31Ittroputis.

The Court of Directors entertained Lord Elphinstone, the new Go- vernor of Bombay, at a farewell banquet, on Saturday, at the London Tavern. A great company was present. On the right of Mr. Russell Ellice, the Chairman of the Court, sat Lord Granville, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Canning, Lord Hardinge, and Sir Charles Wood ; on his left, the Lord Mayor,. Lord Elgin, Lord Besborough, and Lord Shelburne ; while conspicuous among the guests were, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir James Gra- ham, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Robert Lowe, Mr. Hayter, Mr. Matthew Baines, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and several distinguished Indian officers, including Sir George Pollock and Sir Colin Campbell. The toast of the evening was, of course, the health of Lord Elphinstone, proposed by the Chairman. Lord Elphinstone, he said, was no untried man; he had already gained experience as Governor of Madras, where he had discharged his duties to the full satisfaction of the Court of Directors; and therefore without the least hesitation and with the utmost cordiality they committed to him the government of Bombay. Lord Elphinstone reciprocated compliments, and stated his views on the true policy for the Government of India— It is the peculiar good fortune of the Indian Government to possess a body of servants, both civil and military, who are, he believed, unequalled—men of tried experience and ability, who had been educated and brought up in that service ; and with their aid and assistance, he did not despair of being enabled to fulfil the objects with which he is going out. It might be con- sidered that he should state what he conceived to be the principal objects which the Governor of one of our Indian Presidencies ought to have in view. There are, in his opinion, three things to which it is the duty of a Governor of India to give special attention,—first, the development of the resources of the country ; secondly, the sound and practical secular education of the natives ; and thirdly, to advance and promote, as opportunities may offer, those natives who qualify themselves for the public service to situations of trust. In endeavouring to carry out all these objects, he relied with perfect confidence upon the countenance and support of the Court of Directors. He was convinced, from what he had seen, that it was the wish of the people of this country that the natives of India should have their full share in the be- nefita and advantages of British rule in India ; and it was a great comfort and support to him to know, that upon this subject his views and feelings are entirely in unision with those of the Court of Directors and of her Ma- jesty's Government. Sir James Graham spoke next to the Navy" -,-eulogizing the con. duct of Sir William Parker and Commodore Lam,bert, who had perforreei such brilliant actions by the combined efforts—the happy combination-- of tb0 Queters service and the Company's marine. Lord Hardinge ie like manner answered for "the Army " ; paying compliments to Sir Willoughby Cottnia and Sir George Pollock ; declaring that a very gene- rous and cordial feeling exists between ber Majesty's troops and those of the East India Company ; and praising the fidelity, devotedness, and courage of the Sepoy regiments. He expressed his conviction that the British army at the present moment is in a very high state of discipline, and that whenever its services may be required, in whatever quarter, it would, prove that it has not degenerated. Lord Granville, stating that Lord Lansdowne had imposed the duty on him, playfully responded to the health of her Majesty's Ministers. Sir Charles Wood said he had learnt, during the short period for which he had held the office of President of the Board of Control, that it was no slight advantage to a Governor of Bombay to be acquainted with the cir- cumstances of other parts of India— Lord Elphinstone would also enjoy the valuable advantage of the expe- rience and advice of a distinguished relative who was formerly Governor of Bombay, and who has left imperishable marks of his good government in that Presidency. Under these circumstances, Sir Charles ventured to tell his noble friend that much would be expected from him.

Lord Lansdowne, Sir George Pollock, and Captain Campbell, also made speeches.

