alttrupnlis.

At a Court of Common Council, held on Thursday, Mr. Deputy Har- rhion presented the report of the Fleet Valley Improvement Committee en Mr. Charles Pearson's- plan for a great Central Railway Terminus and Markets in Farringdon Street. They have examined Mr. Walker and Mr. Bunning, the engineer and architect for the City, and Mr. Higgins; and they find that, in an engineering point of view, there are no diffi- culties in the scheme beyond the ordinary ones of a crowded part of the town, while the alterations necessary will improve inferior parts of the town. Mr. Walker has estimated the cost of construction at 750,000!., and Mr. Bunning the cost of compulsory purchases and compensations at 1,673,000/. ' • total 2,423,000/. Mr. Pearson's surveyor estimates the total cost at only 1,500,0001. The reports of the engineers and surveyors are to be printed.

At a special meeting of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers, on Wednesday, it was finally resolved to accept Mr. Frank Forster's resigna- tion of his office of engineer to the Commission.

Delegates from the Metropolitan parishes met on Wednesday, in the Marylebone Court-horse, to consider the necessary steps for obtaining a reform of the sewerage and drainage organization of the Metropolis ' • Mr. J. A. Nicholay in the chair. The bill introduced to the House of Com- mons by Mr. Mowatt, last week, was dissected clause by clause, by Mr. Toulmin Smith and other speakers. The delegates resolved that the bill is in nowise calculated to insure the efficient administration of sewage and drainage, while it would be heavily burdensome on all the Metropolitan districts. A committee was appointed to memorialize Lord John Russell -accordingly.

The report of the joint Committee of the Benchers of the Four Inns of Court, on the subject of Legal Education, has been published by the Morning Chronicle. It proposes to establish five professorships,—of Jurisprudence, Civil Law, Real Property and Common Law, Equity, and Constitutional Law ; the institution of regular examinations ; and that the degree of barristers be refused to all who have not attended the lec- tures and passed the examinations. It proposes also, that for legal edu- cation the year be divided into three terms instead of four ; commencing and ending-1st November to 22d December, 11th January to 30th March, 15th April to 31st July. The emoluments of the professors to be a salary of 300 guineas each, and.a fifth share of the entrance-fees of five guineas from each student.

A deputation from the Royal Patriotic and Industrial Society of Scot- land, and the Committee for Industrial Relief, had an interview with Sir George Grey on Thursday, at the Home Office, to solicit the aid of Go, vernment in the erection of flax-soutching mills, and in the instruction of the small tenantry of the Highlands and Islands in such economic hus- bandry as may obviate future eleemosynary appeals to stave off destruc- tion by famine. Cluny Macpherson, Macleod of Macleod, Sir J. N. Maxwell, and Sir Duncan Macdougall, wore of the deputation.

Sir George Grey expressed his sympathy with the destitute people in the Highlands, but also stated his fear that the malady is becoming chronic. Parliament is very averse to any grants for localities ; and he thought the more Government abstains from direct interference the better, as by such influence they frequently cheek natural and legitimate sources of opera- tion. Before granting money to the Highlands, he thought Parliament would require an assimilation of the Scotch Poor-law to that of England. The Reverend H. Mackenzie asked whether the Government could not in- fuse such utility into the Scottish Fishery Board as that it should aid the poor people on the West coast, by instruction and example, to become more successful fishers. It is distressing to think that a peaceful, manly race, like the Highland population, are decaying from off the earth for want of a little stimulus and aid.

Sir George Grey said, he would see whether anything can be done with regard to the Fishery Board. The Government endeavoured last year to arrive at correct information regarding the destitute Highlanders ; and they were informed that eleemosynary aid has produced a baneful effect upon the habits of the people, in depriving them of self-reliance. It ap- pears they seem to think third parties will save them from starving; and are too disposed to rest contented with that, and to be disinclined to go five miles away to get work, although labourers were wanted in other parts of Scotland.

