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Uncertainty, or rumours of uncertainty, attended the late election to the very last. When the result of the poll was first announced, on Thursday sennight, it was understood that the four Liberal candidates were returned, and Sir George Larpent passed one night in the pleasing belief that he was Member for London. The official declaration on Friday undeceived him. But in the course of Saturday a report gained currency, that an error had been discovered in the computation, and that, after all, Sir George Larpent and not Mr. Masterman was the fourth successful candidate. Had such an error occurred, there exists no means of ascertaining it; for immediately after the declaration of the numbers, the poll-books are sealed up and sent to the Hanaper Office, where they remain until opened for scrutiny at the instance of any of the candidates who may petition.

At a Court of East India Directors, on Wednesday, the Earl of Dal- housie was appointed Governor-General of India; and Major-General Sir Henry Pottinger, Governor of Madras.

The time-honoured boat-race for Doggett's coat and badge was rowed on Monday. The competitors were, as usual, young watermen whose term of apprenticeship had expired since the last year's race. On this occasion the winner was William H. Ellis, of Westminster.

There was a contest on Tuesday for the amateur championship of the Thames. Three gentlemen strove for the silver sculls. The distance was that from Westminster to Putney. Mr Harrington's fragile boat was upset opposite the Penitentiary, and thenceforth the struggle lay between Messrs. Walmisley and Murray: the former took the lead, and kept it; winning by a quarter of a mile.

In the Prerogative Court, on Tuesday, a curious case of barefaced fraud was investigated. The question at issue was the validity of two papers propounded as an alleged will and codicil executed by a Mr. William Slack, a linendraper at Bath. In April 184,5, the testator being upwards of eighty years old, but of sound mind, made a will with three codicils; and he executed a fourth codicil on the 30th of the following Jane. By these instruments, Mr. Slack bequeathed his property to-a lady with whom he had lived, and to his family. Two other papers, a will and codicil, purporting to have been executed on the same 30th of June, were put forward as the true documents, by the person in whose favour they were made, one Stephen Ford; a man in very humble circumstances, who sued as a pauper. The will had been sent in an envelope, with a badly-spelt and ill-written letter, to the Deputy-Registrar; and the codicil was found after the testator's death, in an account book belonging to the deceased's partner. There was no doubt as to the genuineness of the first will and four codicils; and it was contended by the family that the will and codicil in favour of Stephen Ford were forged. One at- testing witness, a solicitor named Mant, who was said to have prepared the do- mimed, was dead; and the other attesting witness, a person named Henry S. Manning, could not be thuMB. But their absence was atoned for by the presence and evidence of two persons who were the attesting witnesses of the codicil: they stated that they had been present at the execution of the will as well its of the codicil, and had seen Mant and Manning attest the will, and the testator himself execute both the papers. Upon the evidence of these two witnesses the case in favour of the papers mainly turned; and an attempt was made to fortify their testimony by the evidence of a housemaid of the deceased; who deposed, that on the 30th of June, the four alleged attesting witnesses did come to the house. All this evidence was so hollow as to create wonder at the impudence that could bring it into court. Sir Herbert Jenner. Filet pronounced against the validity of the propounded documents, declaring the transaction on the part of Ford or his principals to be a fraud. Probate would be granted the will with four codicils.

At the Mansionhouse, on Monday, Spencer Lambert, formerly an assistant teller in the Receiver-General's office at the Customhouse, was committed for trial charged with stealing 2701. It had been the duty of the prisoner to receive payments on account of customs, which money he should have paid to the chief Wier; it was suspected that his accounts were not correct, and on the 9th of January last he was ordered to give them in; but he absconded; and it was found that he had received 2701. more than he had accounted for.

