Int _Metropolis.

A. Court of Aldermen was held for the despatch of business on Tues- day. The Gaol Committee reported a letter from Sir James Graham, containing a set of new prison-regulations ; which were embodied in an order of the Court. In reply to Sir Chapman Marshall, Alderman Copeland stated that the amount received by the City in payment of brokers' licences in 1841 was 3,600L, in 1842 more than 3,800/. ; a con- siderable sum, but much less than had been stated elsewhere.

Four Courts of Conservancy were held on Saturday before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, the Chairman of the Navigation Committee, and other City officers, to receive presentments from the Grand Juries ap- pointed at the previous Courts. They were held successively, appa- rently in the City for Middlesex, in Southwark Town-hail for Surrey, in Greenwich for Kent, and in Stratford for Essex. At eaeh ache Courts the Jury made separate presentments as to the general state and condition of the river, besides presenting as nuisances several encroach- ments in different parts of the river within their jurisdiction, and re- commending alterations. The Middlesex Jury, who had surveyed the river from Chelsea to the sea, reported thus on the proposed plan of Mr. Walker and Captain Bullock, "whereby it is proposed to. define

and secure within regular lines, at a more uniform width, the shores of the river on each side, so as to deepen the navigable part of the stream ;, and, by rendering more regular the embankments thereof, to cleanse the mud and filth from the shores ; and to preserve the water-way, when the shoals shall have been removed "---

" They are of opinion that the adoption of some ouch plan will be advantage- ous to the public. And the jurors further present, although the state of the greater portion of the hanks of the river within the aforesaid limits is now used as wharfs and otherwise, for trading purposes, which prevents the adoption of any compulsory plan of general embankment for the purpose of making public walks, without an unjust interference with the rights of private property, yet it appears to the jurors, that wherever a right of way on the banks of the river still exists, the greatest care should be taken for its preservation ; and that in, any projected plan that may be adopted, the right of way in every such cage should be advanced to the front of the proposed embankment, and for ever pre- served as a road, walk, or quay, for the use of the public, for the purposes of business, health, and recreation."

The Surrey Jury reported in similar terms. The Essex Jury com- plained of the danger accruing to craft on the river from the artillery. practice. The Lord Mayor stated, that a sum had been included in the esti- mates of the present year to enable the Government to purchase a quantity of land adjoining the Arsenal, that they might give their pieces another direction, altogether without the range of the river. Each Jury on being dismissed was thanked for its services by the Lord Mayor or Recorder.

The Anti Corn-law League have given eclat to their weekly meet- ings in London by engaging Drury Lane Theatre for the purpose ; and the first meeting in that place was held on Wednesday evening. The number of tickets was all bought up by Tuesday afternoon, and the theatre was crowded in every part. On the platform were, Mr. Richard Cobden, M.P., Mr. William Williams, M.P., Mr. William Ewart, M.P., Mr. Th,omas Thornely, M.P., Dr. Bowring, M.P., Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., Mr. J. T. Leader, M.P., Mr. J. L. Ricardo, M.P., Mr. Joshua Scholefield, M.P., Mr. Robert Wallace, M.P., Mr. W. D. Christie, M.P., Mr. J.B. Scott, of Manchester, Sir William Baynes, Mr. Bright of Rochdale, Mr. John Biggs of Leicester, and other members of the League. Mr. Wilson was the chairman. He said, that he had received a letter since he took the chair, saying that tricks were to be played that night, such as putting out the gas in the theatre, or giving a false alarm of fire ; but he hoped the meeting would be on their guard and remain in their places. The first speaker was Mr. Ewart ; who urged pressure on Sir Robert Peel : and among other coneasionS which the Minister had made under pressure, he alluded to the con- templated admission of Canada wheat and of American corn through Canada, " by a sort of knight's move"; which he characterized as one of the most palpable delusions ever perpetrated on the unfortunate class of agriculturists. Mr. Cobden delivered a very long speech on the standing topics, beginning with a compliment to the size, wealth, and influence of the meeting. He retorted Lord Brougham's attack of Tuesday night, (taking to himself, by the way, remarks which Lord Brougham evidently levelled at another speaker;) leaving the assailant, as a just retribution to his own reflections--" an example of intellect not guarded by moral rectitude." The most interesting part of Mr. Cobden's address was in reference to Mr. Bayley, the Dissenting minister of Sheffield. Mr. Cobden took upon himself the responsibility- of the conduct of the League, its deputations, and religions ministers- " I say, that there is not a word that has ever been uttered by any ministet of religion who has attended our confetences or aided our.proceedings, the re- sponsibility of which, if fairly and honestly interpreted, I am not prepared to take upon myself. But there has been language used which has been most foully and most atrociously misrepresented by the noble and learned lord; who comes back from Cannes, pores over the seventy pages of calumny in the Quarterly Review, and then launches forth into these atrocious calumnies on the Anti-Corn.law League. I have been accused of not having repudiated the language employed by the Reverend Mr. Bayley of Sheffieln : I have been ac- cused of being an accomplice, because I did not come forward in public and repudiate the charge made against him of inciting the people of this country to commit murder. Why, I should as soon think of doing so as of going before the Lord Mayor and making an affidavit that Mr. Bayley was not guilty of cannibalism." Be explained that Mr. Bayley enjoys the confidence of a numerous congregation of professing Christians, who support him by voluntary contributions : he is known in Sheffield as a warm-hearted, amiable, and public- spirited man; he has been indefatigably engaged in the endeavour to form working-man's college at Sheffield for the education of the working classes; he is a man of superior, of remarkable talents: but amid all his talent, there is a want of tact and discretion. Mr. Cobden stated what the anecdote was that had been so perverted. The Reverend Mr. Bayley was showing the moral de- pression of the people of Sheffield, as a consequence of their physical deteriora- tion; and, as an illustration of his argument, and of the deep dissatisfaction which prevailed, he said that he had heard of a gentleman, as it has been re- ported—of a man, as he says he said—who bad said that he would be one of a hundred to draw lots who should assassinate Sir Robert Peel. Be expressed his condemnation, and it was hardly necessary that he should, of such an act. This anecdote had been laid hold of as showing that Mr. Bayley was con- nected with men willing to undertake the assassination of Sir Robert Peel!

