'it Airtrultatio.

The large room at the London Tavern was crowded on Monday night with an assemblage of persons anxious to obtain a reduction of the In- come-tax, in April next, from 16d. to 7d. in the pound, and to obtain also "an improved mode of assessment." Sir James Duke presided : the chief speakers were Alderman Sidney, Mr. T. S. Goring, and Dr. John Watts. The two former speakers accused the Government of a "gross breach of faith" in proposing to continue until 1858 a tax which they "promised should cease in April next." There was much desul- tory discussion and considerable divergence of opinion respecting the expediency of totally repealing the tax. Mr. Goring, while he contended that the Government are bound to reduce the rate of the tax in April next, pointed out that "the country on its part had tacitly promised that the original tax should remain until 1860." If the people want the Government to keep faith with them for the remission of the war-tax in April, they must keep faith with the Government as to the remainder. These views prevailed ; and a resolution asking for the remission of the tax next April was unanimously carried. The meeting also agreed to a resolution asking either for "a more equitable adjustment of the tax, and an improvement in the mode of assessment, or a total repeal of it upon trades and professions."

The important question of rating was discussed at the meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works on Tuesday. There are a great diversity of rates in the Metropolis. Thus, property at Hampstead is assessed at 23 per cent under its value ; Lambeth, at 224 per cent below the value ; the City of London at 22 per cent under the value ; Marylebone at 14 per cent, and St. Pancras at 121 per cent under the value. The question before the Board related to the assessment of the City of London. The statute which the Board is empowered to carry out provides that where a county-rate exists that shall form the ground of the assessment. But much property in the Metropolis, the bulk of it in the City, is not sub- ject to a county-rate at all, and the Board is empowered to tax that pro- perty on "a like estimate" to the county-rate. Mr. Turner contended, that the nearest approach to "a like estimate" is furnished by the Pro- perty-tax returns ; and he moved,

"That, in order that the City of London may be assessed for the pur- poses of the Metropolitan Local Management Act upon a like estimate with the rest of the Metropolis, it is requisite that regard should be had to the amount at which the City of London has been assessed for the purposes of the Property-tax."

Mr. Deputy Harrison opposed the motion. It would not effect equal- ity of taxation ; it would lead to itH illegal absessment ; there are great diversities in the county-ride in comparison with the Property-tax re. turns ; the best basis would be the seiverre-rate. In the discussion that ensued/ the members seemed by no means to have made up their minds on the subject of th& proper basis of assessments, but all agreed that there should be equality throughout the Metropolis. Mr. Turner's reso- lution was carried by 19 to 12. Finally, however, it was resolved that the whole financial statement, out of which Mr. Turner's proposal arose, should be referred back to the Financial Committee for reconsideration.

Dr. Tait, the new Bishop of London was consecrated oft Sunday last, in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall. The chief actors in the ceremony I were the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of Carlisle, Lin- : coin, and Chichester. The Reverend G. Cotton, Master of Marlborough College, preached the consecration-sermon. At the same time, the Re- verend Henry Cotterill, the newly-appointed Bishop of Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, was ordained and consecrated. A very large con- ' gregation witnessed the solemn ceremonies of the morning.

More than usual interest attached to the meeting of the Royal Geogra- phical Society on Monday, as Lieutenant Bedford Pim was to reads paper proposing a new search for the Franklin expedition. Lieutenant Pim appears to think that there are still "survivors" of that expedition somewhere about King William's Land ; and he broached acomP re. hensive " scheme for the purpose of ascertaining the fact. "A small screw-vessel, with a complement of twenty men, should pene- trate as far down Peel Sound as possible, take up winter quarters, and, as. dated by teams of dogs purchased at Disco or Uppernaick, extend the search down both shores of the Sound. Another vessel, similarly equipped, to push through Behring's Straits, and winter at King William Land, whilst an over. land party descend the Great Fish River, with orders to make for a certain rendezvous, previously: arranged. Thus a comprehensive scheme of search would be organized, which could hardly fail of success; for it will at once be seen that the very winds and currents which prove an obstacle to the ad- vance of one party will have precisely the opposite effect upon the other, and thus insure that at least one vessel will reach her destination. You will see that I lay great stress upon the smallness of the ships and the use of dogs for travelling purposes. My experience proves the superiority of small vessels, with limited crews, over large ships and corresponding companies. As regards the use of dogs, their superiority for sledging pur- , over men, has been abundantly proved. -I understand that, b • the fintirinogy efforts of our late President Sir Roderick Murchison, sail

