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A Court of Aldermen was held on Tuesday, for the despatch of busi- ness. Freedoms were granted to a long list of applicants, including several merchants and bankers of eminence in the City. A report vas presented from the Gaol Committee, recommending the discon- tinuance of the Borough Compter as a prison ; and it was adopted. The Town-Clerk read a letter from the solicitors of Alderman Moon, trans- mitting a copy of the Queen's Bench rule, obtained by Mr. Salomons, to show cause why a quo warrants information should not be filed against their client, and requesting to be furnished with the documents of the Court relative to the two recent elections for Portsoken Ward. A lengthened discussion took place, as to whether the Court should or should not interfere as a party interested in the contest between Mr. Salomons and Mr. Alderman Moon. The Recorder stated that the rule granted was a rule served upon Mr. Moon to show cause upon what authority be assumed to serve the office of Alderman for the Ward of Portsoken. The parties were Mr. Salomons and Mr. Moon : the Court were not parties in the rule : if a mandamus were issued against them upon their refusal to swear in Mr. Salomons, it would be then for them to show that Mr. Salomons was not competent to serve : it was not necessary that they should put themselves into such a condition. To both parties he considered it would be advisable to give proper access to the accounts of the proceedings and the precepts. The Court directed accordingly.

A Court of Common Council was held on Thursday. A report was presented from the Navigation Committee on steam-boat piers, pro- nouncing the existing piers unsafe, and stating that the proprietors had been ordered to reconstruct them on a plan furnished by the Com- mittee. The report was affirmed by a large majority. A petition from the Chairman of the Committee for establishing Public Baths and Wash-houses, praying for aid to the subscription, was referred to the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee made a report, recom- mending a grant of 200/. towards the funds of the new free church in the district of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields. On the motion for affirming the report, Sir Peter Laurie, with some hits at "the arrogance and turbulence of Dr. Phillpotts," and "the undecided, trimming, can't-we- split-the-difference system" of the Bishop of London, moved that the motion be postponed until the Bishop of London should have given his decision on the application of the parishioners of Tottenham respecting the method of conducting public worship. A stormy discussion followed; and it was renewed when the Lord Mayor

pointed out as an objection to the motion, that the report did not accord in terms with the reference, and therefore the motion could not be put. Many members vehemently objected to the Lord Mayor's " dictation "; and the turmoil ended in a motion for adjournment, which was carried by 38 to 31. The Lord Mayor and officers of the Court retired. Mr. Ashurst was called to the chair ; a resolution declaring the course pursued by the Lord Mayor subversive of free discussion was affirmed ; and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Lord Mayor and communicate that resolution.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Marylebone parish was held in the Vestry-room on Wednesday, to concert measures for the establishment of public baths and wash-houses in the district, for the use of the labour- ing classes. Resolutions on the subject were passed unanimously ; a Committee and Treasurer were appointed, and a subscription was opened on the spot.

At a meeting of the Polish Ball Committee, on Monday, it was re- ported that the expenses were 3931.; the receipts in subscriptions for tickets 5844 in donations 164!.; making a balance for the Polish fund of 355/.

Friday the 29th of November was the anniversary of the last attempt at revolt in Poland, that of 1830; and the Polish refugees resident in London, after attending divine service at the Belgian Chapel in the London Road, held a meeting at the Sussex Chambers, in Duke Street, St. James's ; Captain Jablonski in the chair. In his introductory speech, the Chairman still looked forward to a restoration of Polish nationality. The following resolution was carried unanimously-

" That the assembled Poles, ever faithful to the cause for which they took up arms on the 29th of November 1830, being now in exile, but enjoying the freedom of evincing their sentiments publicly, protest before the world against the gross injustice with which the political annihilation of Poland has been accomplished, and denounce before the tribunal of civilized nations the tyrannical oppression to which the Polish people are subjected; especially that unfortunate portion of their nation which remains under the sway of Nicholas the Czar of Russia, who, in his unsatiated revenge, perpetrates the most re- volting cruelties: and they solemnly declare, that trusting to Divine Pro- vidence and the justice of their cause, they are resigned to bear the hardships of their exile, and be ever ready to devote themselves for the independence of their country and for her civil and religious liberties."

Other resolutions expressed thanks to the British nation, the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart, news- paper editors, and all friends of the cause.

A public meeting was held at 'Willis's Rooms, on Monday, in behalf of the Society for the Protection and Employment of the Distressed Needlewomen and for Clothing the Poor. Lord Ashley was called to the chair, and the room was filled with a respectable company of ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Roper, the Secretary, read a report, which stated that employment at 9s. a week had been obtained for 975 needlewomen, including sempstresses, dressmakers, shirtmakers, upholsterers, shoe- binders,, flowermakers, and others. But there had only been employ- ment for about one-third of the applicants. The receipts, in the shape of subscriptions, donations, and payments for needlework, had been 7921.; of which about 35/. remained unexpended. Lord Ashlelk

