C4t aittruprilis.

London took a kind of half-holiday on Monday ; for blueness lan- guished, and amusement was the order of the day. The Banks and the Customhouse were open ; but the Stock Exchange was closed, and many shops were shut. Very early in the morning the great thorough- fares leading towards St. James's and Buckingham Palaces were bordered by a moving column of people nearly all going one way, and seemingly endless. As they reached the common centre of attraction, the dark- looking masses drew up in dense but irregular array in the open spaces round St. James's Palace, in the Green Park, along both sides of the Mall, and on the esplanade in front of Buckingham Palace. Some climbed up into the trees ; sonic stood on rickety chairs, stools, and tables, supplied by the costermonger fraternity, others stood on the palisades and iron hurdles in the Park. The outer lines of the sombre crowd were defined by equally sombre uniforms of the police, picked out with the shining uniforms of the household cavalry. From ten o'clock until late in the afternoon the crowd stood patiently, but not noiselessly, on the damp ground. Some accidents occurred. The over- weighted household furniture brought from the Feet end gave way here and there, endangering the limbs of the occupants. Boys and men were maliciously shaken down from the branches of the trees, and more than one leg was fractured. The police were almost at the mercy of the mob ; but on the whole the multitude behaved well, quietly dispersing when there was nothing more to be seen. As evening approached, the main thoroughfares Westward—the Strand, Regent Street, Pall Mall, Piccadilly—were filled with the endless streams of the sight-seers. The illuminations which attracted them were

general though not universal, and pretty if not novel. There were stars in gas and in lamps, transparencies, initials, inscriptions true- lovers' knots, and flags and streamers, the monotonous details of? which the journals duly described next day. The people behaved pretty well, but not perfectly, it is said, as at the Peace celebration.

The public offices were not illuminated ; so that the exhibition of feeling was wholly popular. In the course of the day some holiday-makers went to the Crystal Palace ; some to the National Gallery, the South Kensington Museum, and other places of public resort. On Tuesday the Court of Common Council resolved to present ad- dresses of congratulation to the Queen, the Prince Consort, the Duchess of Kent: and to the bride and bridegroom. On the some day the Middlesex Magistrates passed similar resolutions.

The poor children, 2500 in number, now in course of education at the St. Thomas Charterhouse and Golden Lane Public Schools, were taken on Thursday to the Crystal Palace, and feasted with tea and cake, in honour of the marriage of the Princess Royal.

The resolution adopted last week by the Corporation of London, on the recent attempt upon the life of the Emperor of the French, was pre- sented by the Lord Mayor and a deputation to Count de Persigny on Sa- turday. The French Ambassador replied, in the English language, as fol- lows,

"My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen—I thank you in the name of my Sove- reign. Amongst all the congratulations which pour in daily upon the Em- peror, I wish a explain why I attach so high an importance to your address. It is because I know the great and legitimate influence which the City of London exercises in England, as naturally representing the immense com- mercial movement of your country.

"You were the first to understand the great interests which require t.he alliance of the two nations. England, indeed, proud, and justly proud, of that maritime, colonial, and commercial power for which Providence seems from of old to have destined her can only desire the continuation of the best understanding with France. France, for her part, is bound by an in- terest equally important; for, after having founded a great government, strong in the sympathy of a whole nation, there is but one thing she can desire, and that is peace, to assure the strongest foundations for her dynasty.

"France is at this moment shocked and agitated by the frightful crime which foreigners have just attempted against the person of her Sovereign. And seeing the series of attempts at assassination which are periodically made by foreigners living in England, she is filled with anxiety and alarm that such dangers can approach her from a country side by aide with whose soldiers she has just shed her blood on the banls-fields of the Crimea. I, who live amongst you, thoroughly comprehend the sincerity of the friend- ship which England bears to France, for I daily see the most convincing proofs of it. I am aware also of the noble and lofty principles which are the foundation of your legislation.

