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The Convocation of the Prelates and Clergy of the Province of Canter- bury was prorogued on Thursday, at the Jerusalem Chamber, by the Vicar-General, Dr. Twiss, under a commission from the Archbishop of Canterbury, to Friday the 20th October.
A considerable number of new churches are to be built in the Metro- polis; among them, three in Paddington, three in Clerkenwell, and others in Kensington, Isleworth, Hammersmith, St. Pancras, Shoreditch, and Whiteehapel. Mr. William Cotton is to build one at his sole expense in Limehouse ; Mr. Gellibrand Hubbard has undertaken to do the same in St. Andrew's, Holborn, on a site given by Lord Leigh ; and the Queen has subscribed 5001. towards the erection of a church in Coventry Street, Haymarket, between Rupert Street and Princes Street,—that is, at the North-east corner of the street, where the building would form a con- spicuous object from several approaches, especially from Piccadilly and Leicester Square.
A deputation of licensed victuallers waited upon Sir Richard Mayne on Tuesday, in order to extract from him, if possible, what is meant by the word "traveller" in the Beer Act. The Commissioner told them, it was not his place to define the law ; all he had to do was to see that it was enforced. He certainly should direct the Police to carry it out in the least oppressive manner ; but it is the duty of the Police to obtain cases for the decision of the Magistrates ; and should a number decide the same way, that of course would guide him in carrying out the act.
At the Mid' dleaex Sessions, on Monday, Robert Thomas Ovenden, who em- bezzled something like 6001. from the parish of St. Clement Danes, pleaded "Guilty" to the charge ; and Mr. Bodkin sentenced him to imprisonment for twelve months, with hard labour.
At the Mansionhouse, on Wednesday, Henry Harding, through the Emi- gration Commissioners, preferred a charge of violating section 44 of the Pas- sengers Act of 1852, against Cornelius Prout Newcombe, of the firm of New- combe, Griffiths, and Co., emigration-agents. It appears that a number of passengers, upwards of 136, had paid their passage-money to the prisoner for conveyance to Melbourne by the Jane Green : but the ship, which was to sail on the 5th instant, did not sail, nor was any other ship provided; so that the emigrants suffered great privations. Under the act, the shipowners were bound to refund the passage-money and pay 10/. per passenger as com- pensation. The facts were admitted ; but embarrassment leading to bank- ruptcy was Pleaded as an excuse. Mr. Parry, who appeared for Newcombe, contended, that as he was protected from arrest by the Court of Bankruptcy, he could not be committed to prison. Mr. Alderman Humpbery would not listen to this; but decided that Newcombe should refund the passage-money and pay 101. as a compensation ; or, in default, be imprisoned for three months, with hard labour. Mr. Parry said he should- apply at Judges' chambers for the release of his client.
A sufficient number of cases seem likely to arise under the new Beer Act to test the meaning of the word "traveller " ; but it is rather hard upon the public and the tavern-keepers to be compelled to make hazardous experi- ments for the benefit of Parliament. On Saturday last, a case came before Mr. Long, the Marlborough Street Magistrate. It appears that the Police found five persons eating and drinking in the Castle Tavern, Hampstead, on Sunday sennight ; and the landlord, 111r. Robert Ware, -was summoned for the offence. Two of the guests had 'arrived in a brougham, two in a gig, and one on foot. They had paid theltbills before balf-past two, but had not finished their wine at that bout. The "one" said he regularly went to dine at Hampstead in the fresh air every Sunday. Mr. Long's decision settled in this case two points : 1. a publican must not allow persons to remain on his premises after the legal hours to consume liquors purchased previously : 2. if a person were to go from Cheapside to Piccadilly and dine there, he should not conceive such a person to come within the meaning of the word "travel- ler"; but if a person left London to go to Hampstead, Richmond, or any of the suburban villages, and dined there, he should consider such a person a bona fide traveller. The summons was dismissed.
The brothers Newton were again brought before the Lambeth Magistrate on Wednesday ; and a certificate was put in, still reporting the dangerous state of Mr. Ker, who, it is feared, will not recover from the effects of the brutal assault. Mr. Elliott again remanded the young men. William was liberated, as before, on heavy bail ; but Francis was sent back to Horse.. monger Lane Gaol.
A man must not desert his wife and family even to serve the Queen in the Navy. John Redknap, a sailor in the Waterloo, has been sent to prison for a month by the Hammersmith Magistrate, at the instance of the parish authorities, for neglecting to maintain his wife and child, whom he deserted to enter the fleet.
At the different Police-offices, on Monday, no fewer than eight juvenile thieves, between nine and twelve years of age, were brought up for stealing and picking pockets. One was sent to Holloway to be reformed, one or two were sent home with a reprimand, and the others committed for trial. Several were arrested at Camberwell fair, a sort of thieves' saturnalia held annually in that region.
By direction of Lord Palmerston, the Police notified that they would pre- vent the ascent from Vauxhall Gardens of the "Italian Brothers" attached to a balloon, apparently to perform some posturing in the air. Mr. Wardell, the lessee, complains of this, because the Home Secretary did not interfere on former occasions, when the exhibition took place at other gardens ; and he has closed Vauxhall, as it would be " folly " to attempt to keep it open if he is to be thus trammelled.
Mr. Coroner Wakley held an inquest, on Monday, on the body of John Allen, an engine-driver on the North London Railway, who was killed in a collision near Highbury on the night of the 14th. A heavy goods-train came to a stand near Highbury ; the carriages were unhooked, and slid backwards on an incline ; an approaching passenger-train from Hayden Square dashed into them ; and the result was the death of Allen, the driver. The witnesses examined were W. Buggey, breaksman of the goods-train, George Braithwaite and William Hewitt, drivers of the goods-train, George Young, fireman to Hewitt, and Mr. Harry Chubb, manager of the line, and Mr. Martin, a civil engineer. From their evidence it ap- peared, that the night-dew had, rendered the rails slippery ; which difficulty, added to the fact that the steam power of two engines was not sufficient for the goods-train, brought the train to a stand. It was also found that the supply of water in the boilers of both engines had run short, and there was some risk of an explosion. The pilot-engine was unhooked first, then the second engine ; and both proceeded to get water. Some breaks were put on the goods-waggons, but they ran back nevertheless, and then the collision ensued. It was stated that the steam-power provided was insufficient to draw the heavy train; and that there was a leakage in the tank which made the wheels very wet and increased the difficulty of pro- ceeding. On the other hand, it was asserted by Mr. Martin, that the steam- power was amply sufficient ; and Mr. Chubb seemed to refer the scarcity of water in the engine to bad driving. The interval of time between the start- ing of luggage and passenger trains was seven minutes. In summing up, the Coroner commented on the shortness of this interval; and remarked that no satisfactory case had been made out as to the cause of the accident. In accordance with the opinion of the Coroner, the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" : at the same time, they recommended the Company to take care of Allen's widow and three children, and expressed an opinion that ample steam-power should be available at every station.
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