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A Privy Council was held on Saturday at the office of the Controller of the Exchequer, in Whitehall Yard; when a jury of members of the Goldsmiths Corn.. pany were empannelled to make an assay of the gold and silver monies now in circulation. This form, which is called "the trial of the pix," was conducted in the usual way, and is described by the Times and other journals in stereotyped phrases, which we need not repeat.

After the trial of the pis, the Goldsmiths Company gave a grand entertain- ment, according to annual custom, at their Hall in Foster Lane. 'The chief guest was Prince Albert, who arrived in state; his suite occupying four carriages be- sides his own. Among the company were Prince George of Cambridge, the Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Peel, Sir James Graham, Lord Stanley, Sir George Clerk, the Marquis of Exeter, Sir George Cockburn, and Lord Jocelyn. The banquet was of the most magnificent kind; but the after-dinner addresses were entirely formal and complimentary.

The Fishmongers Company entertained Prince Albert and a host of noblemen and gentlemen, at their Hall, on Wednesday, to celebrate the admission of four new members of the guild—Earl Fortescue, Viscount Melbourne, Viscount Pal- merston, and Lord Cottenham. Lord Melbourne was absent, on account of ill- ness. The Prince sat at the board less as a strange guest than as a Fishmonger, which he was already. The guests, among whom was Sir Henry Pottinger, seem to have been almost entirely of the Liberal party; and some slight infusion of political feeling took place, in hinted allusions to Whig principles as the pole- star of public life. Still, the speeches were subdued, and therefore, though brief, somewhat tedious. Lord Brougham was the most characteristically fervid; and, in the report, his eloquence took a somewhat ludicrous turn, where he alluded— not only to his "dear friend" Lord Melbourne, who would soon be well again, but to illustrious members of the guild now no more—the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Sussex, Charles James Fox, Lord Holland—" All these were Fish- mongers; but all had passed away,"--as if the freedom of the corporation should have conveyed immortality!

"The Royal Agricultural Society of England held their annual meeting on Thursday, at i

the Committee-room n Hanover Square; the Duke of Richmond in the chair. The attendance was very full. Lord Portman was elected President for the ensuing year; Lord Braybrooke a Vice-President, in the room of the late Marquis of Downshire. The members now number 6,933; the funded capital is 2,2001.; the receipts for the year were 6,1361.; the expenditure' 5,2531. A report was made of prizes awarded; and the subjects for prizes for 1846 were notified to the members. The Council had resolved upon haling the next meeting and ex- hibition at Shrewsbury, on the 14th July next; and had fixed the place of meeting for 1846 at Newcastle-on-Tyne.

A public meeting of ladies and gentlemen interested in establishing baths and washhouses for the poor was held at Willis's Rooms, on Thursday. The attend- ance was numerous and influential, comprising Members of Parliament and public men of all parties. The Duke of Cambridge presided; opened the business of the day with a succinct statement of the objects and prospects of the institution; and ...SIOsed with an exhortation to subscribe liberally. Mr. W. Hawes, Deputy-Chair- man of the Committee, stated the present position of the pro;ect. It has been de- termined to build the first establishment in a small square near Wilitecbapel; and a design by Mr. Bayly has been accepted. It was proposed to have 100 baths and 150 tubs for washing; and it was calculated that 200 persons per diem might wash and 400 persons bathe. The Finance Committee were of opinion that about 12,0001. would be required to carry out this plan on a grand scale hi London. They had at present received between 7,0001. and 8,0001., and the remainder had yet to be raised. Basing their calculations upon what had actually occurred in Liverpool, it'veas supposed that in the first year of their establishment they would have a deficiency of 4001.; but in the second year they expected a surplus of COOL, and in the third year a surplus of 1,2001. Resolutions in furtherance of the *n, moved and seconded by Lord Sandon, Earl Fortescue, Lord Eldon, Lord John Manners Lord Ranelagh, the Reverend Mr. Angus, the Marquis of Lans- downe, and 11r. Byng, M.P., passed unanimously. A spirited subscription was opened on the spot, and was headed by the Duke of Cambridge with 501.

