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The Lord Mayor Elect, Alderman Carter, was duly " presented " to the Lord Chancellor at Stratheden House, on Wednesday, the first day of term ; and according to custom was refreshed with wine and cake.

At a meeting held in the Mansion-house on Wednesday, it was re- solved to found an institution for the relief of persons afflicted with para- lytic and epileptic complaints. The sum of 8001. was subscribed on the spot. The origin of the movement is remarkable. A young lady who has suffered from paralysis thought she could not do better than found a hospital for the poor suffering under similar attacks. She asked the Lord Mayor to call a meeting, and herself subscribed 2001. This is the second institution which has arisen in a like manner ; the Blind Associa- tion in the Euston Road owing its existence to the efforts of a young lady herself blind.

The vestry of St. George's-in-the-East, dissatisfied with the slow pro- gress of the mediation in their affairs, have passed a resolution, declaring that the rector has frustrated it, and begging the Bishop to reopen the church for afternoon service.

The Working Men's College entered in the fifth year of its existence on Tuesday. The students during the peat year have exceeded 200. They have attended the various classes, which include, among others, drawing, arithmetic, mathematics, geology, chemistry, English grammar and composition, Latin, Greek, French, and English, and Bible history. Of the students from October to Christmas, 1858, 109 out of 242 be- longed strictly to the class of operatives, the remainder being principally clerks, tradesmen, tradesmen's assistants and warehousemen, and school- masters. The operatives included, in the largest proportions, carpenters, cabinet-makers, pianoforte-makers, watch and clock-makers, opticians, printers, compositors, and bookbinders. The total number of students who joined the college in the first year were 400, in the second 350, in the third 260, in the fourth 296, and in the fifth to the end of the second term, 169, making a total of 1476.

Some weeks ago a very large number of archdeacons assembled in London to deliberate on the best means of defending church-rates, and they adopted the following " declaration." "We, the undersigned, archdeacons in the Church of England, being deeply sensible of the special responsibility which attaches to us, in virtue of our office, to do all that lies in our power to maintain the church-rate ; and being not without hope that the public expression of our collective

judgment may, with the Divine blessing, have weight with our brethren the clergy and laity, and move them to unite with us in making general and systematic efforts in that behalf, do hereby declare-1. That the pro- vision made for the worship and service of Almighty God, by means of church-rate, is an integral part of the establishment of the National Church. 2. That such provision is especially the inheritance of the poor. 3. That all persons purchasing or renting house or land, or building house, purchase or rent such house or land, or build such house, subject to the lia- bility to pay church-rate. 4. That, for these principal reasons, it is the duty of the Legislature, not to destroy, but to maintain the law of church-rate."

Then follows a petition to Parliament in support of the rate, and a sug- gestion that "it would remove grounds of contention, as well as of ob- jection, to the present law, if the Legislature were—To define what is meant by things necessary to the performance of Divine service '; to amend the law relative to the rating of district parishes ; and to provide for the simple and easy recovery.of a rate lawfully made, but refused to be paid." These documents have just been made public.

A Mr. Child, wine merchant, accused William Webb, a boy, of pick- ing his pocket. Brought before the Guildhall Bench, the relatives and employer of the boy showed themselves eager in his defence, the latter especially emphatically asserting his belief that the boy, whom he trusts, and will trust again, could not have picked a pocket. The only evidence against him was that of Child, who, although he had been " dining out," insisted that he could have made no mistake. Mr. Child.- " I have no desire to press the case against this boy, and I hope it will be a lesson to him for the future." Mr. Martin.—" You have no right, Sir, to assume that the prisoner is guilty. You have given your evidence, and you might leave the decision to the magistrate." Mr. Child.—" I have no desire to do so, and will, therefore, leave the matter in the hands of the Court." The boy's Father.—" I assure your worship it is a false charge altogether." Mr. Loader (the employer).—"I believe the boy is totally incapable of doing such a thing, and I have not the slightest hesitation in continuing him in my service." Sir Peter Laurie.—" I do not think it a false charge, although the prosecutor may be mistaken. However, I will remand him to Newgate for a few days." (Great sensation, and cries of " Oh no ! oh no !" from the audience.) Prisoner (erying.)—" Oh, don't send me to prison. I did not do it,—indeed I did not." Mr. Loader.—" I hope you will not send him to prison, Sir. I will be answerable to any amount for his appearance." Sir Peter Laurie.—" Very well ; let him come up here again on Wednesday next, and I will take his master's word for his appearance." The prisoner was then liberated.

On Wednesday, Webb was again brought up. It appeared that the address given by the prosecutor Child is a false one, and that he lives in Blackfruirs ; that he has made similar charges before. Culled by the clerk, Child did not answer to his name. " I do not expect he will come, but it does not signify," said Sir Peter Laurie. Alderman Copeland, who had fortunately taken his seat on the bench, here interposed, saying—" I beg your pardon, Sir Peter, his absence does si"nify most materially." The Alderman added that Child had given a false address. " It also appears that he is a notorious drunkard, and if you want to know more of him, my clerk is outside, who will give you his history for years past." Sir Peter asked Mr. Loader, the boy's employer, if he would take him back " Most certainly," answered Loader. Sir P. Laurie.—" Then I will discharge him at once; but remember, boy, it is your good character that has saved you." Alderman Copeland.—" I am not disposed to let the matter stop here, for this man Richard Child came here with a very cruel charge. He gave a false address, and by his manner and appearance imposed upon Sir Peter Laurie, a magistrate of thirty years' experience, and brought down upon him the obloquyof such a proceeding, because he (Sir Peter) believed him on his oath. I should therefore suggest that the proper means be adopted forthwith to punish this man for such conduct. I do not know what course Sir Peter Laurie intends to pursue with regard to a drunken fellow who im- poses upon him as this Richard Child has done, but I certainly am not in- clined to let him escape with impunity." Mr. Loader then thanked the Alderman for the attention given to the case, and withdrew with the boy Webb and his friends.

