Zbe Attropolfs.

The first stone of the New Royal Exchange was laid by Prince Albert on Monday ; the occasion being dignified by a splendid ceremonial and a grand banquet at the Mansionhonse. On the site chosen for the placing of the stone, as near as possible to the spot where the stone of the late building was laid by Charles the Second, close to Threadneedle Street, a circular pavilion was erected. The pavilion itself was a handsome structure, described as follows-

" It was capable of holding 1,450 persons. It was formed of canvass, having red and white stripes running alternately in parallel lines from top to bottom, and being transparent, it admitted sufficient daylight to render the whole effect imposing. In the centre of this enclosure there was a large space, round which benches, rising gradually one above the other, were placed for the accommo- dation of the spectators. The floor of the pavilion was covered with crimson cloth, as well as the whole of the surrounding benches ; the front row being elegantly decorated with festoons. Near the centre of the floor was placed a large stone block, having a cavity in the middle to receive the coins, the in- scription-plate, and other articles, which on occasions of this kind are usually enclosed in the foundation-stone. Immediately above this was suspended by ropes, and also supported underneath by four wooden props, another huge block of granite, weighing five tons. Close by this place stood two state-chairs' one for Prince Albert and the other for the Lord Mayor. A wide circle of gas- lights, with sinombre glasses, was suspended midway between the top of the pavilion and the floor; but in consequence of the fineness of the day, the light they gave was scarcely needed ; though by the warmth they emitted they served the necessary purpose of heightening the temperature of the place. The entrance to the pavilion was in Cornhill, through a temporary passage, covered over with awning of a pattern similar to the pavilion itself. It opened into the pavilion beneath a gallery, fitted up for the reception of the band of the Second Regiment of Life Guards. The front of this gallery was orna- mented with escutcheons emblazoned with the Royal arms of England, the arms of Prince Albert, and those of the City of London, of the Mercers' Com- pany, and Sir Thomas Gresham."

Prince Albert was received by the Lord Mayor at the committee- room in Guildhall, at about twenty minutes to two. The Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, and most of the Cabinet Ministers had arrived at one, or shortly after. The entrance to the pavilion war thrown open at twelve ; at one it was filled. At half-past two the

acclamations of the people announced the approach of the procession from Guildhall, headed by Prince Albert and the Lord Mayor. As the Prince took his seat, the band played "God save the Queen," and the Union-jack at the top of the pavilion was replaced by the Royal standard. The ceremony then began- " Mr. It. L. Jones, the Chairman of the Joint Gresham Committee, handed a glass bottle to the Prince, having previously taken out the stopper. The Master of the Mercer's Company and the Chamberlain of London then pre- sented various coins of the realm, which the Prince received and put one by one in the glass bottle, together with a medal, having the Queen'shead on the obverse, and an inscription on the reverse. The stopper of the bottle replaced, Prince Albert deposited it in the cavity of the stone fixed on the ground. A glass brick, bearing an inscription describing the occasion, was then presented by

Mr. Barnes, the Clerk of the Mercers' Company, and the Prince put it into the

cavity. Four small glass pillars were likewise inserted. Mr. Tite, the archi- tect of the New Royal Exchange, next read a Latin inscription, which, with an

English translation, was engraved on a zinc plate, which he handed to Prince Albert, who deposited it in the stone, placing over the whole another rough plate of the same metal.

AEDES CV3I. PERISTYLIO . EORVM COMMODA QVI. IN . HOC. CELEBERRIMO EMPORIO GENTIVAI. COMMERCIA . EXERCERENT ADIECTIS ETLAM . IN. PAVPERVM . SOLATIVM ET. IN . BONARVM . ARMY'S!. AC . LITTERARVM . INCREMENTA PTOCHOTROPHIO . ET. PRASLECTORVM COLLEGIO SVA. • PECVNIA . EXSTRVENDAS . CVRAVIT THOMAS . GRESHAM . EQVES A.VILATVS ADIVVANTE . CIVITATE . LONDINENSI FAVENTE . REGINA. ELIZABETHA QVAE . ET .IPSA. OPVS . ABSOLVTVM SOLENNI.TOMPA.. PRAESENS DEDICATIT GRAVI. VASTOQVE INCENDIO CVM • TOTA . FERE . VRBE CINERES REDACTAS CVLTV . SPLENDIDIORE INSTAVRAVERVNT CIVITAS . LONDENENSIS ET . ANTIQVA. MERCERORVM . SODALITAS INCROAATZ • STRVCTVRAR . =GE . CAROLO . $11CV1IDO