and others, the Government has been induced to take into considera- tion the despatch of another expedition. But I am assured it will only be sent via Barrow Strait—a most uncertain route." In con- clusion, Lieutenant Pim said—" This Society, the leading one beyond doubt in a great maritime nation like England, has from first to last taken the deepest interest in the fate of the Erebus and Terror, and it would indeed be a _just recompense if the glory of solving the vexed question fell to its lot. With this end in view, I now urge upon its members, impressed as they must be with the dire necessity of the case, to equip a small vessel to push through Behrines Straits. In their hands every despatch will be used, and she would leave England in proper time, namely, before the end of January. No doubt, however, upon proper explanation the Admiralty would immediately accord both countenance and assistance, thus reducing the cost to a mere trifle. As regards Great Fish River, plenty of volunteers will be found. That expedition ought to leave England in March next."

The meeting received the proposal very favourably. Sir Roderick Murchison, from the chair, said that he still had hopes of a Government expedition, at least to recover any documents that may yet exist. How- ever if the Government would not send out an expedition, he was au- thorized to state that that noble-minded woman Lady Franklin, although there might be no chance of saving any one living man, had determined to send out another expedition on her account to those regions. Dr. Rae stated that he intended to complete the survey he had left unfinished. He should also search for documents, although he did not expect to and any.

The statue of Sir Charles James Napier, "the conqueror of Scinde," was set up on its pedestal in Trafalgar Square early in the week, and unveiled on Wednesday. There was no ceremony on the occasion, and only a select few were present in the fog and slushy snow. The statue is the work of Mr. G. G. Adams, a young artist ; it is of bronze, and stands twelve feet high. The pedestal contains this inscription- " Charles James Napier, General, born MDCCI,117X11 ; died MDCCCLII1. Erected by public subscription from all classes, civil and military, the most numerous subscribers being private soldiers."

Lord Chief Justice Cockburn took his seat in the Court of Common Pleas on Saturday, and delivered his first judgment on Monday. Some of our readers may recollect that Mr. Mather, the plaintiff in the ease of Mativ.il versus Lord Maidstone, applied for and obtained a rule to ow cause there should not be a new trial of his case, on the ground of misdirection, and a verdict against the evidence. Mr. Mather had sued Lord Maidstone on a bill of exchange for 10001., drawn by the Honourable F. Villiers and accepted by Lord Maidstone. It was a bill given to renew a bill which wag a forgery, never accepted by Lord Maidstone. When the case was tried at the G neuildford Assizes, Mr. Mather pleaded that he was a bona fide holder of the bill on which the action was brought. In summing up, the Chief Baron Mr. Spurgeon reappeared at the Surrey Music-Hall on Sunday last, and preached to a congregation of five or six thousand people—the num- ber permitted to enter ; while hundreds were turned away. Mr. Lund watched the place with twenty policemen. The audience entered and departed with order and decorum. Mr. Spurgeon, in his prefatory re- marks, took occasion to deny that he desired a place of meeting capable of holding fifteen thousand persons ; that is just treble what he and his friends desire to accommodate. He never asked any one to come and hear him ; but if they did, and would, he did not see how he was to be blamed for it. If, however, it was a sin, it was a very uncommon one—one which very few ever connnitted,

but which many wonld like to commit if they • could, Some had sug- gested that he ought not to admit any one to the hall except by c it should be remembered that he had come there for the very purpose of preaching to those who could not afford to pay for seats, and he wished as many as possible of the general public to come.

ffis discourse is described as having been free from any of the pecu- liar sallies with which, it is said, he is accustomed to startle his audience, and sometimes to move them to laughter. told the Jury, that the action was brought on a genuine acceptance of Lord oilstone, and the defence was that it had been given to take up a forged ; bat, although that would have been a good defence on the forged bill, it was no defence on the bill for which the action was brought if the plaintiff were a bonkl fide holder for value received ; and to make that out he must stake out that he was a bona fide holder of the forged bill for value. So much for the trial. Lord Chief Justice Cockburn now gave his opinion that there had been no misdirection ; and he could not say the Jury were not per- fectly warranted in the verdict they had found.—Rule discharged.

