. gietrutiati4.

At a very crowded meeting of the Common Council on Wednesday, the freedom of the City was voted to Mr. T. Attwood, the founder of Political Unions. An address from the Birmingham people to the Common Council was previously presented by the Deputation ap- pointed for that purpose, consisting of Messrs. Attwood, fcliolefleld, Parkes, Salt, Green, and the Reverend Dr. Wade. It we s received with all respect, and ordered to be framed and glazed and suspended under the direction of a Committee. Mr. Attwood havirg been for- mally invested with his new honours, addressed the Common Council,. in one of those hale, straightforward, English speeches, of which the last two years have seen so many specimens— "I have," said he, "ever respected the prerogatives of the Crown, the rights and privileges of both Houses of Parliament, when fairly and constitutionally exercised. But when I saw the foundations of society loosenivg and breaking under our feet,—when I saw storms and tempests gathering and blackening in the distance,—when I felt the heavings of a political earthquake that I knew would disorganize and crush all the institutions of this powerful empire,—then I thought it right to step forward and stand between the people and rebellion. I saw there was still a door left open for reconciliation. I did nut NriSh to close it. My efforts and those of my colleagues were incessantly and vigorously di- rected to inculcate the necessity of obedience to the laws, and thepreservation of public order and respect fur property. Thanks, first to God and next to the people, we have succeeded ; but while we did this, we strove to lift the people to the proper standard of moral energy. For this useful and well-designed work, we have had already a noble portion of our temporal reward. We have been honoured with the approbation of this mighty corporation—boundless in influence and wealth, as it is great in character, in talent, and independence. From the remotest period of our history, this body has been the bold and able assertor of personal worth, of popular rights, and national glory. It has ever stood in the van of the people in their fight for liberty; and how proud shall we of Birmingham be to adopt so great a precedent, and be tutored by such masters!"

He concluded by the following brief and graphic description of the town of Birmingham on the information reaching it of the two great events of the ten days—the resignation and restoration of Earl Grey-

" When the news of the rejection of the Reform Bill reached Birmingham, they assembled at a moment's notice in tens of thousands—despair and sullen rage painted in their faces. I then strove to calm them. Another meeting full of the same terrible resolution was held. I saw it. I was collected, though appalled. Then came the news that Lord Grey was reinstated, and I wit- nessed a scene that I never saw equalled, and could scarcely think on : resolute and powerful men shedding, tears of joy,—true tears of gladsome emotion. My nerves never failed me till then. You cannot believe me until you ace the men of Birmingham. 1 have read of the tears of valiant men : I never saw them until then, and it was a sight enough to shake a man to the heart."

In the evening, the Lord Mayor gave a splendid dinner to Mr. Att- wood and his colleagues ; to which six of the members of the National Union were invited. Lord Ebrington, Sir F. Burdett, Messrs. Byng and Hume, Mr. T. Duncombe, and various other gentlemen, ubout one hundred in number, were also present.

On Mr. Attwood's health being drunk, he reverted to the great in- fluence of the City of London on the conduct and hopes of the Refor- mers throughout the realm— He assured the citizens of London, that he had watched with much anxiety time course they pursued with respect to the question of Reform ; for he believed that its success or failure greatly depended on the opinions and conduct of the inhabitants of the first city in the world. On all former occasions, the citizens of London had been foremost in defending the rights of the country. They had resisted the tyrant John, and protected the patriot Hampden; and when he found that they still continued animated by the same liberal sentiments, he felt a new courage within him. In endeavouring to ascertain what was the temper of this great city with respect to the question of Reform, he had not failed to watch the progress of the late election for a Lord Mayor; and he declared that if that election had gone against the right honourable gentleman whose hospi- tality he was now enjoying, he should have had great fears fur the cause—his heart would, indeed, have died within him. The result, however, of that elec- tion, convinced him of the general feeling of the people in favour of Reform. From that moment, he felt no doubt or hesitation how to act; and he said to himself—" The Reform Bill must and shall pass."