DIE . OCTOBRIS XXur DC . LIVIL ITE R V M . VERO . IGNE . ABSTIETAS DIE. LINVARII . X . A..5 . 2d . DCCC . X.XXVIIE IIDEM . OPERIS . CVEATORES EN. AMPLIOREM ORNATIOREmQVE . FORMAM SVA IMPENSA . RESTITVENDAS . DECREVERVNT REG2a. SENATVS . XVNIFICENTIA SVFPRAGANTE VT . SPATHS . PROLATIS ACCESSVQVE . OBINE . ET. ANFRACTV VIARTM QVAQVATERSVS . EXPLICATO FORVM TERTIA . VICE . A. SOLO . CONDITVII PRO . GENTIS. ET. MVNICIPII DIGNITATE ET . PRO. MERCATVRAE IN • ORBIS • XERRARVM ..AMBITVM . EXTENSAE . AMPLITVDINE VICTORIAE REGINAE . AVSPICILS DENT° . EXSVEGERET PRINCEPS SERENISSIMVS ALBERTVS . DI. SAXE-COBVRG . ET . GOTHA AVGTSTISSIDLAX . RIG MAE . CONIVX LAPIDEM . AVSPICALEM STATVIT DIE . LATIVARII. XVII. AS. M . DCCC . XLIL PRAETORE IOANNE PIRIE. GVLIELMO . PIPE. 5. B. S. ARCHITECT°.

DIPS . 0 . M. CONSERVATOR EXITIVM . AR. HIS. AEDIBVS TOTAQVE VRBE . ARCETO

Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight, Erected at his own charge A building and colonnade For the convenience of those persons Who in this renowned mart Might carry on the commerce of the world; Adding thereto, for the relief of indigence And for the advancement of literature and science, An almshouse and college of lecturers. The City of London aided him; Queen Elizabeth favouring the design, And when the work was complete, Opening it in person with a solemn procession. Having been reduced to ashes Together with almost the entire city By a calamitous and widely-spreading conflagration, They were rebuilt in a more splendid form By the City of London And the Ancient Company of Mercers; King Charles the Second commencing the building, On the 23d October, A.D. 1667. And when they had been again destroyed by fire, On the 10th January, A.D. 1838, The same bodies undertaking the work, Determined to restore them at their own cost On an enlarged and more ornamental plan; The Munificence of Parliament providing the means of extending the site And of widening the approaches and crooked streets In every direction, In order that there might at length arise Under the auspices of Queen Victoria, Built a third time from the ground, An Exchange Worthy of this great nation and city, And suited to the vastness of a commerce Extended to the circumfevence Of the habitable globe. His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Saxe-Co urg and Gotha, Consort of her Sacred Majesty, Laid the first stone,

• On the 17th January 1842, In the Mayoralty of the Rt. Hon. John Pine. Architect William Tite, F.R.S.

May God our Preserver Ward off destruction From this building And from the whole city. "Mr. R. L. Jones handed to Prince Albert a trowel, silver-gilt, magnificently worked and adorned. On one side were the Royal arms and supporters, with an inscription referring to the use to which the trowel was applied ; and on the other was an elevation of the West front of the building, with the three shields of arms of the Mercers Company, the City of London, and Sir Thomas Gresham. The Prince took the trowel and spread some mortar along the sur- face of the under stone. The readiness and workmanlike dexterity with which the Prince executed this part of the business seemed to astonish the company, who gave vent to their feelings in a round of cheers.

