nittropoliff.

The meeting in Guildhall on Monday, of" merchants, bankers, traders, and other citizens" of London, under the chairmanship of the Lord

Mayor, was an immensely numerous Protestant demonstration ; but com- pared with well-remembered assemblages on other occasions of political excitement, it does not seem to have been of "most influential" quality. Mr. Masterman, M.P., Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. G. Hoare, four Alder- men, and the two Sheriffs, were the persons of public note or civic sta- tion whose names head the list of notabilities present. The absence of great mercantile chiefs is the more noticeable, as the Lord Mayor stated in opening the proceedings, that the requisition bore the signatures of the most eminent of such men in the City.

Mr. Masterman, in moving the first resolution exhorted the citizens to back up their representatives in Parliament on this question-

" If when Parliament assembled in the coming year it should be found that the law of this country in its present state was not sufficient to enable the Executive Government to repel this aggression of the Bishop of Rome

then new laws must be enacted ; and the constituency of this great resin; having now spoken out with one voice, would doubtless support those who represented them in doing all that might be needful to defend the religion and constitution of England. Every one must feel that, if the necessity of the case required it, the Government must be furnished with fresh powers, so that none of those foreign priests or potentates should have power to force their emissaries into England."

Alderman Thompson seconded the resolution with a warm Protestant speech.

Mr. Singer, author of a pamphlet with the title "Is the Church in Danger ?" moved an amendment, to leave out words which asserted the

invasion of the Queen's supremacy, "for the Queen had already sur-

rendered her supremacy in spiritual matters." But the citizens would not hear Mr. Singer—branded him as a "base-singer," and hooted him down with jocose hints that he was a Jesuit in disguise. An addition containing an allusion to "unfaithful teaching within the Church" was moved by Mr. Laurie as an amendment to the second resolution; and was warmly supported by Aderman Sidney. The Anti-Tractarian philippics were received with great delight by the audience' and Mr. Pocock, Chaplain to the City of London, having deprecated the allu- sion as hostile to the Church, he got as little favour as Mr. Singer, and was shouted down. Mr. Ross thereupon expressed his rejoicing itt the sight of so noble a Proteataut spirit in the meeting ; and the resolution was carried with general shouts of approbation. Sir James Duke, Mr. Hoare' and Mr. Wire, supported resolutions ; and the meeting was addressed by Mr. F. J. Cummins, Mr. J. -Walker, Mr. Ross, Mr. Powles, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Wylie. An address to the Queen was adopted, declaring the Romish inroad to be "an attempt at internal inter- ference wholly ineonsistent with our nationalindependence "; and earnestly praying her Majesty to take such measures

. . . .

"as may effectually uphold the Royal authority, vindicate the in- dependence of the State, and repel all attempts, direct or indirect, to invade that article of the British constitution which declares, That no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, bath, or ought to have, any juns- diction, power' auperiority,preiinunence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spi- ritual, within this realm." The meeting broke up, after five hours of proceedings, with enthusiastic cheers for the -Queen and for Lord John Russell.

A special meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Committee of Privileges, held on the 21st and 22d instant, unanimously adopted resolutions ex- pressing in common with their fellow Protestants throughout the kingdom surprise and indignation at the recent change in the system of the Itomish ecclesiastical polity in England. They also determined to address the Queen requesting her to deal effectually with the evil, and apply to Par- liament for additional powers if necessary ; and recommended the Wes- leyan body to take any further measures by joining in any wise and -well- considered local movements.