The health of Lord Ebrington, of Sir Francis Burdett, the Mem- bers for Middlesex, of Mr. buncombe, Mr. Parkes, and the Re- formers of Birmingham, and Mr. Potter and He Reformers of Man- chester, were given in the course of an evening which was spent with the harmony and decorum every way suitable to the occasion that had called the company together.

The Lord Mayor gave a splendid dinner yesterday to the Bishops and other dignitaries connected with the Society fox the Propagation of the Gospel.

A Court of Directors was held on Tuesday, at the East India House.; when the ship Bolton, taken up for one voyage to and from Bengal, was appointed to be afloat on the 24th instant, and to sail to Gravesend on the .3th of June.

A meeting of the members of the National Political Union took place on Monday forenoon, at ten o'clock, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, for the purpose of voting an address of congratu- lation to Earl Grey, on the reinstation of himself and his colleagues with power to pass the Reform Bill; likewise to express their thanks to those members of the House of Commons who voted in the majority on Lord Ebrington's motion of the 10th. Both motions were carried by acclamation.

A meeting of several of the respectable inhabitants from different parishes in the Tower Hamlets, took place on Thursday, for the pur- pose of considering the best means of securing the return of fit and independent members to the Commons House of Parliament. Several animated speeches were made by the gentlemen present, on the neces- sity of having members pledged to act on the spirit of the Reform Bill, and to remedy the enormous abuses that a long Government of misrule has engendered.

A charter of incorporation has been granted by his Majesty to the Society for Diffusing Useful Knowledge. The London General Com- mittee is by this charter recognized as the governing body of the so- ciety; the Lord Chancellor is constituted the first Chairman, Lord John Russell the first Vice-Chairman, and Mr. W. Tooke is named Treasurer.

The Naval and Military Library and Museum, in Whitehall Yard, which has been instituted as " a central repository for objects of pro- fessional art, science, and natural history, and for books and documents relating to those studies, or of general information," is in a fair way towards permanent prosperity and success. The members of both the Services, for whose accommodation and instruction the institution has been commenced, have come forward with becoming zeal in its support.

A bill is in progress to enable the King and his heirs to appoint a trustee of the British Museum, but he is not to interfere with the sq.. pointment of officers.

The Bishop of Carlisle preached a charity sermon on Sunday in the New Church, Hackney, for the support of the parish schools. The congregation was chiefly composed of ladies, the children of the charity, and the parish authorities. After the Bishop bad ascended the pulpit and commenced the sermon, a considerable number of gen- tlemen took up their hats and left the church.

While, in most of the London churches, on Sunday, the cholera prayers were continued, in others a thanksgiving for our deliverance

from it was substituted, omitting the word " contagious;" so that the Bishop of London may be presumed to have decided that which the doctors are still fighting about.

Most of the Bishops have abandoned both their wigs and silk aprons, and arc no longer distinguishable in appearance from the rest of the clergy.

The Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Cumberlaud, and the Princess Augusta, patronize the Ladies' Bazaar, in the Regent's Park, in aid of the Royal Dispensary for Diseases of the Ear; and the Duchess of Kent hus transmitted 20/. to the charity.

In the early part of the morning of Tuesday, a report was spread in the villages near London—and the existence of one to the same effect has been traced among the Anti-Reformers in town—that time Bill had been thrown out of the House of Lords. Did the Tories despatch a report of this kind into the country, for the chance of the mischief it might produce in the twenty hours that might elapse before it was con- tradicted by the arrival of the post ?— Globe.

In consequence of recent events, the propricturs of the Wellington Chatham coach, which runs from Gracechurch Street, have been com- pelled to change.the name of the coach, as nearly all their customers have refused to travel by it so long as it here the mane of Wellington. Last week, the coach travelled nearly empty. Tide evil, however, was soon remedied, for on Monday the name was erased, and the coach is now called the Lord Grey Chatham coach—time coach loads better than ever.

