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The City Commission have now adjourned the inquiry until the 11th January. Their last sitting was held on Tuesday. Mr. Samuel Hopwood, clerk to the Commissioners of Paving in St. Andrew's and St. George the Martyr, Holborn, complained of the tolls levied by the City. The other parts of the Metropolis have to maintain their streets in proper repair at the expense of the ratepayers of the dis- trict, and Mr. Hopwood did not see why a different rule should apply to the City. Mr. Ambrose Moore, formerly a silk-manufacturer, and still a freeman of the City, stated that he saw no reason why the old City should be de- prived of any of its privileges which are applicable to the present time, and not injurious to the public interest. He objected to tbe incorporation of the Metropolitan Boroughs, and to a Municipality for London. It would be productive of inconvenience for the Government. He would maintain the City Magistracy, but add Stipendiaries to assist them. The Munici- pal franchise should be the same as the Parliamentary franchise. He would abolish the tolls, and all restrictions on trade; and would place the conservancy of the Thames in the hands of the Crown. Mr. Moore sug- gested alterations in the Corporation,—such as the remodelling of the Wards,-and the reduction of the members of the Common Council from 206 to 100. He is in favour of continuing the Lord Mayor's show, if " better got up." Pressed by Mr. Lewis, Mr. Moore admitted that his reason for desiring to conserve the Corporation, was " because of ancient custom and the feelings of the inhabitants."

Mr. Michael Saward, secretary to a life-insurance office, Chatham Place, Blackfriars, attended to show the evils arising from a double juris- diction of the Police of the Metropolis. His office bad been robbed ; the thieves entered by a coal-yard at the back, communicating with the &ore of the Thames left dry at low-water-mark. He applied for the protection of the City Police ; but was told that their jurisdiction stopped at high-water-mark. He applied to the Metropolitan Police; but the Commissioners only have jurisdiction over the Thames, and they watch afloat : thus the houses on the margin of the river, paying police- rates, are still unprotected.

Another witness was heard, but added nothing material, and the Com- mission adjourned.

The customary elections of members of the Common Council--; Ward officers took place in the several Wards of the City on Wedn. There was little opposition. In the Ward of Cripplegate-Within Bennoch, who recently resigned in some displeasure, was replae'ed Mr. B. Spilsbury; Mr. Bennoch receiving an eulogistic vote of In the Ward of Candlewick, Mr. Jeremiah Evans retires, after thi. years' service, 'with the special thanks of his fellow citizens ; and is ceeded by Mr. Matthews; In Walbrook, Mr. Watkins retires, thirty years' service, with a vote of thanks ; and Mr. Fry is elected. In several of the Wards the topic of discussion was the Royal mission; and in some cases specific opinions were formally expreaed measure of corporate reform." The resolutions a the Ward of Cripp gate-Within demand an extension of the municipal franchise, institutions, as the bulwarks of constitutional monarchy and the pr vers self-government, hopes the inquiry will result in " an esti resolutions. Aldersgate congratulates the citizens on the inquisorytnwhat progress ; and while declaring its undiminished attachment to nounid ratepayers may have votes; and an abolition of the restrictions on The Ward of Farringdon-Without, itself one-fifth of the City, trusts the Commission will lead to a great improvement, so that the Corpora may be made "a pattern of sound, efficient, and useful municipal go,. ment, to the Metropolis and the country."

At a quarterly general Court of the East India Company, held on W nesday, it was ordered that papers relating to the conduct of the late Charles Napier, in India, including a memoranduhr•Of the Duke of lington on the cause of the resignation of Sir Charles, -should be prods and printed. On the motion of Mr. Lewin, the papers respecting the moval of Mr. Grant and Mr. Le Geyt from the Bombay Budder Adaw were also ordered to be produced. As this was the last meeting of Company previous to the election of a new Court of Directors under act of last session, Dr. Beattie asked whether the Court could not be lieved from the invidious task of nominating their own successors, getting the clause in the set amended. Mr. Russell Ellice, the Ch.' man, said, however invidious the duty imposed by Parliament, still it a duty, and cannot be got rid of.

We have ascertained that the new burial regulations, which have published by our contemporaries as general, and as sanctioned by Home Office for application to all new burial-grounds, are not gen and have hitherto received no such sanction. They were drawn up f the two parishes of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster; one of ' (St. John's,) we are informed, has declined to have a burial Id-ground us such restrictions.—Iforning Chronicle, Dec. 19.

The Poor-law Commissioners have admonished the Guardians of th Holborn Union, " that, by having undertaken to conduct appeals ' orders of removal on behalf of the several parishes in the union, th have departed from the functions which the law has given to them, an have assumed an authority which they do not legally possess" : such ceedings rest entirely with the parishes, and not with the Guardians the Union.

Mr. William Williams met an assembly of his constituents on Monday at the Horns Tavern, Kennington; and made a long speech, detailing labours during the past session. He did not touch on present questio He expressed his regret that the Income-tar is still levied ; and proper to tax tithes, by which means, he said, 2,000,0001. might be added to revenue.

