ebe Ifittropolis.
A Court of Common Council was held on Monday, to receive the report of a Committee on the Charitable Trusts Bill. The report strongly condemned the measure, and advised the Court to petition against it. Mr. De Jersey, who in- veighed against the inquisitorial powers to be given to the Commissioners as unconstitutional, moved that the Court should agree to the report. Mr. Wire, Mr. W. Jones, and other members, followed on the same side. Mr. Richard Taylor observed, that the Committee now condemned the principle of the bill, although they had in the former report thought proper to approve it. Now, he considered that they ought to show that the Charitable Trusts Bill would place the charities in a worse condition than that in which they stood at present. Nothing, in his opinion, could be worse than their existing state. Mr. Prendergast advocated the bill, and moved as an amendment that the Court proceed to the other business on the paper. Mr. Anderton and Mr. Deputy Stevens supported the same view; but ultimately the original motion was carried, and the Court adjourned.
The Reverend Dr. Nathan Marcus Adler was installed as Chief Rabbi over the united congregations of Jews in Great Britain, on Wednesday, at the great Syna- gogue in St. James's Place, Alftate. The Synagogue was richly adorned for the occasion; 500 wax tapers spisa4 a blaze of light; and fifty singers, principally boys, aided the imposing ceremony. After the installation, the Chief Rabbi deli- vered an address, in German.
A meeting for the establishment of an Asylum for the Insane of the middle classes of society was held on Wednesday, at the Freemasons Tavern. Lord Ashley was to have presided; but being detained in the House of Commons, his place was temporarily supplied by Lord Monteagle; the other chairman arriving later in the day. The meeting was respectably attended. Mr. Samuel Gurney, Mr. Tile, Dr. Southwood Smith, Mr. Grainger, Lord Ebrington, Mr. Hall, Mr. J. Wilks, Dr. Winslow, Mr. Solly, Dr. Bevan, Dr. Conolly, and Dr. Webster, were Use speakers. A series of resolutions were carried for the formation of an Asylum.
Mr. Simpson of Edinburgh delivered the first of two addresses to the work- ing-classes, on the means of improving their character and condition, at Exeter Hall, on Wechiesday evening. Lord Brougham occupied the chair, surrounded by several other noblemen and gentlemen. The audience amounted to about two thousand. In the course of the address, Mr. Simpson dwelt very largely on the report of the Health of Towns Commission, and on the necessity there was for the immediate improvement of the dwellings of the labouring classes. The second lecture was delivered last night; it was chiefly on ventilation and personal ,cleanliness.
The Court of Common Pleas was occupied on Saturday and Monday with a trial respecting two promissory notes for 1,1001., which were obtained some time since from Mr. Mytton, a young gentleman of Shropshire, by a fictitious firm of "Smith and Company," without consideration, as Mr. Mytton averred. It will be remembered that these bills were surreptitiously retrieved from the hands of a Mr. Hearne who declared that he had advanced 8001. on them by two persons named Willis and Goldsmid. These parties were recently tried for the offence, and convicted of conspiracy. When they were charged with the crime at the Police-office, the two notes were produced before the Magistrate by Mr. Turner, the solicitor for Mr. Mytton, and Tuner retained them in his possession. Hearne now brought an action of trover against the solicitor for the value of the bills. The most contradictoly evidence was given as to a suns of money having been advanced by the plaintiff on the notes; and altogether, it is said, the case pre- sented one of the most painful exhibitions which has betinyitnessed in this court for some years; as there cannot be a doubt that, on on sin br the other,. tile foulest perjury was wilfully and deliberately commit .d...___-Mr., Jutrice Erie .,,, , summed up; and the Jury, without a moments hesitati .o*ned a verdk .6)r. -,/
In the same Court, on Wednesday, was brought forward the case
—(/
the defendant
Scott, shipbuilders at Greenock, against the Honourable Craven FitzhsrdMge Berkeley. The nature of the case is stated in our account of the proceedings in Parliament. The plaintiffs had recovered judgment against the Indian Steam Navigation Company, for 35,0001.; and now sought to levy the amount on the defendant, as one of the Directors mentioned in the act constituting the Company, which passed on the 31st July 1838. The main facts were formally proved. The Chief Justice said, that the question was entirely one of law, and there was nothing to leave to a Jury. After a good deal of discussion as to the best way of proceeding, it was agreed to take a verdict for the plaintiff pro forma, subject to a special case and verdict to be hereafter obtained. In the Court of Bankruptcy, on Saturday, Lord Huntingtower came up for a final order to be made. The case had been adjourned, in the vain hope that the result of a suit in the Ecclesiastical Court, between Lord and Lady Dysart, which was yet pending, would have enabled Lord Huntingtower before this to make an amicable settlement with his creditors. The insolvent was ow.M. by Mr. Cox, the horse-dealer in Blackfriare Road, on the ground that he had contracted a debt of 1701. for the purchase of two bay mares, by fraudulent representations, and without "reasonable" means of paying. It was stated that the Earl of Dysart had refused to make his son, heir to an estate of 50,0001. or 60,0001. a year, an allowance of 500/. or 600/. The Commmissioner dismissed all charge of fraud. Lord Dysart was bound, in duty to his son, his peerage, and to society, to make suffi- cient provision for the heir to his title; for beheld that peerages were conferred as public trusts, and not for the gratification of the ambition or selfishness of their holders. Still, Lord Huntingtower had contracted the debt without "reasonable" expectation of payment; and therefore a day could not be named for the final order. The future administration of Lord Huntingtower's affairs should be vested in the Court; and the public knowledge of that fact might prevent him from being surrounded or plundered by the harpies who had hitherto been his com- panions. Under those circumstances, he would not dismiss the petition, but would adjourn the case sine die. He should not give protection, which would operate as punishment; but his Lordship might come up, if he chose, on a future occasion.
At Marlborough Street Police-office' on Monday., Mr. Dew, the auctioneer, and Mr. James Hallett, were committed for trial for the illegal sale of an East India cadetship. The particulars of the case were recently stated. The prisoners were admitted to bail.
A woman named M'Culloch, in her thirtieth year, has been committed to Bridewell for a week, from the Guildhall Police-office, for attempting to kill her child, while drank. The prisoner tried to throw the child, which is six years old, into the Thames, over the balustrade of Blackfriars Bridge; and when a Policeman interfered, she endeavoured to thrust the child under the wheels of waggons which were passing : her reason, she said, was that she could not teach it manners !
A distressing conflagration occurred at Blackwell on Tuesday night A chim- ney took fire in one of a row of small houses; and the roof, which was thatched, quickly blazed up. In a short time, the whole row of dwellings, eight in number, with their contents, were consumed. Forty people have been rendered destitute by the calamity.
Several other fires have occurred during the week. In great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, a blind-manufactory has been destroyed: the loss esti- mated at 2,0001. Damage to a similar amount has been occasioned by a fire at an herb-distillery, near Croydon.
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