"The upper stone was next lowered, by means of machinery fixed outside of the pavilion, slowly and accurately into its proper position. A mallet was now handed to Prince Albert. It was formed of a block of beautiful oak, presented by the chairman, and was part of one of the great beams of the old Exchange. It was the full size of a mason's mallet, turned and moulded into an elegant form, with a wreath of oak-leaves and acorns carved round the base of it, and the Royal crown terminating the handle. There was a silver plate inserted at the end, with an inscription similar to that on the troweL The block of oak from which the mallet was made had been actually bunt through in the fire ; and it is an interesting fact, that the stain had extended almost through its substance, although it appeared to be as hard as the most solid metal. With the mallet the Prince struck the stone twelve times, thrice at each corner ; and then with a level and plumb-rule he proved the stone to have been correctly placed. The Reverend Henry Thomas, the Lord Mayor's chaplain, delivered a prayer, and "God save the Queen" was sung by some of the members of the Sacred Harmonic Society, Exeter Hall; the children belonging to the Charity.. School of Bread Street Ward joining in chorus."

Prince Albert and the Lord Mayor having bowed to each other, the procession formed anew, and retired in the same order as it entered, amidst the loudest acclamations; which were prolonged by "one cheer more for Sir Robert Peel." The whole of the proceedings occupied about an hour's time.

Two models of the New Exchange, which were exhibited in the pavilion, excited general admiration. _ The Egyptian Hall was the scene of the banquet at the Mansion- house in the evening. It was fitted up with gorgeous splendour. The throne canopy prepared for the Queen on her visit to the City was placed behind the chair. The Hall glittered with gold and silver plate ; and the entire company appeared in Court dresses. The music-gallery was filled with ladies; a temporary gallery having been erected for the musicians. " Poetry," such as some educated bellman might have indited, was expressly composed for the occasion, and fitted by Mr. Wilson to popular music, Wilson himself singing the principal parts, Prince Albert, dressed in a Field Marshal's uniform, entered with the Lord Mayor at five o'clock ; and they were followed by the Earl of Haddington leading the Lady 3lavoress, the Duke of Welling. ton Mrs. H. Melville, and Sir Robert Peel Mrs. Fry. Among the guests were the Ministers, several great lawyers, the dignitaries of the Corporation and most eminent citizens, the City Members, (including Lord John Russell,) Lord Dudley Stuart, Miss Fry, Mrs. Pidgeon, and Mrs. Sonses.

The cloth removed, the health of the Queen was given and drank with the usual honours ; followed by that of Queen Adelaide. The Lord Mayor then proposed " Health and every happiness to his Royal Highness Prince Albert."

The Prince replied- " My Lord Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I return my most sincere thanks for this toast, and beg to express to you my lively satisfaction at the kind and flattering manner inwbich you ha.verec,eived me. It mustever be a gratifying recollection to ine to have, by a trifling act of mine, connected my name with the erection of that important building of which we have laid the first stone today—an edifice of which it may truly be said that it will become the heart of the commerce of this great country—a country to which I feel myself attached by the dearest ties—a country in which I daily feel myself more at home—a country whose kindness I daily more appreciate. Again thanking you for the honour you have done me, I beg to propose The health of the Lord Mayor, whose guest I am this day, and the Corporation of the City of London.'" "The Prince of Wales and the Royal Family," "The Bishop of London and the Church," "The Army and Navy," having been dis- posed of, the Lord Mayor gave, "Long life, health, and happiness, to the Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel, and the rest of her Majesty's Ministers." The toast was received with loud cheers.

Inspired by the occasion and the presence of Mrs. Fry, who sat on his right, Sir Robert, in returning thanks, effused a little prose poetry-

" It was most gratifying to us to have the opportunity of witnessing the important ceremony of this day. It was impossible not to feel that that con- tracted spot on which we stood is again destined to be, as it has been before, the centre of attraction to which the commerce of the world will gravitate. It was impossible not to feel that it was the spot to which the traffickers of all nations will resort, where they will obliterate national antipathies and national jealousies, and will form those engagements which constitute new guarantees for the general tranquillity of the world. Gentlemen, his Royal Highness this day has laid the foundation, not merely of an edifice dedicated to com- merce—he has laid the foundation of a temple of peace ; and it is the earnest wish of her Majesty's Government that the future progress and destiny of that edifice may correspond with the favourable auspices under which this day its foundations have been laid."