A remarkable action arising out of gambling transactions was tried in the Court of Queen's Bench on Wednesday. Richard Culverwell, "a retired tailor," sued John Sidebottom, of the firm of Sidebottom and Co., cotton- manufacturers at Manchester, to recover the sum of 200W. due upon a bill ef exchange. The bill was drawn by James Atkins, keeper of "the Berke- ley," a gaming-house in Albemarle Street, and by him indorsed to Culver- Sidebottom met the action by pleading that the sum was lost at play; and he told an instructive story. When about twenty-six or twenty- et.ett years of age, (that is, in 1846 or 1847,) and having at the time an al- lowance of 3001. a year from his father, he came to London. In a short time be was taken to "the Berkeley," and engaged in the game of hazard. At- kins was manager, and two croupiers acted as bankers, giving the players counters for 10 U. On the first night, Sidebottona lost 80001.! Yet after this; every time he came to London, he went to "the Berkeley," and played. ' I went there down to 1852 or 1853. In all I played twelve or fourteen times. I lost from 25,0001. to 26,0001. I fancy I have paid 15,000/. or 16,000/. to Atkins. These are checks I gave to him for gaming transactions. This 10 11 for 10001. was given to Atkins on the 9th of June 1817, at the play-table for counters. All these checks were given for coun- ters to play with. Atkins holds my bond for 40001., a warrant of attorney for 3300/., and some other paper—I believe a hill." He played all night, and "the house" provided champagne. i John Gray, formerly a sergeant n the Metropolitan Police, deposed that he had entered the Berkeley two or three times, to arrest any one found gamin. There were two doors of unusual strength in the passage leading up-stairs. One was watched by a doorkeeper. In the room was a large table covered with green baize; but by the time he got up all the gentlemen present were "idle and smoking." .Tames Rollick Davis, publican, for- merly partner with Atkins in gaming-houses—one called the Stick Shop" at the corner of Albemarle Street, another in St. James's Street—deposed that he knew Culverwell, and had seen him at gaming-houses several times with Atkins ; had seen him lend money to Atkins for the bank." "I have seen Culverwell tides 'bonnet' at the house No. 160 Piccadilly. A 'bonnet' is a gentleman who sits at the table and appears to be playing against the table when a gentleman conies in. I have seen him do that three or four times. Charles Pitcher was concerned with me as a bonnet' when Atkins was there. Pitcher was the bonnet.' The bonnet' gene- rally wins. The money is generally put into the bank-box." He knew that Atkins used loaded dice and " despatches"--clice with double fours, fives, and sixes. A " despatch " is "in favour of the table fifty to one." Culverwell, the plaintiff, was examined to prove bona fide consideration. He knew Atkins, but did not know that he was connected with gaming- houses. Davis had never seen him at a gaming-house. He had called on Atkins in St. James's Street, but did not know "at the time" that it was a gaming-house. He had never lent money to Atkins "in the presence of Davis" for gaming purposes. He had discounted bills fo'r Atkins—among others, three or four accepted by Sidebottom. He gave 15551. on a 20001. bill for four years. He knew nothing about the consideration of the bill to the defendant, but he gave consideration for it. Atkins had promised to be witness on the trial, but he could not be found. He is said to be "ill" in the country. Lord Campbell summed up the evidence and left it to the Jury to say whether, when the bill was indorsed. to theidaintiff, he had no- tice that it was given for money lost at play. The Jury, without a mo- ment's hesitation, found for the defendant.

On Thursday, Mr. Thomas George Gosling and four girls were tried for acts of public indecency in Regent's Park. In this case the Crown prose- cuted. The evidence of the alleged offence was held to be so vitiated by the equivocal character of the two chief witnesses who gave it, that the Solicitor- General withdrew from the prosecution, and the Jury found the prisoners "Not guilty."