Sir Peter Laurie has brought Mr. George Ross, the manager of the Heir-at- Law Society, to book. Complaints have been made from time to time against the Fociety for extracting money under promises of obtaining property in want of heirs. At Guildhall, this week, Mr. Perkins complained that he had paid 5/. expenses for filing a bill in Chancery to obtain a large sum of money to which he was told he was entitled: the bill was not filed. Sir Peter Laurie directed the City Solicitor to indict Mr. Ross for obtaining money under false pretences.

From a statement made by Sir Peter Laurie to the Lord Mayor, on Wednesday, it appears that Joseph Ady has taken up a more than usually reprehensible mode of extracting money, and one which it is to be hoped will bring him within the clutches of the law. Joseph addressed this letter to " The Wife of —, Esq., Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square"—

" Madam—Your husband is embarked in an undertaking rendered illegal by various acts of Parliament, subjecting him, yourself, and children, to severe lia- bilities and insults. He may be dragged from his house any time of the day or night to be confined in a felons' celL The Police may enter your apartment, take possession of your money, jewels, and paraphernalia, and leave you to the tender mercies of the law. On receipt of 20a. I will point out the disease and the remedy."

It happened that the gentleman to whose house this was addressed was not

married; and so the alarm it might have excited was not produced—nor the 20s.,,

At Bow Street Police-office, on Wednesday, William Gates, late chief clerk to the Commissioners for Special Purposes at Somerset House, was reexamined on the charges of forging and uttering a receipt for 137/ for the return of Income- tax. More testimony was adduced. Mr. Fuller, a Commissioner, said he could not tell whether the signature to the order was his writing: if the prisoner had presented the order to him, he should have signed it without examination. It was not Gates's province to make out the orders. Mr. Lawford, clerk of the Drapers Company, stated that he had made no claim for the 1371. at the period the accused got the money. Gates was remanded for a week; and it is said other charges will be brought against him.

At the Thames Police-office, on Monday, two Policemen were committed firs trial, charged with stealing property which it was their duty to protect from de- predators. Compson and Kates, two officers of the H division, had been employe& in watching the quays of the London Docks; Compson was detected in the act of abstracting crockery from a crate; and other propertytttf:ded from the docks was found in his cupboard at the station. In Kates's en , a phial, with.a string tied to it, was found; there was brandy in it, and it ad evidently been used to dip brandy from casks. This officer attempted to conceal twelve small samples of sugar that he had taken from hogsheads to which they had been nailed.

The two men accused of robbing goods-trains on the South-western Railway have been committed for trial by the Wandsworth Magistrate. From the evidence it would appear that the prisoners have been engaged in an extensive scheme for stealing goods from this railway; and a witness who had bought the pilfered articles showed by his testimony that the pilferers had not much difficulty in dis- posing of their plunder.

An amusing case of reciprocal imposture came before the Marlborough Street Magistrate on Wednesday. As the reporter may possibly have "dressed up " so inviting a subject, we give the greater part of the narrative in his own words.