The movement in favour of draining the marshes-on the Kent and E shore of the Thames is proceeding with some activity. A report of the committee appointed at a meeting on the fat November, has been printed, and was adopted on Wednesday, by a meeting of the persons interested It alleges that these marshes seriously affect the health of the Metropo: lia, and more seriously the health of Woolwich, where the mortality's above the general average ; and it shows that the drainage of them is practicable, and would be remunerative. It was stated at the meeting, that Lord Palmerston had suggested the creation of drainage district, with a body of Commissioners for each, one half to be nominated by the resident proprietors, the other half by the Crown.

The Vestry of the parish of St. Mary, Stoke Newington, have resolved by an overwhelming majority, that the parish lands shall be mortgaged for the purpose of providing funds towards the erection of a new parish- church.

The Reverend D. Wilson, Vicar of Islington, has written a letter to the Lord Mayor, and handed in a memorial, suggesting that the market-day for cattle when the new market is opened should be changed to Tuesday. He says that the passing of droves of beasts through the parish on Sun- day causes obstruction, and sometimes danger, to the attendants at pub- lic worship. The Lord Mayor suggests that the memorialists should peti- tion the Common-Council.

The Lord Mayor, who favours the idea of making Monday next a holt, day, as Christmas Day falls on Sunday, wrote to Lord Palmerston to ask if it was intended to close the Government offices on that day. The Home Secretary replied, through Mr. Waddington, that it was not. " With respect to the public offices of the Government, when Christens! Day falls on a week-day, it is made a holiday, in order to enable the per• sons employed in those departments to attend to the religious observance belonging to that day ; hut, as in the present-year those observances will have been duly attended to on the Sunday the 25th, there does not appeal to Lord Palmerston to be any good reason why the public service of the country should be stayed and impeded bY a holiday in the Sovemmeal offices on Monday the 26th of December, when there will be no religious ob servances to attend to."

The workmen at Woolwich Dockyard and Arsenal will have a holiday on Monday.

The bankers and merchants of London, and numbers of retail trades. men, have made preparations for the cessation of business, as far as can be done without a special law, on Monday. The Transfer and Dividend offices at the Bank of England will be closed.

The City Police Committee have decided upon granting to the Foro an advance of pay; and a communication on the subject, from the Polia Commissioner' was read on Thursday evening at all the stations. Fros this document we learn, that from the 1st of January 18543, the pay of fB Inspector of Reserve will be 2/. 1St., instead elf 21. 10s. ; Inspectors o Divisions, 2/. 10s., instead of 21. 4s. 6d. ; of Sergeants, 11. 8s., instead of IS 4s. ; Detectives, 1/. 10s., instead of IL 5s. ; first of first-class con- stables, 11 3s., instead of 11. 2s. ; second-class constables, 11. 2s., instead of 11. ; and of third, fourth, and fifth class constables, 11., instead of sums under that amount.

An action for breach of contract, brought by a governess against her em- ployer, was tried in the Court of Queen's Bench on Wednesday. The plain tiff was Mademoiselle Abrassant, a Belgian ; the defendant the Reverend kr. Moysey, minister of Combs St. Nicholas, in Somersetshire ; the damages claimed were 221. 17s. 6d. Mrs. Moysey had engaged the plaintiff; at 50/. per annum ; the engagement being subject, as she asserted, to the character given by Mrs. Blanche, a former employer of Miss Abrassant. Mrs. Blanche wrote a letter giving an unsatisfactory character ; and Mrs. Moysey sum- marily and without due notice dismissed the plaintiff. The alleged reason for this step was that Miss Abrassant had, at the house of Mrs. Blanche, several times called herself an infidel ; had spoken of the Bible as an obscene book; and had said that our Saviour was too intimate with Martha and Mary. The evidence on this point was very direct ; but Miss Abrassant ex- plained, that she had once, in friendly talk, jestingly said she was a pagan, and denied the two latter allegations. Lord Campbell, iu summing up, said there was no doubt that a contract had been made; but it was for the Jury to say whether the evidence showed that Miss Abrassant was an infidel, and bad therefore obtained the situation by fraud. The Jury found for the plaintiff to the full amount.

At the Middlesex Sessions, on Monday, John Donoghue, a man of forty- seven, pleaded guilty to embezzling the monies of Messrs. Smith and Mate, of Kensington. Mr. Smith recommended him to mercy, and promised to find means for his removal to another land after the expiration of his sen- tence. Donoghue had been in the service of the firm for thirteen years ; he had a salary of 1501. ; he was employed to collect some 50,000/. yearly ; and his defalcations were less than 501. He had been ruined by gambling at betting-offices. The prisoner's betting-book was banded to the Judge. Sen- tence, six months' imprisonment.