The City Commissioners took the evidence of Mr. Alexander Fulling, barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple on Friday last week. Mr. PuL ling's statements were chiefly historical, relating to the origin of the rights and privileges of the city of London as a corporation; its connexion with the state ; its administration of justice, and its paid officers. Mr. Pulling believes that "many of the evils which exist have arisen from the want of system, and from not legislating in accordance with altered circumstances, and not from any corrupt or improper motive on the part of the members of the Corporation, or any desire to find places for their favourites or friends." - Mr. John Remington Mills, Mr. J. D. Powles, Mr. J. IL Elliott, Mr. F. Bennocb, and other gentlemen, have given evidence this week,

Mr. Mills complained of the mode of electing Sheriffs. He said that after he bad ceased to live within the limits of the county of Middlesex, he had been elected Sheriffi against his will ; and refusing to give bond, he had been compelled to pay the fine of 600/. levied on such occasion Mr. Mills thinks that gentlemen are elected to the shrievalty in order to make them pay the fine. Mr. J. D. Powlee, the secretary of the London Dock Company, repre- sented that the Navigation Committee of the Corporation, the only mu- nicipal body exercising any influence over the coramercial interests of the city, consists of forty persons, whose previous pursuits do not qualifv them for discharging the duties they undertake. This is compensated by the harbour-masters, who are efficient men ; but Mr. Fowles is of opin- ion, that if the numbers of the Committee were reduced to eighteen, and delegates from the Bank, the China and East India Association, and other large mercantile bodies, were admitted, the committee would then be an efficient Chamber of Commerce ; so that "when persons in business suffer inconvenience from the operation of some custom or law, they might have a body to go to who would examine into their grievance and represent it to the Government or other parties likely to afford redress." But he would not make it a "tribunal" in any sense whatever. Mr. Elliott, for five years a member of the Common Council, objects to the general system of the Corporation. The foremost evil, he says, isthe Magistracy ; the twenty-six Aldermen, taken from the countinghouse, are not qualified for judicial business. He looks upon the irresponsible Court of Aldermen as the great abuse ; and, abolishing the existing sys- tem of Magistracy, he would substitute two paid Police Magistrates in its place. At present the system of unpaid Magistrates costs 45,000k a year; the separate Police, 40,0001.; and he would absorb the latter into the Metropolitan system, when it would only cost 25,000/. He would re- commend "that the City be allowed to retain the management of its own drainage." Having done this, he would place the City under the pro- visions of the Municipal Reform Act. Mr. Elliott thinks the coal-tax reasonable tax—" you could not otherwise raise 200,0001 a year as con- veniently." It has been appropriated to 'great purposes, quite as much sanitary as ornamental in their nature and beneficial not only to the City but to the whole Metropolis." Mr. Elliott "would wish that the City accounts were more fully made out." Mr. F. Bennocb, eight years a Common Councilman, referred to and condemned the recent attempts of the Corporation to compel persons trading in the City to take up their freedom. He described the Corpora. tion as the enemy of all internal improvement ; noticing the objection to the removal of Smithfield market as an instance. He is not "aware of any great public improvement ever having been suggested and carried out by the Corporation." It had to be goaded very much by public opinion before it consented to the erection of the present London Bridge. "In fact," exclaimed Mr. Benumb, "any large scheme of general utility seems to be what the Corporation is utterly incapable of achieving." lie showed that large allowances are made to the committees, amounting to a total of 29001.—a large proportion of which is "expended on dinners.' Respecting the charge of bribing the press, made by Mr. Acland against the Consolidated Committee, Mr. Bennoch has some remarks which throw light on the subject. "The Committees on some occasions, on some loose resolution, de- termine to carry out a scheme which is undefined : and the execu- tion of it being referred to them, they expend large sums a which 5° proper account is rendered. This remark applies to the Consolidated Corn- ' mittee, by which a large sum has been expended in this way under a loon authority. The sum paid for giving publicity to the proceedings of the Cor- poration has been noticed. Under this head, I find large sums for nal- papers whioh nobody ever required; but whenever an article in favour. the Corporation appeared, the paper containing it was purchased and copies distributed freely : on the other hand, whenever an article against the C,or- poration appeared, the paper containing it was never bought, so that the members see all the arguments in favour of the Corporation, but none of those against it. In 1849 large sums of money were expended in v.atios ways, and some for dinners to Members of Parliament, to whom It Ili thought gratitude ought to be manifested for their services to the Corpses' ton when the Smithfield Market question, was before the House of Coraro?fli I have no hesitation also in saying, and it is capable of proof, that article' were written and sent to the newspapers with a sum of money."

