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Much attention has of late been paid to the great diversities and the' unequal incidence of the poor-rates in the London parishes. While some parishes levy a rate as high as five shillings in the pound, and these the poorer parishes, others and these the richer, levy only a rato of eightpence and less. The Eastern parishes are the greatest sufferers, because population has been driven by improvement to take refuge in that quarter. But the extreme West also suffers by the influx of pauper immigrants. On Wednesday, the ratepayers of St. George's in the East held a meeting on the subject, at the George Tavern in the Commercial Road. The Reverend G. II. M‘Gill occupied the chair. The first proposition laid before the meeting was, that "the poor-rate assessment in every parish in London ought to be equal." But this did not satisfy a small minority, who desired an equal assessment for England and 'Wales. One gentleman, Mr. Brooke, objected to the whole movement. It will destroy the parochial system, lead to national rating, or in other words to centralization and coercion, The amendment was negatived, and the original resolution curried. A petition to Parliament, founded on the resolution, was adopted.

A number of gentlemen desirous of abolishing toll-bars within a radius of six miles from Charing Cross have formed themselves into a committee for effecting that object. Among the leaders of the movement, are Mr. Herbert Ingram, Mr. Mathew Forster, Mr. Watkin, and Mr. Le Breton, The London General Omnibus Company has subscribed 200 guineas ins aid of the agitation.

At a meeting of the Court of Common Council, on Thursday, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Blake, that the members of the Court should be permitted to inspect all the documents in possession of theCity Solicitor affecting the character of Alderman Mammy. Mr. Andortere resisted the motion, as an attempt to pry into the concerns of the Luxembourg Railway Company; but he failed to make an impression on the Court. There seems a strong disposition to know "the whole of this matter." The twelfth general meeting of the Fourteenth session of the Law Amendment Society was held at their rooms on the 27th; Mr. Heacllam in the chair. The chief business of the meeting consisted in the hearing of and adopting a report from the Council. The report embraced a number of topics connected with Law-reform—Minister of Justice, transfer of land, commercial law, judicial statistics, divorce and testamentary juris • diction, the property of married women, criminal law, and law-reporting.

The Royal Asylum of St. Anne's has now entered on its hundred-andfifty-second year. The Duke of Cambridge was unable to preside at the anniversary dinner, on Thursday. The Duke of Wellington presided in the absence of the Duke of Cambridge. The sum subscribed was 15001.

At the annual dinner of the Marine Society, held on the same day, Sir Charles Wood presided. During the past year there were 554 boys in the Society's School. Of these, 21 have been sent into the Royal Navy, 60 into the Indian Navy, and 324 into the merchant service ; 6 have been discharged, 2 have run away, 1 has died, and at the commencement of the present year, 140 remained on board the ship under instruction. The disbursements of the Society during the year have amounted to 81771. 13s. 5d., and its income to 8047/. 2s. Id., leaving a balance against the Society of 1301. lls. 4d.

At the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, on Monday, Sir Roderick Murchison opened the proceedings by stating that a subscription was about to be opened to aid Lady Franklin in the search she has determined to make in the Arctic regions for the relies of her husband and his men. Lady Franklin, placing her whole fortune at stake, has already bought a steam-yacht, now lying at Aberdeen, admirably fitted for the purpose ; and Captain M'Clintock, already well known as an Arctic explorer, has accepted the command of the sexpedition. Sir Roderick announced the opening of a subscription, to which nearly 800/. had already been contributed before the appeal was notified at the Geographical Society. Sir John Davis road a paper on Canton and its forts, which he de-scribed physically and morally. He regards the Canton people as the source of all the insolence shown to Europeans ; and the people of tho other provinces as generally unoffending. Ile thinks that all our troubles arose from permitting Canton to escape chastisement. The city might be taken and held. The pirates in the river, and in the many creeks in and near it, should be destroyed. He was of opinion that the rebellion was a conserence of our last war with China, as it showed the weakness of the Imperial Government. The army has never recovered from its losses in the former war, and the number of robbers and criminal associations is very great. Sir John gave a full description of the Canton river and its defences. Mr. John Crawford, in making some observations on the character and habits of the Chinese emigrants, said they were peaceable and industrious, and he believed that the report that they were everywhere conspiring against us is without foundation. Mr. Crawford said he differed from Sir John Davis in thinking that the capture of Canton would be sufficient. The most effectual way to bring the Chinese Government to its senses would be to cut off the communications with the capital by means of the canals.

