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The ceremony of presenting the Lord Mayor Elect to the Lord Chan- cellor took place on Tuesday. Mr. Alderman Hooper was accompanied on the occasion by several of his brother Aldermen as well as by the Chamberlain, the Sheriffs, Under-Sheriff Wire, the Secondaries, and the City Solicitor: he was introduced to Lord Cottenham by the Recorder, with the usual complimeutary address. In reply, the Lord Chancellor signified that the Queen approved of Alderman Hooper's election.

A Court of Common Council was held on Wednesday. A representation from the Commissioners of Sewers was brought forward by Deputy Pea- cock, and was agreed to after some discussion. Although the Commission- ers had made most extensive sewers throughout the City, they complained that it was impossible to get either landlords or tenants to make drains from the houses. Five hundred miserable dwellings had been cleansed. The New River Company had been prevailed upon by the Board to give a liberal supply of water; but the landlords shirked the duty of providing cisterns or water-butts. The Commissioners further announced, that they had taken steps to obtain, in the coming session of Parliament, an act for repealing the existing acts and for consolidating their present powers. On the motion of Mr. Anderton, the Court resolved to petition the House of Commons praying for the abolition of the Members' privilege of exemp- tion from arrest for debt. Mr. Lott's proposal for a subscription of fifty guineas towards the cost of purchasing Shakspere's house was cut short by a cry of" No Court!" whereupon the Lord Mayor rose to take leave of the Common Council; which he did in a brief but impressive address.

The Lady Mayoress gave a splendid ball on Tuesday evening, at the Mansionhonse. The guests, including several official and diplomatic per- sons, numbered about 1,200; and the dancing proceeded with great spirit in the Egyptian Hall and the corridor. There was a very magnificent supper at midnight; and the dancers kept it up till very late.

The Earl of Dalhousie, as Governor-General of India, was entertained by the East India Company, on Thursday evening, in the London Tavern. Among the guests were Lord John Russell, the Earl of Auckland, Sir John Hobhouse, Mr. Macaulay, and several other official persons; the Chief Baron and other dignitaries of the law; Viscount Jocelyn, Mr. Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, and many other noblemen and gentlemen. The speeches were mostly filled by such compliments and professions as might be expected. Lord John Russell, who was of course specially toasted, ex- plained the grounds on which Lord Dalhousie had been selected for the post of Governor-General— When the question was, who should succeed Lord Ilardinge in the govern- ment of India, it appeared to us that the distinguished qualities which had been exhibited by Lord Dalhousie—that the ability which he had shown in the great field of public discussion, and that the talent he bad displayed in the department of the state over which he had presided—were such as to promise ample satisfac- tion that he would govern with the _popularity which he had obtained, and that he was a man who was able to maintain and administer the affairs of govern- ment in India. It was with that view that my right honourable friend the Pre- sident of the Board of Control and the rest of my colleagues acted when we inti- mated to the Directors of the East India Company, that if their choice should fall on Lord Dalhousie as Governor-General of India, we, her Majesty's Govern- ment, would not lose a moment in advising her Majesty to confirm his appoint- ment. I trust, my Lords and Gentlemen, that the success of this measure will be canal to the motives which actuated it; and that the exertions of the noble Lord will be devoted with all his energy to the improvement of the people, to the maintaining of the empire committed to his charge; and that he will show us, as his immediate predecessor Lord Harding° has shown us, that resolution in ad- ministering justice, that forbearance in circumstances of irritation and foreign aggression, which have been attended with such success; and that he will prove to us that a sedulous care for the improvement of the internal condition of India is, with those other qualities which I have mentioned, compatible with the ut- most spirit and the most intrepid courage in repelling any aggression that may be made on us by our enemies, and in crashing those who may exhibit themselves as the foes of the British empire. I only trust, that when Lord Dalhousie shall return from India, that his countrymen shall be able to congratulate him on having confirmed the political character he has already ac- quired; that they may wish him joy of the fame he has established; and that it may be connected with the happiness of the people of India and with the benefit of all good government."