A disputed will case, Swynfen versus Swynfen, not of much interest in itself, has given rise to a delicate professional question—the relation of coun- sel and attornies to their clients. The trial came on at the last Stafford As- sizes. The leading counsel for the .plaintiff was Sir Alexander Cockburn, for the defendant Sir Frederick Thee:igen The case was stopped by a com- promise agreed on between these two in favour of the heir-at-law, Captain Swynfen, who agreed to give the devisee, Mrs. Swynfen, in lieu-of an es- tate valued at 65,000/., 1000/. a year, and 1250/. costs. When the compro- mise had been thus arranged, Kn. Swynfen drove up to the court and ex- pressed the greatest indignation ; she had refused to compromise; had in- structed her attorney to stand on the validity of the will ; and had tele- graphed to her lawyers, "The offer is refused.' But the heir-at-law sought for an attachment of the estates, and applied to the Court of Common Pleas. In that court, on Monday, the defendant put in affidavits to show that she had not given her consent, and Sir Frederick made a counter-statement. The matter is still sub judice. The pointraised is, whether the compromise can stand.

In the Court of Arches, on Wednesday, the Admiralty Advocate, on be- half of the Reverend George Anthony Denison moved the Court to admit the libel of appeal against the decision of the !Archbishop of Canterbury at Bath in the ease known as "Ditcher versus Denison." He supported the motion by stating that the Archbishop of Canterbury acted for the Bishop of Bath and Wells solely because the Bishop was the patron of the prefer- ments held by the Archdeacon; and that therefore an appeal lay from his derision to the Court of Arches, according to the terms of the statute. Dr. BaYford opposed the libel ; holding that the Archbishop sat by his own authority, and not as locum tenens for the Bishop ; that an appeal must be from an inferior to a superior court ; and that the Court of Arches Was not competent to hear an appeal from the Archbishop of Canter- bury. The Admiralty Advocate replied, that under this argument there was no appeal at all; an unnatural construction of the statute, which every court would reject. Sir John Dothan promised to.. give his decision on the next court-day.

Vice-Chancellor Kindersley, on Monday, delivered a long, elaborate, and minute judgment is the case of the Royal British Bank. He reviewed the whole history of the proceedings since the bank stopped ; showing that theough the " interinr manager" was appointed before the bankruptcy had en declared; the company had been made bankrupt before the 1' official manager" was appointed. The interim manager is nothing more than a ,receiver, and is Merely appointed to take charge of the funds. The Vice- wtancellor examined the two acts of Parliament applying to the failure of banks. He would rather that, an action at law had decided the dispute ; but as both Parties wished him to decide, he did so. His decision was, that the estate should be taken possession of under the bankruptcy. The law does not say that a winding-up order can prevent the issue of a fiat in bankruptcy. It could not be disputed that the property of the bankrupt company vested in the official assignee on the 9th October, the date of the adjudication. Would not a contrary decision be injurious to the creditors ? Had an official manager been appointed before the adjudication and the appointment of an assignee, the case might have been different. He decided that the official assignee should receive possession of the estate from the official manager. With regard to the "contempt" committed by the official assignee by attempting prematurely to take possession of the property, as he had expressed his regret, he absolved him on payment of costs.

In the Bankruptcy Court, on Thursday, an attempt was to have been made on the part of /dr. Marcus, a shareholder, to annul the bankruptcy ; but it was announced that the Case would not be proceeded with, the share. holders as well as the creditors having now arrived at the conclusion that a winding-up under bankruptcy will be the best for all parties. It is as- sumed that under bankruptcy, individual shareholders, who fairly pay the calls, will be protected from harassing suits by creditors.

In the Court of Bankruptcy, on Monday, Mr. Futvoye, solicitor to the assignees in re Lane, one of the profession, applied for an order for the pay- ment of 2801. to a second solicitor engaged in the case. Mr. Commissioner Goulburn expressed his surprise—why two solicitors ? 'fhe answer was, that two were employed "to save expense." Mr. Goulburn declined to make the order. The amount of costs incurred by law and lawyers in bank- ruptcy is becoming every day a more serious matter, and one requiring the greatest care on the part of the Court. The employment of two solicitors in this case he could not consider a saving of expense, but much the oppo- site. He thought the following lines, by the late Mr. Jekyll, on the era- ployment of two doctors, not inapplicable to this case-

" One doctor single l 'm the Benner plies ; The patient stragg'al, and by inches dies;

nut two physicians, like a pair of oars,

Waft him right smoothly to the Styglan shores."

