gbe ItIttropolis.

On Tuesday, Alderman John Pirie, the Lord Mayor elect, was pre- sented to the Lord Chancellor. He was accompanied by the Recorder, the Sheriffs, Alderman Lainson, Alderman Gibbs, Alderman Magnay, Alderman Sir George Carroll, the Chamberlain, the City Solicitor, the City Comptroller, the City Remembrancer, and other officers of the Corporation. He was presented by the Recorder ; who recounted the notable circumstances of his life—his Shrievalty, and the thanks of the Corporation which followed it, his election as Alderman, his eminence in business as a merchant, his having received the votes of 6,000 Par- liamentary electors in his absence from the City, and his philanthropy as a visi tent of prisons. On the last subject Mr. Law grew warm- " I fear, my Lord, that the partiality of private friendship might be imputed to me if I ventured to speak of this gentleman as he merits in the varied rela- tions and characters of social life; on this topic I am restrained by his presence from acquitting myself as I ought. Few can enjoy the opportunities or pos- sess the enabling means to tread in the steps of a Howard; but there are those who, in recalling the glowing expressions of Burke in reference to that great philanthropist, will be forcibly reminded of one who, in a humbler sphere of use- fulness, is animated by the same zeal and influenced by like virtuous motives- ' to dive into the depths of dungeons, to plunge into the infection of hospitals, to survey the mansions of sorrow and pain' to take the gauge and dimensions of human misery, depression, and contempt, to remember the forgotten, to at- tend to the neglected, to visit the forsaken.'"

The Lord Chancellor signified the Queen's approval of Alderman Pine's election to the civic chair, and offered his personal congratula- tions. The Chancellor then shook hands with the Lord Mayor elect, the Recorder, the Sheriffs, and other Corporation officers ; the "loving cup" passed round; and the City party took their leave.

A grand dinner was given to Lord Ellenborough, the newly-ap- pointed Governor-General of India, on Wednesday, by the Directors of the East India Company. The chair was filled by Mr. Lyall, the Chairman of the Company and Member for the City. On his right sat Lord Ellenborougb, the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Lincoln, Earl Delawarr, the Earl of Rosslyn, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Goulburn ; and on his left, the Deputy-Chairman of the East India Company, Lord Wharncliffe, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Haddington, the Earl of Jersey, Lord Hill, Lord Fitzgerald. Among other dis- tinguished guests, were Viscount Canning, Lord Edward Bruce Lord Abinger, Lord Granville Somerset, Lord Lowther, Lord Langdale, Lord Keane, the Honourable W. Gordon, the Honourable Henry Bingham Baring, the Honourable Sidney Herbert, the Honourable H. L. Corry, Sir George Clerk, Sir John Barrow, Mr. Loch, Sir Howard Douglas, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Sir John Macdonald, Sir George Seymour, Honourable Hugh Lindsay, the Vice-Chancellor, Sir Henry Hardinge, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Vice-Chancellor Wigram, the Ho- nourable H. S. Law, Sir Willoughby Cotton, the Attorney-General, Sir Martin Archer Shee, Mr. Wigram, Sir Nicholas Tindal, Sir George Murray, Sir James Graham, Mr. Gladstone, Vice-Chancellor Bruce, the Recorder, and the Solicitor-General.

In returning thanks when his health was drunk, Lord Ellenborough expatiated on his resources, his difficulties, his duties, and his inten- tions—

He rejoiced that their [the Directors'] confidence had to some degree been accompanied by that of the large majority of those who were acquainted with the state of India ; that there had been, he might say, something approaching to general acquiescence in the appointment which the Court of Directors had thought fit to make. He rejoiced in this, not in the slightest degree from any private feeling or personal consideration, but because the assurance of that sup-

port here would give strength and efficiency to his Government in India. He knew too well the difficulties of his situation not to feel much apprehension that

no endeavours of his, however well intended and directed, could effect one-

tenth of the good he desired; but if there was any one thing which qualified him rather than any other man for the office he now held, it was, that placed at

the head of the India Board thirteen years ago by his noble friend the Duke of

Wellington, he had from that time to the present, constantly and confidentially communicating with him upon every subject relative to the affairs of India,

endeavoured to make himself master of his general views awl the principles on which he would conduct the government of that country and of its army : agd happy indeed would it be for India if, in making himself acquainted with those general views and principles, he should have had the good fortune to imbibe any portion, however small, of the practical knowledge and the intuitive wisdom which his noble friend ever brought to the consideration of public affairs. He felt that in going to India he went strong in the noble Duke's confidence; and that, he might say, was one chief support of the government he went to administer. He felt also that he was about to succeed a man who in the office of Governor-General had, he rejoiced to have this opportunity of declaring, exhibited great practical ability in the administration of affairs. Yet he felt he had much to do,—to terminate the war in China, by a peace honourable to the Crown and durable in its provisions ; to restore tranquillity to both banks of the Indus; in a word, to give peace to Asia—a peace giving that sense of security to the people without which peace itself was valueless; and by means of that peace to create surplus revenue, the only true security for great public improvements—for liberal, even for honest government ; by means of that surplus revenue to emulate the magnificent benevolence of the Mabomedan Emperors in the great works of public improvement; and, more than all, by gradually, cautiously, having regard to the prejudices and feelings of the natives, imparting to them all we know of arts and civilization, so as at once to elevate the character and better the condition of that generous and mighty people. Feeling as he did that his first duty was now, not to the people