In proposing the Premier's health, the Chairman had said that Minis- ters were "patriots "—wishing well to their country, and labouring for it; and that whatever the difficulties with which they might have to contend, patriots would never despond. To this remark Lord John alluded- " Mr. Chairman, you have done me the honour of referring to the difficulties and dangers which may overshadow the prosperity of the empire. I believe, Sir, that there are those times of adversity which occur almost at stated periods, when the fond hopes that had been indulged of the continual sunshine of pros- perity are for a time darkened beneath clouds of despondency: but, Sir, I trust to

the energy, industry, and indomitable perseverance of the /latish people, to de- liver us from such difficulty and adversity: I believe there is nothing in the pre- sent condition of this people which could induce the most timid statesman to de- spond. For my own part, despondency is not a sentiment natural to me--(Loud laughter and c)leers)—and. I believe, whatever judgment may be passed by the tribunal of this country upon the measures and the course .pursued by the Go- vernment of the day, I believe the conduct of the people of this country, and their indomitable energy, will carry them through this period of adversity, and that we shall resume our station—the foremost station which we have held among the nations of the weld."

The Society kw Promotilag the Amendment of the Law held its first general meeting for the season on Wednesday evening; Dr. Lushington in the chair. A considerable increase is noticed in the number of mem- bers, now upwards of three hundred; and comprising forty or fifty members of the Legislature, several of the Judges, and many of the most eminent lawyers.

Mr. Stewart presented the report from the Committee on the Law of Landlord and Tenant— After entering at considerable length into the history of the relation of landlord and tenant, and pointing out the changes in that relation which time had brought about, the Committee showed the inapplicability of the law as it stood to thin altered relation ; and expressed their conviction that the law, being prejudicial to the tenant, was contrary to public expediency, which demanded that the utmost benefit should be derived from the laud. In referent* to compensation for im- provements cf the soil—more commonly referred to by the term of "tenant- right "—the Committee doubted the practicability, even the justice, of calling on landlords to pay for what they had not bargained to purchase. There were also difficulties in the way of fixing the rate of compensation for different improve- ments, which would vary widely on different soils. It was but right, besides that the landlords should have the option of making those improvements themselves, if disposed to do so. Where made by the tenants, it would be a matter of great difficulty to estimate the value of the improvements, whatever test were applied for the purpose. The Committee were unable to suggest any method of doing this which was not open to serious objections. An attempt to obviate these difficulties had been made in the Government bill for Ireland; but its com- plicated machinery would render its application to this country very objection- able, on account of the prolonged litigation to which it would give rise. Under these circumstances, the Committee recommended to gentlemen who had the power of leasing lands, the importance of rendering those leases as beneficial as possible to the tenants. They were disposed to rely on the sense of landlords as to their own interests, and not to recommend any legislative interference which might excite alarm.

The report was received, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Vansittart Neale next brought up the report of the Equity Com- mittee on the jurisdiction and constitution of the office of Masters in Chan- cery. The Committee reported against the plan of assigning the work now done by the Masters to the Superior Judges of the Court; but advocated the propriety of converting the Masters themselves into Judges, who should conduct their proceedings in public, and state the reasons for their decisions. It would be an improvement to make the Masters' Courts a recognized though not exclusive road to the Bench of the Superior Courts. Among other recommendations put forward by the Committee, was one for the appointment of a permanent Chief Judge in Equity. The appoint- ment of Local Masters would also be a public advantage. Mr. Stewart advocated the abolition of the Masters' Offices; but the Chairman doubted the practicability of the experiment. The Judges, instead of having their

attention confined to questions of law, would be lae. i

, aely occupied ex-

amining minute questions of fact. The Masters might be required to report within a given time.

After some further discussion, the report was received.

At the usual weekly meeting of the Marylebone Vestry, on Saturday, the question of Irish immigration was brought forward by Mr. Stanford, who urged the necessity for putting a stop to the irruption. The influx of paupers from Ireland into the parish is at present very great, and is rapidly increasing; 10,369 poor Irish arrived in Liverpool in September, and 11,772 in October. There was some discussion; but an objection being taken on a point of form, the motion was withdrawn.

The Morning Post reports that the dispute between Lord Holland and the inhabitants of Kensington is likely to terminate very soon; a majority of the inhabitants having resolved to accept the Peer's offer of a new path in direct continuation of Nightingale Lane. The works have been re- sumed.

