Alttrafulio.

It may be recollected that, a short time since, the Lord Mayor invited Mr. Buchanan, the American Minister, to a complimentary farewell banquet, and that Mr. Buchanan could not attend it as he had been sum- moned for that evening to dine with the Queen. On Tuesday this week, Lord Mayor Salmons was more successful, and Mr. Buchanan partook of a feast in his honour at the Mansionhowie. Several Members of Par- liament of different parties were present, but the muster was not on the whole so notable as the previous one. Of course the main speech of the evening was that of the principal guest, in reply to the toast of his health. Mr. Buchanan, after emphatically expressing his gratitude for the invariable kindness with which he had been everywhere received in a land where he had never felt himself a stranger, came to the most in- teresting topic of the relations between the two countries. "With regard to the two countries, what a dreadful misfortune it would be to the whole human race if they should ever again be involved in war ! How it would injure and throw back the cause of civilization and of human liberty ! How it would delight the despots of the earth to find those two nations destroying themselves, and in that way destroying every hoped pro- gress to mankind ! I hold it that there can be no political slavery where the English language is the language of the country. It is impossible; and so far from there being any jealousy--so far from its being proper that there should he any jealousy in either country as to the honest and fair ex- tension of the frontiers of either—it ought to be considered a blessing to mankind that they should have the opportunity of extending their freedom and liberal institutions over all the unsettled parts of the earth. I am sorry to say that, with all these feelings and sentiments, from the first separation of the two countries there has unfortunately, always been a group of unset- tled queetions. _ There is a cloud now impending over their relations ; but I trust inGod, and I believe, that that cloud will. be speedily dissipated, and that the sunshine of peace and friendship will become more and more bright between the two countries, until all the dimensions which ever existed be- tween them shall have passed away, and shall only live in history as a re- wed of the folly of two peoples who could for a moment suppose it possible to engage in a fratricidal war." (Much cheering.)

The "Mayors of England,"—the Mayor of Birmingham in the chair,— held another meeting at Herbert's Hotel on Monday, to manifest their continued hostility to the Government Police Bill, and to congratulate themselves on the success of their agitation. The principal resolution adopted was to the effect "that no modification of the present bill could be approved or accepted by the Mayors of Ragland, so long as the prin- ciple of ceatralization was preserved so far as respected the counties. It was thought very " improbable " that the bill would be read a second time. The meeting adjourned until Tuesday ; and when it assembled again, great surprise was expressed at the large majority of votes in fa- vour of the second reading on Monday night. The upshot of the con- sultation was, that the bill should be accepted IE principle, but that every effort should be made "to weed it of its objectionable features in Com- mittee."

The annual general meeting of the Royal Literary Fund Corporation, held on Wednesday,—Mr. B. B. Cebbell in the chair,—was, like the meet- ing last year, seized as an occasion for anOther effort to realize the views of the 'reformers." The report phoired for 1865 an income of .2583/. 45. 10d., and an expenditure of 2388I.• 168. ed., leaving a balance of 1941. 8s. 4d. Mr. Dilke, supported by Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. John Fender, and Mr. W. B. Proeto4'wWved e resolution condemning the mede of administering the futids, and denimading a great change. In blew* years the cost of assisting 477 tiOlicants had been 5601/. las 7d. exclusive of poundage, he. ; while ihdeedst of assisting 624 applicants to the Artists' General Benevolent ..Fitetd, within the same period, only amounted to 994/. 48. 10d. Mr. Robert Bell and Mr. Monekton Manes shoWedthat there was no analogy..betWeen. the Literary Fund and the Artists' Benevolent Fund. The latter fend is supported by artists ; be-

stows its stipends upon superannuated artists or dependents, almost as a Matter of right; and it is necessarily administered by the body to which it belongs. The Literary Fund is derived from the contributions of the friends of literature, professional or otherwise; it gives no endow- ments, no fixed stipends, but such help in each case as the circumstances may require, and upon occasion arising. It needs, therefore, a fixed lo- cality and an administration which can inquire into each case even as a private benefactor would inquire. Frequently given to men who are still prominently before the world, the aid must be supplied with honourable se- crecy. Mr. Murray of Albemarle Sweet moved a long amendment, jus- tifying the existing management, and promising every practicable reform. This amendment was carried by 51 to 30.

At a meeting of players, held at the Adelphi Theatre on Thursday,—Me. Charles Dickens in the chair,—it was resolved to present a memorial to the Charity Commissioners praying that "poor players" might be ad- mitted to participate in the benefits arising from the endowment of Dul- wich College. A committee was appointed to carry out the objects of the meeting.

