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The Westminster Reform Society, which has been in abeyance for two or three yearn, was resuscitated by a meeting of its members in Exeter Hall on Tuesday; Mr. Geeson in the chair. It was explained, that the suspended action of the society was owing to the necessity for repose to the public mind after the Corn-law repeal, and to the deadening effect of the Great Exhibition on all questions merely political." But now that a dissolution of Parliament is expected, the society will be put in working circle; and made ready for action. A committee, named from the different parishes in the city, was appointed ; and it was remitted to them to re. visa the rules and tegulations now existing, and report to a future meet. jag to be held soon after the meeting of Parliament.

An influential requisition was lately addressed to Archdeacon Hale, that he should summon the clergy of the archdeaconry of London to pe- tition Parliament " no longer to continue the endowment of Maynooth College." He complied, and issued his summons. Accordingly, some sixty of the London clergy assembled at Sion College on Thursday, and took into consideration a declaration which the Archdeacon himself had drawn np in such a manner that it might be converted into the form of a petition to the Legislature. The speakers were Archdeacon Hale, Dr. Croly, Dr. Worthington, Dr. Vivian, the Reverend Messrs. Hartwell Horne E. Auriol, J. Gelling, lllin, Dale, Cox, Ram, and Redvrar. The declaration was adopted without any important alteration. " 1. That the rapid increase of the Papal power throughout the whole extent of the Queen's dominions), and the facilities now possessed by the Church of Rome for the dissemination of her doctrines among all orders of the community, is a well-grounded cause of alarm to all who duly appre- ciate the value of that deliverance from Romish error which was wrought for our Church by the good Providence of God at the period of the Reformation.

"2. That although it may now be, in a political point of view, a matter of difficulty that the Government of this country should at once depart from that line of policy under the shelter of which Romanism has made such rapid advances, it is nevertheless incumbent upon us firmly, but humbly, to express our opinion of the erroneous character of that policy, and our con- viction that the full exercise of the supreme authority of the Pope. over the clergy and laity of the Romish communion in England and Ireland is incom- patible with the supremacy of the Crown, and has endangered not only the Established Church but also the stability, of the Throne. "8. That whilst'vie deeply lament the circurnstinees its which Roman Catholic Ireland is placed, and are justified in avowing that the granting poli- tical privileges to Roman Catholics has conferred no benefit upon that country, either in social improvement or the increase of its wealth, we are also of opinion that the attempt to improve the character of the native Roman Catholic priesthood, and to attach them to the English nation and Govern- meat, by affording them the means of education at the College of Maynooth in the place of education in foreign seminaries, has not less signally failed. "4. That when we call to mind the condition of England and Ireland at the time when the first proposition was made to establish a Roman Catholic se- minary at Maynooth,. and are therefore bound to give credit to the statesmen of those times for believing themselves justified by the peculiar circum- stances Of the case ill advising a Protestant nation to take under its pro- tection and to contribute to the support of such an institution, we still hold the opinion, that the measure was wrong as respects not only political expe- diency but also religious principle' and that it is the duty of Parliament no longer to support that institution by endowment or by grant ; being firmly convinced in our own mind, that the conduct of the Legislature in respect of religion is a part of our moral duty as a nation, and that neglect of duty and disregard of the pure faith of the Gospel causes nations not less than indi- viduals,. to incur the displeasure of Hun by whom kings reign and princes decree Justice.'"

It was resolved unanimously, that a petition framed on this declaration be presented to the House of Lords through the Bishop of London, and to the House of Commons through Sir Robert Inglis.

The movement towards a general revival of Diocesan Synods, which was begun by the meeting at Derby a quarter of a year since, received an impulse in the Metropolis, by a meeting of earnest and educated men, held on Thursday, in the Hanover Square Rooms. The Reverend T. Collins, Rural Dean of Ripon, presided ; the Reverend W. Pound acted as secretary ; and the speakers were the Honourable John Talbot, Mr. F. H. Dickenson, Lord Lyttelton, the Reverend Canon Trevor, Sir Walter James, the Honourable and Reverend W. Howard, and the Reverend Messrs. Scott, Gunner Hamilton, Carter, and Smith.

