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The Reformers of the City have established a club, the objects of which are-
; " To effect the correction and more convenient arrangement of the register of electors for the City of London, and to note the defects which may be ascer- tained to exist in it. To watch the progress of every new registration, with a view to the defeating of fraudulent claims, but still mole to prevent the omis- sion of the names of persons justly entitled to registration. To use all just means of keeping alive in the minds of those with whom the various members may hold communication, a sense of the importance of the elective franchise, and of their adopting all those means of qualification for its exercise, which the law may prescribe. To ascertain the most convenient sectional apportion- ments, as well of the City as of the eircunijacent parts, for the purpose of can- vassing; to anange canvassing books in the form best suited to each particular district ; and, generally, to obtain such information, upon good authority, as may assist in the operation of canvassing. To obtain correct information touching the intellectual, moral, and political character of those who may be supposed likely to become candidates for the representation of the City, or for high municipal offices therein, and of those whom it may, upon general grounds, be deemed expedient to bring forward on the occurrence of vacancies." The following are the leading regulations of the Club.
" That all electors of London be deemed qualified to become members of the ebb; and that persons not electors be eligible if pieviously approved by the Sub-Committee. That every person duly proposed, seconded, and elected be a member, subject to the annual payment of a NOM not less than ten shillings. That the management of the Club be vested in an extensive Committee, and in a Sub. Committee, to he annually chosen, at a general meeting of the members of the Club. It is intended to hold the first general meeting of the Club in May next, until which time the affairs of the Club will be conducted by a Provisional Committee, having power to add to its numbers."
This is an excellent move. The Metropolis has set a good example; and we have no doubt that the Club will be put into successful opera- tion, as we see that the Chairman of the Committee is the discreet and energetic Mr. John Travers.
Three hundred and fifty Reformers of Chelsea, Kensington, and Fulham, supporters of Mr. Hume, gave that gentleman a dinner on Monday, at Chelsea. Among the distinguished persons of the party, were Lord Kensington, Messrs. Warburton, O'Connell, Clay, Harvey, O'Dwyer, H. L. Bulwer, Tulke, Potter, Colonel Evans, Dr. Lush- ington, Dr. Bowring, Sir S. Whalley, and Sir J. S. Lillie. Several Liberal toasts were drunk, and some good speeches are said to have been delivered ; but in these days of Parliamentary oratory, it is not considered necessary to report them at length. O'Comiell's is particu- larly spoken of as capital in its way.
A deputation from the parishes of Westminster, consisting princi- pally of the parochial authorities, waited on Sir Robert Peel on Wed- nesday, at Downing Street, to learn the intentions of Government with respect to the Window-duty. Several of the gentlemen, parti- cularly Mr. A'Becket and Mr. Walker, made strong statements of the great hardships suffered by the householders and shopkeepers, from the unequal pressure of this tax. Sir Robert listeued with much atten- tion, and put some questions with respect to the operation of the tax : but he declined to say a word as to the views of Government regarding it, or to give any assurance on the subject. It would be his duty, at a certain period of the year, to take a review of the whole of the reve- nue and taxation of the country, and to state afterwards what he could do with respect to financial relief. This was all that could be obtained from the Premier ; and the members of the deputation retired, by no means satisfied with the result of their interview. [Their dissatisfac- tion is unreasonable: did they not see that Sir Robert was thinking of his decent retreat from office, not of its duties and cares?] The parishioners of Lambeth, after three days' polling, have carried a Church-rate of twopence in the pound, by a majority of 865 to 615.
In the Court of King's Bench, on Monday, Mr. Franks, the hatter, was found guilty of several libels on Mr. De Mole, Clerk of the _Merchant Tailors Company. The proceedings against him were by criminal information. The libels charged Mr. llbe Mule with being ready to swear any thing in favour of his employers, and with having no conscience ; and it was also insinuated that he was illegitimate. The libels were published in the Sunday Herald, the conductors of which gave up Mr. Franks as the author. The Court of Exchequer, on Monday last, finished its list of Com- mon Jury cases set down for trial in the city of London ; thus leaving two or three blank days for the amusement of the gentlemen of the long robe. The King's Bench, it is said, will scarcely leave a rernanet. Several of the performers at the Strand Theatre appeared at Bow Street on Wednesday, in consequence of informations against them for performing at an unlicensed theatre, under the Act 10 Geo. 11. ; when Mr. Mitchell was convicted in the penalty of 50/. for performing one part in a farce, and Mr. Forrester was convicted in two several penal- ties of the same amount for performing two characters. Several other cases were postponed till Thursday, when the parties again attended ; and Mr. Bodkin, who appeared on behalf of Mr. Glossop, stated that all the persons connected with the Strand Theatre had yielded to the decision of the Magistrates on the previous day, and had closed the theatre on that night, and that it was not intended to reopen it till a proper license could be obtained. He further said that, as the object of the present proceedings was not to visit the actors with penalties, but to close the Theatre he was instructed, on behalf of the defen- dants, to apply for a further postponement of the case for a fortnight, ID order that it might be seen that there was no intention to act in de- fence of the law. This application was agreed to.
At the Queen Square Office, on Wednesday, several men were punished by fine and imprisonment, for hooting at and abusing the King, and some of the Peers, on their way to the House of Lords on Tuesday.
Lord Henley met with a serious accident on Thursday. He was pas- sing down Red Lion Street, Holborn, on a spirited blood mare, when the animal became restive, and threw him violently. Be was conveyed home in a coach.
An inquest was held, on 'Wednesday sennight, at the Vestry Hall of St. John's, Southwark, on the body of George Austin, a lad of fifteen, who committed suicide by throwing himself off London Bridge into the Thames. It appeared from the evidence, that three weeks before Christmas, the lad had got into the company of two prostitutes ; one of whom in a drunken fit, had murdered an infant in her room, and showed the body afterwards to Austin, who was terribly shocked, and bccame deranged. Ile had been told by one of his profligate cempanioes, that the girl had threatened to charge him with the murder. The inquest was adjourned to Monday last, but little additional evidence was pro- cured. A verdict of Insanity was agreed to by the Jury. The I'olice are on the alert to discover the supposed murderer. The boy bad always maintained a good character.
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