A body, chiefly composed of working men, is in existence in the Metropolis, called the National Sunday League. Their object is to sup- port the endeavours made to open the Crystal Palace, National Gallery, and British Museum, on Sundays. They contend that the question as not a religious but a social question ; and that they do not desire to infringe on the people's rest-day, but to defend to the utmost the right of the people to free rational enjoyment on that day. At a meeting held in St. Martin's Hall on Monday,—Sir John Shelley in the chair,—resolutWos in accordance with their views were passed by large majorities.

The Eastern Counties Railway proprietors have reinstated Mr. Wad- dington. The result of the poll for three Directors was announced at an adjourned meeting on Saturday. There were seven candidates. Mr. Waddington and Mr. Packe were reelected; Mr. Goodson, a supporter of Mr. Waddington, was the third successful candidate. These gentlemen had a majority of votes; but Messrs. Helps, Orr, and Walters, the can- didates proposed on the part of those who have impugned the Wadding- ton rezone, had a majority of voters; Mr. Morrison, an independent candidate, had very few of either votes or voters in his favour. After the poll had been declared, there was the customary, noisy &maim and bandying of charges. It was asked why the dividend had not been paid : Mr. Waddington replied, that the recent contest and quarrelling had delayed it ; but a number of proprietors, and Mr. Bruce, the Deputy- Chairman, said there was no money to pay a dividend, and that a divi- dend ought not to be paid—in fact, dividends had been paid with money that should have been applied to keeping up the line, and a large outlay was now required to repair it. A motion for the Auditore to report spe- cially on the slate of the accounts was rejected, and the meeting ad- journed.

Mr. Henry Mayhew called a meeting of ticket-of-leave men, and they came. Fifty ticket-holders assembled at the National Hall, Holborn, on Wednesday evening. Three of the fifty were upwards of forty years of age, the large majority ranging between eighteen and thirty-five. "More than one-half of them had been educated at day-schools and Sunday- schools." Mr. Mayhew explained, that he had called them together in the hope of bettering their condition. He had tried and trusted many of them, and had never been umunged ono farthing by thoni. He wished to form a society, which should advise and help them in the work of self-elevation ; and thought that the establishment of street markets conducted under proper regulations, together with lodging-houses and other adjuncts, would also be of essential service towards the same end. Mr. Mayhew spoke highly of the working of the ticket-of-leave system. The men having been called upon to express their opinions, a young fellow known as " Peter " rose and made a fluent speech.

Transported for seven years, Peter had improved his education at Mil- bank, and had learned the tailoring business. From Milbank he went to Portsmouth. During his confinement his perpetual source Of anxiety was what he should do when free. When released, he had 61. 124. At South- ampton the officer of the penal establishment offered him some brandy; it got into his head, and before morning he had spent all his money.. 'Be arrived in London without a farthing ; walked aboutTor three months in search of work, living on bread and red herrings. Meeting old associates, . he found means of " making " Si. or el. a week. That course terminated in arrest and imprisonment for twelve months. His sentence expired on Monday. Hearing that this meeting was to be held, he had eagerly attended it, in the hope that it would result in some permanent benefit to him and those like hun, who were struggling, amid the greatest difficulties and severest persecution, to become honest members of society. Knocked about by the police on every side, and coldly received by the public, he was at that moment in a condition in which he did not know where to get his next meal without stealing it : but if the encouragement -held out to his oppressed class by the benevolent gentlemen who had come forward that evening in their behalf were only realized, from that time forward he was determined not again to put his hand to any dishonest adieu. Four others related the incidents of their lives, and complained of the injustice afflicting them. Two of these are now earning comfortable livings ; they had come to show their sympathy with * the body of Ma to whom they belong." One said he had been transported for fourteen years although entirely innocent. At the close of the proceedings, Mr. Mayhew promised that he would try and form a society and raise a bind for their encouragement.

Mr. Talbot of Mount Talbot, Roscommon, has carried his suit for divorce before Parliament, and the proceedings began in the House of Lords on Tuesday. The accusation is that Mrs. Talbot committed adultery with her husband's groom.. The friends of the lady have represented that she is the victim of something like a conspiracy in the first instance, and of a failure of justice when the case was before the Irish Courts. ' The evidence is complicated, and not of a kind usually considered fit for indiscriminate. pub- lication.

The Judge of the Southwark County Court has given a verdict for 51. damages to a Mr. Mogg against the South-Western Railway. The company undertake to convey passengers to Paris for 28s. Mr. Alogg took a ticket. He had charges to pay at Southampton and Havre; no bed was to be got on board the steamer, , and he remained on deck in a boat all night, which made him so unwell that he was obliged to stay. at Havre, and he was pet to expenses there : for all this he.claimed compensation from the company, on the ground that they should have carried lain to Paris,. with proper ac- commodation, for 28.8. The judge held that Mr. Mogg's view was correct.

