gbt jiftetropolis.

At the Court of Common Council, held on Monday, Deputy Peacock brought up the report from the Commissioners of Sewers on the Health of Towns Bill. In this document the Commissioners strove to show that all has been done in sewerage and general improvement which it is possible to effect; and they claimed an entire exemption for the city of London from the operation of the new bill. On the sullied of sewers the Commission- ers make this statement— -

" To show that the important trust committed to our charge has not been neglected, we may state, that in the course of the last sixteen years we have caused new and capacious sewers to be built at a coat of about 200,0001.; thereby providing drainage to such an extent that there are within the area of the City's boundaries about forty-eight miles lineal of public sewers."

Mr. Anderton and Dr. Lynch questioned the accuracy of the report; the former observing that there was as many destructive and disgusting nuisances in the City as could be found in any other part of the Metro- polis. Hostility to Government interference was strongly expressed by Mr. Richard Taylor, Mr. R. L. Jones, Mr. Prendergast, Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. Ashurst.

The Court proceeded to consider a motion brought forward by Mr. F. Bennoch, setting forth the lamentably deficient provision for education, and proposing an address to the Queen, "praying that she will be graciously pleased to exercise every legitimate influence vested in the Crown to urge forward in Parliament such measures as shall provide for the general edu- cation of the people." Mr. Bennoch spoke at great length in support of his motion; Mr. T. White seconded it; and it received general support— among others, from Mr. B. S. Phillips, a gentleman of the Jewish faith. The chief opponents were Messrs. Wire, Ashurst, Pewtress' and De Jersey, who spoke very strongly in favour of Voluntaryism. Towards the close of the proceedings there was some disorder, which ended in the adjournment of the discussion.

The Court assembled again on Thursday. A report was presented from the Commissioners of Sewers, stating that the Remembmncer had received a communication from Lord Morpeth, declaring it to be the intention of the Government to exempt the City of London from the operation of the Health of Towns Bill, inasmuch as the Commissioners of Sewers are already in direct communication with the Corporation. The Chamberlain was in- structed to discontinue the proceedings in the case of "the Chamberlain versus Strut the Court thus abandoning the attempt to force the freedom on the mercantile class. The debate on the Education scheme was con- tinued; and after a smart contest, Mr. Bennoch's motion was affirmed.

The Court of Aldermen, at their meeting on Tuesday, were engaged in considering Mr. Ashurst's claim to be admitted to practise in the Lord Mayor's Court, the Court of Queen's Bench having granted a mandamus in his favour; and his petition was referred to a Committee.

The Marylebone Vestry met on Saturday; the Reverend Dr. Spry in the chair. After electing Churchwardens, the meeting proceeded to take mea- sures for opposing the Health of Towns Bill. They commenced by reading a report from the Committee appointed to consider the bill; in which it is denounced as destructive of the right of local government, and" calculated to annihilate the powers heretofore exercised by the Vestry of Mary- lebone." Mr. Daniell, Mr. Wilson, and Sir Peter Laurie, enlarged upon the enormity of the Government attempt; and the report having been unani- mously agreed to, a Committee was appointed to oppose the bill, and to procure the opposition of the other Metropolitan parishes.

A meeting to support the Government Education scheme was held at the Freemasons' Hall, in Great Queen Street, on Wednesday. Lord Ash- ley presided; several dignitaries and gentlemen of influence supporting him.