of England but to the people of India, he rejoiced that any. one who took an enlarged view of the interests of the former must feel, that m enriching India,

not in impoverishing it, in improving its resources, in stimulating all its means of public improvement, in increasing its means of remittances to this country, and more especially with reference to its most important manufacture, he was, in fact, doing great service to England as well as to the country which was more particularly committed to his charge. Be went there with the most unbounded confidence in the army and the people. He trusted to the power of inflexible justice in administering the government—a power greater perhaps among uncivilized than among more advanced nations ; he trusted to that power for obtaining the willing obedience of a grateful people. Be went to India without having made one single promise. Be should land in that country free, and determined to select for every office the person who to him seemed best qualified to fill it. The government of India should not be the govern- ment of a party, but the government of the people.

The health of "Sir Robert Peel and her Majesty's Ministers" was drunk with warm applause. Sir Robert Peel took the occasion of re- turning thanks to give his testimony to Lord Ellenborough's qualifica- tions for his new office—

Although he (Sir Robert) had not bad much immediate intercourse with In- dian affairs or Indian authorities, he thought he had recently given a solid and convincing proof that he was not insensible to the welfare of India. It was not from any light consideration that he could have been induced to forego at the present important and arduous crisis the assistance and cooperation of his noble friend, whom they had now met to honour. Be could look back upon an official connexion with him of fifteen years' duration, unchequered by a single instance of misunderstanding or difference upon public affairs. There was no one more capable than he was of estimating the value of his assistance as a colleague at this momentous crisis. Be knew the value of his assistance, from a know- ledge of his high integrity, his strict honour, his great ability, his indefatigable industry, and, added to all these, that power of expression of which he had himself tonight given so forcible an illustration. But when he considered whose services within the range of public men would be most available for India—when he thought of a man whose powerful intellect had been specially applied to the affairs of India, having acquired a knowledge of its concerns not possessed by any other civil servant of the Crown except that illustrious man to whom no parallel could be set up—when he recollected that that knowledge

could not be acquired by any industry, however persevering, but only when stimulated and prompted by the deepest interest in the welfare of the country which was the object of its solicitude—when he knew what were his noble friend's enlarged views of public economy—when he knew the deep interest he took in the welfare of the natives of India, the great object of his ambition being to consolidate the empire of India, founded not on the narrow edge of the sword, but on the wider foundation of the happiness of the great body of the people—he then could not reconcile it to himself to throw any difficulty in the way of his noble friend's appointment to India, although it compelled him to forego the aid and cooperation of a most valued friend and colleague. The health of "The Duke of Wellington" brought forth the Great Captain, and his tribute of praise to the guest of the day—

Not only had his noble friend been celebrated among the great statesmen of this country by his talents, by his known sense of justice, by his zeal and in- tegrity, but, as he himself had stated, he had been selected upon three different occasions to fill the office of Chief Commissioner for the Affairs of India; and he had devoted all his talents in order to make himself master of all the details of those affairs, and to acquire a knowledge of all the interior arrangements of that country. He came, therefore, before them with all the advantages of a distinguished statesman in this country, and all the advantages which might in other circumstances have been expected to arise only from a long residence in India.

Among the other toasts, were "The Chairman and the Court of Directors," proposed by the Duke of Wellington, and acknowledged by Mr. Lyall ; and "Lord Fitzgerald and the Commissioners for the Affairs of India," proposed by the Chairman, and acknowledged by Lord Fitzgerald. The company did not separate till near midnight.

Last evening, several gentlemen met at Anderton's Hotel, to celebrate the forty-seventh anniversary of the trial of Hardy, Tooke, Thelwall, and the other members of the London Corresponding Society. Colonel Thompson was the chairman. The usual run of toasts to the memory of those men, of Muir, Palmer, Gerald Skirving, and Margarot, and so forth, was enlivened by one to "the Right Honourable Daniel O'Con- nell, M.P., Lord Mayor of Dublin"; and by an anecdote which Major Revell gave, apropos to "the memory of Thomas Erskine, the advocate of Hardy and his compatriots "-

Bearing that Erskine was to defend Tom Paine, George the Third wrote to his son : that letter was laid before Erskine by the Prince ; and Erskine wrote a reply, which, it was unfortunate, was not likely to be published. The substance, however, was, that Erskine begged the Prince to recollect the reason for which the people sent for his family to take the go- vernment; that they were petty princes in Germany, and so they would have been still if they had not been sent for to govern, not for their sakes, but for the sake of the liberty of the people of England; that the independence of the bar was one of the great bulwarks of that liberty ; that as the Prince called upon him to sacrifice that freedom for the pleasure of his father, he would not do so; and that he might not be the means of separating father from son, he would retire from the honour of being the Prince of Wales's Attorney-Gene- ral, and would defend Mr. Paine. These were the facts as stated to him by Lord Erskine, and it was right that they should be known.

