Vrtrnintio.
At a meeting of the Court of Common Council, on Thursday, Mr. T. Parker presented a requisition to the Lord Mayor, begging that his portrait exhibited at the Royal Academy might be presented to the Corporation, in order to its being permanently placed in the Guildhall. Mr. Parker eulogized the Lord Mayor in a high strain of compliment, es- pecially for his unceasing efforts in promoting education. The Lord Mayor, with much emotion, acknowledged the great honour, and promised to comply with the request.
At a meeting held on Monday, of officers now serving or who have served in the Guards, in the United Service Institution, Whitehall,—the Duke of Cambridge in the chair,—it was resolved that " a permanent monument should be erected in honour of those officers and men of the Brigade of Guards who fell in the late war." A Committee was ap- pointed to execute the resolves of the meeting.
The Surrey Magistrates have resolved upon remodelling Horsemonger Lane Gaol, at an expense of 12,0001., in preference to building a new prison, which would cost 50,0001.
In the Bankruptcy Court, Mr. Commissioner Fane has refused a certifi- cate to Joseph Archibald Joyce, a so-called " merchant," on the ground that he is a mere swindler. An opposing counsel said that Joyce began with 4001. of bad debts, got goods to the amount of 7000/., paid old debts with a part of the proceeds, and lived upon the remainder. The goods were melted by the bankrupt as fast as they were obtained. After hearing evi- dence on Joyce's mode of getting .possession of property, Mr. Fane said- " It will be waste of time to go into the case. The bankrupt is neither more nor less than a swindler. I therefore refuse the certificate altogether, and also protection."
A curious charge of assault came before the Marlborough Street Magis- trate on Tuesday. Robert Johnston, of the Army and Navy Club and Webb' a County Terrace, " gentleman " was accused of assaulting Mr William Kay, a gentleman of fortune residing in Hill Street. According to a state- ment by Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Kay, a weak young man, had formerly been in- duced to give securities to Johnston and two others for 50,0001. Mr. Kay's friends interfered ; an application was madc to the Court of Chancery; and decrees were obtained making void all the deeds, bills, and securities which
had been fraudulently obtained from Mr. Kay. On the night of Tuesday the 8th, Mr. Kay was stopped in the street by a man who touched him on the shoulder and pretended to arrest him for a debt incurred by Mrs. Kay : he was taken to a house in Park Street, and locked in a room ; presently Johnston appeared ; he conversed with Mr. Kay, trying to regain his influence over him—confessing that the pretended arrest was a daring ruse for the purpose of giving Johnston an opportunity to converse with Mr. Kay. Johnston detained him for three hours, and he appears to have had some intention of keeping him for the night : he did not liberate him till he had extracted a promise of secrecy on the night's proceedings. Putting aside the pretended bailiff's tap on the shoulder, an assault had been com- mitted by locking Mr. Kay in the room. Mr. Bodkin also charged John- ston with conspiring with the mock bailiff. After a long investigation, the charge of assault appears to have been settled by ordering Johnston to enter into his own recommences to keep the peace ; the charge of conspiracy to be proceeded with on another day, a summons being served on Johnston in court.
No fewer than three women were brought before Sir Robert Carden on Wednesday for attempts to commit suicide in the Thames at Blackfriars Bridge ; while a fourth was reported to be in the workhouse dangerously ill from a similar attempt at self-destruction.
John Huddart, a grocer in Tyler Street, Regent Street, has been fined 501. by the Bow Street Magistrate for having adulterated pepper in his pos- session. The so-called " pepper " consisted of only 50 per cent of genuine pepper, 40 per cent of rice, and 10 per cent of hard wood. It was stated that hard wood is used for adulterating snuff as well as pepper.
Joaquim Sevilla, a Spaniard, has been committed by Sir George Carroll for forging documents purporting to be liquidation bonds of the. Internal Debt of Peru and compensation bonds for the manumission of slaves. Sa- ville employed a lithographer to make fac-similes of certain signatures to be attached to documents printed in Spanish, which he pretended were pass- ports. Suspicion arose, and the prisoner was arrested at the proper moment. The City Police and Alderman Sir Robert Carden are continuing the cam- paign against the keepers of betting-houses with great vigour.
On the night of the 18th there was a very extensive fire at Shad Thames, which destroyed Messrs. Pimm's steam flour-mills, and greatly damaged a large number of wharves, granaries, and other buildings around, with some ships and barges. Early on Sunday morning another large fire occurred, in Tredegar Road, Bow, on the premises of liemmings and Co., portable church and house builders.
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