"Leoline de Villars, a handsome young French girl, dressed in full Opera cos- tume, was summoned by Benjamin Ellam for detaining hisportrait, his velvet cap, his two walking-canes, his ring, and his silk handkerchief: The complainant, a short person, of very juvenile and simple appearance, stated, that on Sunday evening a friend and himself were taking an evening stroll down Regent Street, when they met the defendant and her sister, who nodded invitingly to them. Not understanding French himself, he deputed his friend to do the introductory part of the business; and as the young ladies were in a very goodnatured mood, they suffered himself and friend to see them to their residence at No. 80, Fuley Place, with permission to call the following evening. He took counsel with his friend on the subject, and they came to the unanimous conclusion that their new acquaint- ances were girls of unblemished character, distinguished birth, and very possibly of large fortune. They kept their appointment; and in the course of their visit Mademoiselle Leoline was obliging enough to communicate a few particulars of her private history. Her companion was her sister Esther; they were daughters of Count de Villars, whose estate was the Castle of the Isle of Bonn. They had resolved to emancipate themselves from the harshness of parental control; had made their escape from the paternal castle, had found their way to England, and had taken a house for five years, intending to lead a pure and lively life in London on the 2001. a quarter which they each possessed. It did strike Mr. Ellam as rather singular that two young girls should take a house for five years under such circum- stances- but he attributed their determination to their French breeding, and to their want oeknowledge of the proprieties of English high life. The warmth of his recap. lion that evening induced him to entreat for another interview. This was granted, and on his arrival in Foley Place, with his friend, Mademoiselle came down stairs splendidly. dressed, but seemingly in a state of despondency. He entreated his friend to inquire the reason of her melancholy. She refused to say at first, but at last was prevailed on to state, that for want of a sum of 351. to pay duty their valuable goods were detained at the Customhouse. He spoke to his friend oh this ticklish subject, and expressed his doubt about being able to raise such ft large sum of money. His friend told him he would get 201., and then complain- ant undertook to get 151. from his friends. The money was got together, and he went the next day to Foley Place, and went with Mademoiselle Leoline and her sister to the Customhouse, and paid 351. on account of duty. Complainant stated that he saw some cases afterwards come from the Customhouse, which he was told contained the valuable property which had been detained for the duty. Im- mediately after this little affair, he found Mademoiselle Leoline again in a state of despondency; which could only be alleviated by his advancing 251. to paint and decorate the house, so as to enable her and her sister to receive his friend and himself in that distinguished manner to which his merits entitled him. Com- plainant stated that his suspicions began somewhat to be aroused; and he laid a plan with his friend to ascertain the true character of the ladies who were drawing so largely on their resources. They disguised themselves, and watched the ' house in Foley Place. About eleven o'clock at night, the two ladies came out, and took their way towards Regent Street. The parties who were dodging their steps soon returned with information which at once dispelled all doubt about the true vocation of the ladies. To make all surer, complainant called at the house, and was told by the livery-servant that the ladies had gone out for a stroll, but would return almost immediately. They did return betweeti one and two o'clock: a gentleman walked in; and in lees thin a minute a light was seen in Mademoiselle's bedroom, and on the blinds of the windoit were depicted the silhouette likenesses of a lady and gentleman, the lady being without doubt Mademoiselle Leoline." On this discovery, he demanded back his property from the lady; but at he was unsttc- cessfnl, he brought her before Mr. Hardwick. After the interesting Mademoiselle Leoline had shortly addressed the Magis- trate, in French, "a person named Delnson, who said he was landlord of the house in Foley Place, undertook to pit the Court in possession of the whole particular's. The fact was, that the complainant Ellam and his friend met the two yonnk ladies in Regent Street one evening; and the complainant Ellam introduced himsef as the nephew of the Duke of Wellington, and as holding the rank of Commander • of the Queen's Guards. In order to prove his assertions, he took Mademoiselle Leoline to the Horse Guards, gave her champagne there, and made her sit down in what he called the Queen's seat. Ell= professed violent love for Mademoiselle Leoline, and gave her various presents: but on the discovery that he was only a shopman, the acquaintance was put an end to. The complainant now wanted to get back the gifts be had offered as tokens of affection. The following among other letters was produced by Mademoiselle- " • Commaneer-in-chief's Office, Horse Guards, July 20. My dear Leontine—In answer to your noble letter I must with honour address you thus, but I Peer you doubt me being a gentleman of birth—but I give you my honor I'm of respecktable tamely—not to say noble and I have a noble hart, and that, my detest, is all I require from you. I do not know who and what you are as I dont under- stand your native language sufficient to understand what you speak off. My dear Leontine I pray thee If though doo understand my language that you will tell me this- night all your feelings. If though do not love me speak (rely and then I must, oh fatal word— endever to forgit. But still remember this will be a heavy task for I may fbrgit for a time but for hover oh imposable. For though hart made an Impreslon on myhart that can never be blotted out by the hands of human beings. Dear Leontlne, I fear your not happy in England. I hope and trust in heavens that you win this night let me know your hart and anklikties. Dear girl I am not very rich, but I've got enough. to live in the stile you see me in, And after a short time I shall be better off in money. affairs. But that's not my object. I look to your hart to make me hapy. As for my friend 1 most tell you he is a gintleman—but if though can speak English as I bearyou can I trust you will let me know your hart if worthy such a noble one. I bid adue till this evening. Kiss sister Esther for me. Ever ever ever and ever yours. Em.Ass.'" In answer to a question from Mr. Hardwick, Ellam said he had never repre- sented himself as related to the Duke of Wellington: he was employed in the shop of Messrs. Swain and Company, in Piccadilly. When asked why he dated his love-letters from the Home Guards, he said his uncle was connected with the Horse Guards; and he certainly had taken Mademoiselle de Villars to his uncle's rooms, but not with the intention of representating himself to be what he was

