be figrtropoIht.
The formal prorogation of Parliament, to the 23d of October, took place on Thursday in the House of Peers ; the Duke of Argyll and Lords Brougham and Auckland acting as Commissioners.
The Committee appointed by the Court of Common Council to report upon the Municipal Institutions of the City, with a view to assist in their reform, held a meeting on Thursday, to consider the answer of the Lord Mayor to a requisition calling upon him to convene the Court of Common Council for the discussion of their report. The answer was not satisfactory ; for his Lordship refused to allow the con- sideration of the report to be taken out of its turn, which would not come round for some months ; but at the saute time, he expressed his willingness to summon a Special Court, if the Committee would certify that they could not agree upon their report until they had obtained the opinion of the Common Council. After some discussion, in the course of which the conduct of the Lord Mayor was severely comniented upon, it was agreed that the Chairman of the Committee should write to the Lord Mayor, expressing their regret at his refusal of their request, and informing him that the question would not be discussed during his mayoralty. It is intended to make another application to the new Lord Mayor, who will soon come into office. The proprietors of East India Stock held a meeting on Wednesday, at the India House. Several topics of interest were discussed. It ap- peared that Mr. Charles Grant had not signified either his assent to or disapprobation of the vote to the maritime servants of the Company; and some dissatisfaction was expressed at the delay. Mr. St. George Tucker, the Chairman, said that, at Mr. Grant's request, the amount required to make good the vote had been calculated and furnished to the Board of Control : it amounted to 1,524,303!.; while the first proposition of the Directors would have entailed ail expenditure of only 204,330/. and their second or amended offer, of 580,4404 In reply to some questions relative to the establishment of steam navigation in India, the Chairman stated, that His Majesty's Government were about to make a partial experiment by the routes to the Euphrates, and it had been determined to send a steam-vessel at March next. Notice would be given of this determination to the public ma day or two. The first steamer from Bombay would be sent in February neat to proceed to Suez. ,The King's Government had supplied one thing : there has existed no communication from Malta to Suez; which was now to be esta- blished and the question was, if a communication could be formed by Want between India and Suez. The Court of Directors were not anxious to put themselves forward in any project without well feeling their way under them. Sir Charles Forbes having asked for some information relative to the late war in India against the Rajah of Coorg, the Chairman said— As to the late war in Coorg. of the commencement awl terournation of iffotit tley had only received information, he would gate, that the East India Lew- pan), had no desire to make unprofitable acquisitions. The Supreme Govern- ment would, he had no doubt, be enabled to justify the proceedings against the Rajah. It was certainly to he regretted, that it had been necessary to adopt such steps against the ancient ally of the Company, whose services had been very great, and who was indeed a most favourite ally, but it had no doubt been hued necessary to take proceedings against him.
The subject of the equalization cf the sugar-duties was next brought before the Court by Mr. Fielder; who wished to know what measures had been taken towards procuring the equalization. The Chairman replied,
A petition had been drawn up by the Court of Proprietors, praying for an equalization of the duty on East and West India sugare, which: had been presented to Parliament by the President of the Board of Control. He had lad communication with Mr. Grant on this subject, as well as his predecessor in the chair; and the Piesident of the Board took a very wa. m interest in the subject. He believed it would be brought forward next session, and he hoped with some success. The adverse feeling which existed on this subject had ready subsided ; there being no longer that degree of prejudice in favour of West India proprietors, who it was formerly said had a vast property at stake, which would be diminished, or annihilated, if the duties on East and West sugars were equalized. That ground of opposition could not now be taken, as the planters will receive from Parliament a large compensation in another shape. He could state, that Mr. Grant was fully alive to the importance of facilitating the agriculture and commerce of India ; and also to facilitate the means of obtaining remittances from India, which was a subject of the greatest magnitude in the financial concerns of that country. He hoped that he would be ready to facilitate measures to admit on fair and equal terms East India sugars.
This speech was received with much satisfaction, and the meeting broke up.
Indications of free trade with China coming into operation here are beginning to be manifest. The vessel which has gained the start over her competitors is the Columbia, from Singapore, which has come into the River, bringing 380 chests of tea to the consignment of Messrs. Douglas Andergon, and Co. This is the first arrival of the kind in Great Britain since the article has been freed from the monopoly of the East India Company ; and now that the intercourse with China and Singapore is unrestricted, the latter settlement will naturally become an extensive dep6t for tea, as well as for ail the otiler productions of Cline. —Times.
According to the Mark Lane Erpress, the average of peas the week before last was 36s. lid.; a resalt which was occasioned by erroneous returns,—that is, by including foreign qualities, as those of British growth, with the intent of advancing the duties, to the exclusion of further imports of the article, thus operating in favour of those who had paid the lower rate of duty. This was again attempted during the past week ; but, through the vigilance of the Inspector of Corn Returns, the attempt totally failed, several hundred quarters having been struck out, and only those of native growth admitted ; which has had the effect of advancing the average from 36s. lid, to 44s. 3d. making a difference of 8s. 8cf. a quarten—Herakl.
It is too bad, and has occasioned much complaint in the City, that, out of six Commissioners of Bankrupts, the whole of the business in Basinghall Street should have been for more than a week left solely to Mr. Williams, owing to the absenoe of all the other five Commissioners at once.—True Sun.
It is reported that the Woods and Forests officers contemplate making the new opening from the Strand to abut on Plumtree Street.
At a meeting of workmen, held on Tuesday night, at the Queen's Arms Tavern, Red Lion Square, it was stated that the small masters who have coalesced with the men, intend to form a fund for giving relief to the workmen they employ in time of distress. From what trans- pired at this meeting, it does not appear that any approximation has yet been made towards accommodating the dispute between the great masters and their workmen, though the hopes probably of some opera- tives present led them to state that the masters were beginning to give way.—Courier.
An evening paper of the 25th instant has an advertisement that the Pentonville murders and the suicide of Steinberg will be improved (done better?) on the evenings of Sunday the 28th instant and 5th of October, by the Reverend David Ruell, at the parish-church of St. Benet Fink, Threadneedle Street ! Surely the parochial authorities will prevent any thing of the sort, if such butchery be really intended ; and if not, it is incumbent on the parties to be more explicit. —Times.
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