The hundreds of Metropolitan parishes pour in a daily quota of ad- dresses to the Queen on the Papal question. One of these addresses from the parish of Christchurch Spitalfields is worthy of marked distinc- tion from the mass. It is well known that the parish numbers among its inhabitants many descendants of the Huguenots who took refuge in Eng, land in the seventeenth century : this circumstance is alluded to in the address as a reason why the parishioners should be specially sensitive to ony,assumption-of power by the Pope : nevertheless, anxiety is expressed that no measures be adopted injurious to religious liberty, the memorial- ists believing that nothing could have a greater tendency to strengthen the power of the Roman _hierarchy -than .any measure of persecution di- rected against it .aided as it would bet by the state of ignorance in which a large portion of our population exists. "We therefore," the .addreas concludes, -4' tender your Majesty our zealous support in resisting the as- sumption of power in this country by the Pope of Rome ; praying that re- ligious liberty may be -preserved inviolate, and that for that purpose your Majesty will promote by every practicable measure the education and en- lightenment of the people."

The exhibition of what is called "Protestant feeling," but af what is really bad feeling of no religion at all, in St. Bo.rnabas Church, Pimlico, produced from the incumbent Mr. Bennett, on Sunday last, a remarkable sermon on the virtue of charity. A vast number of strangers were pro- sent, and turbulent manifestations against some peculiar practices which Mr. Bennett considers to be in strict conformity with the rules of the Church of England burst forth. The text chosen was a passage from the 13th chapter of the Apostle -Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.* Dwelling on the attributes of charity as they are described by the Apostle, Mr. Bennett proceeded to point out the obligations to its practical obser- vance by all members of the Christian church, especially at the present trying time. There are three ways in which charity is commonly violated—by thought, by word, or by deed_ The instances in which charity is violated by deed are not so numerous at the present period of the Church's history as former- ly, when men employed fetters, and tortures, and even death, as the means of constraining others to profess the same opinions with themselves. But we have the authority of the Apostle for declaring that persons who by such acts exhibited their hatred of their fellow-men could not possibly have been inspired by a real and sincere love of God. "Ile that loveth not his bro- ther whom he bath seen, how can he love God whom he bath not seen" ; and if any one thought that he was doing God service w1u1e his conduct ma- nifested a hatred of his brother, he was labouring under a delusion, or, in the stronger language of the Apostle, he was a "liar." But it is to be fear- ed that the violations of Christian charity, in thought and word at least, are not less frequent at the present ,clay than at a period when man's hatred of his brother is exhibited an acts of cruelty and persecution. And why is it that men do not.at all times willingly obey the Divine precept "to love one another" ? He would tell them, that it is because their hearts are filled with prejudice. Charity embraces all things and persons in the golden bond of a universal benevolence ; it loves the individual while it condemns his fault; it seeks and finds "good in everything." But prejudice is intent upon one object, and seeks but one end ; it recognizes nothing in life that is beautiful or true except what harmonizes with its own narrow views and de- graded sympathies. Prejudice, if conducted amidst the varied glories of uni- versal nature, and pointed out the wonders of the starry heavens, would see no star but one ; if placed in the midst of the music of the spheres, its dull coarse ear would detect no sound save one ; and amongst all the various and beautiful hues of the rainbow its obtuse and distorted vision would find no- thing to attract it but the glare of one solitary colour. They should endea- vour to eradicate from themselves and get rid of this pernicious feeling of prejudice, which has caused so much evil in the Christian Church, and has hindered so much good ; they pshould remember that, no matter how strong - their belief in the truth of their own opinions may be, still it is possible that the opinions of others differing from themselves, who have given greater thought and attention to the subjects on which they differ, may contain a larger measure of truth ; and if they find a contrariety between certain acts and views of their own and those of others, they ought in a spirit of charity and generosity to believe that the views of others have not been adopted without reflection, and that their acts may admit of justification. The preacher here said he would make a practical reference to one of the so-called "peculiarities" in that church; and he approached the "custom of having two candles burning on the altar." [As soon as the specific men- tion of candles was made' the numerous portion of the congregation who were strangers, who up to this moment had given, like the regular congrega- tion, a profound and silent attention, became greatly agitated. Numbers of persons commenced coughing and using other disturbances, in a manner that completely prevented the preacher from being heard, and for a minute or two it seemed as if peace-officers must be summoned. The interrupters

• A loosely-worded report specifies only the 4th verse ; but probably the three following verses were included with the 4th. For readiness of reference we quote the four verses.