As auxiliary measures of amelioration, the deputation respectfully urged the importance of establishing mail steam-packet communication with the Outer Hebrides, and of Government encouragement to the formation of the Oban Railway.

Mr. Justice Patteson appeared in the Court of Queen's Bench for the last time on Tuesday. At the close of business, the Attorney-General, in the name of the bar, delivered this farewell addrese" Mr. Justice Patteson, I am charged by my brethren at the bar to 'convey to you our sincere regret and common sorrow that we see you for the last time on that bench, where, for now nearly twenty-two years, you have occupied a seat with such infinite honour to yourself and such unbounded satisfaction to the profession. And, as we are now about to lose you it may not be entirely unbecoming in me to offer, nor wholly unwelcome to you to receive, the assurance of the uni- versal sense of the whole profession, that the high and sacred duties of the Judicial office were never more honestly or ably discharged than by you during your whole judicial life. Though we lose you, your memory will yet remain to us., assuming its proper position among those revered names

which dignify this place and this hall, and will be cherished by us, not more for that vast and varied learning by which all have profited and which all have admired, than for that untiring love of justice and truth, and that hatred of oppression and wrong, that unflinching integrity of purpose, that simplicity and singleness of heart, and that benevolent kindness of nature, which leave us in doubt whether we should more revere the judge or love the man."

The whole bar silently bowed assent to this tribute. The strangers, who had gathered in crowds to testify their respect, manifested their sympathy by a burst of applause. Mr. Justice Patteeon, with unaffected emotion, acknowledged his gratitude. " Of the entire sincerity of what you have said I do not entertain a doubt;

and though I am painfully conscious that the sentiments you have expressed are beyond what I have deserved, yet I shall not be guilty of the affectation of supposing that such praises, coming from so large and deserving a body of men as you, can be wholly unmerited. Mine is one of many cases which show that if a public man, without any preEminent ability, will exercise such talents as God has been pleased to give him, honestly, without ostentation, and independently, he will receive public approval commensurate with and even exceeding what he deserves. I thank God if I have not been found wholly deficient in the use of those talents with which he has intrusted me. It is with great regret that, while still in possession of much of my intel- lectual and bodily strength, I feel myself compelled to retire from a profes- sion in which I take and always shall take the greatest delight. It is not now that for the first time I have contemplated such a necessity. I have found it difficult to avoid on the one hand the premature surrender of office while 1 felt myself capable of performing my duty, and on the other of clinging to it when a physical infirmity might bring the due administration of justice by me into jeopardy. I endeavoured, with the kindest advice of my brethren, and with the assistance you have rendered me, to avoid either extreme. I am sadly afraid that I have deferred my retirement too long. You know that I have for some years been obliged to use ingenious instru- ments, which have much assisted me in hearing, and which are great com- forts both in public and private life ; but they cannot prevent the increase of the infirmity. Of this I am confident and sure, that nothing but the un- ceasing kindness of the bar, and constant exertions on my behalf, painful, and indeed sometimes distressing, and the affectionate and unceasing sup- port of my brethren on the bench, could have enabled me to continue so long as I have done in the discharge of my duties. I am aware that in some in- stances I have given way to impatient expressions to the bar and to the wit- nesses, as if they were to blame, when in fact it was my own deficiency. I have been and am heartily sorry for such a want of command over myself ; I have striven against the repetition of it earnestly, but not always with success. My brethren, you and the public have been very kind to me; and a grateful recollection of that kindness will remain with me and be a solace to me as long as my life shall last. I bid you farewell affectionately. I wish you many years of health and happiness, and success in your honour- able profession ; the duties of which require not only zeal and learning, but high honour and integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility to God and man, and which being so performed, are, in my judgment, eminently condu- cive, with the blessing of God, to maintain the just prerogatives of the Crown

and rights and happiness of the subject."