Lord Ashley was hearty in his support of the measure. The opposition to it had come from the most unexpected quarter— "I sec that the men who came forward as the most vigorous opponents to the minutes of Council are the very men who gave the most decided and earnest support to the minutes proposed in the year 1839. Now these minutes have much good that the minutes of 1839 had not; these minutes have no evil that was not found in those of 1839. I am indeed astonished at this opposition. First we hear of ob- jections to state interference. State interference! how is it that this objection was never started until this current year, when ever since 1839 the objectors have been participators in the public grant? How is it that these objectors call out for state interference with the Church of England Universities of Oxford and Cambridge? How is it that these objectors to state interference in the abstract are so glad to see the state interference in the London University, share in its emoluments, and partake of its honours? "We are told, as another point, that the operation of these minutes will greatly increase the power of the clergy of the Church of England. And if the object- ing parties do not do their duty, no doubt it will. -If the Church of England does its duty, and the objecting parties refrain from doing their duty, then, I thank God, we shall see an increase in the power of the clergy of the Church of England. If, however' these objectors will come forward in the same spirit as the Church of England, and, according to their measure and means, do their duty, I main- tain that these minutes will give no overweening power whatever to the Church: there will be a becoming, and, as it were, a holy rivalry between the two; man- kind—our country will be benefited, and the proportion will not be disturbed. "Then we hear that the scheme will greatly add to Government patronage and Government power, and bring a whole mass of people under the claws of the dragons that are sitting in Downing Street. Will it so? Show me the minute, show me the motion in which the Government are asking for am increase of places, for any increase in offices of emolument. On the contrary, they create no new place; they agree to dispose of certain places, regulated by a kind of self- denying ordinance. To those meritorious persons who may fail in the great ob- ject of their ambition, but who do their duty in their generation, they will give away those places that they may have before given away to noisy adherents and electioneering partisans." "We are told that this measure is to relinquish altogether voluntary efforts. Supposing it were so, nave the voluntary efforts in this kingdom been of so com- plete and so comprehensive a character that we should shiver in our seats when we have to apprehend a modification of the exclusive existence of that principle? Look at the state in which the country now is: look at the condition of this vast metropolis: look at the thousands, the tens of thousands, the millions in this

country, who have never been brought within, I do not say, the pale, but even the hearing of the gospel. Am I then to be told, when this is the fact, that we are to leave all to voluntary effort—that voluntary effort which has failed, and failed with a field to work in such as eyes have never seen before? No, gentle- men; I maintain that a grand combination should be the principle of our Esta- blishment with the spirit of Voluntaryism. I say that an establishment gives permanency to the spirit of the voluntary system, and that the voluntary system returns life and vigour to the principle of an establishment It is, therefore, ad- mirably devised in these minutes that both these principles should work together, and that both should be respected; that those who value an establishment and those who look exclusively to voluntary efforts should find alike a field and space for their separate operations." "This proposition of her Majesty's Government is called a scheme of educa- tion.' It is no scheme of education. It is merely a means of improving the pre- sent system of education; it is a means only of remedying an evil long recognized i by every denomination in this country; it s a means of elevating the character and condition of those to whom the education of the young is intrusted. Mark that, throughout these minutes, there is no provision made for the addition of a single school or of a single scholar; but schools are to be added, and scholars are to be invited. And how is this to be done? Why, by that voluntary system which we are warned will be extinguished." Lord Ashley quoted published letters from Dissenters, admitting that the voluntary efforts were inadequate to educate all the neglected children in the country. I do think that we may give a word of 'advice to those gentlemen who, after admitting this, come forward to obstruct us in our operations. I think we may venture to advise them to go back to their own elementary schools, and there study with childlike docility the fable of the flog and the manger." (Cheers and laughter.)

The Bishop of Norwich was equally vigorous in his support. He pre- sumed that the Government had sufficient reasons for limiting the boon as they had : the friends of education are thankful for the smallest contribu- tions; but he regretted that more was not to be done—

He himself would have wished there had been a more enlarged and more ex- tensive system of education, which might have included all ot every denomina- tion who bowed before the throne of Jesus. He saw no difficulty whatever in this. He spoke from experience and from his own knowledge: he had educated persons of different persuasions, and he had seen his scholars living togethar in harmony and peace.

Expenditure on education is well laid out: two millions would not be too much— Were not schools cheaper than prisons? Was not a bad education more costly to the public than a good one? They might depend on it, no money could be better spent than on education. This argument of expense the Dissenters had entirely to themselves; it emanated from them, and he wished them joy of it. He did not wish to speak harshly of Dissenters but, as a Churchman he was proud to think such an objection had never crossed themind of a member of the Establishment—that such a sentiment had never found a resting-place in their hearts.