"4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up;

"I. Doth not behave itself unseemly; seeketh not her own; is not easily pro- voked; thinketh no evil ; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; " T. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all thingsrendureth anthills." were, however, silenced by counter-cries of "Shame, shame I" from the -better-disposed members of the congregation, and Mr. Bennett was at length permitted to resume -his discourse. He is reported to have continued in 'nearly the following terms,] "1 fearedthat you would not be pleased -with any allusion to this subject ; -and this interruption serves as an illustration of the remarks I have just made on the Christian duty of viewing in a charitable light the differences of opinion amongst ourselves. I determined not to employ any own words or arguments in speaking to you on this subject of lights on the altar ; but I will use the words of one who, whatever may have been his opinions at a former period, cannot-be supposed to be now a favourer of those views and ractices which you regard with suepicion ; I mean Dr. Hook, the Vicar of Leeds. Dr. Hook has published a work entitled A Dictionary of the Church of England; and under the head of Lights' he speaks thus- " This custom of havin., lights upon the altar of the.church is enjoined by the laws and sanctioned by the use of the Church of England. The two lights upon the altar 'are intended to symbolise 'to the people that Christ in his twofold nature is the tone -light of the world. The laws of the Church to-which we refer are as follows. The rubric immediately preceding the order for Morning-and Evening Prayer says thus- ' And here it is- to be noted, that such ornaments of the church Find of the ministers 'thereof, at all times of their ministration, shall be retained and be in use, as were in this Church of England, by the authority of Parliament, in the second year Of the reign of King Edward the Sixth.' Now, the thbries Are part of thelaw of the Church, affirmed by Oonvocafion and ratified by Parliament; so that if lights were so used in the reign of King Edward VI, no authority short of a Convocation of the Church -and of a statute of Parliament can reverse the authority by which lights are used on the altar. Now, in the Injunctions of Edward VI, .publish in IS47, it is ordered, that 'all priests and other ecclesiastical persons shall take care to suffer no figures or 'temps of wax to be set before anypicture in the church, but only two lights upon ,the high altar before the sacrament; which is. for the signification that Christ is the true light ofthe world : these they shall suffer-to remain still.' The Greek Church and the Lutheran Protestants of Germany retain to the present day this appropriate part of the furniture of the sanctuary." "This lathe account given by the "Vicar of Leeds of this custom. Then I -appeal to you, as you are honest Englishmen, not to condemn or speak un- 'tably of a faithful priest who obeys the laws of his-church, and who is -bound-to do so ; but if you condemn this custom, if your opinions are against 'this law, take measures to alter the custom and amend the law, but do -not _punish him-who observes'it. If you are not satisfied with the rubric as it -nee/stands, summon your Convocations, and appeal to your Bishops to con- vene Synods of the Church, in order that the law of thethureh may be changed : but so long as it remains in its .present state, 'forgive him who -thinks he is bound-to obey the laws which-he has solemnly sworn toebserve." "Mr. Bennett passed to an objection that might be urged, that if we obey the laws of the Church as they exist at.present, no matter how objectionable they may ppear to us, we may gradually degenerate into mere machines, .although St. Jude tells-us-we should be able -to, give a reason for.the faith that is in us. -The exercise of the right of -private -judg-ruentis the right-of -every Clariatian man.; but he claimed it for himself, and those of the clergy, and amongst them those of this church, who have "determined, by every possible means, to observe.faithfullythe- laws of our Church." The Bishop of London came to this church on St. Barnabas day the 11th of June last. He entered this house of God, and examined with a critical.-eye every por- -tion of it. Everything was pointed out to him by me ; nothing was omitted. He came -on a-grand festival of the Church ; he consecrated this house of God; he gave us-his blessing, and went away leaving us his benediction and God speed you. .Now what • difference- can'there be between -June-the 11th and-November the.24th ? What4he Bishop has'been pleased to give would you ask us to forego ? what he has-consecrated would you ask us to dose- orate? what he has conferred with his blessing, as-ho did in the presence of thousands here that day, are. we, in terror of a mob, to shrink from accept- ing? We have built and ornamented this holy sanetuary to the honour of God. It has cost much, in time in money, and inlabour; -our whole heart has been set upon it : and all this has been done, ,not for the great, the rich, and the powerful, but for the use of the poor; we have opened wide our doors to the Christian -poor of the parish. Is it fair-to come down upon us and disturb our worship, -without considering -what we have-to-Bay in justi- fication of our _oo acting, and without reflecting why all this care and trouble have been taken ? -Suppose, unfortunately, that God were to permit the people.to burst into this holy sanctuary, and into the sacred chancel itself, scattering the signs of our holy faith, and tearing down -all that we love and venerate; suppose that they-should pass into that ohancelover our dead bodies—and otherwise they should not enter.; suppose, I say, all this, where then would be thoprinciple of love in obedience to which it is God's wish that Christians should think and speak and act ? " The congregation dispersed slowly. A few persons attempted to him the performance of a piece of saeredmusie on the organ while the people were leaving the church; 'but-the interruption-was soon -put an end'to. The crowd eutsidethad been kept very orderlyhy a'bodrof the 'Police.

