(i.t4t 3ittrofolis.

St. Thomas's Day having fallen on Sunday, the various Wards of London City met on Monday to elect their representatii,es and talk over their affairs. There was but a scanty attendance in many wards ; in most cases the old members were reelected, but in some wards there were smart contests. Generally speaking, the subjects talked about were local,—the cemetery question, the vacant ground near St. Paul's, misap- propriation of the City funds, and the like. There was one subject, however, of general interest,—the double Income-tax, which was con- demned in four wards.

President Thwaites and a deputation from the Metropolitan Board of Works had an interview with. Sir Benjamin Hall on Monday, -to submit their amended plan of outfall for the main-drainage of the Metropolis, known as plan B. It is simply an alteration of the original plan B, so as to embody the suggestions of Captain Burstal ; and it removes the out- falls to the nearest point at which they could by any possibility be made in compliance with the terms of the statute. This being explained to Sir Benjamin, he informed the deputation of the course he should pursue. He will appoint three engineers, two civil and one military, the best he eau find, and to them he ;vill refer all the plans and reports of the Metropolitan Board; and as the best plan that ingenuity can de. vise is the tilan that should be _Adopted, be will direct the engi. neers not to confine themselves to the plan submitted by the Board, but to give the fullest information on the subject, and to set forth any other plan which they may think calculated to obtain the object in view. This course is necessary, because, should Government lend money to the Board, it must be with the consent of Parliament, and Parliament must see that the best-qualified men have considered the aubject, and that the best plan is adopted. The Metropolis will not be called Upon to pay any expense that may be incurred in carrying the sewage further down the river; but the engineers will have to report on the proper quotas which the districts through which such additional works would pass ought to pay. At the close of the interview, Sir Benjamin Hall said, Well, now I hope we shall bring this difficult question to a close".: Mr. Thwaites replied, "I hope so too."

The daily journals of yesterday contained the now customary an- notmeement so gratifying to the feelings, -that -the inmates of the workhouses of London and the vicinity participated in the festivities of Christmas Day : at every workhouse, apparently, roast beef, plum- pudding, and beer, were provided far dinner, and fruit, tobacco and other little luxuries, were distributed. In some cases, the children were amused with magic lanterns. The statistical returns show a large general reduction in the number of recipients of poor-relief, in-door or out-door; but in several cases a alight inormse is marked, and in one or two instances the augmentation is considerable-332 in Stepney, 338 in Brentford.

The Bishop of London held his first ordination at St. Paul's Cathedral on Sunday. As it was understood that he would deliver something of the nature of a charge from the pulpit, many clergymen attended, and the whole congreation was very large. The Bishop's discourse was ad- dressed to the clergy, and urged on them the importance of godliness, activity, friendliness to the poor, and simplicity in preaching.

The Middlesex Registration Society was dissolved at a special meeting held in the late Society's rooms, Jermyn Street, en Monday. Mr. Cop- pock moved and Mr. Geesin seconded the motion to dissolve ; the former remarking that he was "thoroughly disheartened by the conduct of the Liberal electors the latter, that he was "thoroughly and heartily sickened with the Liberal interest, which he considers most illiberal: The reason for this stop is want of funds.

A meeting was held on Tuesday at the London Mechanics' Institution, Southampton Buildings, to hear from Dr. King and Lieutenant Pin; reasons for a further search after the Franklin Expedition. It was fi- nally resolved that there ought to be a further search in the track pro- posed by Dr. King and Lieutenant Pim.

In the Court of Arches, on Saturday, Sir John Dodson gave judgment in the cases of Liddell versus Westerton and Liddell versus Beale. Both cases were appeals from the judgment of Dr. Lushington in the Donsistory Court of London ;—who, at the suit of Mr. Westerton, " ordered the removal of the credence-table in St. Paul's, the cross on or near the communion-table, all cloths used in the church for covering the communion-table, and their substitution by one only covering of silk or other decent stuff";—and on the application of Mr. Beale, had decreed a monition "to remove from St. Bar- nabas the stone altar, and directed the substitution of a moveable table of wood ; to remove the credence-table, the cross on the altar, and also that on the screen ; to take away the coverings of the structure used as a com- munion-table, and to use in their place one only covering of silk or other decent stuff; to remove any cover ornamented with lace or embroidery used when the sacrament was administered ; to substitute a fair white linen cloth in lieu thereof; and, lastly, to cause the Ten Commandments to be set up at the East end of the chancel." Against this judgment the defendants appealed to the Court of Arches. Sir John Dodson entered minutely into the merits of the question, particularly respecting the cross ; and confirmed the judgment of the Court below in all respects, with costs. Mr. Liddell's proctor asserted appeals in both cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