He gave a hint to the Dissenters—

There were certain persons in this country belonging to the Church, who nevertheless were willing to a certain extent to support the Dissenters, and look on them with regard and esteem. Let them beware they did not now open the eyes of some of their best friends, who when they saw the cloven foot would sup- port them no longer. (" Oh, oh!" cheers, and disapprobation.) He spoke ad- visedly: he knew something of the Dissenters, and perhaps his words might dwell upon their ears. But he believed the opposition would be attended with some advantage; it would draw a line of demarcation between the political and party Dissenters and those conscientious Dissenters whom he should esteem as long as he lived.

The Bishop of St. Asaph argued against the sufficiency of the voluntary system—

Dared any man in his senses propose that they should commit the lives of their rer brethren to the voluntary system? Thank God, we had a poor-law ! Thank no man could be starved without the breach of an act of Parliament. "The children of this world were wiser in this generation than the children of light." Did any man think of trusting the safety of our shores to the voluntary system? (Cheers and laughter.) Did any man fancy that the coasts of England would be secure if they were to trust their navy to the voluntary system? He doubted not that if the hour of danger should ever come, thousands of honest men would come forward in our defence; but would any person think of placing the means of defence which they must wield under the voluntary system? Most certainly not. It was not because the voluntary system was wrong, but because it was inadequate. If they looked into the minutes of Council, did they find that they checked the voluntary system? Not a bit—on the contrary, they would call it more forth, if they wanted 301. for a school, they would have to subscribe GOL before it could be got; and in this way the energy of the voluntary system would be called forth.

He desired to extend to others the benefit which he had enjoyed himself, for he had derived great-spiritual as well as temporal benefit from educa- tion— One of these temporal rewards was, that when college tutor, a great many years ago, he had under his instructions the noble Lord who now sat in the chair. If he were not present he should say a great deal more on this point; but he was quite sure they would feel with him, when he said that he took great pleasure and fihristian pride in that circumstance. The earthly reward he had asked for was not the exaltation he bad got, but the advantages he had received would enable him to be truly useful in his generation. The noble Lord bad very much the same view; and the Bishop prayed God that he might be enabled to continue, and in a still more distinguished manner, that line of usefulness which he had taken up.

The meeting was addressed by the Reverend H. Hughes, Mr. J. J. Cummins, the Reverend R. Burgess, and the Reverend Dr. Cumming, the Reverend E. Auriol, the Bishop of Adelaide, and Mr. J. Payne. Dr. Cumming said, that though not authorized to represent the opinions of the Scottish Church, he believed them to be highly favourable to the measure. The.resolutions' which were unanimously adopted, declared that the pro- vision hitherto nutde for educating the people is inadequate; that voluntary efforts having signally failed to meet the wants of a rapidly-increasing population, it is the duty of Government to provide instruction for the people; that the rules embodied in the minutes of Council are alike appli- cable to Churchmen and Dissenters that the Government plan is strongly commended to the acceptance of all classes of society; and that voluntary efforts will be assisted and encouraged instead of being superseded. The proceedings terminated by the adoption of a petition to the House of Commons, praying that every facility may be granted to the Government in carrying the measure into effect.

A meeting in favour of the Government plan of Education was held on Wednesday evening at the National School-rooms, Limehouse. Mr. G. F. Young presided, and the attendance was numerous.

A "General Conference of Delegates" from all parts of the country, con- vened by the Central Committee of Congregational Dissenters, met on Tuesday at Crosby Hall, to oppose the Government Education measure. The proceedings were of a conversational character, the meeting being a sort of rehearsal for Thursday's grand display at Exeter Hall. It is oh- served that much time was spent in preparing the resolutions; the utmost caution being necessary in wording them so as to combine the support of delegates having views so dissimilar upon nearly all subjects except the common one of defeating the present measure. At length Mr. Alderman Kershaw of Manchester was called on to preside. The Reverend Mr. Ains- lie read a passage from the explanatory pamphlet* attributed to Mr. Kay Shuttleworth; which he characterized as a gross insult to Dissenters. He also contradicted a statement that the British and Foreign School Society had acquiesced in the minutes of Council.