Mr. C. Lewis—" Was that done by the Committee ?" Mr. Bennoch- "Yes; through the officers of the Corporation."

Mr. Labouchere—" Do you mean that the money was sent to induce the newspapers to insert an article?" Mr. Bennoch— It was done in this way probably, that instead of being inserted as an advertisement it might appear as an article."

Mr. Labouchere—"Can you prove at?" Mr. Bennoch—" I believe it can be proved, but I cannot do it myself as I am not on the Committee."

Mr. Labouchere—" You saw the statement made in the Corporation, that 1501. a year was the whole sum expended in purchasing copies of those news- mem which reported the proceedings of that body most fully : do you be- hire in the accuracy of that statement ?" Mr. Bennoch—" Oh, I believe that that was the fact, and that the primary intention of the Corporation, was the same as that of any large trading company, which often will order copies of any newspaper which it thinks gives a good report of its proceed- ings. I believe that is a thing which is commonly done; and I do not be- lieve that the cost was more for the Corporation than 71. or so for each meeting."

Mr. Labouchere—" Then you mean, that this money, which you say was sent with the articles to the newspapers, was altogether distinct from the 150/. a year spent in purchasing copies of newspapers ?" Mr. Bennoch —"Oh, quite so; this was four years ago." Mr. Labouchere--" May not any member of the Corporation move for a return of any expenditure ?" Mr. Bennoch—" Yes, and in nine cases out of ten there is a desire that every information should be given to the mem- bers; but in certain cases it is refused, and that is an anomaly which ought to be corrected."

Mr. Bennoch thinks that bribery is not now practised at the election either of Aldermen or Common Councillors.

Mr. Cattley, Chairman of the London Dock Company, thought the principal merchants of the City would never afford the time to act as members of the Corporation. He would be sorry to see the unpaid Ma- gistracy abolished, and thought that the Aldermen efficiently discharged their duties. His opinion of the Chamber of Commerce was similar to that of Mr. Fowles.

Mr. J. T. Gooden, yachtsman and sketcher, attended simply to show that the Corporation had suffered the banks of the Medway to become disintegrated, and that now the mischief is irreparable.

Mr. Wallis,, one of the Sheriffs of Middlesex, said that the Sheriff; though decked out in official robes, has no real power. He thought the Sheriffs. should be ex-officio members of the Common Council. As to bribery, he said that elections for Common Councilmen are generally pure, "because the matter at stake is not so much," but he had "known 15001. expended in obtaining an Alderman's gown." He had known as much as 10,000/. spent on both sides in getting the office of Chamber- lain. He had known 15,000/. expended on both sides in a contest for the Mayoralty. Mr. Wallis proposed that the Lord Mayor shall be called Lord-Lieutenant ; that the occupiers shall be amalgamated with the Livery ; that the Common Council should retain the sewage and lighting, while they give up the police management; and that four stipendiary Magistrates should be appointed.

Mr. George Hyde said, he would sweep away the Livery altogether, and make the occupiers the basis of the constituency. He would re- arrange the wards ; elect the Aldermen for three years only ; and vest the power of voting money entirely in the Common Council. Mr. John Jones, watchmaker in the Strand, considered the Livery one of the most valuable bodies in the kingdom ; and while he would allow traders to vote for members of the Common Council, he would only per- mit Liverymen to have the selection of the Aldermen and the higher ap- pointments. He wished "to see the trading guilds of the City restored to their original purpose, and made to promote trade, and to take care that apprentices are adequately taught."