Itwas:rumoured throughout London in the course of Monday that the storm of Sunday had done serious damage to the works in Hyde Park, and the damage was estimated at sums varying from :1000/. to 400/. We are assured, however, that, with the exception of a few unfastened planks which were blown dowirfrom a scaffold, andthe -destruction of about ten square feet of glass, (which, from not having been properly secured on Sa- turday night, was in anything but u &state to nieet so vicaent a-storm,) the works have in no respect suffered.

Kings College Hospital, like the preaminent medical-school to which it is attached, is constantly expanding. The -patients have lately become so numerous that the building, after all its enlargements, is again too small ; so an adjoining 'house has been added .to its room. The Reverend Mr. Fisk, already a contributor of 1700/. to the building-hind for the new Hospital, has given 1004 towards the expense of preparing the additional house.

-Remarkable allegations were made in a bankruptcy case before -Mr. Com- missionefFonblanque at the end of lastweek. air. Stephen Charles Lake- man appeared on tua..final examination as to the property and transactions of his late bankrupt firm. lie stated, that, in May 1847, having twice previously been a benkruM., he went into-partnership with Monsieur Chide, solicitor, of the. Due de Nemours and General de Rumigny, aide-de-camp of the late Rine ef the Trench, for "political purposes.' Among titherobjects contemplated by the establishment of his firm, was the negotiation of -a loan from "the Messrs. Baring -and other houses," to the Count de 'Neuilly, of twenty-two millions of francs; which were to-be employed in buying up the debts of the late King at their current discount of forty_per cent, and in esta- blishing a Paris journal in favour of the exiled house. 'It was hoped also to engage the affections of the manufacturers of France towards the house of Orleans, by making pecuniary advances to them .upon -eonsignments-of goods." Large consignments of potatoes had been thus received, and the advances made on them had yielded profits. Linklater -declared that there was not theleast pretence for the claim Of 4000/. made for-commission on the pretended loan from alfeesrs. 'Baring.

The Bankrupt—"I honestly believe that the claim is a valid one; and that such evidence will be given by members of some of the first houses in London, who were treated with in the negotiation of the loan, its will esta- blish it. If the family of Count de Neuilly have any moral feeling, they will pay the money."

