned at about 30,000. Their behaviour was very orderly from first to last. On Thursday, the deputation of five waited upon Lord Melbourne with the petition ; and his Lordship promised to lay it before the King.
The Privy Council met on Thursday, to bear counsel in support of the application of the London University for a charter, and. the..acga- ments in opposition to it Only onetounse1 is to be heath on each side. Dr% Lnshington .spoke at length in behalf of the petitioners; and Sir Charles Wetherell, on behalf of Oxford University, made a speech in opposition to granting the charter, ull of ridicule of the petitioners, and of allusions to the connexion of several members of the Council with the original establishment of London University. The proceed- ings were then adjourned to this day.
The members of the Westminster Medical Society held a meeting on Saturday evening, at which the following resolution, proposed by Dr. Epps, relative to the petition of the London University for autho- rity to confer degrees in Medicine, was carried by a large majority; a resolution of a contrary tendency, proposed by Mr. Dewhurst, having fallen to the ground for want of a seconder.
Resolvoa—That the bestowal of a charter upon any University. with power to the Medical Faculty thereof to confer medical degrees, will be a most injurious Ina tritesta- tion of the exclusive principle, which, by conterriug on the lecturers (themselves con• stituting the Medical Faculty ) an exclusive advantage, an advantage quite indopen. .out it their skill as lecturers, will prevent nut only the exercise of a it competition bot seen those lecturers and those of other institutions not so faunae,. but also u ill tend. as diminishing this competition, to injure the University itself, be inducing sin dents to enter thereat, not so much from the excellence of the lectures delivered. as on account of the twofold eircuntstanc,—that the lectures of such lectuLets have adjoined to them the particular atth outage of qualifying lin an ex: • :ohm for a degree, and tint the lecturers themselves constitute the medical faculty to examine their own pupils; thus removing so many motives to exertion from the minds td the lecturers themselves."
A meeting of the inhabitants of Lambeth, very numerously attended, was held last night at the Horns Tavern, Kennington, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament to repeal the Septennial Act. Mr. Tenny- son, Mr. Hawes, Major Beauclerk, and Mr. 1). Wakefield, were pre- sent. The petition was agreed to unanimously, after speeches from the gentlemen above mentioned.
Lord Sidmouth is very ill, at Batt's Hotel, in Dover Street.
On Monday evening, as the Earl of Lonsdalc was crossing from the Howse of Lords to Mr. Bankes's, of Old Palace Yard, where he was going to dine, he was knocked down by the pole of a carriage, which cut his under-lip severely. A surgeon was sent for, who sewed up the wound, and his Lordship went home in his own carriage.
Sir Peter Laurie having resigned the duties of returning-officer for the bo:o igh of Marylebone, the Sheriffs have appointed Mr. Under- Sheriff Sandell in his stead.
The Lord Chancellor yesterday communicated in the Court ,pf Chancery a Royal warrant, which was read by the Registrar, opening the practice in the Court of Common Pleas on the first day of next Trinity Term to all barristers, whether Sergeants or not. The pre- sent Sergeants are to preserve their rank as to the privilege of leading, but this distinction is not to be enjoyed by Sergeants hereafter to be appointed.— Courier.
It is understood that Mr. Justice James Parke and Mr. Justice Alderson will be immediately removed to. the Exchequer, while Mr. Baron Vaughan will go the Common Pleas, and Mr. Baron Williams
• to the Court of King's Bench.—Times.
The Court of Common Pleas have obtained the use of the Guild- hall, Westminster, for the purpose of holding the Nisi Prius sittings • during this and the next term.
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