The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society held their sixth annual meet- ing, at Exeter Hall, on Saturday; Mr. J. J. Gurney in the chair. The report, read by Mr. Scoble, contained a Man of statistics, and touched upon many of the standing topics. It deplored the fact that 400,000 Africans are still annually kidnapped for the slave-markets of the Spanish Colonies, Brazil, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Persia, and India. It mentioned with approval the declaration of freedom at Hong-kong in February 1844—an admirable example for all China. It denounced the migration of Indian Coolies to Mauritius, and =any pointed out the disproportion of the sexes—from January 1843 to 1844 there were introduced 35,177 men and 4,530 women, besides chil- dren; and from April to September 1844, 1,935 men and 355 women. The mi- gration from Sierra Leone to the British West Indies was also condemned; the Colcades being represented as advancing steadily, though slowly, in prosperity. As to the Sugar question, the Committee continued anxious to exclude from the British market every article of slave produce, and equally solicitous that the free produce of all nations should come in on equal terms with that of the British Posses- sions. Efforts must be made to extend the cultivation of Tropical productions by free labour in India, as the- most efficient weapon against slave labour. Mr. G. W. Alexander, the Treasurer, stated that the receipts of the Society for the past year were 1,9661.; the balance in hand was 391. .Among the speakers were the ISeverend J. Beecham, the Reverend John Burnet, the Reverend W. Knibb, and other leading members of the Society. Mr. Knibb went back to the old griev- ances of Jamaica from the time of Emancipation; and be objected to Negro im- migration that it is unnecessary, as labour is not required: since 1842, wages have been reduced from 2s. to is. Gd. a day; in Trelawney, last year, the labour- ing population could only obtain three days' work in the week, and that at only Is. a day; and on the Kingston railroad the wages were but 7s. a week. Meanwhile, the taxation on imports consumed by the -labouring population has risen from 127,0001. in 1842 to 192,5171. in 1844, under the operation of a tariff which Mr. Knibb described as peculiarly oppressive to the Negro. But this was is last attempt to crush the infant free man: the Negro freeholds now give votes; the present House of Assembly. will soon pass away; and, if no others could be found, the Missionaries would go into the House themselves • they have got a hold of the people, and are determined the peasantry shall not be crushed. The Reverend E. Davies of Berbice also declared that immigration is unnecessary, for in Guiana wages do not exceed ls. 4d for seven and a half hours' labour; and there is no scarcity of labour, except where the planters have driven the people away by refusing to let them acquire houses of their own. The following resolutions, with others of a merely formal kind, passed unanimously— ' Tbat, in view of the continued existence of the African slave-trade, which, not- withstanding the costly sacrifices of this country to suppress it, is carried on to an enor- mous extent and with unexampled ferocity, this meeting reel it to be their duty to urge upon the Abolitionists of every land the necessity of seeking by those means which are of a purely moral, religious, and pacific nature, and with increased earnestness and diligence, the entire abolition of slavery, as the only certain mode of extinguishing this gigantic evil and its kindred abomination, the internal slave-traffic, in countries -where It unhappily prevails.

"That, as one great means for promoting the universal abolition of slavery and the. slave-trade, this meeting deem it of the very highest importance that every restriction on the free investment of capital its the soil, and every Impost on the industry of the labourer, in British India, should be immediately removed; being persuaded that, in conjunction with the Emancipated Colonies, that part of the empire can raise Tropical productions, under an equitable system of revenue, by free labour, to any extent that may be required, on terms that would greatly diminish, if not totally annihilate, the demand for the produce of slave labour both at home and abroad. "That this meeting view with sentiments of gratitude the present aspect of the Anti-Slavery cause throughout the world, and rejoice that the great principles on which It is based are more extensively diffused and better understood than at any former period of its history ; that among its triumphs during the past year they regard with high satisfaction the decision of the King and the Diet of Sweden to emancipate the. slave population of Its colonial dependency in the West Indies; and that, confiding in. the justice of that cause, and above all in the Divine blessing on the untiring and in- creasing efforts of its friends, they look forward with unwavering confidence to the period when, overcoming all opposing obstacles, it shall deliver the whole human family from the curse and degradation of slavery.