Mr. Keeling, of the firm of Keeling and Hunt, fruit-merchants, called the attention of the Commissioners to the metage levied on fruit from abroad. The City meters measure fruit whether the merchants want it done or not. For instance, in the case of nuts the meters insist on mea- suring every separate bag ; they claim 24. per bag metage, which on 2000 bags amounts to 161. 13s. 44. The Customs department are content to measure a sample. The Government repealed the duty on chestnuts, but the City continued the metage. Mr. Hales, corn-merchant, made similar complaints as to the metage of corn ; which, as now exacted, drives business from the port of London and is a source of great inconvenience. There are no fewer than twenty- five distinct rates of charge for corn-metage. Mr. Hales thinks that the desire of the trade is that the City should mete all the corn, because the quantity should be certified as between buyer and seller by an inde- pendent public authority. He, however, would permit firms, like that of Coombe and Delafield, to mete their own corn if they chose. Instead of the twenty-five rates, the trade recommend only one for light and one for heavy frain.

Mr. Thompson Hankey M.P., late Governor of the Bank of England, stated that the merchants are averse to taking part in the Corporation, be- cause they cannot afford the time, are not trained to judicial duties, and object to the dinners and the pageantry. If the body were rightly consti- tuted, there would be no insuperable reason why the merchants of London should not act in the Corporation; but they will not take part while "the parties who hold its principal offices consist chiefly of the class of small retail traders." The Lord Mayor's show is simply "ridiculous." Mr. Monkey sees no reason why the Aldermen should be elected for life, any more than Churchwardens. He would extend the Corporation to the whole of the Metropolis ; or divide it into arrondissements, each with its Mayor and officers. He objects altogether to a Chamber of Commerce for London, as useless.

The first meeting of the Royal Geographical Society this season was held on Monday ; and was distinguished by the official communication, through Captain Inglefield and Lieutenant Cresswell, of the discoveries of Captain Id`Clure. Sir Roderick Murchison presided ; the room was yery mach crowded, and the greatest interest was shown in the proceed- Inge. An incidental point of interest was the President's mention that the chair he sat in had belonged to Sir Martin Frobisher, one of the earli- est of the Arctic voyagers, who in the time of Queen Elizabeth attempted to discover the North-west passage : this chair was presented to the So- ciety by Mr. C. R. Weld, of Somerset House. The two modern Arctic voyagers having made their statements, Sir Roderick Murchison, in commenting on them, asked where was Sir John Franklin ? Captain M'Clure's researches have shown beyond dispute

that he had not gone by the West, as was generally thought It had also been proved that he had not gone Eastward. No doubt, then, he had gone through Wellington Straits to the North ; and there only be must be sought, if sought at all. It was to be presumed that Franklin and his party, supposing they had passed by this mute, had found their way into an open sea, and that he was frozen in there by the pack of ice to his Southward, and unable to get back. In this Northern sea, Franklin might have fallen in with islands abounding with rein-deer, the musk-ox, and other animals, and thus been enabled to preserve life. The question was, whether the great Northern pack of ice was impenetrable or not ? He thought there was something in the fact stated by Captain M'Clure, that he found the temperature in the highest latitude he reached much warmer than it was two huncrred miles further South. It was well known that the cold was greater or less according to the proximity of land or water ; the .warmer climate being always where there was little land and mit& water ; and the fact of the climate becoming warmer as they approached the extreme high latitudes, proved, he thought, that there must be a large open sea on the other side of the pack. There is not only Sir John Franklin now in the Arctic Seas, but Captain Collison ; and he deserves that something should be done for his rescue. Sir Roderick expressed a hope that the Geo- graphical Society would turn their attention to the subject "with a view of clearing up the question of the existence of this great Northern sea." There was some discussion on this point. Captain Inglefield thought that another effort should be made to rescue Franklin. He would be glad to take an expedition to explore the North-west passage by way of Nova Zembla and the coast of Siberia, and so to the North of Spitz- bergen. In a screw-propeller it might be done in a single season. Cap- tain Beechy thought not. It was, however, unanimously resolved that the chairman should solicit the Admiralty to send out another expedition to the Arctic regions in the summer of 1861. At the close of the meet- ing, Sir Roderick Murchison stated that the fund for the Benet memorial already amounted to 1200/.

Lord Aberdeen was sworn in as an Elder Brother of the Trinity House Corporation, at a Special Court held on Wednesday, under the presidenee of the Master, Prince Albert.