A public meeting was held at the Crown and Anchor last night to support the strike of the masons against Messrs. Grissell and Peto. There was nothing particularly new in the allegations of the speakers. One strong charge against the contractors was, that their foreman, Allen, had locked up a pump, to compel certain Teetotallers to deal with favoured publicans. During the proceedings, Mr. Wakley entered the room. Be said that he had been misled, but not much, by the one- sided reports in the papers ; and he intimated, by recalling the support which he afforded to the Dorchester labourers and Glasgow spinners, that he should give his support to the masons. He recommended them to exert themselves to obtain a share of legislative power as their best protection.

Pauperism is increasing in Marylebone parish : on Friday, the number of persons in the workhouse was 1,750, greater than the number of any preceding winter for many years. At the last Vestry-meeting the first half-yearly report of the Tenth Board of Auditors was read : it contains some striking facts connected with pauperism in the parish- " In 1836, the rate was only ls. 2d. in the pound, and the whole sum raised was 44,573!.; while last year the rate was Is. Ild, per pound, and the sum raised 76,3551; thus showing, that maintaining the poor of this parish costs the inhabitants 31,7821. more in 1840 than in 1836, being an increase of more than 70 per cent. This alarming difference in the parochial expenditure is to be attributed, first, to the greatly-increased price of provisions, and secondly, to a great increase in the number of paupers receiving relief; and we may state, that in examining the accounts of the parish for many years past, these two circumstances always occur together: when provisions are dear the applicants for parish relief are most numerous, from the great deficiency of employment and general bad state of trade in dear times; while, on the contrary, when pro- visions are cheap the applicants for relief materially diminish, from the greater demand for labour, better wages, and the general prosperity which has hitherto attended cheap years. "The demand for parochial relief in any given year appears to be regulated more by the prices of the preceding year than of the current year; and this ap- pears accounted for by the fact that the quantity of employment and the state of trade are influenced more by the character of the preceding than of any Current year. Thus, in 1835, the contracts were made at the lowest price, but in 1836 we had the smallest number of applicants; and the smallest sum was paid in that year, establishing the above principle. Again, the price of wheat from year to year appears to regulate not only the amount paid for provisions, but also the number of paupers depending on the fund."

The report gives the subjoined table, which is worth a careful exa- mination, as showing the parallel advance in the price of wheat, in the number of paupers, and consequently in the rates-

years. Rate per X.

„„„,

"10-f''''''

Rate eol. leeted.

Average Rate per Head on r the Po- pulation

ver e Char:i-gon each lHead

Average number °f P'3”

Cost

a

Flour Flour Cost of Butchers Meat ' The Oa-

"ft° Aver' e age Price of Wheat.

1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 s. d.

2 9 210 2 10 1 10 15

1 2 17 1 7 1 7 1 11

se 91,104 97,672 93,834 67.259 53,487 44,573 59,306 61.091 63,221 76,355 s. d.

14 101 15 11 15 4 11 0 89

7 8

99 9 11 10 4 12 5 se s. d.

7 16 11

8 8 3 8 1 8 .5 15 10 4121 3 16 9 5 3 0 5 5 0 5 8 11 6 11 6

7.913

8,914

5.,027 3,458 3,222 3.254 3,385 3.758 4,100

• • • •

....

1;07.2 1,540 1,827 2,865 3,392 4,295 4,605

• • • •

....

2.9..4 2,216 2.837 3,171 3,185 3.637 4,120

se s. d.

3 6 4 2 18 8 2 12 1 2 6 2 1194 2 8 6 2 15 10

3 4 7

3 11 6 3 6 4

" The cost of provisions during the present year was still on the increase ; the amount paid for flour in the first half of this year being 2,5631., and for butchers-meat 2,0881., being at the rate of 5,126/. and 4,176/. per annum re- spectively. It will be observed how materially the price of wheat influences all the interests of the rate. payers."

A recent discovery of jewels in the Exchequer Office has been the subject of much conversation during the last week. The treasure found is said to be of considerable value, and, according to all appear- ances, it has bebn hid for one hundred and fifty years—plainly for more than a century. The most probable surmise is, that the jewels were pledged in the reign either of Charles the Second or James the Second, princes who observed no remarkable regularity in their finan- cial operations. We think it worth the while to say so much upon the subject, because the value of the discovery has, we believe, been exag- gerated, and the circumstance made the subject of idle comment.— Standard, Nov. 5.