CLERICAL MAGISTRATES.—The Rector of Whitechapel, who is also a magistrate of the comity, was tried on Mondity, at the Middlesex Session, for assaulting a gentleman named to!u'rts, on the 1:3th March last. Mr. Roberts said he had wagerod at new hat, that he could walk from the Belle Salvage Inn to Whiteeimpel Church in twenty-two minutes ; and he went to ascertain tele ther the porch, which he was to touch, would be accessible at six o'clock in time morning.

He was referred by Mr. Chapman, the parish-clerk, to the Rector's house; and there he was told he had better go t I) the levyime He first threw some halfpence over the wall, that lie might have an excuse for admission. While speaking to the watchman, the reveremel gentleman came from his house into the churchyard, and asked witness what he disl there. He at first hesitated to answer, not knowing who he was; but on b:-Ing informed, he told him lie had dropped some halfpence over tl:e railing. hut as it was a mere trifle, he would not trouble himself further abeut it. 11r. 3 fatthias said, "Never mind— whether it is a trifle or not, you shall dial it to-:,ight ;" and told the watchman to go and fetch his lantern. During the ah,.,:nce of thc watchman, the defendant abused him in unmeasured terms; atul t I him the thing was of no consequence, and he was sorry he had disturk-d 11:tn. When the watchman came with his lantern, the defendant said, " New, Sir, find it :" the watchman searched and found a halfpenny ; the defendant was very boisterous, and a crowd collected outside; a female brought him a stick ilemma the licase; witness seeing him in a violent passion, said, "Now, Sir, that my purpose is answered, I had better give you my address ;" and he wrete his name and address in full on paper, and gave it to time defendant' who immediately rapped with his stick at the window of the police station, which adjoins the churchyard, and called out for a constable to be sent round. Witness thou sail, " Detain me, Sir, at your peril ; I have given you my address." Apprehending., front the boisterous manner of the defendant, that . lie would strike hint, witness walked sideways along the churchyard, in order to go ewer ; when the defendant followed, and struck at him with his stick. Witness said, " You must nut strike me, Sir ;" and his answer wait, "I Will, Sir, and kick you, too:" and, continued time wit- ness, he "damned" me twice. On witness going away, the defendant called " Thief" after him several times. He waited on him nest dav, and he refused to make any apology. The witness said he was quite sure the defendant was drunk at the tune.

Several witnesses were called to disprove the charge of drunkenness, which, it appeared, the prosecutor had mede that day 1:3r the first time. The Bench considered time aesault proved, and fined the Reverend Mr. Matthias 51.

Shortly after five on Tuesday afternoon, a fire broke out on the ex- tensive premises of Messrs. Barclay, the fmrewers, which caused much alarm in the surrounding. district. The premises form en oblong square, running nearly parallel with the river near Southwenk Bridge; they occupy about ten acres of land. • The fire cot:uncured in an inner quadrangle of this area, where a communication of wood-work existed, called the Jacob's Ladder, through which the ground malt was conveyed by means of steam-engine machinery into Miller's Loft, and whence the following day it was usually lowered through the hoppers into the tun- room. One of the men employed in the miller's loft was, it appears, in the act of oiling the wheels, when a portion of time malt-dust came in contact with the lantern he held in his hand, and ignited so instantane- ously as to appear like an explosion of gunpowder. The fire instantly communicated to the roof, which was what is technically termed " lubber boarded," that is, so placed as to leave openings beneath each plank through which a free circulation of air is allowed, while at the same time all wet is kept out. From the roof the fire immediately com- municated along the whole extent of this building, and also to the store- house. By the greatest exertions on the part of the men, the whole of the lops were got out; but the coolers caught the fire, and rapidly spread it from end to end, a distance of two hundred and fifty feet. A number of engines Were brought into play with a plentiful supply of water; and the gates havingbeen closed, the firemen were not impeded in the execution of their arduous duties ; but all the exertions of the men appeared for a considerable time to have no effect in stopping the pro- gress of the flames. The warehouses, and the rear of Mr. Perkins's dwelling-house, situate in Park Street, took fire about eight o'clock. The furniture was mostly saved, but the house fell a sacrifice to the devaStating element. One of the squares, containing upwards of one thousand barrels of beer, burst unexpectedly on a number of the firemen ; and Other'squares, containing smaller quantities of the beverage, fell a prey to the flames, and the premises were nearly flooded with beer. It was nearly eleven before the fire was at all subdued. It was exceed- ingly fortunate that the brewery department was detached from another extensive range of buildings on the premises. The damage is, iii con- sequence, exclusively confined to the portion of the establishment used for the purposes of brewing. The malt and hops on the premises, and the great stock of beer, of which the cellars are always full at this sea- son of the year, are fortunately uninjured. The total amount of damage in buildings, machinery, &ea is estimated at 40,0001.