A deputation, headed by Lord Robert Grosvenor, waited on the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer on Wednesday, to urge upon him the claims of the inhabitants of Finsbury for the formation of a park. They asked the Chancellor to undertake to carry out the desired object : but he declined. They then wished to know, whether, if the money required were raised by local rates, he would consent to make an advance ? Mr. Gladstone gave no positive answer, but undertook to consult with Lord Palmerston.

A Vestry meeting of the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth, on Thursday, appointed a deputation to urge upon Lord Palmerston the necessity of protecting the interests of ratepayers, by introducing a representative system. The Borough Members were present at the Vestry.

The Peel Statue Committee of the City have decided for a site in the space in front of the Royal Exchange building, between the statue of the Duke of Wellington and the Bank.

A new Dock Company has just been announced. The project is to build docks on the Southwark bank of the Thames, nearly opposite St. Katherine's Docks. They are to be named after the Duke of Wellington.

Ten gunners and drivers have been added to each of the field-batteries at Woolwich ; making the present strength of the gunners and drivers in each battery 128 men.

An appeal was heard in the Court of Queen's Bench, on Thursday, against a decision of the Revising Barrister of North Lancashire. The appellants were the owners of undivided shares in freehold property in Preston. A portion of this property was let under agreement that the tenants should pay 408. a year for it to the landlords, on the terms that they should pay the poor-rates, water-rate, and local board of health rate. The Revising Bar- rister held that ttu annual value did not amount to 408. a year, but that the real annual value was 408. minus the rates. On this decision a number of votes now depended, and the joint owners appealed from it. The argument of the counsel for the appellants was, that by the 18th George III. a clear yearly value of 40$., from which the public rates and taxes was not to be deemed to be charged, gave the vote. The Lord Chief Justice—" What would the tenant have paid if he had to pay his own rates ? He would have paid less the rates. The value, then, taking the rental paid as the value, is under 408., and the landlord has not 40$. a year to &spend." Mr. James contended he had ; for, although he paid the tenant's rates, he had the money to dispend in so doing. Lord Chief Justice—"That might be a good argument against complaints of agri- cultural distress. 'What d) you let your land for?' ' Oh, only 15s. an acre,' says the complaining landlord. The answer would be, That means 208. with the poor-rates.' That would be another fallacy on behalf of the agriculturists—the higher the poor-rates, the more they would get for their rent."

The Court were of opinion, that the tenant's rates, being paid by the landlord, must be deducted. All the landlord got was 40s. for the land and for an agreement to pay the rates ; which was the same thing as though lie had agreed to pay for the tenant's beer. He did not receive 40s. a year for his land. The Revising Barrister had no very difficult task in deciding on this question ; and that moderately difficult task he had performed very well, and had come to a right conclusion. Judgment for the respondents, with costs.

In the same Court, on Monday, Sir Frederick Thesiger applied for and obtained a rule calling upon Frederick Ibbotson Jervis, the master of a commercial school at Repton in Derbyshire, to show cause why a crimi- nal information should not be filed against him, for the publication of libellous verses upon Mr. Henry Allsop, one of the great ale-brewers of Burton. The libel is contained in verses headed the "Marquis of Strych- nine," imputing the basest conduct to Mr. Allsop with regard to his tenantry, and containing besides, these lines conveying a charge of murder-

" But do not tell my muse— thou'st better not—

The doleful tale of how a man was shot.

No, let it rest in secrecy profound,—

The silent witness is safe under-ground."