Four resolutions were passed, setting forth generally that the Protestant Dissenters of Great Britain were the devoted friends of education ; de- nouncing the Government scheme as vicious in principle, and worthless if not injurious in practice; objecting to the plan as not propounded in the constitutional form of a bill, and as involving a large unprofitable expendi- ture of public money, as well as giving the Government an undue influence over the popular masses; lastly, the plan was characterized as objection- able inasmuch as it involved a new form of allying the State with religious institutions.

In the course of the proceedings, it was contended by Mr. Henry Vin- cent, the Chartist leader, that Government had no right to undertake reli- gious education. The Reverend Charles Stowell attributed the revolutions in France to the working of the Imperial University. Let the rulers of the people, he said, relieve them from the tide of iniquity which is con- stantly rolling from the cesspool of Oxford. Mr. Joseph Sturge observed, that it was clear that the Government were the last persons to educate the people. Dr. Vaughan complained that the press had falsely represented the Dissenters as indifferent to the interests of the people: history, he added, would record this as one of the wrongs which Nonconformists had to bear in their struggles.

The Conference met again on Wednesday, and their proceedings ex- hibited signs of discord among the members. As on the previous day, several resolutions were adopted without division; but the difference of opinion peeped out in such remarks as the following. Dr. Legge confessed that he diknot go the length of some of his constituents, or of the meet- ing: he considered religion to be an indispensable part of a national edu- cation, but he objected to the proposed measure as handing over the people to the instructional care of the Church of England. The Reverend Mr. Cockin ridiculed the doctrines of the Church of England with regard to baptism; at which the meeting is reported to have laughed much. Dr. Hamilton accused Dr. Legge of betraying "the cause" by his admission; and he pronounced him to belong to "the class who were incapable of ge- neralizing." The Reverend Mr. Stovel attacked Dr. Vaughan for a pas- sage in a letter which he had written to the Morning Chronicle, suggesting certain concessions: Mr. Stovel said he could not stand calmly by and allow such positions to be assumed as were contained in Dr. Vaughan's letter. This remark, and another about "betraying the cause," created some con- fusion; and the Reverend G. Condor rose to order. DX'. Vaughan, he said, ought not to be :alluded to in his absence: the resolutions were the only things which committed them. Here followed more uproar. Dr. Meade defended his colleague Dr. Vaughan; and Mr. Stovel, declaring that he would not be intimidated, proceeded with his address until the audience got tired. The Reverend Mr. Blackburn protested against the manner in which those who were "slow converts" to the principles of the resolution had been treated: it did not become a man who had changed his own opinions within ten years to speak otherwise than with deference to the opinions of more recent converts. The Reverend Mr. Binuey admitted that it might be a wise and politic thing in Government to aid in educating the people. This observation led to considerable disorder; on which Mr. Binney said, he thought he had come to a "conference"! There was evi- dently, he added, a great tendency to call up those who could make plat- form speeches—

He had told Lord John Russell, at a recent interview, that he thought a iV188 compulsory law on education on the municipal plan would not be objectionable. He could conceive secular instruction and religious education as two separate things, and that secular instruction might be taken up by any citizen while reli- gious education was the solemn obligation of the church and the parent. Now the great difficulty arose—if he might use the term—from their being so fero- ciously religious. (Laughter.) The proposed Government scheme, with the most admirable external appearance of right, would work ouly wrong to the great Dis- senting body. All these sallies passed off without leading to any distinct result.