The Court of Queen's Bench gave judgment on Tuesday against Mr. Ram- shay's application for a rule calling on Mr. Pollook to show by what right he acts as County Court Judge at Liverpool. As was anticipated in our recent notice of the arguments by Mr. Ramshay's counsel, the Court held, that as Mr. Ramshay does not allege that he was removed without cause, or without a hearing, or that the matters complained of against him' if adjudged trim do not constitute inability or misbehaviour, they cannot interfere. The Chancellor had jurisdiction to inquire ; he had inquired in due form; his judgment was valid, and it must stand.

The Court of Exchequer has granted a new trial in the case of Bellamy and another versus Marjoribanks. It may be recollected that some years since a solicitor named Geary was transported for forgeries. After ho went out of the country, other misdeeds than that of forgery were discovered to have been done by him. Some trustees for whom ho acted had drawn a check for 20001. on Messrs. Coutts and Co., [the defendants,] and intrusted it to Geary to pay into "the Bank of England to the account of the Ao- countant-Geoeral in Chancery," for payment of certain Chancery costs. In abundant caution, they inserted in the body of the check the words " for general costa account.' But as soon as Geary got the check, he erased the crossing to the Bank of England and the Accountant-General, recrossed it with the name of his own bankers Messrs. Gosling and Co., and paid it to them towards his own account. Messrs. Gosling presented it to Messrs. Coutts and Co., and obtained payment. Soon after this, Geary'ecrimes were discovered; he was transported ; and the plaintiffs, his clients, supposed they had lost the money paid by their bankers, the Messrs. Coutts, to Messrs. Gosling : but on discovering the way in which Geary had tampered with their cheek, they brought an action against Messrs. Coutts for having paid the money negligently. The plaintiffs relied on an alleged custom of bankers that a recrossed check is never paid without special inquiry ; a special jury of London citizens, who heard the conflicting testimony of a number of lead ing bankers, affirmed this custom, and gave a verdict for the plaintiffs. The Court was now asked to declare that this verdict was against the weight of evidence. The Court has so determined, and there is to be a new trial. The Judges expressed an opinion, that probably the true custom that will bb established will be simply, that double crossing imposes the obligation to pay only through some banker, and not through any particular one. In reference to the simple practice of first crossing, they laid it down ex- plicitly, that crossing is not an endorsement which changes the ownership, but merely a practice to facilitate the tracing of the check ; so that payment of a crossed cheek otherwise than to a banker is evidence of negligence by the banker so paying.

At a meeting of the contributories to the Merchant Traders' Ship Loan In- surance Company, before Master in Chancery Sir William Horne, a call of 251. per share was declared. Counsel opposed the step on behalf of Lord Tal- bot and Mr. Winthorp, on the ground that they will have to pay 50,000/. of the call. The Master observed, that under the extraordinary provisions con. tained in the Joint-Stock Companies Winding-up Act, he had no alternative, however ruinous might be the result, but to declare the call ; Lord Talbot and Mr. Winthorp, apparently the only solvent subscribers, having been fixed upon the list of contributories as liable to that extent. He could not help expressing great regret at the facility which the registration of Joint- Stock Companies Act gave to the projectors of speculative and disastrous un- dertakings to involve others in these frightful liabilities. Mr. Roxburgh stated, that the company in question, and not fewer than four others, were the offspring, within less than a year, of one unprincipled projector ; and men of straw by multitudes, who could not now pay a farthing to discharge its debts, leaving the onus on the few who could, and who were decoyed into the scheme, received at the rate of lc and 2e. a head in the lowest purlieus and pothouses to sign the document obtaining registration. Notice of appeal against the call was given.

