Zbe letropolts.

The Fraternity and Guild of the Merchant Tailors of the City of Lon- don celebrated the Festival of St. Barnabas, which fell on Monday, with

the usual magnificent entertainment in their Hall in Threadneedle Street The festival was distinguished by the presence of Prince Albert, (for the first time since his enrolment as a Merchant Tailor,) Prince George of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, and the Duke of Wellington. with an unusual number of noblemen and distinguished persons. Thy health of the Queen was drunk with the most enthusiastic demonstrations several times renewed, that of the Queen Dowager with loud plaudit; and that of Prince Albert with great cheering and marks of interest. prince Albert acknowledged the toast with modest thanks, and a pleasing refer- ence to the fact that his previous appearances in that hall had always been when it was devoted to some charitable object— This day he was for the first time among his brother freemen ; and they must not measure by the tardiness of his appearing in that character the value that he put on the honour conferred on him. I well remember when I first can of age, and when the companies of the Goldsmiths and the Fishmongers offered me their freedom, I felt compelled to decline those honours, in consequence of having been informed, as I was aware by historical tradition, that they represented two opposite political parties. Under such circumstances, I was only allowed the choice of one of those two companies. In consequence, I looked to the Sovereign to whom I had become united, and to whom 1 had devoted my whole existence; and I felt that I belonged only to the nation at large. (Loud and long-continued cheering.) Free from the trammels of office and the responsibility of party, Ire- member well how much pleased I was when these two great companies, waiving the provisions of some of their statutes, finally agreed to receive me as a member; and I am still more pleased to find myself, in addition to those honours, associated with the company in which I now find myself. (Great cheering.) Any one may indeed be proud to find himself enrolled as a member of a corporation such as this, which can boast of universal beneficence and usefulness during a period of nearly four centuries—still holding the same honourable position in the estimation of the country that it did at the time of its original formation, although the progress of civilization and wealth has vastly raised the community. It has been exemplified in this happy country, how it is possible to advance the general progress of man- kind with due reference to the forms and institutions founded by the wisdom of our forefathers. Let us hope that this company will continue its charitable func- tions, and remain equally an object of respect with our children aad our children's children."

The Duke of Wellington briefly acknowledged the toast of the Army. In acknowledging the toast of the President and two Senior Fellows of St. John's College Oxford, Dr. Wynter announced that Mr. Behrens and Mr. Styles have this year been the successful candidates for two Scholarships endowed by the Merchant Tailor, Sir Thomas White, at his original founda- tion of the College.

A Peace meeting was held at Exeter Hall on Monday, to support Me Cobden's motion (coming on that evening) in the House of Commons, "for the adoption of international arbitration as a substitute for war." Mr. Hindley, M.P., presided: the audience was large—with a "satisfactorily large majority of the male sex "; and among those on the platform were some dozen Members of Parliament, some of the chief Metropolitan Dis- senting ministers, Mr. Joseph Sturge, and Mr. Eliha Burritt. The Secretary read a report from the Peace Congress Committee; which stated, among other things, that one hundred and fifty meetings have been held at the chief towns in England and Scotland, often under the presidency of the chief ma- gistrates of those towns; that 3,5001. of the proposed fund of 5,0001. has already been contributed; and a Congress will be held at Paris in August: M. de La- marline will assist them by becoming a member of their body, and delegates from numerous European and American States will be present.

Mr. Bright, M.P., moved the main resolution; which concluded by ex- pressing the strongest approval of Mr. Cobden's motion. In supporting the resolution, Mr. Bright enforced the standing arguments on that side with a speech of considerable length and vigour. In seconding it, Mr. Brotherton replied to the objection of impracticability, that Christianity itself is impracticable to some minds. He called attention to a de- claration of Lord John Russell, that the French and American wars, which were called in the Church prayers of their time " just and necessary wars," were un- necessary wars! Wars that cost a thousand millions of money, and were waged as wars just and necessary in the eyes of a Christian church, we are now told were unnecessary, on the high authority of the Prime Minister. The Reverend J. Burnett admitted that our soldiers are brave, but he never found one brave enough to avow his liking for war. But as for the House of Commons, why didn't they come forward and acknowledge a liking for war, as they did for horse-racing? It was really intolerable that the question of arbitra- tion should be impeded by the canting phrases of the House of Commons, "that it is impracticable; that it can't be done."

Mr. Ewart expressed his conviction, that whatever might be the result of the debate on the subject, the question would be carried ultimately. He agreed in the propriety of the assertion that the House of Commons was a canting House of Commons; but if it resisted this measure, the time would come when it would be a recanting House.

Mr. George Thompson, Mr. Edward Miall, and Mr. Eau Burritt, spoke in fa- vour of other resolutions, and of a petition to the House of Commons.

The meeting adopted all, unanimously.