These meetings were followed, on Thursday, by a great "aggregate meeting" in Exeter Hall; the large room of which was quite filled. Mr. John Bright, M.P., was the chairman; and the platform was filled by Dis- senting ministers and laymen. The principal speech was Mr. Bright's. He endeavoured at starting to establish the position that the Dissenters are not adverse to the education of the people; indeed, the essence of Dissent or Nonconformity involves the duties of universal education. But the Government scheme, he maintained, was intended to establish throughout the kingdom the teaching of particular forms or creeds. Mr. Bright at- tacked the Bishop of Norwich, especially for calling Mr. Edward Baines "somebody from Leeds." He repeated rumours current about the inten- tions of Government as to the Wesleyans and the Roman Catholics; but as these rumours are disposed of by what Lord Joan Russell said on the same evening, we need not go into that part of Mr. Bright's speech. Among the speakers who followed, were Mr. Edward Miall and Mr. Edward Baines. Mr. W. Brooks endeavoured to obtain a hearing for remarks in favour of the Government scheme ; but he was shouted down. Some slight opposition was made to the resolutions, but they passed with no real difficulty. Meetings against the measure were also held in Finsbury, at White Con- duit House, and at the Eastern Institution, Commercial Road.

A ballot was taken at the East India House, on Wednesday, for the election of six Directors, in the room of Mr. Henry Alexander, the Honour- able William Henry Leslie Melville, Major James Oliphant, Mr. John Shepherd, Mr. Francis Warden' and Sir William Young, who go out by ro- tation. The new Directors are Mr. William Butterworth Bayley, Mr. Rus- sell Ellice, Major-General Archibald Galloway, C.B., Sir Richard Jenkins, G.C.B., Mr. Ross Donnelly Mangles, M.P., and Mr. John Masterman, M.P.

The election of a Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of Eng- land for the ensuing year took place on Tuesday: Mr. William R. Robin-

* "The School, in Its relations to the State, the Church, and the Congregation." son -and Mr. James Morris were eleeted to those offices respectively. On Wednesday the following gentlemen were elected Bank Directors—

Arthur Edward Campbell, Esq. Charles Frederick Huth, Esq.

Edward Henry Chapman, Esq. Alfred Latham, Esq.

William Cotton, Esq. James Malcolmson, Esq.

Bonomy Dobree, Esq. Humphrey St. John Mildmay, Esq.

Charles Pascoe Grenfell, Esq. Sheffield Neave, Esq.

Abel Lewes Gower, Esq. George Ward Norman, Esq.

Thomson Hankey junior, Esq. John Horsley Palmer, Esq.

Joint Oliver Hanson, Esq. James Pattison, Esq.

John Benjamin Heath, Esti. air John lieory Petty, Bart.

Kirkman Daniel Hodgson, Esq. Henry James Prescott, Esq.

Henry Lancelot Holland, Esq. Sir John Rae Reid, Bart.

Thomas Newman Hunt, Esq. Thomas Tooke junior, Esq.

The Chairman and Directors of the South-eastern Railway Company gave a grand entertainment on Monday to Viscount Torrington, late De- puty Chairman of the Company, on his departure to assume the govern- ment of Ceylon. After the customary toasts, the chairman, Mr. J. hrGregor, proposed the health of the guest; whom Mr. M'Gregor lauded for his ardent temperament, undoubted talent, great perseverance, and energy. In reply, Lord Torrington made a manifesto of his view of the new duties before him—

It might be true that many of those who bad been his predecessors in the office he was about to undertake had been his superiors in ability; many of them had undoubtedly possessed the advantage of greater experience; but in the energy and perseverance with which he would endeavour to fulfil the duties assigned to him he would yield to no man. If he could not emulate the abilities of his predeces- sors, he had at least the satisfaction of knowing that he went out under the ban- ner of the noble Earl now at the head of the Colonial Office; whose talent and capabilities for his high position were undeniable, and under whose instruction he hoped to be enabled to pursue such a course as might tend to the advantage of the colony committed to his government. He would administer his trust accord- ing to the instructions he received from her Majesty's Ministers, with singleness of purpose, and without any regard to private interests. His great anxiety would be that his appointment might do honour to the Government, and that on his re- turn to this country he might deserve the credit of carrying out their views fully and efficiently. Ile could not but venture to anticipate that, under the directions of Earl Grey, the resources of the colony to which he was proceeding might be fully developed, and that that fine island might become one of the most valuable possessions of the British Crown.