In reply to a question, Sir John Davis said that the piracy which prevailed was very much the result of the physical construction of that part of the coast, which had a number of small islands and creeks—extensive fishing also created those maritime habits so essential to the profession of a pirate. This piracy did not, however, extend far along the coast.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Thursday, Sir Frederick Thesiger moved for a rule calling upon William Cockburn, the printer and proprietor of the Joint-Stock Companies Journal, to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against him for a libel published in that journal on the 18th of April last, reflecting on the character of John Griffith Frith, tho Vice-Chairman of the Bank of London, and calculated to affect the credit of the bank. After hearing Sir Frederick's statement—all the parties connected with the management of the bank having made an affidavit denying the allegations in the libel—Lord Campbell said, the proceedings of joint-stock banks are matters of great public importance, and the Court would by no means interfere with any fair comments on their proceedings ; but in this case he thought the application was entitled to the interference of the Court, for if unexplained, it was difficult to say that the publication was bon& fide.—Rule Nisi granted.

At the same sitting, the Court, on the application of Mr. Barker, a Berkshire magistrate, granted a rule, calling upon Sir Edward Conroy, also a magistrate of that county, to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against him. Mr. Barker and Sir Edward Conroy were engaged on opposite sides in a dispute respecting the decoration of the parish church of Hurst and the mode in which the curate conducted the service. In the course of some negotiations for the amicable settlement of the dispute, the parties disagreed respecting what was to be understood from the language, tone, and manner of Sir Edward on a particular occasion ; angry letters passed, and then they ceased to correspond. On the 21st of April they met on the bench at Wokingham, and both signed an order. Sir Edward left the court, but returned shortly afterwards, and, interrupting the business asked to see the order. When it was handed to him, he said, "I see the signature of Mr. Barker to this order and v own " ; and then, addressing himself to the other magistrates, he added," Now, gentlemen, as I do not consider Mr. Barker a gentleman, I will not have my name attached to any order or paper with his name, or act with him in any way or matter whatever," or words to that effect. The clerk, seeing the violence of Sir Edward Conroy's conduct, then desired the strangers to leave the justice-room, upon which Sir Edward Conroy said, "Mr. Barker is not a safe person to act with in anything," and then took a pen and erased his signature from the order. Such is the ex-parte statement on which the Court granted the rule.

The proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court on Monday added some piquant particulars to those already made public regarding the management of the Royal British Bank. The persons examined were the two auditors, and Mr. Craufurd, formerly the accountant of the bank, and eventually Mr. Cameron's successor as manager. The auditing was a farce on one side and something like a fraud on the other. The auditors received certain large totals as correct statements of assets and liabilities; they did not inquire lido particulars, or see for themselves that the accounts were true : on the other side, the accounts were not only not correct, but were designedly false, to deceive the auditors. Thus, the most hopeless debts to the bank or losses were lumped in a huge sum as advances on securities—nothing was said of their being "past-due bills." Mr. Thomas Page, one of the auditors, stated that he had never been indebted to the bank. He had no notion it wits in difficulties. Mr. T. Chandler, the other auditor, was not

only a debtor to the bank for 3000/., but he was mixed up with some of the directors in various schemes.

Mr. Craufurd's evidence showed that he was admirably fitted for carrying on the peculiar British Bank system. Hard pressed, he was obliged to admit that he had been a party, while accountant to the bank, to deceiving the auditors; as they did not ask for explanation—did not suspect what lurked under the item "London bills"—he did not volunteer them any information, though he knew they were deceived. He endeavoured to excuse this conduct on the plea that he was merely carrying out the directions of his superior—it was an affair of "master and clerk, and I obeyed my instructions " ; the " master " being, not the directors, nor the proprietors, but Cameron. Craufurd had been told by Alderman Kennedy to obey Cameron —in fact, Cameron had the "entire control" of the bank. Asked about signing returns to appear in the Gazette, and which were essentially false, he said it WM "a mere matter of form." When a shareholder became troublesome, the directors "found a market" for his shares, by buying them with the bank's money. When Craufurd succeeded Cameron as manager, he closely followed in his footsteps so far as the system of management and—something else were concerned. His reluctant admissions drew these remarks from the Commissioner—" You were appointed general manager, and Mr. Stapleton said he had great confidence in you, and a total want of confidence in Mr. Cameron ; and then the moment you came in you seem to have proceeded upon the same course and followed in the steps of your predecessor, in that which was not only calculated to deceive, but which you yourself knew must deceive." The whole examination of Craufurd confirmed very many things that had already come to light, and divulged others equally bad. Craufurff s persistence in trying to avoid direct answers equalled that of any of the preceding witnesses. On Wednesday there was a novelty—a witness who, generally, answered questions in a direct manner. The witness was Mr. Humphrey Brown, formerly Member for Tewkesbury. His evidence did not disclose much new matter, the subject of his debt to the bank having been one of those most fully treated of by others. A bit or two, however, may be picked out. He became a director in February 1853; he began his career characteristically—he " qualified " by giving a note-of-hand for 5001. in exchange for ten shares ; he afterwards doubled his "stake" in the company by giving Cameron a note for 1000/. in place of the one for 5001. Ile opened an account with the bank, and paid in-18/. 14g.! Mr. Linklater—" And on the same day that you paid that in, did you do them the honour to borrow upon your note-of-hand 2000/. ? " Mr. Brown—" I did. Security was contemplated on a vessel worth 7000/., but that security was not completed until June," [three months after.] Mr. Brown obtained enormous advances, entirely through Cameron, who "for most purposes was the banker." When the bank stopped Mr. Brown was a debtor for 63,000!.! As security, he had mortgaged ships which had already been mortgaged to Mr. Walton, formerly governor of the bank. Commissioner Holroyd characterized one of Brown's proceedings with the ships as "a most fraudulent transaction." Mr. Brown freely accused Mr. Owen, Mr. Esdaile, and Mr. Craufurd, of stating in their evidence what was not true.