At Bow Street Police Office, on Monday, Mr. Feargus O'Connor surrendered upon his recognizancea to answer a charge of creating a disturbance at the Lyceum Theatre on Saturday evening, and with assaulting Police-Sergeant Morton. Mr. O'Connor was in the dress-circle ; during the overture, he was " jigging about," humming the music, and imitating the motions of the musicians ; an uproar arose in consequence. Mr. O'Connor was requested to desist—to leave the house, and his money should be returned; he refused. Sergeant Morton civilly requested him to be quiet; he replied with a blow on the officer's face. On his way to the police-station, he asked the officer to liberate him—he would give him two shillings, and he should be made an Inspector of Police in six months. The case was folly made out. Mr. O'nnor seemed " excited" ; he was, not drunk. The defendant denied that he struck the constable intentionally : he was merely trying to save himself from ejection from the box. The Magistrate, Mr. Henry, decided that the offence had been clearly proved ; to fine Mr. O'Connor would be a mockery of justice: so he sent him to the House of Correction for seven days

for the assault. Mr. O'Connor made no remark, and was removed. .

A short time after, Mr. Reynolds, the Chartist writer and orator, applied to the Magistrate on behalf of his friend, and requested that a fine might be accepted from Mr. O'Connor, as his recent behaviour showed that his mind was affected. [In the House of Commons last week, the Member for Not- tingham played some strange antics ; and his behaviour under examination before a Master in Chancery, respecting his land company, was extraordi- nary. Some doubt is entertained whether it was not acting, to serve a pur- pose.] Mr. Henry said, Mr. O'Connor had exhibited no symptoms of mad- ness when before him. Mr. Reynolde asked the Magistrate if he had read of the scenes before the Master in Chancery. Mr. Henry—" You have no right to put such a question to me, knowing, as you must, that I can be influenced only by proceedings before me in this court.'

Mr. Reynolds—" I put the question with every deference, inasmuch as Mr. O'Con- nor, when before the master, decidedly indicated an unsound state of mind : in ad- dition to which, no gentleman in his senses would exhibit himself in such a manner at'a theatre."

Mr. Henry—" Many things are done, by gentlemen and others, which appear in a police-court to be indications of insanity ; but there are exceptions to the gene- ral rule, and if there were not, such places as police-courts might be dispensed with." Mr. O'Connor was subsequently sent away in the police-van.

-Edward Staggles, a youth of eighteen, has been committed by the South- wark Magistrate on a charge of attempting to murder Mr. Barber, a manu- facturing chemist at Bermondsey. He had formerly been in Mr. Barber's employ; the other night, Mr. Barber found him in his manufactory, and was almost blinded by a powerful acid solution which the young ruffian threw in his face. Mr. Barber locked the then unknown assailant in the place, and fetched a neighbour. Staggles had then got into an upper floor, and through a trap-door he fired two pistols at Mr. Barber : one bullet went through the hair and wounded a finger, the other passed along the back, but Merely tore the clothing. Mr. Barber courageously mounted the ladder, and seized him, and he made no further resistance. He has told a policeman that his intent was to rob, not to murder.

A woman has committed suicide at the office of Mr. Peachey, a solicitor of Salisbury Square, under very distressing circumstances. Mrs. Mayor was the wife of an officer in the service of the East India Company; nine years ago, her husband brought an action against a Captain Farquhar for criminal conversation, and got 7501. damages. Mrs. Mayor rejected the aid offered by her injured husband, and lived for a time with Farquhar; then she became distressed. She frequently applied to Mr. Peachey, her husband's solicitor ; at last that gentleman was obliged to deny himself to , her. Yesterday sennight, she called at Mr. Peaehey's and requested to be allowed to write a note ; while in a private room, she swallowed oil of almonds, and was found dead.

By the explosion of a purifying-apparatus at the gas-works in Brick Lane, on Tuesday, a man was very severely hurt, a number of houses in the neighbourhood were shattered, a gasometer was damaged, and a large quan- tity of gas burnt out.

About noon on Sunday, the Ant steamer, one of the halfpenny boats ply- ing on the Thames, struck some stones which have been thrown into the stream at Blackfriars Bridge to strengthen the piers; a hole was knocked in her bottom, and the water entered rapidly. The master remained silent and kept on his course ; after a time the water came into the cabins, and the passengers were greatly alarmed; but the boat reached the pier at London Bridge .in time for all the people to get on shore in safety. As the tide rose the boat became completely submerged.