At the Mansionhouse, on Wednesday, Ernest Rapallo, who was de- scribed as a stockbroker, was charged with being concerned in the late fraudulent issue of Exchequer Bills. Mr. Raven, the Chief Clerk in the office of Mr. Maule the Solicitor to the Treasury, appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. Lefroy for the prisoner. The only witness called was Mr. Burnaby, the Chief Clerk at Bow Street; who produced the following statement, which he had taken down before Mr. Hall the Magistrate, at the Treasury, from the mouth of the prisoner- " Ernest Rapallo, being cautioned as to what he might say, stated as follows. I became acquainted with Mr. Beaumont Smith a great many years ago. I introduced a gentleman to him, with whom he became very intimate. His name was Salari. He was a kind of broker. Mr. Salari died about a year ago; and about that time I came in direct contact with Mr. Smith about the Exche- quer Bills ; at which time I took the management of a certain speculation which I had been on, but was left with all the heavy part of the business after Mr. Salari's death. I received from Mr. Smith these Exchequer Bills to carry on the speculation. The last time 1 received any is about a fortnight ago. He called at my office in the City. To the hest of my recollection, there were eighty-one bills of 1,000/. each. I cannot speak positively to the number, but I think about that number. They were placed in my hands for the purpose of raising money on them. I asked him if he could do any thing for me in the regular way ; and he came to me and brought them. The only particularity with him was his request to have the same number returned to him. I knew what situation Smith held. I knew the bills were not his property. I did not consider it was my business to ask him whether it was a regular thing. It never occurred to me that it was an irregular thing. Smith was so far con- cerned in the speculation that he furnished me with the means of carrying it on. He was to have a portion of the profits in the event of success. Smith has lodged Exchequer Bills from time to time with Mr. Salari, which I knew ; and after his death I considered it an established thing. I applied to Smith, and asked him if he could assist me to pay for Spanish Bonds. He came to my office with a parcel, and asked me how I was going on ? I told him I was not going on well ; and then it was lie gave me the Exchequer Bills which I last received ; after which I raised money upon them, with which I paid for the Spanish Stock. Several of the bills are now in the hands of Mr. Mariner. I never paid him money upon the bills. I knew Smith had nothing but Exchequer Bills to give me. Any transactions that took place previous to the one I have mentioned were of a similar nature. Several such transactions have taken place, and all within a year. I should at all hazards have sold Stock to redeem the Exchequer Bills. Smith demurred sometimes in lending me as many bills as I have asked him for. Smith was particular in having the bills returned at a given time. I can't say how many bills are now in Mr. Mariner's hands. I knew he must have a good many. Mr. Morgan, another broker, knew what was going on. I knew when the bills must be paid, which was when the ad- vertisement appeared. The most transactions of this sort I have had with Smith can only be three, and the last was the greatest in amount. I have re- turned all the bills I have received from Smith. I should say he never trans- acted such business with any one but myself. I had deposits made in my hands before Salari's death. The last return was between 100,0001. and 200,0001., which was in June last; and the one in March was about the same amount. I should think the two exchanges amounted to upwards of 200,000/. Since the June exchange there would be about 131,000/. I always wrote to Smith, when I wanted the bills, to the Exchequer Office. I was always of opinion that the bills furnished to me by Smith were bond fide good ones. E. RAPALLO."

Mr. Lefroy applied for Mr. Rapallo's discharge, as there was no evi- dence against him. Mr. Raven wished him to be remanded; and Alder- man Wilson, the sitting Magistrate, after consulting with Mr. Hobler, consented, although there was no direct testimony of his guilt, to re- mand him for the shortest possible time—until Thursday at twelve o'clock.

Accordingly, he was brought up again at that time ; and now Mr. Waddington conducted the prosecution, Mr. Bodkin appearing for the prisoner. Mr. Waddington called Mr. Mariner, the Secretary of the National Brazilian Gold-mining Association, who proved that Rapallo brought him ten bills, numbered from 6,404 to 6,413 consecutively, on the 13th October, to be pledged ; and for that purpose, Mr. Mariner handed them over to Mr. de Berchem. On cross-examination, Mr. Mariner said that he could not swear that he gave the identical bills to Mr. de Berchem. Mr. Francis Townley de Berchem, a broker, but not sworn, remembered giving sixteen Exchequer Bills to Mr. Pemberton last week ; but he could not swear to their being the same bills which he had received from Mr. Mariner, though he would swear to any entries in his books. Mr. Christopher Robert Pemberton, of the Chan- oe lor of the Exchequer's department, deposed to receiving the bills from Mr. de Berchem. Mr. Dudley Montague Perceval, Assistant- Comptroller of Exchequer Bills, said that he signed the bills issued in Jane for Lord Monteagle. He had examined the ten bills produced, and he found that they did not agree with the counterfoib3; not one of them fitted or matched. The blank bills were in a book, like a banker's check-book, three to a page ; and the bill numbered 6,407 was taken from the bottom of a page; but any one might see by calculation that it was impossible that that number could be at the bottom of any one page, in a series of three bills to a page. Mr. Pereeval said that the signature of the forged bills was neither in Lord Monteagle's hand- writing nor his own : it was a good imitation ; but he could easily uis- tinguish it, for he had become as familiar with the forged signature as with his own. The forms of the bills were genuine. The real Exche- quer Bills from 6,405 to 6,411 were produced for comparison. Mr. Waddington insisted that, Rapallo having uttered the forged bills, the burden lay with him to prove that he was innocent. After some con

versation on the point, he was remanded till Wednesday week, the 17th.