There was a meeting for examination of Directors on Thursday. Those examined were Mr. Gillett, Mr. Hurst, and Mr. Butt, the three gentlemen who w ere induced to take seats at the board just before the bank stopped. It would seem that they were deceived as to the position of the bank when they consented to become directors; that they joined the management with a view to protect the shareholders if it should be found that there were irregularities ; and that almost up to the last moment they were in the dark as to the real position of the bank. Mr. Linklater expressed his belief that Mr. Paddison, secretary and solicitor to the bank, was not cognizant of any irregularities. He stated that Alderman Kennedy is seriously ill at Frankfort ; and Mr. Macleod, another director, is suffering from smallpox, in London. Mr. Cameron's son deposed that his father is in Paris.

It may be recollected that some time since a young man was prosecuted for attempting to extort money from the Bank of London, on pretence that he had claims on its originators : the prosecutors were merciful, and on the conviction of the accused they did not press for punishment; but it appears that their kindness was thrown away. Lately, attacks have been made on the credit of the bank. The Atlas weekly newspaper assailed it ; but afterwards apologized. An obscure publication, the Joint-Stock Companies Journal, copied the article of the Atlas, and added fresh attacks, of a very libellous character. Boys were employed to hawk the papers about the bankers' quarters in the City, and one lad was stationed opposite the Bank of London with a defamatory placard. He was taken into custody, produced before the Lord Mayor, but liberated on stating who was his employer. This person, William Cockburn, was arrested, and charged, on Tuesday, with publishing a false and defamatory libel. Cockburn describes himself as a news-agent. His paper is not entered at the Stamp Office ; it has no regular office for publication; printer and publisher it is alike difficult to discover. According to Mr. Bodkin's statement, Cockburn has frequently tried in vain to obtain advertisements from the bank. It is believed that the person formerly prosecuted by the bank is in league with Cockburn ; and Mr. Bodkin said it was intended to arrest him, and charge him and Cockburn with conspiracy. The evidence of two boys was taken, showing that Cockburn had employed them to sell the papers and exhibit placards. Cockburn said he was neither printer nor publisher of the paper, but merely a news-agent. He was held to bail in his own recognizancee to appear on a future day.

A vengeance-murder was perpetrated on Thursday sennight on board the Hobe, off Woolwich. George Bare, a seaman, had been imprisoned for misconduct, reported by Long, a corporal of Marines. When liberated, Base went on deck, and finding Long standing sentry and no one by be rushed on him, and seizing his bayonet, stabbed him mortally. Then flourishing the bayonet, he swore he would kill others on board ; a threat that cleared the deck of all but a gallant boatswain, who succeeded in getting the bayonet out of Bave's hand, and arresting him.

The proceedings of the Marlborough Street Police Court brought to light a singular record of petty crime. Harris, a young girl, was committed with some others, for picking pockets. A policeman furnished her biography. "In 1862 she was taken up for picking pockets, and then gave her age ten years. The Bow Street Magistrate, Mr. Hall, taking into account her tender years, directed that she should be given into the care of her mother. On the followites" Monday the mother herself was in custody for felony. In December 1852, Harris was again in custody for picking pockets. In May 1853, she was again in custody for picking pockets at the -Victoria Theatre ; in December 1853, again in custody for picking pockets; sentenced to eightteen months' imprisonment Sent to the Chelsea Reformatory ; discharged reformed. In custody again a fortnight afterwards, and sent to Holloway Prison for three months ; lost sight of for some time ; but again in custody in August 1855, charged with `picking pockets, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Afterwards in custody for an assault, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment" As the time for the great Epsom races approaches, the Police seem to be more than usually active in routing out betting-houses. On Wednesday, the Marlborough Street Magistrate fined John Gideon 501. for keeping a betting-house in Great Newport Street : the shop was ostensibly a tobacconist's. Peter Knott, landlord of an ale-house in Nortonfolgate, was fined 25/. by the Worship Street Magistrate for a similar offence.