Mr. Cobden was followed with another long speech by Mr. John Bright of Rochdale. At the close, the Chairman presented the thanks of the meeting to the speakers and to the Members of the Legislature who had attended; read over the names of the latter, in order that the meeting might know who they were ; and promised that next Wed- nesday the meeting should be addressed by Mr. Charles Villiers, M.P., and Mr. R. R. R. Moore.

31`Naughten was removed from Newgate on Tuesday, to Bethlehem Hospital. He seemed pleased at the change.

James Stevenson, the Scotch fanatic who came up to London to re- move the Queen and Sir Robert Peel, was brought before the Lord Mayor yesterday, only to be again remanded till this day. His father is said to be an obstinate Cameronian, of the most rigid kind.

Another maniac, seeking an interview with Sir Robert Peel, has been seized. Edward Colley was placed before Mr. Twyford, at Bow Street, on Tuesday; and from the examination it appeared, that he was taken by a Police Sergeant, on the same afternoon, after he had endea- voured to obtain admittance both to the official and private residence of the Premier. Be confessed to desiring an interview, in order to confer with the Minister on religions subjects. There was no appearance of even partial. gnarl' in the prisoner's replies ; but he did, not sewn to

mean any harm. The following- letter had been found upon him-

- Newcastle Street. London. Monday evening. haltpaat 11 o'clock. "Dr Father—I wish to communicate to the authorities, that what I have hitherto advanced has been written or said from the impulse of the moment; but now I state for . . . the Government office men, who can reede welle, that the form as hitherto use ahd be continued, and that I wish to be sent to my home for my wyfe (say Tuesday earley per the ironmonger invention) as that is the maxem of mine. I don't aime so high as the state, therefore let proper men administer the laws according the old maxims and statutee, and the Church of England is on a sound basis, and that marriages ehd be solemn- ized therefore as hitherto, and that no man be suffered to have above one . . This may be strange, but it is in my opinion correct. As if theologians search they will find that the lawe was given by Moses, but grace and truth by (J. C.) that the whole may be crowned by one being able to say glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men.

"Adiew, if I don't see you before I goe. E. G. C." Mr. Higgins, at whose home in Newcastle Street Colley had lodged, stated that his manner had suddenly become odd on Monday ; when he shook hands with all, and said that he was going abroad. Mr. John Colley, of Coekspur Street, a distant relation, by whom he had been employed, said that his mother was insane for ten years. His father had possessed considerable property, which he lost by the fa;lure of some banks ; and he was now in the Charterhouse. Edward Colley was not married. The Magistrate ordered that he should be detained in custody, until his friends could make arrangements for his safe keeping.

George Edward Blythe was brought before the Lord Mayor, on Saturday, by a constable in the employ of the Board of Customs, chared as a person dangerous to go at large. Mr. C. J. Maclean said, that Blythe had been appointed landing-waiter in Newfoundland in 1835; in 1840 he was sent home insane ; his leave of absence was continued from time to time until October 1841, when he was discharged upon a gratuity. He has since been confined in St. Luke's and in Dr. Warburton's estab- lishment, and discharged as incurable. On Wednesday morning he ogled at the Customhouse, wanted to see the Commissioners, and spoke in a very incoherent manner. The prisoner, who could not without hesitation say whether he had any children or not, and gave other tokens of insanity, declared that he meant no harm, but only went to the Customhouse to seek employment. He begged hard to be let to go home to his wife. But he was lodged in the Compter fur a few days, until Mr. Phillips, the Superintendent at Dr. Warburton's establishment, should have consulted with Mrs. Blythe as to his safe keeping. Yester- day, having promised never to go to the Customhouse again, he was delivered over to the care of his wife.

In the Prerogative Court, yesterday, Sir Herbert Jenner Fust de- cided against the validity of three codicils of Lord Hertford's will ; be- queathing his house in the Regent's Park, some pictures, and some stock to the Countess de Ziehy Ferraris ; and 100,000 dollars, in United States Bank stock, to Mr. Wilson Croker. The codicils were unat- tested, but were assumed to be rendered valid by one of later date.

The "proprietors, merchants, and others" interested in Antigua, met on Saturday, and took immediate steps to claim assistance from Go- vernment for the sufferers by the earthquake ; and proprietors departed by Wednesday's packet to render assistance on the spot.

It is highly creditable to the French residents in London that, under their auspices as we understand, a subscription has been opened at Messrs. Coutts's bank for the benefit of the unfortunate sufferers by the recent catastrophe at Guadaloupe.—Morning Post.