The Lord Mayor, in a paraphrase of the inscription in the founda- tion-stone, called upon his guests to drink "Prosperity to the New Royal Exchange and the Trade of the City of London,' and in con- nexion with that toast, the "Health of the noble Earl the President of the Board of Trade."

The Earl of Ripon, with a compliment to the Lord Mayor's elo- quence, modestly borrowed for his peroration the words of one among the songs of the evening ; at the same time apologizing to the host for his imperfect pronunciation of Scotch. "The song," said Lord Ripon, "is so very apposite to the present occasion that I cannot deny myself the pleasure of concluding by reading the first verse"— "0 weal may the boatie row,

And better may she speed: 0 weel may the bustle row That gains the bairns' bread. The boatie rows, the beetle rows, The boatie rows fu' wee!, And mettle luck attend the boat,

The merlin awl the creel!"

"Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington and the House of Peers" brought forth the Duke and a tribute from his lips to peace—" I trust I never shall again hear in my time of the celebration of the arts of war."

"The Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the House of Commons," gave rise to the speech of the evening, and a thesis on the British constitution- " My surprise is mingled with a deep sentiment of gratification, and I hope of no dishonourable pride, at finding my name selected as the organ of an assem- bly which is itself the representative of the most powerful and most important body the world ever beheld—the commonalty of the United Empire. What then shall I say—in what terms shall I thank you, in the name of a body so varying in its character, composed of such discordant materials, and of which I see even in this room distinguished and able members widely differing from each other in their political views ? Why, gentlemen, this I will say of it—in that very difference consists the secret of its value and importance. With all its faults and imperfections, from which no human institution can be free, it is the fairest and fullest representation that ever the world beheld of the mightiest interests, of the most complicated affairs, of the most intelligent and wealthy empire the sun ever shone upon, and of which the boast is, as of Spain of old, that upon its dominions the sun never sets. Gentlemen, it is because the House of Commons exhibits a variety of conflicting opinions—it is be- cause there every public man, whatever his predilections may be, stands forth not only to give an account of his conduct, but by his judgment and reasonings to convince the public mind as well as satisfy it of the purity of his motives—it is because every class is there represented, because every interest is there heard—because every opinion there finds its organ—it is thus by means of free discussion in that free assembly that truth is elicited, and the interests of the empire at large are promoted. I will venture to say that it is impossible for any one returning from the imposing ceremony of this day, to have wit- nessed, as we have done, the countless multitudes thronging the streets of this great metropolis, orderly, peaceable, and well-disposed in their demeanour—a scene which no other country could have exhibited in such a mass, coerced by no force except that of moral feeling and interest,—it is impossible to have witnessed such a combination, beautifully graduated from the Prince-Consort of the Queen to the lowest and humblest artisan in this metropolis, all united in doing honour to the great object of the day—the promotion and establish- ment of that which is the emblem, as it will be the harbour, of the commercial interests of this great country,—it is impossible to have witnessed what we have this day seen, and not return to the discharge of our public duties with an in- creased sense of the awful responsibilities committed to our trust, the import- ant interests with which we have to deal, the reverence with which we should touch, the caution and love with which we should guard the institutions which in their results have produced such a prosperous and happy combination of all orders of society in this metropolis. It is impossible to have returned without an increased sense of the magnitude of that commercial interest which, spread- lag from one end of the world to the other, carries with it not only the com- mercial greatness of this empire, but also, under the auspices of the principal merchants of London, carries in its train the arts of civilization, the blessings of peace, and the promotion of religion."

The other toasts of the evening were, the Lady Mayoress, Chief Justice Denman and the Judges, the City Members, and the Attorney and Solicitor General and the Bar of England. Prince Albert retired to tea in the Long Parlour ; and left the man- sion at about nine o'clock, amid the cheers of a densely-crowded multi- tude outside.