not. Mademoiselle Leoline declared that what had been stated was true: the complainant had stated that he was related to the Duke of Wellington; and he had taken her to some rooms in the Horse Guards, which he had said were his noble relative's rooms, and had there placed her in the Queen's chair and treated her to champagne. Mr. Hardwick, referring to the catalogue of items which the complainant wished to recover, asked him if he had ever sent the young lady his Picture? The complainant admitted that he had sent her his portrait; but it was not a gift. To prove that it was a gift, the male friend of the two young ladies produced a letter, which he said had been written by the complainant's friend, who understood French, and which had accompanied the portrait. The letter began as follows- " Londres, &inlet 1847. nedie a cote clue fatale, comma gage d'andtle." The epistle was couched in a similar style throughout.

The complainant wished the Magistrate to remand the case until his solicitor could attend. Mr. Hardwick did not see that there was any necessity for a re- mand. The evidence showed that the parties had mutually attempted to deceive each other. The defendant had represented herself to be some princess or coun- tess; and the complainant had endeavoured to pass himself off as a relative of a distinguished family. Both parties had been mutually deceived; and as under all the circumstances he did not feel himself justified in calling on the defendant to teatore the property, he should dismiss the summons.

The Reverend Whitworth Russell, one of the Inspectors of Prisons, and bro- ther of Mr. Charles Russell of the Great Western Railway Company, committed suicide, in Millbank Penitentiary, on Monday afternoon. He went on his usual visit that day; complained much of illness, especially of pains in the head; left the board-room, where he had been alone, writing letters; and, entering a passage, discharged a pistol at his head. He was found dead some time after. A letter written by Mr. Russell to the Secretary of the prison announced his intended self- destruction; but requested the Secretary to keep the specific cause secret for the present. Mr. Russell had bought pistols and bullets on Monday morning. He bad often complained of his head; and his medical attendant had warned him not to devote too much attention to business, with which he said he was overwhelmed. The Jury were inclined to return a verdict declaring that they did not know the state of mind in which Mr. Russell was; but the Coroner told them that the legal effect of such a verdict would be equivalent to that of felo de se. On that inti- mation, they returned a verdict that deceased had destroyed himself, being at the time of unsound mind.

Another steam-boat collision has occurred on the Thames. The Pearl and the Star drove into each other at Rosherville pier on Wednesday evening, and the former was considerably damaged. No individual was hart, but the concussion excited the greatest alarm and confusionamong the passengers.

Three men and two women, having spent the night after the Thames regatta in dancing and singing, early on Saturday morning went for a sail on the river near Battersea. One of the women had made her dress muddy in entering the boat; she attempted to wash it in the stream; the boat canted over, and the whole party were immersed. Two were rescued; but the second woman kept such a tight grasp on two of the men, that all three perished.

A similar disaster occurred at Mortlake, on Sunday evening. Four men and a woman were in a wherry; the boat had shipped a good deal of water, and as the woman was baling it out she fell overboard; in trying to save her, the others up- set the boat. Two of the men were rescued by passing boats, but the remainder were drowned.