In the Central Criminal Court, on Wednesday, Hunter and Murty, two- ruffians who garotted and robbed Mr. Mason in Blackman Street, South- wark, were convicted. In passing sentence, Mr. Baron Watson referred to the prevalence of such crimes, and the necessity for exemplary punishment: he sentenced the prisoners to be transported for life.

Pierce and Burgess, the alleged accomplices in the great gold-robbery, were reexamined before the Lord Mayor on Monday. A number of wit- nesses were called to corroborate various portions of Agar's evidence. Some of the testimony was not very important, though all tended more or less to support the approver's narrative. Other parts were of great weight. Two servants and the landlady of a lodginghouse testified to some facts stated by Agar and Fanny Kay. Then two cabmen were called, Ellis and Carter ; and they detailed how about May 1855 they were hired on several occasions at the North-west part of London, in the evening, to take two persons to the vicinity of the London Bridge terminus : those persons had two heavy carpet-bags and a leather-bag with them. When they arrived near the station, one left the cab, and was absent for about half an hour ; on his return the " gentlemen " and their bags were taken back to the district from which they came' but the route was varied. Ellis described the two men to the best of his recollection—the description an- swered very well for Pierce and Agar. Carter positively identified Pierce and Agar as the men. He said that on one occasion when Agar returned to the cab near London Bridge, he said to Pierce, "It is not going down to- night." [This witness declared positively that he had neither read Agar's evidence nor heard of it : it would seem that he first communicated with the prosecutors in consequence of his description having been advertised, as he was required as a witness.] Mr. Matthews deposed, that on the morning of the 16th May last year, he bought 210 American golden eagles of a rather tall man who looked as if he had been travelling. Mr. Stearn, a publican in St. Thomas's Street, near London Bridge, stated that Burgess, in February last, deposited with him, for safety., a packet of bank-notes, 500/. in all ; Burgess said they were the "saving of years" : Mr. Stearn deposited the notes with Messrs. Reid the brewers, who allow 5 per cent in- terest for such deposits : interest had been paid to Burgess. Steam's house is much frequented by railway-servants : he had seen Pierce, Burgess, and Agar, at one time among the company. John Allday, a youth, deposed that he and other boys had picked up a quantity of shot, some time ago, in a street at Camden Town, near ALar's residence. The inquiry is again ade journed.

The Southwark Magistrate has committed Charles Bond and his wife, said Alfred Fennell and his wife, for swindling. The case is rather remarkable even in this age of frauds. The gang obtained possession of a respectable house in St. John's Wood, and by some means got a portion of it at least elegantly furnished ; the Bonds figured as master and mistress, Mrs. Fen- nell acted as servant, her husband seems to have been a " gentleman " to give orders. Large orders were given to tradesmen of all kinds—for furni- ture clothes, food, liquors, jewellery--,amounting in all to upwards of 1000/. The goods were all directed to be sent home on Saturday the 15th or Monday the 17th; the tradesmen or their assistants were shown into a handsomely-furnished parlour, and a plausible excuse was made for not pay- ing till the Tuesday morning—every person was to call on Tuesday. Ac- cordingly, there was a grand levee of dupes on the Tuesday—the house was closed, and its contents had been removed. Fortunately, the police traced the swindlers to a house in Alfred Place, Old Kent Road ; and there all the property appears to have been found.

The ClerIcenwell Magistrate, on Thursday, committed William Snell, the Great Northern Railway clerk, for misappropriating 1000/. belonging to the Company. The investigation of another charge against him was corns menced—misapplying checks intended for the Sick and Funeral Allowance Fund of the railway.

William Kortright and Beresford Christmas have been remanded by the Marlborough Street Magistrate on a charge of stealing ancient books—heir- looms, and almost priceless from their rarity—from the library of Lady Olivia Sparrow, Brampton Park, Huntingdonshire. The persons accused attempted to sell them to Mr. Toovey, a bookseller in Piccadilly : Lord Gosford came into the shop and recognized the books.

The Southwark Magistrate has committed George White, an ill-looking young fellow, for stealing a piece of beef from a butcher's tray. White is u ticket-of-leave man, whose sentence wouldlave expired in July next ; and he stole the beef only two or thee days after he had been liberated.

The City authorities have commenced proceedings against the London Gaslight Company for discharging filthy refuse into the Thames : it is als leged that tins -was done with great secrecy, by means of a pipe laid in the water.