Mr. Edward Beaumont Smith, the principal in the Exchequer Bill fraud, who has been under frequent examination at the Home Office, was brought up for final examination at Bow Street, on Thursday. The depositions taken before Mr. Hall himself, the Bow Street Magis- trate, at the Home Office, were read. The deposition of Mr. Maule was first read : it is abridged here, as well as the statement which fol- lows it— Mr. Manic attended at the Exchequer Office, on the 25th October, to com- pare a number of suspected Exchequer Bills with the counterfoils. There were present Mr. Samuel James Wood, the Accountant in the Exchequer Of- fice, Mr. Blake, and Smith. Bills numbered 6,404 and 6,405, with subsequent numbers, were twice placed against the counterfoils, and found not totally. While the four persons engaged in the examination of the bills were conversing, Smith said that he wished to speak to Mr. Maule in private; and on their retiring to an adjoining room, he appeared to be much disconcerted, and said he had resolved to disclose the whole matter, for he had suffered great anxiety of mind, and he had contemplated self-destruction. He also assured Mr. Maule that no person in the office was concerned in it but himself. He said, "I am the author of all the mischief." Mr. Maule said," Do you mean to state that you forged the bills ?" and he replied that he had put the numbers on them, but another hand, he would not disclose whose, had put the name. He said he had put all the bills into the hands of Rapallo; and had commenced such business in 1836, or six years ago. Mr. Maule asked him if he knew for what amount he had issued bills; and he said he could not tell, but it was for a large amount ; and it was easily done—Mr. Maule could have done it himself. He was asked how ? and he replied, that he had a number of bills over and above the issue, which he used for the purpose ; many of which were given to Rapallo with the numbers only on them, without the signature; and that some of them might be still in Rapallo's hands. Mr. Wood was called in, and the prisoner repeated nearly the same statement. There was a leaf in the book of counterfoils that appeared to be the remainder of one torn out; and upon Mr. Maule observing it, Smith assisted in showing that it belonged to an adjoining leaf. He also showed that one of the bills, which a gentleman thought corresponded with one of the coun- terfoils, did not do so. Smith gave all assistance to examine the books and papers.

Mr. Wood's deposition corroborated the foregoing statement.

While Smith was detained at Gardner's Lane Stationhouse, on the 25th, he unbosomed himself to Iuspector Henings ; whose deposition was read— The prisoner said he was in much trouble of mind, and had been so for some time ; and hoped his wife would be able to stand it. He said he had broached it to her on Saturday, and it came upon her liken clap of thunder. The first difficulty he had was lending his name for 100/. to a friend, which came back ; and he gave another bill in his own name, which he either said had come back, or he had borrowed money at an extraordinary interest. His difficulties in- creased from that time to the amount of 1,8001.; and finding himself so awk- wardly situated, having no money to recover himself, (for to take the benefit of the act would be the loss of his situation,) his friend advised him to get some Exchequer Bills ; which he did in an evil hour : they were blank bills, and 14,000/. was raised upon them. Mr. Henings remarked that was a large sum ; and he said it was, but it was done to relieve him front his difficulties. Be said his friend promised the blank papers should be returned. He asked if one Levi was in custody, for he had disposed of 6,000/. worth of bills. Mr. Han- fogs observed, that it was wonderful such an amount of bills could have gone into the market without being detected. The prisoner said, it was almost im- possible to discover the forgeries : if the bills were shuffled, he could pick out the black sheep. The money with which they had speculated had in almost every instance failed. They bad speculated largely in the British Iron-works previously to the Chancellor's decision, which was contrary to what they had -expected: it was done with a view to turn themselves round, but it went against them. The prisoner afterwards said, a gentleman named Rapallo, who had been engaged in the Bonaparte expedition to France, was the friend whom he bad mentioned in the commencement of the discourse.

Mr. Mariner gave evidence viva voce to the same effect as that which he gave on Rapallo's examination. He said that all the entries in his book concerning Exchequer Bills referred to transactions with Rapallo, except one, which related to a transaction with Mr. Salari ; who ap- peared to have a distinct business, but to have a mutual understand- ing with Rapallo. The largest amounts of Exchequer Bills which he ever received at one time from Rapallo were 84,000/ and 88,0001., the latter on the 19th September. Mr. de Berchem also gave evidence of the delivery of sixteen bills at the Exchequer. Hearing of the suspi- cion which attached to such documents, he went to have them examined. Mr. Maule identified two of these bills as among those which he had examined with Mr. Smith on the 25th October. Mr. Perceval made a statement to show how difficult it was to evade the checks against for- gery used in the Exchequer Office : he illustrated his explanation with a diagram, which probably made it more intelligible than it is in the newspaper reports.

Smith declined to say any thing in his defence, and he was committed to Newgqe for trial.