In the Court of Bankruptcy, on Monday, an application was made by Mr. Lawrence to Commissioner Holroyd to sanction a petition to the Court of Chancery for the appointment of a receiver in the matter of the Royal Bri- tish Bank. The object was to protect individual shareholders from actions and executions at the instance of creditors. Mr. Linklater, for the as- signees, opposed the motion, as it would be useless. The assignees would use their personal influence to stay individual actions. Mr. Holroyd re- jected the application. It was premature ; and it was not clear that ap- pointing a receiver would operate in the way suggested. Besides, ought the Court of Bankruptcy to interfere to prevent creditors getting their money by a method laid down by the law ? The going again to Chancery would not benefit the creditors, and it would hold out only a delusive hope to the shareholders. Mr. T.iuklater mentioned that 100,0001. would be handed over by the official manager to the assignee that day, all to be dis- tributed as a dividend as quickly as possible. On Tuesday, there was a meeting for proof of debts and declaration of dividend. Mr. Linklater announced that the debts proved up to that day amounted to rather more than 360,0001., and that the first dividend will be 58. 6d. in the pound ; which, it is hoped, will be paid before the end of this year. Mr. Maxwell, a trade assignee, eulogized the energy and -tact exhi- bited by Mr. Linklater : in which Commissioner Holroyd concurred. The Commissioner suggested to the shareholders, that their best course would be to provide funds at °noel° pay their debts. Mr. Lawrence stated that he had applied to the Lord Chancellor and Lords Justices to hear an appeal respecting the appointment of a receiver; and they had fixed the 2d of Ja- nuary to consider the matter.

The Exchequer Court at Guildhall seems to be a very nice place, charming- ly managed. The barristers' seats are seized by idlers, who behave as if the court were the gallery of a minor theatre. The other day, Justice Cresawell, after threatening to fine the usher if he did not keep " silence" in the court, ordered all the intruders instantly to quit-their usurped seats. "The dilapidated walls, running down with moisture from within and without, ornamented with dingy pictorial nuclides and efforts of the painter's genius —the ventilation of which would seem to have been modelled after that of the Black Hole in Calcutta—in short, every ingredient in the construction, the fittings, and the management of this court, render it, in the opinion of every one who knows it," says the writer of the report, "a disgrace to the authorities of the City of London."

Three fellows were charged before the Southwark Magistrate with garot- ting and robbing Mr. Hogan, a Government clerk. The tale is instructive to those who have any desire to know what steps to pursue to get garotted. Mr. "Logan had been to Deptford on business ; returning in the evening, he *lighted from an omnibus at the Bricklayers' Arms - he wanted to get to London Bridge ; he was a stranger in the neighbourhood, and thus he got into Kent Street—that was a misfortune. Next he applied to two women standing by a public-house to direct him to London Bridge : according to his statement, they said they would direct him if he would stand something to drink.; according to their account, Mr. Hogan offered the drink when he made the inquiry. However, he entered the public-house with these street women, and gave them wine and biscuits. On returning to the street, the women, pointing, said, "That's the way." Mr. Hogan pursued the route indicated, and speedily fell among thieves ; who garotted him, rifled his pock- ets, and fled. For twenty minutes their victim lay on the ground power- less; then he managed to find a policeman. Through the information of the women, the robbers were discovered and arrested. The women state that they were not connected with the thieves ; but one of the robbers, Williams, when Jane Evans had given her evidence, exclaimed, "This woman is in the robbery ; and may the first drop of water I drink turn to aquafortis if she did not receive five shillings out of it." The woman denied that she had re- ceived anything, and protested that she knew nothing of Williams except meeting him at times at a public-house. The robbers were remanded.

A correspondent of the Times gives "the latest development of the ga- rotte." On Sunday evening, "between eight and nine o'clock, a young lady was returning home from church. Her way lay along Oxford Street, and she took the quiet South side, apprehending .no danger in such a crowded thoroughfare. Just as she was passing Laurie and Marner's coach- manufactory, a man, whom she had noticed for some time dodging along- side of her, suddenly seized her by the arms, and pinned them behind her back. At the same moment,- another fellow rushed forward, apparently to assist in rifling her. The lady's terror was so great that she could not call out; but, fortunately, at this instant a policeman turned into Oxford Street from one ofthe.smal1. streets, and the vagabonds immediately ran across the street, where they mingled with the crowd and disappeared. The young lady was brought home in a cab, half-dead with terror and agitation. Success and impunity have apparently made these rascals so bold that they no longer confine their operations to by-lanes, but attack us in the most frequented thoroughfares of the metropolis ; thus enabling us to realize one advantage, not contemplated by the immortal George Robins, of rus in urbe.' " Pierce, Burgess, and Tester, charged with the gold-robbery, were finally examined by the Lord Mayor on Wednesday. No new evidence of much importance was received. Pierce said he would reserve his defense ; Bur- gess and Tester said that they were " not guilty." They were committed.