William Pereham, one of the delegates of the Strike Committee, has been sentenced to imprisonment for two months by the Clerkenwell Magistrate for intimidating some workmen engaged to work by Messrs. Piper. A

number of men were brought to London; hunted them and way- laid them wherever they went, and finaly induced them to return to the provinces. There was no actual violence. The intimidation was conveyed in the words " if you go to work you will be called blacks,' and there will be a strike against you all over London." Mr. Corrie said—" It is an offence againt the majesty of the law. The words meant to threat within the meaning of the Act of Parliament, which runs thus :- "'And be it further enacted, that if any person shall, by violence to the person or property, or by threats and intimidation, or by molesting or in any way obstruct- ing another, force or endeavour to force anyjourneyman in any manufacture, trade, or business, to depart from his hiring, employment, or work, or to return his work before the same shall he finished, or prevent or endeavour to prevent any journey- man, manufacturer, workman, or other person, not being hired or employed, from hiring himself to or from accepting work or employment from any person or persons, or if any person shall use or employ violence to the person or property of another, every person so offending, aiding, and abetting or assisting therein, beingeonvieted thereof, shall and may be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for any term not ex- ceeding three calendar months.'

" This is the part. If you have engaged yourselves with the Messrs. Piper, we shall succeed eventually, and then you will be turned out, and you will not then be able to get work. I believe and am of opinion that upon the meaning of those words there can be no reasonable doubt that it amounts to intimidation. In the ease he before alluded to the judges said that the intention of the Legislature was to make them quite free' ; but seeing that intimidation might be used to carry out such agreement, it was enacted by the 6th of George IV., cap. 129, sec. 3, that if any person should by violence, threats, intimidation, molesting, or obstructing another, force or endeavour to force any workman to depart from his employ, or prevent him from accepting-employment, &c., he should be liable to imprisonment for three calendar months.' It had been said that no threats or intimidation had been used, but the use of express words of intimidation was not neces- sary. Green, the delegate from London, had stated that the Society had 20,0001. at their command, and that if the prosecutors discharged a man be- cause be was a member of their Association, they could stop the supplies, and they would not have a single hand upon their works. That might be construed as a threat even by a man of strong nerve. This is a far more serious point than one of personal violence, for personal violence when opposed to a strong and vigorous man might be equally met ; but it would require a man with higher nerves to counteract such words when he found that they were calculated to take the bread out of his mouth and deprive his family of support. This was an offence that came within the meaning of the Act of Parliament, and was the most serious that could be held out. Having arrived at this conclusion, it now becomes my duty to consider the. amount of punishment to be inflicted. Having regard to the appeal which Mr. Roberts made yesterday in his defence, that I should temper mercy with judgment, I shall not inflict upon the defendant the punishment and de- gradation of hard labour, for degradation it would be. it is my duty, how- ever, to prevent such attempts at combination, and inflict a punishment adequate to meet so serious an offence; but in so doing, as I before said, I shall not have recourse to hard labour. The sentence of the Court will be, that the defendant be imprisoned for two months for the threats used by him."

Mr. Roberts, for the prisoner, said he should appeal at the ensuing quar- ter sessions. Mr. Corrie then ordered the defendant to enter into sureties for his attendance at the sessions—viz., two sureties in the sum of 10/. each. The necessary bail being put in, the defendant left the court with his friends.

William Post and William Ward, two workmen, have been committed for trial by the Westminster Magistrate on a charge of conspiring to force other workmen to leave the employ of Messrs. Trollope. The business of Ward and Post was to watch Trollope's workmen and annoy them to the utmost of their power.

Henry Wakefield, a letter-carrier, was charged at the Mansion-house with being drunk and unable to deliver letters entrusted to him. The let- ters were found lying in the street, but fortunately they fell into good handa and were delivered. Wakefield bears a good character, but it seems a clerk had given him a stiff glass of brandy and water and had thus made him drunk. Wakefield pleaded hard for mercy, and the Lord Mayor, while he fined the delinquent 40s., expressed a hope that the Postmaster-General would not discharge him. The clerk who administered the brandy and water was severely censured.

David Hughes, the solicitor, and alleged fraudulent bankrupt, brought from Australia by Sergeant Brett, of the Detective Police, has been formally committed for trial by the City Magistrates.

Raymond and Jones, two regular thieves, had the audacity to smash the window of a jeweller's shop in the Strand, on the evening of the 28th, and snatch cases of rings and jewels. One was pursued and captured by a woman. The other, during the commotion, made a dash at another shop, but he too was taken. They have both been sentenced to ten years' penal servitude at the Middlesex sessions.