Kay Dimsdale, the saddler, who wrote a libellous letter to Mr. Lewia,. clerk to the Master of the Horse, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, received judgment on Thursday, from Mr. Justice Coleridge. The sentence was to this effect—that Dimsdale should pay a tine of 201. to the Queen, and enter into recognizances of 100/. to keep the peace for one year, and that he be imprisoned in the Queen's Bench Prison until the fine be paid. In the Bail Court, on Thursday, Mr. Justice Crompton heard a laughable ease of breach of promise of marriage. The action was brought by the daughter of a Mr. Chalfont, a jeweller, against Hard, late a sergeant in the Army, between fifty and sixty years of age. The lady was a widow

of four-and-thirty, with one child, and, like her father, a jeweller. The principal witness was Chalfont the father; who deposed that Hard had " axed" him to consent to the marriage, but that on account of the dis- parity of the ages of the parties he would not. Hard, however, declared he would marry with or without the consent of the father; who then "gave in." Hard promised tsissettle all his property on the lady, except his pen-

sion.

"Some days after this," said Chalfont, "the defendant and my daughter came to my house together. He was very uneasy for marriage, and wished to be married. I said, Mary. I understand Mr. Hard wishes to marry you ? Do you think you can love Mr. Hard, and make him a good wife ? ' She said, I can, father.' He sprang forward, and siut out his right hand, and my daughter runs up and puts her hand smack into his. I presses 'ern to- gether like that, as hard as I could squeeze them both together. I said, 'I see you are now both happy and pleased, and I hope you will remain so; and, vartually speaking, I consider you are now really married.' I saw there was a little move made, and a bottle produced, and some wine and water was made. I took a little drop neat. He urged very much for Monday, this being Friday. I was the only person who overruled it, for he was so very obstinate. He told me he had bought a licence, and it would be car- ried out on Monday. I told him there was not time to draw the deed up— the marriage covenant. The Thursday following was then fixed for the marriage. They remained about two hours, and went away together. I saw the defendant the next day at night, and I was not aware there was any- thing wrong till very late : he muttered something about her not coming to meet him as he expected. On the 17th of September I went to the defend- ant's house with my daughter. He accepted us freely and comfortably, and entreated us to drink, which we did. I asked him for an explanation as to what was the matter. The defendant said he had not been well, and did not come out much. He seemed to me to be quite amused, drinking a little wine snd brandy. He rose up and began humming. He pulled out a ring from his pocket. He called me and showed me an Income-tax paper. He then put a ring in my hand, and asked me if I thought it a good one. I took it to the light, and saw the hall-mark. I said it was very heavy, and gave it him again. He said, God bless you, Mary ; keep up your little heart—here's the ring.' She advanced to him ; and he placed it on her finger, and asked her whether it was not too large ? and she said it was. I said, as she was a jeweller, she could take a little bit out, and make it the right size. He then said, We'll be married on Monday morning." Hard did not keep his word, but married "somebody else." Damages 501.

At the Guildhall Nisi Prius sittings, on Saturday, great confusion was caused by the non-attendance of counsel. In not one of the causes were the counsel for both sides present. Mr. Justice Wightman said, it was very hard indeed upon the parties that their counsel did not attend; and, as the only result of calling the causes on in their absence would be to put the par- ties to the expense of a motion for a new trial, he must discharge the jury. At the Court of Bankruptcy, on Tuesday, an audit took place under the estate of Messrs. Chambers and Son, the bankers of Old Bond Street, who failed in 1824. Dividends to the amount of las. 4d. in the pound have al- ready been declared, and there are now funds in the hands of the official as- signee equal to a further distribution of 28. 6d. The sum for which Messrs. -Chambers suspended was about 224,000/.

At the Middlesex Sessions, on Monday, William Jones, a young fellow who was convicted of complicity in a theft, pleaded in extenuation, that after he had been liberated from imprisonment on a former sentence, and had ob- tained work, a boy reported that he was a convicted thief, and he lost his employment ; at a second place the same fact became known, and he was again turned adrift; at a third, a policeman told his master the old story, and a third time he was expelled from honest labour. The Assistant-Judge said he would inquire into this affair; it was important to know the truth about it, now that tickets-of-leave are to be issued in this country.

Mr. Ballantine has been the counsel this week who has taken part in the customary Middlesex-Sessions squabble with the Assistant-Judge : it came off on Tuesday, during a trial for theft, and originated in Mr. Ballantine's re- peating the answer of a witness who spoke too low for the Jury to hear.