Last week, Thomas Hogben, a young man, clerk to 'Messrs. Field and Co., the stockbrokers who acted for Redpath, was charged before the Clerk- enwell Magistrate with having been concerned in the forgery of a signature to a transfer of 10001. Great Northern Railway stock. Mr. Hogben was at- testing witness to the signature of " Geo. Hammond," though that signa- ture was really written by Redpath. Mr. Hogben declared that he had "no guilty knowledge of the transaction." He was liberated on bail.

Redpath and Kent were reexamined by the Clerkenwell Magistrate on Wednesday, Mr. Hogben being placed beside them. More evidence was given showing how fraudulent transfers were effected. Mr. Wood, one of Mr. Hogben's employers, a partner in the stockbroking firm which acted for Redpath, said—""We reposed in Redpath unlimited confidence, and had very large transactions with him. If Redpath had come to me and told me that that was the signature of Hammond, I should have believed him, and might have acted upon it. I might have acted upon Redpath's word and signed that document, notwithstanding it says, signed, sealed, and de- livered by me, in the presence of George Sidney "Hammond.' " Mr. Sleigh made a warm appeal to the Magistrate in favour of Hogben, urging that he should be at once discharged. But Mr. Tyrwhitt said the case was clearly one for a jury. He committed all the accused ; but Mr. Hogben was again liberated on bail.

Railway-clerks and bank-directors are not to have a monopoly in taking other people's money by the ten-thousand. C. G. Manini, one of the col- lectors of poor-rates for the City of London Union; and John Paul, an assist- ant-clerk, have absconded; Manini leaving large deficiencies in his accounts, and Paul being also a defaulter. A reward of 1001. is offered for their arrest. The Poor-law Board have ordered Mr. Roweell, the clerk to the Guardians, to be suspended : there is, however, no allegation of criminality against him. It is said that the defalcations of Manini and Paul amount to 50,0001. I [Had the City of London Union any auditors ?] Henry Frederick Carr, a youth, was brought before Sir Robert Carden for pawning certain pieces of handkerchief silk, under suspicious circumstances : he said he had been induced to do it by a man with whom he got into con- versation in the street, and he stated that he was very respectably con- nected. The latter assertion was fully proved—Mr. Thwaites, Chairman of the Board of Works, a neighbour to Cares father, testified to the fact. The youth was permitted to depart. Soon after, he attempted to pawn more silk handkerchiefs : he was taken into custody, and again brought before the Alderman. It now turned out that the prisoner had been in the service of Mr. Meeking, a draper on Holborn Hill • and the goods were identified as having been taken from the stock. Carr has been remanded.

Edward Horace Monteflore has been remanded by Alderman Kennedy on a charge of uttering a forged bill for 53001. with intent to defraud the London and Westminster Bank. The uttering occurred at Cape Town ; where the prisoner attempted to get the money from the Cape Bank by presenting two bills of a set of three, as he said, the third having been sent to China. The bills were forged. For the prisoner it was urged, that there was no proof of a forgery in England ; on the other hand, witnesses from the Cape ex- pressed their doubts whether stamps such as the bills were drawn upon could be obtained in the colony.

Anthony Flood, a young man said to be respectably connected, has been remanded on various charges of uttering worthless checks to defraud trades- men. The checks purported to be drawn by Lieutenant James D. Dundas, on Messrs. M'Grigor and Co. they were forgeries : Lieutenant Dundas is in India, and Flood personated him.

The children attached to the Sunday school of St. Paul's Church, Fins- bury, were induced to deposit one penny per week to form a provident fund to provide books and other articles at Christmas; a trustee placed 261. thus accumulated in the British Bank ; the bank failed, and the children are de- prived of their little fund. A gentleman laid the matter before the Worship street Magistrate, and Mr. Hammill granted 51. from the poor-box.

On Saturday, the Goldsmiths' Company sent their annual gift of 201. for the poor-box of each Police Court ; a seasonable aid for the really dis- tressed.