A destructive fire broke out yesterday morning on the sugar-bakiag premises of Messrs. George and Harwood, Lower Thames Street. It was confined to the building in which the flames broke out. Some of the journeymen are said to have been much hurt while exerting themselves to arrest the progress of the fire.

Between Mile and ten o'clock on Sunday night, the lower part of the house of Mr. Smith, a bookseller tin George Row, Bermondsey Wall, was discovered to be on fire, and in less than an hour it was a heap of ruins.

The City Theatre had nearly been burnt on Monday; fortunately, a pail of water, opportunely applied, was found sufficient to drown the danger. It arose from a gas-burner, the flame of which had caught a wooden projection of the lobby-ceiling. There was 'a good deal of smoke, 1:11(1 no small alarm ; both of which were got under without damage, and the play proceeded as usual.

On Tuesday night, a child was found in the drain of a water-closet in the house of Mr. Justice, baker, Bridges Street. The discovery was wholly accidental, and was made by two respectable females who had gone into the house while on their way to Drury Lane Theatre. The cries were at first taken for those of a cat ; but, on listening More attentively, they were discerned to proceed from a human being. Mr. Justice called in three or four of the police, who proceeded actively, but with proper caution, to pull the water-closet to pieces ; and having done so, they procured a boy who consented to go down with a strong cord tied securely round his waist. He descended a shelving drain to the depth of thirteen feet ; and then making a cull, was drawn up, bearing in his grasp the body of a new-born male infant, still alive and vigorous. Mr. Thomas being sent for, expressed a wish to see the female servants in the house. In a room up stairs, he found a young woman named Drew, servant to a gentleman occupying the first floor, who seemed ill and agitated. She was put to bed, and a surgeon being sent for, pronounced that she had, within an hour, been delivered of a child. She then ad- mitted the fact, but was too weak to make any further disclosure. An officer was placed in the room, the girl being too ill to he removed. On Wednesday, a twin sister came to Bow Street Office, for the purpose of stating, that Drew had had two children before, both of whom she was suspected of having made away with. The child found on Tuesday

is doing well. . . . .

Between Saturday evening and Monday morning, a most daring rob- bery was committed at the Excise Office, in Broad Street. The thieves forced open and ransacked all the rooms and desks occupied by the

head and chief officers of departments, from the board-room downwards. In addition to the precaution of locking every room door when the business of the day is over, and the clerks leave the office, there are strong doors securely fastened, in the different galleries, separating suites of rooms or offices from one another. None of these gallery- doors were forced; but the doors of the different offices within them were broken open, the desks ransacked, and every thing valuable car- ried off. Among other valuables, was a fowling-piece belonging to Lord George Seymour, one of the Commissioners ; some silver spoons, great-coats, towels, &c., belonging to the different clerks. The thieves did not attempt the strong-room, where the cash is deposited every evening ; consequently they failed in their principal object,