A Court of Aldermen was held on Tuesday, for the despatch of business. The Corporation seal was fixed to the presentation of the Reverend Michael Gibbs to the living of Christchurch, Newgate Street, and St. Leonard's. A report of the City Solicitor, suggesting new arrangements in filling up the vacancy in the Sheriff's Court, occa- sioned by the death of Sergeant Arabin, was referred to a Committee of the whole Court. Alderman Copeland called attention to abuses and irregularities in the appointment of sworn brokers, and moved that the law relating to the subject be referred to a Select Committee. The motion was unanimously agreed to. A petition from Dowgate Ward, complaining of thieves infesting the wharfs, was referred to the Police Committee.

At a Court of Common Council, on Thursday, a report was pre- sented from the Navigation Committee, accompanied by other special reports, recommending extensive improvements in the river Thames, and among them, an extensive line of embankments on each side ; a portion of which, that within the Metropolis, the Committee think may be executed at no very distant time. The report was ordered to be printed. A resolution was passed, approving the conduct of Mr. Scott, the Clerk of the Chamber, who recently died.

The annual meeting of the Evangelical Voluntary Church Associa- tion was held at the London Tavern on Tuesday ; Sir Culling Eardley Smith in the chair. He delivered a longish speech, in which he de- scribed, in very vague terms, however, the progress of the Voluntary principle. In Scotland, Sir Robert Peel, and even Lord John Russell, a far firmer Churchman than his successor, would be compelled by the Nonintrusion movement to become involuntary Voluntaries. On the Continent, the movement was not Evangelical certainly : in Germany it was mystical ; in France, Spain, and Portugal. it was Catholic ; but it tended to the same results. In England, three doctrines are upheld,— baptismal regeneration, or Catholicism ; justification by faith, or Pro- testantism; and the doctrine of those who do not believe in any funda- mental change, but regard Christianity as a means of improving natural character. The last had not supernaturalism enough to influence the destinies of the world. The Puseyites were weak Anglo-Catholics, who had become Roman Catholics. But in doctrine the two systems were identical ; and he must say, he was astounded at the progress of the party— It was a remarkable fact, that both in England and Scotland the talent and energy were chiefly on the side of the ecclesiastical movement. There was no Robertson to resist for the North, no Warburton in the South. This was enough to account for the increase of young Catholic clergymen. A clergy- man well acquainted with the diocese of London deliberately informed his friends that two-thirds of the young men whom he saw were Catholics; at Oxford, if not the majority, they were so nearly so that they would almost carry the Poetry Professorship and their boldness was as surprising as their increase. He would not attribute undue importance to externals; but still, like feathers, they showed the direction of the stream. The use of painted or solid crosses, the use of the surplice in preaching, bowings at the altar, praying with the hack to the people, tapers at the altar, building churches so that the pulpit shall not interfere with the view of the altar, all these things were symptomatic. They had heard of auricular confession and monastic vows re- vived at Oxford ; he himself had been told of a clergyman who said his private prayers night and morning in his surplice; of another who discountenanced smoking in Lent ; of another who laid his hands on his servant's head the last thing at night, and pronounced a benediction. Their sermons were full of praise of the most questionable portions of the Prayer-book; they denied the Protestant doctrine of the right and duty of private judgment ; and they denied that precious doctrine—the corner-stone, as it had been hitherto believed, of the English Church—the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

He would appeal to the Evangelical clergy, whether it was not their duty to try the question whether Catholic doctrines could legally be preached from Protestant pulpits. If the Church was to become Ca- tholic, or to tolerate Catholicism in its bosom, the Wesleyans could not uphold it.

A report was read and adopted ; and a resolution was passed, among others, commending a paper called the Voluntary.

The half-yearly meeting of the London and Brighton Railway Com- pany was held at the London Tavern, on Thursday. Reports were read from the Directors and Mr. Rastrick the engineer. In the second week after the opening of the line to Brighton, the traffic amounted to 3,6991., and for the half-year ending the 31st December, 34,182!.; against which there was an expenditure of 24,4001.; leaving a balance of 9,7821. The passengers conveyed on the main line were 98,539. At the last meeting it was stated that the line would be completed for 2,289,0811.; but the accounts showed that the gross expenditure had reached to 2,269,359/. already, and the Company had since become liable to the extent of 371,3181.; which it was proposed to raise by loan-notes, payable at the end of five years, giving the holders the option, at the end of three years, to convert them into quarter-shares of the Company, under the powers of an act to be obtained. A long dis- cussion took place among the proprietors respecting the necessity of the further demands made on them ; which led to a motion for an ad- journment of the question till the accounts could be examined by a committee. A committee of five shareholders was appointed for that purpose. A vote of thanks was passed to the Directors.