On Wednesday, Messieurs Dukes, Matson, and Tillett, were acquitted of the assault on Mr. Cross at the Dalston Institution ; but the Jury strongly condemned the conduct of the chairman at the lecture, and other gentlemen who "had behaved disgracefully in leaving the prosecutor in the situation they did, considering the state he was in and the position of the steps."

Mr. Boddy, a surgeon at Walworth, applied to the Lambeth Magistrate for aid in recovering his daughter, a girl of nineteen. She had turned Roman Catholic, and disappeared; it was supposed that she was kept prisoner in a nunnery at Clapham. The Magistrate said he could not interfere; but he directed an officer to accompany Mr. Boddy to Dr. Grant, the Roman "Bishop of Southwark." Dr. Grant knew little of the young lady ; but he gave Mr. Boddy a note for the principal at the nunnery. Mrs. Boddy and an officer went to the nunnery. Miss Boddy was not there, but her mother was ad- vised to apply to a Roman Catholic "Servants' Home" in the neighbour- hood. There she found her daughter. The lady in charge said she had been brought by a woman, and she was then waiting till a situation could be ob- taiiied for her. Miss Boddy said she was there of her own free will : she cried bitterly, and was averse to leaving the place, fearing she would not be allowed to attend the Roman Catholic service. Her mother took her away.

James Hanna, a constable, has been fined 40s: by the hfaryleboue Magis- trate, for using unnecessary violence to an old woman, named Webb. Hanna had lost a butter-tub, and met Webb carrying it along the street. She said her son had given it to her. Hanna seized her, and took her to the station- house, with much violence.

A charge was preferred before the Worship Street Magistrate against Mary Ann Staines for ill-using her niece, Eliza Bartholomew, a child of twelve years. Staines lived with the child's father, a whipmaker. Enraged at the impertinence of the child, the woman beat her so cruelly with a whip, that she ran away to her brother's house, and there remained. The brother de- posed to the hurts of the child ; and a neighbour, hearing screams, ran out and saw Staines strike her. Mr. Hammill inflicted a full penalty of bd. The solicitor for the child offered to forego the prosecution if the father would allow the child to remain under the protection of her brother : the father refused, and, paying the penalty, carried off his daughter.

Rabert Prescott, a boy of sixteen, has been committed by the Lord Mayor for sending a threatening letter to Miss Louisa Weston, the keeper of a chop- house in Finch Lane. The letter demanded money ; threatening to accuse Miss Weston of improper behaviour if she refused.

Charles Yes, a young Dutchman, is accused of burglaryon the Lombard Street branch !exit-office. He was caught in the act of entering, at night, by two officers who had been set to watch as the place had been plundered be- fore : some property stolen at a former visit was found at his lodgings. Efforts to obtain a commutation of the sentence on Mobbs, the man who murdered his wife, have failed; and he will be hanged on Monday next.

A daring burglary was committed on Sunday night, at the house of Mr. Young, South Street, Peckham. This fatally having gone to church, a well- dressed young man inquired for Mr. Young ; and, -being toldshesokont, pressed a wish to write a note to him. The eervantegiri,swhoiwasalene in the house, hesitated: he seized her by the throat and carried iheriSiStethe parlour, threatening to cut her throat if she made an. istiteryS lie,tbei let in two men, who bound the girl hand and foot. They made. berrtall,isbere,the plate and other property were deposited, which they succeeded 'In carrying off. On the return of the family they were unable to get into the house; and a ladder having been procured, the servant was round thrust into i cup- board.

William James Manley, a Jerseyman, has fallen an easy prey to two Lon. don sharpers; who entered into conversation with him in the streetsled bin to public-houses, and finally swindled him of 171. by the old trick of de- positing cash in the hands of a confederate rogue while his companion and the victim go out to buy stamps. One of the gang has been secured.

James Wallace, a servant on the South-western Railway, has been cut in two by a train running over him at Waterloo terminus, when he had incau- tiously got upon the rails.