"That this meeting regard with feelings of the deepest regret and abhorrence the- recent conduct of the United States in its criminal attempt to extend and consolidate. the system of sin very on the American continent by the annexation of Texas to Its present vast possessions ; and would urgently call on the friends of liberty and religion_ In that country to use their utmost efforts to prevent the realization of so iniquitous a measure.

"That whilst this meeting have no intention whatever of Interfering with the free and spontaneous emigration of labourers to the British Emancipated Colonies, at the- expense of the parties to be benefited thereby, they regard with increasing hostility the-

schemes now sanctioned by Government for supplying them with Asiatic and African labourers, as unjust in principle, evil in example, immoral in tendency, and of more than doubtful expediency ; and would earnestly recommend to the friends of humanity and religion throughout the country to offer them their most vigorous and united oppo- sition.

"That this meeting have learned with astonishment and regret, from official docu- ments recently laid before Parliament, that there are several thousands of British sub-• jects held in slavery in the colonial possessions of Spain and the Netherlands ; and that.

owing to an alleged legal difficulty, her Majesty's Government decline to press on those Powers their immediate deliverance from the cruel and degrading bondage in which

they are held ; that, persuaded that these unhappy persons have an indefeasible right to their freedom, this meeting would respectfully urge on the Government the necessity of reviewing the ground of their decision, and of taking such active measures for secur- ing them their rights as British subjects as should lead to their speedy restoration to. their homes, and to the full enjoyment of the privileges of the emancipated classes in. the British Colonies."

At the Central Criminal Court, on Saturday, Whiffen, a young sailor, wag. tried for feloniously personating one John Foley, a seaman entitled to certain prize or bounty money called "Chinese donation hafts" for his services on board her Majesty's ship Conway, with intent to defraud the East India Company. The prisoner presented a forged certificate at the India House purporting to be signed by Commander Beadon, and testifying that Foley had served in the Conway. 1 his lad, however, was paid his prize-money a year ago. It appeared that Whiffen, an ignorant boy, had been made the dupe of others; and the Jury in finding him guilty added a recommendation to mercy. He was ordered to be 1lEb- prisoned for two years- but the sentence will be mitigated. John Thomas Sharp, lately a clerk to Messrs. Magnay, the City stationers, was tried for the embezzlement of monies belonging to his employers. He was found. guilty, and sentenced to be transported for seven years. On Monday, Ell, a warehouseman, and Corduroy, a carman to Messrs. Magnay, were tried for stealing paper, and Dodge, a stationer in the City Road, for receiving it. The evidence against Ell and Dodge was conclusive, and they were convicted; but Corduroy was acquitted on this charge. Ell was sentenced to be transported for seven years. On Wednesdityt Ell was tried for another robbery, and John Nicholserr, sta., tioner, for receiving the stolen property. Both were acquitted. Dodge ;ell] be tried on another charge at the next Sessions; a material witness for his defence not being at present forthcoming.

Peat, a cab-proprietor and driver, has been charged at the Mansionhouse with forging the name of Mr. Richard Latham to a bill of exchange for 3501., and getting it discounted as for Mr. Latham at the bank of Messrs. Roberts, Curtis, and Company, with whom that gentleman has an account. The prisoner obtained 3351. from the bankers. The prisoner declared his innocence, and was remanded. Mr. John Quincey Harris, formerly Member for Newcastle-under-Lyne, who was committed for trial last week for an assault,. has been examined by tivo. medical men, and they have certified that he is insane. Ile has consequently been removed from prison to a private lunatic asylum.

The Policeman who dogged the steps of Mr. Dann the barrister was not au- thorized to do so by the Commissioners of Police; and, on a complaint being made to them, they have ordered the officer to desist from the annoyance.