"I especially admire and reverence, in your country, that right of asy- lum which is the honour and the boast of England : the shelter which you yield to all the victims of the political passions of the Continent is your glory, and it is not France who would wish to see it diminished. Far from complaining, we are glad that, here, illustrious princes, fallen from the throne, should find the respect due to great misfortunes ; and we honour you for the protection and asylum which you give to all the sufferers of our political struggles, to whatsoever party they may belong. Let them live, then, in England, in peace, in security, in independence, and with every freedom of action. My country too well understands what is honour- able feeling, ever to demand from the friendship of England anything which could touch her honour.

"Permit me' then,. i to you what is the true question. It does not lie in the attempts at assassination n themselves, nor even in the crime of the 14th January, which your Government would have hastened to have warned us against if it could have known it beforehand : the whole question is in the moral situation of France, which has become anxiously doubtful of the real sentiments of England. Reasoning in effect by analogy, popular opinion declares, that were there in France men sufficiently infamous to recommend in their clubs, in their papers, in their writings of every kind, the assassi- nation of a foreign sovereign, and actually to prepare its execution, a French administration would not wait to receive the demands of a foreign govern- ment, nor to see the enterprise set en foot. To act against such conspiracies, to anticipate such crimes, public notoriety would be sufficient to set our law in motion, and measures of security would be taken immediately. " Well, then, France is astonished that nothing of a like nature should have taken place in England ; and Frenchmen say, Either the English law is sufficient, as certain lawyers declare, and why then is it not applied ? or it is insufficient, which is the opinion of other lawyers ; and in this case why does not a free country, which makes its own laws, remedy this omission?' 'mom word, France does not understand, and cannot understand, this state of things.; and inthat residesehe harm, for she may mistake the true senti- ments of her ally, said no longer believe in her sincerity.

" Now, gentlemen, if ever that mutual confidence between nation and na- tion which is the true foundation of a stable affiance should be impaired, it would be a deplorable misfortune for both countries and for the whole of civilization : but, thank God, between two nations interested in preserving their cordial relations—between two Governments who esteem one another, and who continually display towards each other the most friendly senti- ments—the occurrence of such an evil is, I am persuaded, almost impossible."

The Court of Proprietors of the East India Company has sat two days this week, Wednesday and Thursday ; Mr. Mangles in the chair. The subjects of discussion were the petition of the Directors, and Mr. Craw- shay's resolution, which declared that the transfer of the power of the Company to the Crown would endanger the constitutional interests of England and imperil the safety of India; and that it called for resistance. The principal speakers on behalf of the Company were the Chairman, Mr. Helps, Mr. Mills, Mr. Prinsep, Mr. White M.P., Mr. Willoughby M.P., and Dr. J. Burnes. The tone of the speeches was somewhat im- pressive, but the arguments were such as to leave the petition still the best defence of the Company's rule and claims. The subjects they chiefly handled were the annexation of Oude, which 80024 of them made the ground of a violent charge against the Government ; the Affghan war, on which they grew bitterly eloquent; and prostituted patronage, which gave rise to vehement prophetical tirades. Sir Henry Rawlinson, called up by some allusions from Mr. Mills, explained his posi- tion. He was a Director nominated by the Crown, and he had always disapproved of the double government : he challenged an ad- mission that his opinion had not disqualified him from acting cordially with the Court. He had not signed the petition, because, against his instincts, and almost against his reason, he concurred in the proposal to bring the two bodies into harmony. He suggested that a Royal Prince should be sent out to inaugurate the change. Sir Henry took a gloomy view of our prospects in India. Sir Frederick Currie, also a nominee Director, explained that he had signed the petition not because he con- curred in all its statements, but because he heartily concurred in its prayer. He thought the time inopportune for the proposed change. The resolution was agreed to unanimously. When the petition was put, Mr. Jones proposed an amendment to insert a clause relating to the Court

of Proprietors ; but it found no seconder. Mr. Lewin moved, and Mr. Mackenzie seconded an amendment to the effect that many of the state- ments in the petition were "opposed to the facts of the case." It was negatived, and the petition was adopted with all but unanimityonly four dissenting.