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the St. Katherine's Docks was held at the Dock-house, Tower Hill, on Tuesday. Mr. Tho- mas Tooke, the chairman of the Company, made a statement of the ac- counts. The credit balance on the 31st December 1840 was 119,4431.; at the same date in 1841, 120,526/. The number of packages of tea im- ported into London during the past year was 401,481; in 1840 only 363,928—showing an increase during the last year of 37,553 packages ; of which increase, more than one-half (being 20,112 packages) was

landed by the Company. The stock of goods in warehouse on the 3181 December last year was 69,515 tons—rather less than at the correspond- ing period in 1840; but it was to be observed, that since the first of the pre- sent month the quantity in warehouse had gradually increased, and that now it exceeded the tonnage in warehouse at the period in 1840. There had been an increase in the shipping over the preceding year of 114 ships, of the aggregate tonnage of 21,216 tons ; as would appear from the following statement- Entered with cargoes Ditto light, to load.

Total

During the same year, 10,354 lighters entered the docks with goods and to load. The returns of shipping that entered the port of London with cargoes during the years 1840 and 1841, showed an increase in British ships of 71,493 tons, and a falling-off in the foreign tonnage of 35,487 tons ; leaving an increase in the year 1841 over the preceding of 26,006 tons. The Court of Directors recommended a dividend of 21 per cent upon the capital of the Company for the half-year ending 31st December last. The resolution was carried, and the thanks of the meeting were voted to the chief officers of the Company.

In the Court of Queen's Bench on Monday, a rule obtained at the instance of Mr. Lech mere Charlton, calling upon Mr. Anderson to show by what authority he claimed to be on the burgess-list of Ludlow, was discharged ; Mr. Charlton not appearing himself to be on the burgess- list, and therefore not being entitled to be relator in a case of quo warranto.

The case of Howard versus Gossett and others next came before the Court. It was an action of trespass brought against the defendants for breaking into the house of the plaintiff, an attorney, on the 27th January 1840, in search for him on a Speaker's warrant, to bring him before the House of Commons, by whom he had been declared to be in contempt. Two pleas were put in for the defence ; first, " Not guilty," and then that the entry was justified. The Court expressing a strong opinion against a point in the latter plea, that the entry was justified because the plaintiff might return to his house, and might there be arrested, the Attorney-General proposed to amend it; and it was understood that the amendment was to be made within a week.

In the Bail Court, on Monday, Mr. Justice Williams granted a rule to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against Mr. O'Connor and Mr. White, for a libel on the Reverend R. Anstey, in the Northern Star.

Yesterday, the rule for a writ of habeas corpus to bring up the body of Bernard Cavanagh was made absolute.

In the Insolvent Debtors Court, on Monday, Mustapha Ali, once a servant of Lord Byron, obtained his discharge. He had recently been clerk in the Marylebone Bank, which lately failed.

The inquiry in the Secondaries Court into the property of the late Mr. Theodore Hook terminated on Thursday, in favour of the Crown, to whom he was a defaulter; the effects which he left being thus handed over to the Crown, subject to a deduction of between 500/. and 600/. for sums paid him in advance by the John Bull.

The weather, with some alternations of snow and thaw, continues so severe as to render the ice on the various ornamental waters available, if not safe, for the skaters. Great numbers have enjoyed the sport during the last few days, and the Parks and Kensington Gardens have been thronged with visiters. One or two immersions have occurred. On Tuesday, an accident happened in the Regent's Park. Two young men, while skating, came in collision, and both fell : the cheek of one was severely wounded by the point of the other's skate, and it is feared that the other had fractured his skull. The variations of the weather are capped, while this is printing, by a fall of snow.

1840. 1891.

Ships. Teas. Ships. Tons.

535 132,062 605 149,478

296

37,729 340 — 41,629 —

831 169,791 945

191,107