The chairman stated, that the Bishop of Ripon has signified to him, as one of his Rural Deans, that the Bishop will at all times be ready to hold a Diocesan Synod for the discussion of practical questions—to the exclu- sion of controversial discussion ; and he stated also, that the intention to hold the present meeting had not been opposed by the Bishop of London. Mr. Talbot, as a layman, felt that the participation of laymen in this movement should dispel the notion which he has encountered that there is something of priestcraft in it : there can be little danger in the priestcraft which aims at making the clergy as efficient as possible. Mr. Dickenson practically indicated the measure "for the correction of clerks," which the Bishop of London has at various times brought before Parliament, as a measure on the details of which it is particularly just, and would be very beneficial, that the clergy should have the opportunity which Dio- cesan Synods would afford of expressing their opinions.. Lord Lyttelton earnestly declared for pressing on in the path of Justice and right, without reference to speculative opinions on the ultimate tendency of reviving Diocesan Synods. Sir Walter James threw sonic of the blame of the present lukewarmness of the middle classes to Church practices upon the system of our Universities, which practically excludes the children of the middle classes from attending at the Universities and receiving the bene- fits they offer of a sound Church education. The remedy is' either to cheapen the University education, or to establish Colleges for the middle classes.

The following resolutions were adopted without dissent.

"That this meeting, in receiving the report now read, desires to repeat its serious and deliberate conviction that Diocesan Synods are necessary for the wellbeing of the Church., and of the spiritual interests with which it is connected ; and to express its earnest sndT respectful hope that the spiritual overseers of the flock of Christ may speedily call together such assemblies of the faithful, for the edification of their respective dioceses. "That this meeting cannot refrain from recording its humble judgment, that the spiritual sights of both clergy and laity demand that Diocesan Sy- nods should be collected together from time to time, to consult with their Bishop in solemn assembly, as to what is needed for the benefit of their re- spective dioceses • and that the present mode of diocesan government by the sole and unlimited mind of the diocesan is inconvenient and injurious to the Church itself, inconsistent with the erne principle of episcopal authority, and opposed alike to Scripture precedents and the practice of the primitive Church in the best and earliest ages. "That a Diocesan Synod would be a source of great help and aesistance to a Bishop, in suggesting plans of usefulness, in supplying derails of dio-

reran information in maintaining his own rightful authority, and in sup- porting by its united cooperation such local and diocesan plans and arrange- Inents as he may deem necessary for the welfare of his people. " That this meeting invites all Churchmen to unite with them in pro- moting the revival of Diocesan Synods ; and for this purpose would suggest to them, to circulate the papers and pamphlets published on the subject in their own neighbourhoods and dioceses—to converse with friends and neigh- bours upon the subject—to communicate with the Committee on what may be useful in furthering this matter—and to give or collect pecuniary do- nations towards the necessary expenses of printing, and of meetings such as

the Present- I; net this meeting do adjourn to Thursday the 29th day of April 1852,

to be holden at Gloucester ; with the power of further adjournment if the Committee see cause."

The Reverend G. E. Gladstone, incumbent of Long Acre Episcopal chapel, preached a sermon in the beginning of December, in the course of which he said—" Some of the Bishops, God forgive them! are traitors : I would say much more plainly to his face than 'behind his back, that the Bishop of this diocese is alarmingly responsible and culpable for what passes in it." Last week, the Bishop of London inhibited Mr. Gladstone from preaching again ; bat the inhibition was disregarded : on Sunday last Mr. Gladstone preached an energetic sermon, from Colossians i, 6.

We are informed that on Sunday evening, the 18th, twenty-seven adult persons publicly renounced the errors of Popery, in the church of St. BermOndsey.— Times.

The bar of the Home Circuit gave a farewell dinner at the Albion, on Saturday last, to Mr. Peacock, on his appointment to be legal member of the Indian Supreme Council. Mr. Sergeant Channel presided.

At a special court of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers, on Wed- nesday, a letter was received from Mr. Frank Forster, resigning his office of engineer to the Commission, on the ground of determined opposition to his plans by one of the Commissioners, Captain Veitch, and the dismissal of his best and most efficient assistants without sufficient reasons. Cap- tain Veitch disclaimed any personal feeling against Mr. Forster, and the other Commissioners expressed their regret that he should have been singled out by Mr. Forster as a personal opponent. Sir William Cubitt and the Chairman explained, that Mr. Forster is now very ill, and has probably acted hastily ; and it was resolved not to accept the resignation • of Mr. Forster till he has recovered, and had an opportunity of attending the Board in person with explanations.

C Parker or Barrett has been produced before the Lambeth Magistrate as a transport who has twice escaped from Australia. For a burglary in Retail' Highway he was sentenced to be transported for fifteen years ; and he escaped from Norfolk Island by having been one of a boat's-crew sent to the aid of a vessel in distress. The boat and crew disappeared, and none of the crew, with the exception of the prisoner and another desperate fellow named Sullivan, had afterwards been heard of; there were strong reasons to sus- pect that the prisoner and Sullivan had despatched their comrades, and by this means effected their own escape. Tried for returning before the expiu of his sentence, he was sentenced at Liverpool to be transported for life. He was sent to Australia, but has managed to get back to England again.