Other claims on the French Government being contested, Mr. Graham, the Official Assignee, was appealed to. He informed the Commissioner, that -some of the claims on the French Government appeared to him to be prim& facie just and valid. He bad a letter from the French Government, in which they admitted that the goods had been supplied by the bankrupt, last-dis- puted their liability. The Commissioner thought that no benefit could arise from adjourning the examination. A. great deal had already been stated which had nothing to do with-the case as it concerned the Court of Bankruptcy. The-bankrupt was allowed to pass. The statements made by Mr. Lakcman in reference to the loan from Messrs. Baring have been eolared "entirely fake," by the English solicitor of the late Cant de Neuilly, Mr. John Parkinson ; who has written to the Times, stating- .. His -Majesty informed me in June last, when a claim was made upon him-for the commission referred to, that until then he was entirely ignorant even of the name of Lakeman, and that he had never authorized his aide-de-camp, General Rumigny, either verbally or otherwise, in any way to enter upon the transaction alludekl.to by Mr. Lakeman and his Majesty instructed me to defend any action -that might be commenced-against him for the Commission claimed ; but none has been brought."

At the Central Criminal Court, on Thursday, George Rouse, the man who plundered-the Dublin Castle public-house hear the Regent's Park, and made so desperate en attack open' the Policeman, pleaded "Guilty" to the charge of burglary. -The trial for cutting and -wounding the officer who apprehended him was not proceeded with. The young ruffian was sentenced to.be trans- porMd for life.

John Edward Cunnington, 'a clerk in the General Post-office, 'was-succes- sively tried- for stealing two letters containing, money. -Hewes acquitted on the first charge, his innocence having been hie; but in the other the evidence was conclusive,- and' he was found guilty.

At Bow Street Police Office, on Saturday, the seven persona charted-With the robbery of jewellery in the Strand-were again examined. More evidence was given showing the connexion of the boy Clinton • with Gardiner and Shaw. Additional statements made by Clinton were read. -A man called "Charley" figures largely in them as concocting the robbery. fihailey per- suaded Clinton to make an impression of the key of' the iron Cheat, showing him how to do it with a piece of soap ; 'the impression was taken aria the -key made. On some occasions Clint-n PAW .a map, whom be believed to be the prisoner Buncher. Charley and-Gardiner were themen the lad admitted to the shop; they said 'they- had another man outside ; Clinton, thought he

i saw Shaw n the street. Mr. Humphreys stated to the Magistrate, that he hoped in a week to produce "-Charley "-or--some additional evidence ; and Mr. Henry granted -a. further remand : bail would--be permitted to Butieher and his -wife, and to the woman Cheruneau.

At Marlborough -Street Police Office, en Monday, 'William St. Clair, a glazier, was charged with sending a threatening letter to Mr. Fox, -one of the contractors for the Great .Exhibition building. -The letter threatened to put an advertisement in the Morning Chronicle,- and to send a. letter to the editor, about low wages of the glaziers and the insecurity of the building likely to arise from bad pay. On Monday afternoon, St. Clair met-Mr. Fox in the building, and demanded an audience ; being refused, he clenched his fist, and said he would make Mr. Fox repent it. It seems that a protest about the rate :of wages of the glaziers was sent into the foreman lasteveek ; St. Char and some fifty others signed it. The-prisoner was vemanded,hut admitted to bail.

On the following day, the ease was again gone- into at great length. A number of workmen were called as witnesses for the defendant : they stated that St. Clair'a words were, "You may repent it," and that he did not threaten with his hand. Th&Mugistrate, Mr. Bingham, took time. to consi- der his decision and remanded the man tillihursday. On that day he again postponed judgment, as a technical point was raised for the prisoner.

'Georgiana Boman, a young woman who has -gone by other names, and who is said to have managed-to support herself, her.nuither, anda sister, in dashing style, -by impositions on-the charitable, lain custody, andinte been examined twice at the Lambeth Police Office, on charges of fraud. In some eases -she had received money for the Governesses Benevolent Iestitution, pretending that she was authorized to collect -it; this money he appro- priated. In 1846 she-had been relieved with 3/. from the fends of the olia- rity. Other charges have been made out, and more are threatened.