One of the most memorable of all the great fires that ever occurred in the Metropolis broke out in the Tower of London on Saturday night ; and a large portion of that famous building has been destroyed. The mode of the first discovery is uncertain, but the following appears

to be the most probable account. At about twenty-five minutes after ten o'clock, one of the sentinels on duty at the Royal Mint observed a light in the Round or Bowyer Tower. Thinking this was not right, he called the porter of the Royal Mint Lodge out to look at it, saying at the time that a light in that tower was most unusual. The porter replied, that he had often seen it, and again went into his lodge. A few minutes after, a shout was raised by Ed- wards, a Sergeant of the Fusileer Guards, on Tower Hill, to alarm the sentry on the batteries facing Postern Row. The alarm was quickly communicated to others within the Tower ; the bugles were sounded ; and the garrison and the officer in command (Major Elrington, Colonel Gurwood the Governor having gone into the country) speedily turned oat. The alarm spread abroad, and in a very snort time engines began to arrive from all quarters, with Mr. Braidwood, the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade. A regiment of Scotch Fusileer Guards, three hundred men from the Coldstream Guards, and the same number from the Grenadier Guards, in addition to the company of Artillery stationed at the Tower, were in attendance ; and they were assisted by detachments from the various Metropolitan Police divisions, as well as by a strong body of the City Police. Multitudes of people were assembled on Tower Hill, and besieged the gates of the Tower in endeavouring to obtain admission with the military. Women who had relations within the walls were seen struggling and screaming to get in. When some of the firemen arrived at the entrance next Thames Street, they found the gates closed, and the sentry upon duty refused to let them pass ; upon which Mackay, a fireman, declared that he would cause the gates to be burst open ; but the sentry replied, that the first man who dared to make the attempt he would ran through with his bayonet: his orders were, not to open the gates, and until those instructions were rescinded he dared not open them. At length, after the engines had been detained several minutes, an order came to admit them. By that time the flames had attained an alarming ascendancy. Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining water, from its being low-tide and the ditch empty ; and it was not until a steam-engine and hose had been conveyed to the water's edge, that any quan- tity could be procured. The whole of the inner square is one sub- terranean tank, for the express purpose of providing water against a contingency of this nature ; but on the plugs being taken up, the tanks were found dry, and all hope of obtaining the supply from that source was at an end. At about one o'clock, the flames ex- tended to nearly the whole length of the Grand Armoury. The scene was magnificent, and the fire might have been seen many miles distant. A number of Fusileer Guards had been some time employed in forcing a breach between the line of houses adjoining the Western end of the Armoury, with the hope of staying the further progress of the flames ; but the roof of the latter building having now given way, they were ordered to desist. Great fears were entertained lest the flames should reach the White Tower, in which a large quantity of ammunition was lodged. Part of the powder was removed to the lower magazine, and the remainder was flung into the moat. In the grand Armoury, which is stated to have been the largest room in Europe, were deposited 280,000 stand of arms ; besides a vast quantity of military carriages, bombs, and spoils of war captured by our troops in various parts of the world. The flames having once penetrated this hall, no hope existed that any portion of it would be saved ; and the exertions of the firemen were confined to keeping the surrounding buildings as cool as possible, by playing all the water they could ob- tain upon them. At this time great apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the Crown jewels deposited in the Regalia-office, which closely adjoins the eastern extremity of the grand Armoury ; and the Yeomen of the Guard, under the direction of the Captain, were deputed to undertake their removal. This service was promptly performed without accident ; and the whole of the valuables, including the model of the White Tower, were consigned to the care of the Governor, and placed in a fire-proof vault beneath his residence. The heat from the burning pile had now become so excessive that the firemen could no longer act in the centre square, and it was quite impossible to attempt to save any portion of the arms and stores contained in the grand storehouse. At about five o'clock, the fire was much subdued; but the ruins have continued burning, in one part or another, the whole of the week ; the flames bursting out afresh more than once. Richard Wivell, one of the firemen of the Brigade establishment, was killed by the fall of a mass of stone from the top of a wall under which he was holding a hose. Another of the firemen was severely injured, but it is hoped that he may recover.

The origin of the fire is uncertain. It broke out in the Inspection- room, in the Table Tower, under the room in which Clarence was murdered ; and it has generally been supposed to have been caused by the overheating of flues, tnough the foreman of the works says that that was impossible ; and some accounts speak of a candle having hews left burning by a careless workman. An inquiry into the matter is proceeding in the Ordnance Office. The extent of the loss is at present equally uncertain ; but, in pursuance of orders from the Board of Ordnance, the officers in the Tower bad been taking stock : they completed their task just five hours before the fire broke out so that they will ultimately be able to ascertain the exact loss. The buildings destroyed were the Armoury, the Table Tower or Bowyer Tower, with two stores on each side of it, and the Butler's Tower. The following description of the property destroyed in the Great Armoury is given in the daily papers-