The electric telegraph on the South-western Railway was the means, last week,, of causing the arrest of two fugitives from Gosport as soon as they arrived in London. Amelia Spencer, a young woman of Southampton, had robbed her parents of a sum of money; with which she fled to Gosport, and thence, accom- panied by a married man who had been courting her under the pretence that he was single, she proceeded to London. The mother arrived at the station just after the train had started; the telegraph was put in action, and when the pair arrived at Nine Elms they were arrested for the robbery. They have been sent in custody to Hampshire.

The people of Hampstead were greatly excited on Saturday by a rumour that. another murder had been committed there, close to the spot where Delarae was killed. It appears that between three and four o'clock on Saturday morning, in consequence ot information given by a coachman, a Police-constable went to the New North Road, and, at the field adjoining the Haverstock Field, where Delarae was murdered, he discovered what at first appealed to be a large bundle lying in the ditch that passes along the hedge. On closer inspection, he found it to be the body of a man completely doubled up, and lying face downward in the ditch. The man was quite dead, and blood had been issuing from the nose and mouth. His hands were full of mud; but there did not seem to be any external marks of violence, except that the face appeared unusually swollen. He was respectably dressed, and was about forty years of age.

On Sunday, the body was identified as that of Mr. John Cunningham, a tailor residing in Holywell Street, Strand. He had been missed from home since Thurs- day morning last; and nothing had been heard of him until his description had been read in the papers. He had been in the habit of staying_ out very late in company and drinking freely; but his being in the vicinity of idampstead could- not be accounted fur' as he had no business that way. An inquest was held on Tuesday; and from the evidence adduced, both medical and general, the Jury at once returned a verdict, "That the deceased died of congestive apoplexy.' Cunningham seems to have wandered about drinking throughout Thursday and. Friday. Along investigation has taken place before Mr. Coroner Wakley as to the cause of the death of a boy, a pauper lunatic, who was confined for some time in Arm- strong's Private Lunatic .Asylum for paupers, at Peckham, and who died of ex- haustion, resulting from very large wounds on his body., shortly after his mother had taken him from the Asylum. The wounds were b-sores, produced by the patient's long lying in bed, he haying been completely helpless; but the evidence went to prove that he did not receive sufficient surgical attention. The Jury gave a verdict describing the cause of death, but added a decided opinion "that the medical treatment of the deceased boy was cruelly neglected in the Asylum."

Caroline Gains' an unmarried woman, has died in a very suspicious manner, at Hampstead, soon after giving birth to a dead child, at a lodging hired for her by some unknown friends. The bodies of mother and child are said to have become black after death, and foul play is presumed. An inquest has been commenced, and adjourned to Monday next.

A circular flour-mill worked by steam on the banks of the Surrey Canal near the bridge in the Old Kent Road, was reduced to a ruin by the explosion of the boiler, on Wednesday morning. The boiler, which weighs three tons, was forced up in the air to a great height, and, crossing the canal, it fell at a distance of a hundred and fifty yards from the mill. Portions of brick-work were thrown still farther; and several persons narrowly escaped injury. At the time of the disaster, Mr. Walter, the owner of the mill, and his cousin, were in the engine-room, when the ponderous grinding machinery in the upper part of the building fell; but it fell on the engine, which prevented its crashing the two men: Mr. Walter was se- riously hart, whilst his relative escaped entirely uninjured. The damage is said to exceed 3,0001.

An alarming collision occurred at the London Bridge terminus of the Green- wich Railway, late on Monday night. A train with two hundred passengers, from Deptford fair, ran into three cama,ges, which had been negligently left on the line without lights or guards. Happily, no one was dangerously hurt; though the bruises were many, and the clothes of the passengers were torn. The carriages were a good deal injured.

The wells sunk for supplying the fountains in Trafalgar Square have absorbed the water from the pumps in the neighbourhood. The Union Club had at great expense sat* a well on their premises, which before the erection of the fountains yigdeda copious supply, but it is now, we hear, dried up.—Globe.