Some experiments were made at Hackney on Tuesday morning to test the efficacy of Mr. Charles F. Ellerman's disinfecting process, for which a patent has just been taken out. The following is Mr. Ellerman's enumera- tion of the advantages of his deodorizing agent-

" 1. The immediate and permanent disinfection of animal and vegetable matter, by decomposing the sulphuretted hydrogen and coagulating the albumen; thus preventing the escape of the poisonous exhalations arising from privies, drains, sewers, slaughter-houses, knackers' yards, farm-yards, stables, dung-heaps, Sac. 2. The purification and salubrification of towns; thus perfecting the ventilation system, and meeting the views of Government by improving the health of towns in England, as in the bill prepared and presented by Viscount Morpeth, Lord J. Russell, and Sir G. Grey. B. The manufacture of azotized manure from the dis- infected animal and vegetable matter for agricultural purposes, and the fertiliza- tion of waste lands through the application of this cheap and self-supplying source of unfailing production. 4. The manufacture of urea, extracted from urine, which manure possesses the most fructifying qualifications. 5. The pre- servation of dead bodies from putrefaction, and thus aiding the purposes of dis- section."

The experiment was made in a field off Grove Lane, in the presence of several medical men, besides the Guardians and many influentialinhabitanta of Hackney. It was perfectly successful so far as could be ascertained by the sense of smell. Upon a collection of night-soil, yielding an almost unendurable fiscal smell, was poured a comparatively small quantity of the fluid; which had the immediate effect, on being thoroughly circulated, of banishing the foul smell, and imparting that which is peculiar to the re- agent itself, somewhat resembling the odour effused by a solution of nitrous acid. The "disinfecting " properties of the reagent could not of course be ascertained from the experiment- The deodorized matter was afterwards subjected to further treatment by Mr. Redwood, a professional chemist, who attended on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Journal. He poured upon it a phialful of bisulphuret of carbon, and restored to it its original fmcal odour, in order again to test the chemical properties of the reagent. The reagent was again applied, and with the same satisfactory result—neutralized the bisulphuret of carbon, (which in the gaseous form is evolved by the de- composition of animal matter,) and deodorized the night-soil. This experi- ment was repeated in a pail of clean water, to which the foul odour was imparted by the bisulphnret of carbon, and removed by the application of the reagent. Mr. Redwood next threw into the deodorized night-soil some phosphuret of calcium; upon which combustion instantly took place, show-

jug the immediate action of the reagent upon the test. Mr. Redwood ap- peared to be satisfied by these results.

Mr. Ellerman has sent a letter to the papers, expressly declaring that his process was never intended to supersede the removal of refuse, but only to destroy the odious exhalations, to mitigate the immediate ill effects, and to facilitate removal.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, William Ashcroft, described as a e cooper " was tried for a misdemeanour in having placed a number of stones on the rails of the Eastern Counties line. The particulars of the case were men- tioned last week. The witnesses who appeared at the Police-office now fully proved the offence. A number of persons were called who gave the accused an excellent character; and it was stated that he had a wife and six children de- pendant on him. As the Jury deliberated for some time, the Common Sergeant asked if they wished to retire; but the Foreman said they had no difficulty about their verdict: they were only considering whether they should recommend the prisoner to mercy. The Judge said, such a recommendation could not be attended to in this case. A verdict of "Guilty" was then returned; and the man was sentenced to be imprisoned, with hard labour, for two years.

At the Mansionhonse, on Saturday, George Phipps, a saddler of Enfield, was charged with having forged the name of Thomas Rance, to a Bank dividend- warrant; Mr. Rance being the executor to a person deceased. The sum was 42/ Suspicion was excited by a note, which was-part of the payment on the warrant at the Bank, and had been traced to Phipps: he had changed it in an assumed name; and he gave a false account of the manner in which he got possession of it. After the warrant had been issued, a second applicant, supposed to be Mr. Thomas Rance, demanded it at the Bank As Mr. Rance was not present at the examination, the prisoner was remanded. Yesterday, he was committed for trial.