William Anderson, a person about thirty years of age, who has carried on business in the City for some years, is in custody for uttering a forged bill of exchange for 22501. He was examined by the Lord Mayor on Wednesday : he concealed his face with a handkerchief, and sobbed repeatedly during the investigation. He took the bill to Messrs. Womersley and Burt, bill- brokers,. to get it discounted. It purported to be drawn by " J. Le Brun," of Calcutta, and to be accepted by Van Notten and Co., of Lime Street Square. The brokers made inquiries, and found that the acceptance was forged: no money was advanced upon it. Anderson was given into custody. Be attempted to escape from a house in Billiter Street, to which he had de- sired to be taken ; there being two modes of egress. But Daniel Forrester pursued and recaptured him. Two bank-notes, one for 5001. and the other for 1001., were found on him. Mr. Lambert Van Notten Pole deposed that the acceptance was forged ; there is really no " Van Notten" in the firm ; the supposed drawer is unknown to them. There is reason to suspect that other bills for large amount which the prisoner has uttered are also forged. The Lord Mayor refused to take bail.

At the Lambeth Police Office, on Saturday, Mr. Samuel Kelly, a middle- aged man, was charged with assaulting the Reverend Robert Gibson, keeper of a school at Walsworth, and, apparently, a Wesleyan or Independent preacher. Gibson's head had been broken. He alleged that Mr. Kelly en- tered his school, beat him with a stick, and cut his head open with the fire- shovel. A person who accompanied Mr. Kelly stated that there were high words ; Gibson seized the fire-shovel ; a struggle ensued, and blows were given, but he could not say who struck first. For the defence, it was alleged that Gibson had seduced Mrs. Kelly when she attended a chapel of which he was minister at Bethnal Green ; that she lived with him ; and that her hus- bind subsequently received her back into his house, as they had four chil- dren, and he wished to reclaim her. Apparently, she has again quitted his roof. Gibson "declined to answer" certain pointed questions respecting his connexions with Mrs. Kelly. As the complainant's wound seemed rather serious, Mr. Norton remanded the case, but accepted bail for the defendant. Mr. Kelly has since been mulcted of the nominal fine of one shilling ; and ordered to find bail to keep the peace for three months towards Gibson.

The Meteor steamer was run down on Monday evening, between Blackwell and Gravesend. When nearly off the point above the half-way house on the Kent side, the Sylph, a screw-steamer belonging to the Peters- burg Steam-packet Company, which was coming up the river, ran into the Meteor on the starboard side before the paddle-box, nearly cutting her in two. The Meteor immediately began to sink ; but the Sylph remained by her, and the passengers, forty-five m number, together with the crew, all got safe on board. The Mars, another Gravesend steamer, came up, assisted the Sylph to get clear of the wreck, and afterwards took the people of the Me- teor on board. The Meteor went down within ten minutes after the collision.

James Lay, a youth of seventeen, residing at Camberwell, went with an- other lad to Sydenham to shoot birds. Lay got into a tree, and asked his companion to hand up the gun ; the trigger caught in a bough, the piece exploded, and the contents entered Lay's thigh and abdomen. He died in the hospital three days after.

The London Fire Brigade were much harassed on Saturday night ; be- tween five o'clock in the evening and five next morning there were no fewer than seven fires. One, at Homerton, at the colour-works of Messrs. Berger and Sons, was of considerable extent.

Mr. F. Austin, one of the Inspectors of the Poor-law Board, began the inquiry into the case of-the Welshes on Saturday, in Marylebone Workhouse. Garrett Walsh, the father of the infant which died, was examined on oath. His evidence was in great part a repetition of that given at the inquest. He described his treatment on one occasion when he applied for admission to the house. "After waiting about an hour or an hour and a half, I made my way into Mr. Messer's office ; where there were present Messrs. Messer, Kirby, Betraun, Crawley, and the other Inspectors. I asked Mr. Messer for an order to come into the house, or else for some more relief. With that Mr. Kirby came up, and told me to see Mr. Crawley, my Inspector. Mr. Crawley made answer, that he had seen me. Then Mr. Messer said to me, says he—' Go on.' I asked Mr. Messer what I was to do as me and my wife had nowhere to go to ? and he says, 'Then go and hang yourself.' With that, sir, I was took by the collar of the coat by a policeman, and put out." " Where did you sleep on the night before—on Wednesday night ? " "We were in the streets all night." Mr. Carr, a Director of the Poor, asked Walsh—" Do you persist in the statement thatyou had nothing to do during the time you were receiving relief from the house, between the 21st of October and the 21st of Nevem- ' her 1." Witness (with great violence both of tone and demeanour)—" I said it before and I say it again, I had none." The Inspector—" Where was the -lest job of whitewashing you had to do ? " Walsh—" My last job of white- washing had nothing to do with the death of my child. My child was

starving, and it was refused admission by a parcel of starvers. I say that my child was starved ! You are a set of villains ! I'll answer no more." The Inspector expressed considerable sympathy with Walsh, and tried in vain to allay his excitement. After several fruitless efforts, he was obliged to postpone the remainder of his evidence till the next meeting.

Commissioner Mayne has requested the trustees for lighting the roads in different localities to place a lamp-post at each point marking four miles from Charing Cross, to facilitate the working of the new Cab Act. The Police Superintendents will indicate the precise spots, and will provide a plate with an inscription to be attached to the lamp-post.