The inquiry into the death of Mr. John SaiHeir terminated on Tuesday. No fresh evidence was adduced on the point at issue whether or not Mr. Sadleir was of sound or unsound mind at the time of ills death. Mr. Man-

ning a view of influencing the decision of the Jury, stated, that if a verdict of " felo de se" were returned, the property of the deceased would not, as in ordinary cases, go to the Crown, but would under the letters-pa- tent by which the manor of Hampstead is held go to the lord of the manor. Be also exerted himself to make out that Mr. Sadleir was of unsound mind. That, he had no doubt, would have been the conclusion if the inquiry had been an issue in the Court of Chancery. Mr. Wakley summed-up with great fairness ; remarking, at the outset, that he endeavoured as much as possible to apply his mind exclusively for the time to the subject now under consideration ; a matter of some difficulty, as they would believe when he told them that on the preceding day he had held no less than seven in- quests, one of which MIS a ease of suicide and another of child-burning ; so rapidly did the current of horrors run through the mind of a man who filled the office of Coroner. He regretted that the inquiry in such cases is not limited to the simple question of how a man came by his death. Ile was convinced that the practice among jurymen of finding verdicts of in- sanity in criminal cases is an exceeidngly pernicious one ; for by that practice the worst of criminals often escape justice, and every now and then a madman is executed. What is insanity ? If insanity could be defined by the word grief, sorrow, remorse, or even despair, greatly as insanity now prevails, it would exist then in a thousandfold greater degree. But what the Jury had to decide with reference to the evidence was this—Did they believe that at the time Mr. Sadleir committed the act of elf-destruction he was a responsible agent ?—in other words, that he was in such a condition of mind as made him morally and legally responsible for his actions ? It is much to be regretted that this is a subject beset with so much difficulty. He had always observed that juries in such cases are dis- posed to lean towards the aide of mercy and humanity ; but it should be borne in mind that if mercy and humanity are to be shown towards the in- dividual, they are equally to be regarded in reference to society at large. Mr. Sadleir's letters written just before he died showed that his mind was not in such a state of disturbance as to create a confusion of ideas. If they believed Mr. Sadleir was irresponsible for his actions, and that he was driven to commit the act of self-destruction by some uncontrollable impulse, they would say that he was of unsound mind. But if on the other hand, they believed he was of perfect memory and understanding at the time, and that he could have controlled that act if he had thought proper to do so, they could come to no other conclusion than that he had committed self-murder.

The Jury retired, and after an absence of twenty-five minutes returned into Court. The Foreman said—" The opinion of the Jury is, that John Sadleir died by his own hand when in a perfectly sane state of mind. That is the unanimous opinion of the Jury." The Coroner—" That amounts to a verdict of self-murder." The Foreman—" Yes, it does." The Coroner- " My own conviction is, that after the most mature deliberation, and the most patient investigation, you could not have come to any other conclu- sion."

Mr. Bedford, the Coroner for Westminster, at the request of the Church- wardens and inhabitants of St. Paul's Covent Garden, opened on Tuesday an inguiry into the circumstances attending the destruction of Covent Gar- den Thmtre. A solicitor was present to watch the ease for Mr. Anderson ; Mr. Braidwood was present ; Mr. Gye was neither represented nor present. The witnesses examined were John Castles and William Butler, firemen, John Blake Palmer, gassfitter, and Mr. Sloman, carpenter and machinist. Little was elicited that is not already known. John Castles fixed the place where the fire originated as the left side of the carpenter's shop. He was asked—" Have you any means, from anything that occurred, of accounting for the fire'? "—" I really must say that I think the means was taken there to do it." "You mean, you think that the theatre was set on fire ?"— " Yes." "Then, having said that, state why 130."—" Because the smoke was so peculiar—not like common burning wood smoke- and also the ticular time at which it occurred—that we should be all busily engaged as nearly as possible on the stage getting the people out." "Then, your is a more general suspicion, and nothing more ? "—" Only a suspicion." Castles said it Was never considered part of the firemen's duty to go round while the performance was going on ; and they had remained among the pee e on that night, because they wore throwing cigars and fusees about. William.Butler, the other fireman, said distinctly that "the smoke appeared to be ordinary smoke: he did not detect the smell of charcoal." It was shown by the gas-fitter that the burners of the chandelier, turned on at the highest pitch, would do no more than warm the ceiling. Mr. Sloman said, he had repeatedly called attention to the escape of gas all over the house. He had called the attention of Mr. Robinson and others to the fact, and had even stated on Tuesday lust, that if something were not done the theatre would be burned down. Witness had smelt the escape of gas very much in the carpenter's shop, although that was not a closed place. He did not think it possible, however, for any quantity of gas to have ignited without an explosion.

Mr. Scott Russell's building-yard at Millwall has been again ravaged by a fire, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, and swept away a number of workshops and their valuable contents.