At Bow Street Police-office, on Thursday, Barr, Ralfe, and Brewer, three of the sharpers who fleeced Mr. Kerie, the West Indian, of 1,150/., were brought up for reexamination. William Dobson Lewis, "gambler by profession," detailed how Mr. Kerie had been robbed. When Barr had lured him from Cremorne Gardens to a cigar-shop in Little Russell Street, and the other rogues had introduced themselves the prosecutor was induced to play. at cards; Barr to be his partner. The cards had been so arranged that Mr. Kene was made to feel confident that he should win the game; some of the men offered to bet against him; he hesitated, because he thought it was not fair to take them at a disadvantage; but at length he wagered six to one, Barr also betting with him: the sharpens won the game, and thirty pounds from their victim. Barr was quite disconsolate, for through Mr. Kerie's over-confidence he had betted on the cards. The gentleman consoled him; had further meetings, at which he always lost, the unfortunate Barr par- ticipating in his ill-luck. Barr thus completely gained the other's confidence, and soon knew all about his affairs. The pillaging of the " flat " went on swimmingly till the rule of "honour among thieves " was infringed, and then Lewis informed against his associates. The prisoners were remanded again for a week.

Messrs. Marshall and Ca, silk-mercers of Vere Street, Oxford Street, have re- cently discovered that they have been plundered of property to the value of 2,0001. The persons implicated in the robberies have been examined several times at the Marylebone Police-office. In the boxes of Anne Simons a young woman in the employment of Messrs. Marshall, were found many articles of value which she had pilfered. In a public-house kept by her father, Benjamin Simons, at Gum- ley, near Market Hat-borough, were found boxes filled with stolen pro y: the

man was taken into custody. Mr. Hickman, a gentleman occupying c hers in Lincoln's Inn, and said to be a merchant in the City, had formed a liaison with Anne Simons: his chambers were searched; and in drawers and other receptacles were found numerous articles which had been taken from the mercers. For Mr. Hickman it is said that he is a most respectable gentleman, and that he was not aware that the stolen goods had been brought to his apartments: the young woman had free ingress at all times to his residence, and had placed the articles in the drawers without Mr. Hickman taking any heed of the matter. That gen- tleman, however, was arrested. At the last examination, on Tuesday, Simons and his daughter were remanded to prison till next week; but Mr. Hickman, who had been out on bail, was again liberated on producing two sureties.

A Lombard Street banking firm has been defrauded of 1,360/, by means of a forged check. To lull suspicion apparently, the sum was obtained in large notes —one of a thousand pounds. It is said that there is a clue to the guilty parties; and meanwhile the numbers and dates of the notes are advertised.

An exceedingly dense fog, the first of the season, enveloped the Metropolis on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Carriages had to creep along by torchlight, to avoid collision; and many accidents happened.

A suicide of an extraordinary nature was effected last week in Redcross Street. An old gentleman entered the shop uf Mr. Batley, a chemist, and asked if Mr. Batley was at home; an assistant answered that he was in the counting-house: the applicant said, he would not disturb him: he had known Mr. Batley for many years, and he himself was Dr. Randall: he wanted an ounce of hydrocyanic (prussic) acid, and should like to see it before he was served, as the strength of the acid varied so much. The shopman took the stopper out of the bottle, and observed that Dr. Randall would find it quite strong enough : the old gentleman seized the bottle; the shoprnam struggled to get it back; but the stranger first gave it kjerk, scattering the poison over his face and clothes; and then let go the bottle. The shopman cried, "You have done for yourself": the stranger replied, "I wanted, I wanted !" and ran out of the shop. He was found in the neigh- bourhood, at a baker's; antidotes were administered; but he died in a quarter of an hour: It appeared at the Coroner's inquest, that the deceased was Mr. John Henry Deffell, a West India merchant, ot the age of seventy. It was the shop- man's impression that none of the poison was swallowed by Mr. Deffell; he had been killed by the inhalation of the vapour. Mr. Southwood, a surgeon, stated that none of the acid was detected in the stomach; and if any had been swal- lowed the patient could not have lived so long. Witnesses proved that Mr. Def- fell had recently exhibited great nervous agitation: the mercantile failures, some occurring among his friends and neighbours, had pained him greatly; but, though he had suffered by the depreciation in the prices of colonial produce, his own affairs were not embarrassed. The verdict was "Temporary insanity."