At the annual distribution of prizes by the Society of Arts, on Thurs- day, Prince Albert presided; Earl Grey and Chevalier Bunsen were among the eminent persons present. Mr. Scott Russell, the Secretary, stated that the example of the Paris exhibitions has overcome the scruples of the Eng- lish manufacturers to a quinquennial exposition of their works; they have applied to the Society of Arts so numerously and influentially, that it has applied to the Board of Trade and the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests to allot a space of Crown land for an exposition in 1851.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, Charles Woolf, Thomas Ottey,and Richard Pridmore, were tried for a misdemeanour in keeping the Walhalla in Leicester Square, where there were public music and dancing, though the place was not licensed, which brought it into the category of "disorderly houses" under an old act of Parliament. Stowell the informer was the nominal prosecutor, but the real complainants were certain persons who had licences, and therefore felt themselves aggrieved by the existence of the Walhalla. The evidence proved that mnsieand dancing were carried on ; but it was not shown that there was any really disor- derly conduct on the part of the people who attended the rooms. Pridmore was made out to be the proprietor, partly by a trick of Stowell's: be broke some glasses at the Walhalla, and Mr. Pridmore, as proprietor, proceeded against him before a Magistrate. Mr. Woolf supplied pastry, and Mr. Ottey wine: but it was urged that if they were looked upon as criminally responsible for the proceedings at the place, the gas company that lighted it might be indicted: in their cases a verdict of " Not guilty " was recorded. For Mr. Pridmore it was contended, that an old act, passed when the police of London was very defective, to prevent thieves from having secret places of rendezvous, could not apply in the present ibetance where nothing of the kind was alleged, and no proof adduced of any " disorderly" pro; ceedings. In accordance with the Recorder's summing-up, the Jury were obliged

, to find Mr. Pridmore legally guilty, but recommended him to the consideration of

the court, on the ground that no moral guilt attached to his offence. Mr. Prid- more was merely held to bail to appear to receive judgment if called upon.

There was a similar charge against a person named Boteler; but no evidence was offered, and a verdict of " Not guilty " was entered.

On Tuesday, the first case for trial was that of Patrick Hay and John Alves, the men accused of defrauding the Reverend Cornelius Griffin of money on pre- tence of obtaining a Royal Chaplaincy for him. The accused had been admitted re bail; Alves appeared, and, his counsel said, was anxious to take his trial; but Hey was not forthcoming. The recognizances of himself and sureties were or- dered to be estreated. If he can be found he will be arrested. Meanwhile, Alves was liberated on his own recognizances.

John King and Jacob Scarrott were tried for stealing a watch at Chelsea. The .only point of interest in the case was a remarkable mistake as to identity. Miss Kauffman had charge of the shop when King and another man, who had entered on pretence of making an inquiry whether an ear-ring was gold, stole a gold watch from the window; and she now swore positively that Scarrott was the second man who took the watch and escaped. But witnesses proved that at that hour Scarrott was at an exhibition; that he had been in their company nearly the whole of the day; and that at the time of the robbery King was seen near the shop with another man. King was convicted, but the Jury acquitted Sear- rott.

Thomas Mancey, a junior clerk in the employ of the Eastern Counties Rail- way Company, and Stephen Little, a carter, have been committed for trial, by the Worship Street Magistrate, for various acts of embezzlement. Little was sent to prison last week; on this Mancey absconded, and it was discovered that he was implicated; his capture followed. The two men " cooked " their accounts, insert- ing in their books less sums for the cartage of goods than were actually paid, and dividing the spoil.

On Thursday, William Hamilton, "bricklayer," aged twenty-three, was in- dicted for discharging a pistol at the Queen, on the 19th May. He pleaded

Guilty." The Attorney-General declined to make any remarks for the prosecu- tion. Lord Chief Justice Wilde passed sentence. He described the circum- stances of the offence, and the condition of the prisoner ; and remarked that there were no grounds to suppose that he really intended to wound the Queen: the pistol was a wretched weapon, and, no doubt, was merely charged with powder: but it was a gross insult to her Majesty, and calculated to alarm her. Appa- rently, the only motive of the prisoner was a desire for a little brief notoriety. The sentence was transportation for seven years. The prisoner heard this with indifference.

John George Hounsfield, the clergyman who was charged with obtaining an advance of 2001. upon a mortgage-deed after he had ceased to have any interest in the property, was put on his trial for the alleged fraud. The evidence proved the manner of the transaction; but there was a technical difficulty in proving that when the prisoner was insolvent his creditors had really obtained possession of the mortgage; and so the Jury were obliged to acquit him. The Recorder remarked that the accused had been very fortunate.

Yesterday, Eliza Schulenberger was tried for poisoning her husband, and as the evidence not proving that the husband's illness had not resulted from ether causes,—though the drugging of the tea seemed clear.

Henry Stockman, the mate of the Brunswick, who accidentally drowned a Negro boy while plunging him in the Thames as a punishment for intoxication, was found guilty, but recommended to mercy. He was only fined one shilling, as he had already been in prison a month.

Two seamen have walked from Chester to London-180 miles—to obtain jus- tice; which they happily got at the Thames Police office. The men had been en- gaged to serve in the Chester steamer Sir Edward, plying to London; Gander, formerly master of the steamer, had hired them at London; on arriving at Ches- ter, Gander left the vessel, a new master and crew took possession, and the Lon- doners were turned adrift. Sir Edward Walker, the owner of the vessel, is Mayor of Chester: he said the master was in his debt; and all the men got from him was Is. 6d. each from the poor-box of his court, and a threat that if they did not leave the city he would have them locked up. The poor fellows begged their way to London. They summoned Mr. Jarnett, the present master of the steamer, for their wages; and Mr. Yardley, the Magistrate, held him responsible as Gander's successor. Accordingly, after commenting severely on the treatment of the mariners at Chester, he ordered Jarrett to pay the amount claimed, with twenty days' pay in addition for the delay in meeting the claim. The threat of a dis- tress-warrant on the ship induced the master to pay the sailors.