" The principal portions were trophies of British valour, many of great an- tiquity, and the whole forming a splendid and highly-interesting collection. "The Armoury, said to have been the largest in Europe, was three hundred and forty-five feet in length, and was formerly used as a storehouse for the Artillery train, until the stores were removed to Woolwich. A considerable number of chests filled with arms ready for any emergency were in a portion of the room which was portioned off; and in the other part a variety of arms were arranged in fanciful and elegant devices. "At the entrance, were two brass 24-pounders, mounted on field-carriages, cast at Woolwich from cannon taken at Cherbourg in 1758; these were elabo- rately chased and highly ornamented. On the left hand of the entrance, was a row of guns, arranged in historical order, showing the various improvements in the manufacture of cannon. One piece was of wrought iron, and manufactured in the time of Henry the Fifth, A.D. 1422; another of wrought-iron, in the time of Edward the Fourth, 1461; a brass 36-pounder, thirteen feet in length, Henry the Seventh, A.D. 1456; a 12-pounder, brass, thirteen feet four inches long, formerly belonging to Charles the Fifth, Emperor of Germany, A.D. 1509; a large brass 68-pounder, in weight nearly five tons and a half, inscribed with the date 1542, and said to be one of the lower-deck guns of the celebrated Great Harry'; a brass la-pounder, made flat, having three bores and recep- tacles for the chambers where the charge was fired ; a brass 4-pounder of octa- gon form; and a brass cannon, having seven bores, all of the time of Henry the Eighth ; a brass 20-pounder, Edward the Sixth, A.D. 1548; a brass 2-pounder, taken from the Dutch in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 1581; a 3-pounder, a brass chamber-gun, manufactured in the same reign ; a curious brass mortar, bore seven inches and a half, James the First, A.D. 1610; a beautifully-orna- mented cannon, manufactured expressly for the son of Jsaines the First (Henry Prince of Wales) in 1608; and also a handsome brass 22-pounder, of English manufacture, made for Charles Prince of Wales in 1621; a beautifully-wrought 5-pounder, Charles the Second, A.D. 1676; a brass 5-pounder, having three bores, and taken at the battle of Ramillies in the reign of Queen Anne; a beautifully-ornamented brass 27-pounder, taken at Cherbourg in 1758; a light brass 24-pounder, George the Second, A.D. 1748; a splendid 42-pounder, made of hoe brass, in length sixteen feet, brought from Java in 1811. There was an inscription on it in the Persian language, which was translated by the Earl of Munster as follows—' The work of the Sultan Ranafa Achmet Ma- gem-ed-Deen, of the country of Palembaeg the Sacred, on which be peace; 1183 of the Hegira' (A.D. 1769.)

"To the right of the entrance, was a range of brass and iron guns, mortars, fat., the greater portion of which had been connected with some of the moat

eventful periods of British history : they were of the following description. A 32-pounder, made of iron, in its original carriage, and a brass 24-pounder, re-

covered from the wreck of the Royal George in the year 1834, having been under water fifty-two years; a 7-pounder brass cannon from Malta, in length seventeen feet four inches ; a singular brass gun, of the reign of Charles the Second; two elegant brass 24-pounders; on the breach some lions' skins are

very finely carved, and also the effigy of St. Barbara; they were taken from the walla of Vigo by the army under the command of Lord Cobham in 1704; two

beautiful brass lichornes, 15-pounders, manufactured at St. Petersburg, and dated respectively 1783 and 1789, taken from a Turkish frigate ; two splendid 1-pounder brass guns, elaborately ornamented and mounted on elegant car-

riages, presented by the Earl of Leicester to the young Duke of Gloucester, son of Queen Anne, who died in his youth, in the year 1700 ; two brass mortars, each weighing 2,840 pounds, taken at Cherbourg in 1758; a brass mortar, capable of throwing nine shells at once, from which the balloons were thrown at the celebrated display of fireworks in 1748; and a beautiful specimen of casting, consisting often small brass cannon, on carriages: they were presented by the brass-founders of London to Charles the Second, when that monarch was only nine years of age, for the avowed purpose of aiding his studies in the art of war.

"On a raised platform stood the drum-major's chariot, with the kettle-drums fixed. This was used on state occasions, or when the train was on the march. It was then drawn by six horses. Beneath, placed in a recess, was a Fate for beating shot, and also a singular chevaux de frise, made at Lyons, and intended for the defence of a narrow pass or breach. One of the wooden guns, called 'Policy,' which were used as a ruse de guerre by Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk, at the siege of Boulogne, in 1544, when that nobleman commanded for Henry the Eighth. The object was to impress the Governor with a be- lief that the English had plenty of artillery, and the stratagem was eminently successful. In the small armoury there were arms for upwards of 150,000 men; all new-flinted and ready for service.

"There were four square columns formed with pikes of the time of Charles the Second, of the height of twenty-two feet ; around which pillars were pistols entwined in a serpentine direction ; and upon the ceiling was a beauti- fully carved and gilt ornament similarly decorated. Under this ceiling King William and Queen Mary once gave a splendid banquet. Round the whole of the room was a cornice farmed of drums, pistola, and pieces of armour, skilfully and tastefully arranged, besides a great variety of ornaments formed on the walls with arms of ancient patterns. There were also beautiful stars, formed of swords and pistols, with carved centres. Placed in the midst of some beau- tiful wood-carvings was a musket of splendid workmanship which formerly be- longed to the guard of Tippoo Saib. There was also a great number of the ancient plug-bayonets, which had to be removed from the piece before they could be fired. A variety of ancient arms in devices, and the swords of Jus- tice and Mercy used at the coronation of the Young Pretender in Scotland. Some curious carbines taken from the Highlanders in 1715. The arms taken from Sir William Perkins, Charnock, &c., who were concerned in the assassi- nation-plot in 1696. Some sergeants' halberts, time of William the Third. Scotch broad-swords, time of George the Second. Four figures in suits of brass and steel armour, and several banners which came from Malta. There was also a quantity of musketoons with brass barrels, so arranged as to represent an organ. Indeed, every portion of the walls and ceiling was covered with various tasteful designs of stars, church-windows, gates, &c. formed of innu- merable pistols, swords, hangers, bayonets, and other small. arms. "At the conclusion of this grievous catalogue of destruction, it is pleasing to be enabled to say that a beautiful piece of work which stood in the centre of the room was saved. It consisted of the celebrated brass gun taken from Malta by the French in 1798, and sent, with eight banners which hung over the same, to the French Directory by General Bonaparte, in La Sensible; from which it was recaptured by the Seahorse, Captain Foote. The sword and sash which belonged to the late Duke of York were also saved, through the intrepidity of Captain Davis; who, however, severely cut his hands by dashing them through the plate-glass frame in which the sword and sash were enclosed."