At the Worship Street Police Court, on Tuesday,. Rogers, a journeyman painter, of Jane Street, St. Luke's, charged his son, "a hardened-looking urchin of twelve," with inveterate robbery. The father stated that the 'prisoner was the youngest of his several children, and that his evil courses have kept the family in constant distress and privation. He has repeatedly broken open his father's drawers, and carried off the contents to turn them into money ; and several times when the father has fallen asleep in his chair after his day's work, the young reprobate has cut oil' his waistcoat-pocket with all his wages in it, and disappeared till he has spent all the money. In the same manner, while his mother was lately sitting at work, he stealthily raised her dress, cut out her pocket, carried off all her money, and disappear- ed for several days. Shortly after he came home on the last occasion, he was intrusted with a shilling by a friend of his father, and was sent out to make a trifling purchase in the neighbourhood : but he never returned ; and nothing was heard of him until the following evening, when the owner of a fruit-stall in the same street came and complained that he had gone off with another piece of silver given him to get changed. He had a glazier's dia- mond which he tried to sell; and the father found, on examination, that his drawer had again been broken open and this diamondstolen. A lad produced the diamond in court, and stated that the young thief had sold it to him under pretence that his father had done with it. It appeared that the prisoner had been once before summarily convicted and imprisoned for six weeks. Mr. Hammill now committed him for triaL

A hungry Policeman has been committing great ravages in a "safe" at Walworth. Mr. Seabrook, of Lacy Terrace, has a safe in his area ; latterly the gate leading to the area has been unlocked at night, the key having been lost. On several occasions cold meat has disappeared from the safe during the night. The cats were pronounced to be the thieves, and the button of the safe was made more secure : but the cats still carried off the viands. The other morning, about three o'clock, Mr. Seabrook and his wife thought they heard the cats at the safe. The gentleman arose from his bed and went down stairs; on looking through a glass door, ." the cats" were revealed in the person of a Policeman, who had been evidently regaling himself, and still had his "bull's-eye" turned upon the provender. Descrying Mr. Sea- brook, he ran away. On a subsequent day, Mr. Seabrook attempted to pick out the thief from a number of "the Force " : at first he thought it was 307 P, but afterwards his suspicions fell on Policeman Reamington. This man was taken before the Lambeth Magistrate. The complainant admitted that he could not speak with pertamty as to the man's identity. Reamington was on the Lacy Terrace beat on the night in question, but another might have gone there ; on a preceding night when meat was taken, the accused was not on duty at all ; he has been twelve years in the Force, and bears a good character. The Magistrate, Mr. Norton, thought the evidence did not quite bring the guilt home to the prisoner ; so he was set at liberty.

An ingenious fraud has been exposed by a tradesman who attended at Guildhall for advice. People watch messengers who leave tradesmen's bills ; go to the customer's house, and get possession of the bill by saying there is a mistake in it. They then appear at the tradesman's to pay the bill with a false cheek for a larger amount, the balance of which they pocket.

A man named Goole a resident in Wardour Street, has been killed by an explosion of naphtha. He was preparing to charge a lamp, his family stand- ing round, when the spirit ignited, and all were much burnt ; the man so severely that he died in a _few days. Explosions of naphtha with fatal re- sults are now frequently recurring disasters chronicled in the journals.

In the past year, the number of births in the Metropolis was 39,882 males and 37,984 females ; being a total of 77,866, or an excess of males over females of 1898. The number of deaths during the same period was

26,096 males and 27,249 females, or a total number of 55,345 deaths; ueing an excess of deaths of males over females of 847, and an excess of births over deaths of 22,517. The ages at death were—from 0 to 15, 25,712; from 15 to 60, 17,999; and from 60 and upwards, 11,362. In comparison with the year 1850, the births have increased, by 2554, and the deaths by 6775. In 1850 the excess of births over deaths was 26,738, while in 1851 it was only 22,517, being a decrease of 4221. The deaths at the age of 0 to 15 have increased over those of 1850 by 4341; at the age from 15 to 60, by 1634; and from 60 and upwards, by 780.—Medical Times.

The set of fifteen bells intended fof the Royal Exchange, which have for some time past been recasting at Mr. Taylor's bell-foundry, Loughborough, are now nearly finished.