A very strong deputation, led by Sir William Clay and twelve Mem- bers of the House of Commons, waited on Lord Palmerston on Wednes- day, with the object of inducing him to promise that he would bring in a bill for the abolition of church-rates next session, or support one to be brought in by a private Member. Speeches were made by Sir William Clay, Mr. Pellatt, and Dr. Forster ; and there was some smart sparring between the Premier and Mr. Thomas Duncombe, who wanted either promise of a Ministerial bill or promise of Ministerial support for a pri- vate Member's bill. Lord Palmerston declined to argue the question, and held that the best course would be to permit the Government to select its own time for bringing in its own measure. He did not think it de- sirable to bring in any measure which the Government had not a fair prospect of carrying within the session. He had some hopes of intro- ducing one which might satisfy all parties. But it is not a convenient way of legislating, for one person to bring in a bill and another to take it up. It is easier to bring in your own new bill than to convert ten old bills. But the expediency of introducing the bill must depend upon the state of business.

The deputation withdrew ; and the members of it, again meeting at the Thatched House Tavern in St. James's Street, resolved to press for- ward on their own responsibility a bill for the total and uncompensated abolition of church-rates.

Tuesday, the anniversary of the founding of New South Wales, the first of the Australian Colonies, was celebrated by a dinner at the Albion Hotel, more remarkable for the character of the gentlemen present, and the good feeling they displayed, than for what they said. There were present—Sir Charles Nicholson, late Speaker of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, in the chair ; the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir John Pakington, Mr. Glad- stone, Sir Roderick Murchison Mr. Mcrivale, and Captain Sturt. In

the course of the evening, the Chairman testified to the loyalty of the Aus- tralian Colonies ; spoke warmly on the subject of the recent wedding ; and said that if Prince Alfred, in the course of his experience as a sailor, touched at an Australian port, he might be sure of a hearty welcome. He seemed gratified at the presence of Mr. Gladstone, Sir John Peking- ton, and Sir Roderick Murchison ; and he spoke in the highest terms of Mr. Labouchere's ability, urbanity, and kindness. Mr. Labouchere made a cordial answer.

There had been times, he said, when the relations between the Austra- lian Colonies and the Colonial Office were not altogether of ar amicable Ekescription. He had no wish to go back to those times. ("Hear, hear !" from Mr. Gladstone.) He believed that that state of things was not owing to the fault of former Colonial rulers, who were men of the highest ability and of the purest and most patriotic intentions ; but it was the fault of the system, under which no man could well perform his duty. The af- fairs of a colony thousands of miles off, and of a people naturally jealous of their rights, were conducted at home under a system full of delays and com- plications; and the result could be no other than discontent and dissatisfac- tion. We have changed all that, and have adopted a simpler and wiser process : in order to govern the Colonies well, we have resolved to go- vern very little, and to leave the management of the details of Australian affairs altogether to Australians. ("Hear, hear !" and cheers.) It is thought that they can manage their own affairs more wisely and effectively, and certainly more satisfactorily to themselves. They may have made some mistakes ; but if they had not, the government of Australia would have been unlike any other in the world. At any rate, if they do, the remedy is at hand. They can change their administrations ; a plan which it is found the Australians are not slow to adopt. He never opened a despatch from a Governor of Australia but he found it stated that he was in the midst of a Ministerial crisis—that he had got rid of one set of Ministers and was look- ing out for another. ("Hear, hear !" and laughter.) That, however, is the action of a free people who are exercising their rights, and it is a con- dition incident to those free institutions and that responsible government under which the Australian Colonies are prospering. He had:endeavoured during the time he had been at the Colonial OMce to conduct his relations with the Colonies in the spirit which is due to their responsible govern- ments. There could be no greater mistake than to give a colony responsible government and not allow it to have fair play. He had acted on the prin- ciple of giving it fair play ; and he had found most excellent coadjutors in that pdlicy in the able men who are now the Governors of the Australian provinces. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr. Gladstone, and Sir John Pakington' spoke on the happy relations now subsisting between Eng- land and her Colonies : Sir john especially pointed out that of the 1,500,0001. subscribed to the Patriotic Fund, Australia subscribed one- tenth, that is 160,0001.

The number of persons who attended evening service at Westminster Abbey on Sunday, drawn thither by the announcement that the Bishop of Oxford would preach, exceeded that of any previous occasion, and hundreds were excluded. St. Margaret's Church was also densely crowded.