The damage sustained at the Map-office has been very great ; not so much from the fire, as from the destruction caused by the removal of the maps, and the hurried manner in which many of them were preci- pitated, pell-mell, into one general heap, so that the destruction was as complete as though they had been destroyed by the fire. During the confusion several robberies were effected, and next day a few of the pilferers were apprehended, and others on Tuesday ; among Whom were the wives of four of the soldiers, who had possessed them- selves of as many silk gowns belonging to some of the inhabitants. Some of the soldiery also grossly miscondueted themselves : they en- tered the houses which were unprotected, under pretence of removing the property, and there they committed great excesses, drinking and destroying quantities of wine. A person having the appearance, both in dress and behaviour, of a gentleman, was seen on Monday to put into his pocket a large piece of the molten lead which had fallen from the roof of the Armoury into the ruins. He was imme- diately taken into custody, and conveyed before some of the authorities. He was, however, ultimately discharged; it being made manifest that he had placed himself in his awkward predicament from the great curiosity which he felt to possess a memento of so memorable an event.

On Sunday afternoon, Lord Hill and several officers and distinguished persons visited the place ; and throughout Sunday and each subsequent day, every point from which a view could be obtained was crowded by people anxious to see the smouldering ruins ; but the public was ex- cluded from the Tower itself. On Thursday, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, and Lord Cardigan, were among the visiters.

The Regalia were examined on Thursday, by the Lord Chamberlain and Mr. Swifte the keeper of the jewels ; and found to be quite unin- jured. They were then conveyed in hackney-coaches to Messrs. Run- dell and Bridge's, in Ludgate Hill, for safe keeping until the new Jewel Tower is ready for their reception. On Tuesday, an inquest was held on the body of Wivell, and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

It is said that Government are already taking steps to repair the loss, and that they have applied to the East India Company for their stock of muskets. The gun-making trade, both in London and Birmingham, are on the alert, in the expectation of Government orders.

The greatest sensation was created in the City on Thursday night by a report that the Guildhall was on fire. People and fire-engines rushed to the spot. It was found that some gas had taken fire in a room adjoining the Hall. The flames were speedily extinguished ; and the only damage was some injury to the roof of the room in which the fire occurred.

According to custom, the Judges breakfasted with the Lord Chan- cellor on Tuesday morning, at his residence in George Street, Hanover Square, and afterwards proceeded to Westminster Hall to open their respective Courts. The two new Vice-Chancellors, Mr. Knight Bruce and Mr. Wigrarn, opened their Courts in Committee-rooms Nos. 1 and 2 of the House of Commons, which have been fitted up temporarily for the purpose.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Tuesday, Mr. Thesiger moved for a rule to show came why a criminal information should not be filed against Mr. John Sheehan and Sir John Milley Doyle, for a libel on Sir Alexander Clay Grant. Sir Alexander was the Tory candidate for Cambridge at the last election ; and Mr. Sheehan, the editor of the Cam- bridge Independent Free Press, in an electioneering article, took ad- vantage of Sir Alexander's possessing some West Indian property, to insinuate that he had been concerned in the ill-treatment of slaves. In returning thanks for his election, Sir Alexander characterized Mr. Sheehan's conduct as "ungentlemanly," and applied to him the epithet of "blackguard." Mr. Sheehan placed the matter in the hands of Sir John Milley Doyle, as his "friend"; and Sir John met Lord Granville Somerset, Sir Alexander's friend ; who offered an apology on the part of his principal, if Mr. Sheehan would first retract his unfounded allega- tions. A sufficient retractation was not forthcoming ; and Sir Alexander considered himself justified by the opinion of Lord Granville and Sir Henry Hardinge in refusing satisfaction until the retractation was made. A long correspondence on the subject was followed up by Mr. Sheehan with another article; in which Ile said that Sir Alexander was "ashamed of the apology and afraid of the alternative." Out of the entire case arose the present application. Lord Denman said that the cases ap- peared to be distinct, as there was no proof of Mr. Sheehan's cognizance of Sir John's letters, or of Sir John's knowledge of Mr. Sheehan's articles. Separate rules were granted accordingly.

A slip of earth, to the extent of twenty thousand yards, occurred on Tuesday night on the London and Croydon Railway. A partial giving- way before had been observed early in the evening, and the trains had already been stopped for the night. The Directors have contracted with the coach-proprietors for the conveyance of passengers on that part of the line which is closed : down trains have already begun to run again, and it is expected that the railway will be quite clear in a few days.