At a meeting of Middlesex Magistrates, on Thursday, it was resolved, by the casting-vote of Mr. Pownall, the chairman, to discontinue the use of the tread-wheel for female prisoners.

The demolition of the houses in Tothill Street, Dean Street, and the Almonry, in order to the formation of the proposed street from the New Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace, was begun on Wednesday.

Omnibuses are running from Battersea to Hoxton, a distance of nine miles, for sixpence; and steam-boats from London Bridge to the West-end for a halfpenny!

. At the Mansionhouse, on Tuesday, Horatio Nelson West and another person— whose name was not given, as he appeared to be inuocently mixed up with the transaction—were charged with forging and uttering a number of South-western • Railway shares. It appeared from the evidence, that West sent some shares to an agent for sale; they were sold, and a check was forwarded by the messenger to the prisoner; the banker's clerk overpaid the check by 401., but West made no mention of it; this led to a search after him, and inquiries; and ultimately it turned out that the shares were forged. It was then discovered that West had sent a number of shares, under the name of Perry, from Birmingham; the shares had been sold by a broker, and the proceeds transmitted: these shares also were forgeries. Mr. Alfred Morgan, the treasurer to the South-western Railway, deposed to the shares being forgeries: a great number had been detected, to a large amount. The second prisoner appeared to have had something to do with the money pro- duced by the transactions; but he declared that he was innocent of any offence. Both the men were remanded till next week; but the Lord Mayor intimated a :willingness to take bail for the second accused.

On Wednesday, however, this man was brought up for reexamination; and the evidence against him was then of a far more serious nature. He appeared as " William Farmery." Witnesses from Manchester swore that they had sold South- western shares for him at that town, under the name of " Thomas Wat- -son "; they now believed that those shares were forged; and Mr. Morgan deposed to the fact. The primner protested that he had never been in Manchester in his life. The attorney of the accused, who had been engaged in carrying on a suit for him, declared that he did not believe the leceijit given at Manchester by "Thomas Watson" was in Farmery's handwriting. The prisoner was remanded; the Lard Mayor announcing, that after such evidence he would not take bail for him.

At the Thames Police-office, on Tuesday, Samuel Garrett and James Downes, late keepers in the Grove Hall Lunatic Asylum, at Bow, were finally examined on a charge of killing William Rank, a pauper lunatic. From the evidence it ap- peared, that Rank was an inmate of the Asylum; that he was occasionally vio- lent; and that on the 27th March he attacked one of the prisoners. The two men overpowered and pinioned him; but in doing so, they mercilessly beat and male- treated the patient; who died on the 1st of April. His head and body were bruised; a post mortem examination detected the fact that death had been caused by the perforation of the pleura by a broken rib; and four other ribs were broken. The prisoners were committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter.

An extensive robbery was committed at the goods warehouse of the North- western Railway in Camden Town, on the morning of the 5th instant. A ton and a half of goods—principally silks, satins, and drapery, and valued at 6001.— were removed by a number of people in a waggon- At Marylebone Police-office, on Monday, ten men were accused of the theft. Evidence was given that several of the prisoners were engaged in carrying off the property in a van: much of the plunder was traced to a house in Heaton. Three of the prisoners were dis- charged; but the rest were remanded -till next week. Another man was arrested and taken before the Magistrate on Tuesday, charged as a receiver of the stolen goods; and he also was remanded.

About ten o'clock on Monday night, the new Small Debts Court in the Edge- ware Road, which was to have been opened on Wednesday, was discovered to be -on fire in the upper part. Though assistance was early obtained, the flames had got such a hold on the building that in two hours it was nearly gutted. It is surmised that the workmen had not properly extinguished the tires on leaving off work in the evening.