The Leviathan stood yesterday in more than seventeen feet of water. A large portion of her cradles has been knocked away ; and should the tide rise higher today than has been calculated, she will be hauled off at once ; if not, then her final plunge into deep water will take place to- morrow.

The Court of Queen's Bench gave judgment on Tuesday in a case respect- ing the purchase of British Bank shares. On the 21st August 1856, Mr. Remfrey bought of Butler and another ten shares ; a deed of transfer was signed by the sellers ; the bank stopped, and Mr. Remfrey refused to sign the deed, or to pay the money : as the bank had stopped, no actual transfer could be effected. But Mr. B,emfrey found that by the rules

of the Stock Exchange his broker must pay the money to the sellers' broker; so he paid his 'broker, but brought an action to recover the amount

from the sellers of the shares, on the ground that the consideration had wholly failed : this had been fortunate for the plaintiff, however, as he es- caped being placed on the black list of "contributories." The Court decided against Mr. Remfrey : he had paid his money well knowing the position of affairs, having acted on a principle of honour : the action could not be supported. In November 1857, Mrs. Emily Cherry obtained from the Court of Queen's Bench leave to exhibit articles of peace against her husband, the Reverend Henry Curtis Cherry, a Magistrate and Rector. The articles alleged that Mr. Cherry had insulted his wife, and told her to leave the house, pointing to the door; that he had assaulted her in the vestry of St. Giles's Church, Reading ; and that when she left him to save her life, he had forcibly car- ried her off to his house. Sir Frederick Thesiger, on behalf of Mr. Ch made some statements intended to cast some discredit on the accuracy of the allegations ; but he admitted that Mr. Cherry had forced his wife back to his house. The Court, thinking itself bound to interfere for the wife's protec- tion, ordered Mr. Cherry to find bail, himself in 100/., and two sureties in 501. each, to keep the peace.

An extraordinary bankruptcy case was heard before Commissioner Fain on Thursday. The bankrupts were Henry Hall and Cheslyn Hall, solici- tors, and cattle-breeders. Their liabilities were 160,0001.; their assets from 20,0001. to 26,000/. The point of the case was, that the bankrupts had made a wholesale use for their own 'profit of money intrusted to them by their clients. Cheslyn Hall had been struck off the roll of attorneys for a breach

of trust. One of the principal creditors was Sir Charles Rushout Rushout, -formerly Sir Charles Cockerell. Before the bankruptcy, he was set down as

a creditor for 22,000!.; after the bankruptcy, he proved for 76,0001., less a sum of 6000/. for law charges. Practically the Halls acted as his bankers. In rendering him an account on pressure, they "overlooked" a sum of 12,0001., and other sums amounting altogether to 40,0001. They raised 20,0004 on mortgage for Sir Charles; begot 12,000/. only. Cheslyn Hall sold stock belonging to his clients to the amount of 16,000/. and applied it to the use of the firm. These and other fade came out strongly at the exa- mination. The case was adjourned.

Several cases were brought before the Criminal Appeal Court on Saturday.

Lopez, a foreigner, while on board a British ship, wounded another fo- reigner ; both were seamen ; Lopez was convicted at Exeter. Had the Exeter Court jurisdiction in the case ? It was decided that the Court had jurisdiction.

Settler was convicted of murdering Policeman Thain. He had been taken into custody at Hamburg, without a warrant, and put on board an English steamer ; on the way to England he shot Thain. Was his act an offence against the law of England ? The Court decided, that, no matter under what circumstances Settler was arrested at Hamburg, he was under the English law when in custody of Thain on board the steamer : he shot Thain for revenge, not to effect his own liberation. Conviction affirmed.

Wright, agent for the Spalding Bank, appropriated 3000/. from a safe in which money belonging to the bank was deposited by him ; he was con- victed of embezzlement. It was urged that as he was not a servant of the bank,—as the bank never had possession of the money,—Wright could not have stolen it from the bank. The Court sustained the conviction, on the ground that when the money was put into the safe it became in the posses- sion of the bank. Mr. Baron Martin regretted that the law was in such a state as to give rise to a discussion upon the point.