a speech of considerable lenzth. ITo otstb2A *1..* aha. rtexuaasak at the close of the ma year and the beginning of the new, is the time when the want of employment is most felt. He alluded to suggestions which had been made for increasing the efficiency of the Society,—such as opening a kind of large shop to sell the goods made by the needle- women, or receiving all the women into a large building; suggestions which be found likely to produce fresh evils of their own. On the contrary, the Society would endeavour to encourage the main-stay of our social system—that institution of God himself—the domestic system, under which the wife and mother work at home. It was also an object with the Society to give employment at not less than 9s. a week, with moderate hours of work. He alluded to objections which had been made to the Society by subscribers, who had recommended as needlewomen unskilful or very aged persons; very proper objects of relief, but not coming within the precise aim or real scope of the Society. Another objection was, that the remuneration was not suffi- cient: but it was no object of the Society to interfere with the opera- tions of trade in general or of shopkeepers in particular. The great wholesale dealers in many instances had given the most effective sup- port, and would continue it. Lord Ashley deprecated the almost uni- versal process of cheapening— Be would press upon the attention of the meeting the very great evils arising in all directions from the constant and unceasing effort to obtain, he meant not the trumperies of life, but everything which could be made or executed by a human creature, at the very lowest minimum of remuneration upon which it was possible for that moral and immortal being to exist within the limits of this side of the grave. How did that system work upon this wretched class of persons? How was it that they heard of needlewomen rising early and late taking rest, or perhaps no rest at all? He knew one instance of a poor woman having toiled consecutively day after day for twenty hours without intermis- sion, and she desisted only because nature would hold out no longer. But what had ground them down to the lowest point of remuneration, if such a term could be applied to such a wretched pittance ? First of all, look at the workhouses. In those establishments work was taken by parties maintained at the public expense, who were occupied in making goods for warehouses in the neighbourhood at as low a price as a penny a shirt, and sometimes only at one halfpenny. Thus the public funds were used to bring persons into that very house which was held up as a terror to them, for that very house WR5 made the instrument of their ruin and destitution. That was the first thing to be remedied. He did not say that work ought not to be performed in those houses, but that it should be confined to the supply of the wants of the in- mates ; or else the work should be taken at the market-rate of remuneration, so that no undue advantage should accrue—not to the poor inmates, they did not reap the advantage, he wished they did—but to the public rates, purchased by the ruin of these unfortunate creatures. The same remark would also apply to prisons. Lord Ashley stated that the Queen would contribute 50/. and Prince Albert 251.; and that the Queen Dowager would give a second donation of 101., with the privilege of using her name as Patroness. On the motion of Mr. Alderman Farebrother, seconded by Mr. Redmayne, the name of the Queen Dowager was substituted as Patroness of the Insti- tution, for that of Lord Ashley, who was elected Vice-Patron. The Honourable William Cowper, M.P., in proposing a resolution that pledged the meeting to use every exertion for promoting the prosperity and efficiency of the Society, put the objects of the Society in these terms— The cruelty was, that the price of their labour was not regulated by the prices obtained for the manufactured article in the shops. There was an inter- mediate party between the sempstresses and the shops, who reaped the greatest portion of the reward of the labourers. Now, what the Society wanted was, to get for the sempstress her fair proportion of the profit upon the article sold. The effect of this Society would not be to interfere with the wholesale or retail prices, but with the profits of the middlewoman, who, having given a halfpenny or a penny a shirt, charged a much higher price to the chief employer, and made her profits out of the blood and sinews of those unfortunate persons ; taking advantage of the power of competition to rob the poor needlewomen of that to which their labour entitled them. This, then, was a Society rather for doing justice than for bestowing charity. Mr. J. Jeffreys advocated the Society as a means of raising wages— The excess of one hand offering at a factory to do work at a reduced price, would have the effect of bringing the whole fifty there employed down to the offered price. There must be then some unity of action. He thought it would be a good thing if they could get the needlewomen to bind themselves together not to work more than a fixed number of hours. He had understood the large house of Silver and Co. and others had said—" Force us to pay more, and we shall be very happy to do so: if you compel the whole body to comply, we shall be very glad." Therefore, funds given to this Society would have a tenfold greater effect in reducing want and destitution than those dispensed by some other institutions.

The report was adopted, and all the resolutions were passed unani- mously.

The newly-formed Syro-Egyptian Society held their first meeting on Tuesday, at their rooms in Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square. The Chairman, Dr. John Lee, stated that the Society was founded to bring together those who had travelled in Egypt and the neighbouring regions, or had directed their attention to the history, antiquities, or literature of those countries ; with a view of concentrating information. The Society proposes to publish whatever is authentic and interesting respecting those lands, and has already three works in the press. An extensive correspondence with gentlemen in all parts of the East has been established. Upwards of seventy members have enrolled their names, including many distinguished travellers and Oriental scholars, foreign as well as English. It is intended to establish lectures and con- versazioni, to which ladies as well as gentlemen will be admitted. Dr. Holt Yates, the Honorary Secretary and founder of the Society, delivered an introductory address ; which was ordered to be printed ; and the meeting adjourned to Tuesday the 17th.

In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Tuesday, an action was tried, at the instance of Mr. Alexander Beresford Hope, against Mr. Harman and others, the executors of Mr. Henry Philip Hope. That gentle- man, the eldest son of the late Mr. Thomas Hope, possessed a cabinet of gems estimated to be worth 40,0001., one diamond alone being valued at 13,000/. Mr. H. P. Hope expressed some anxiety that the cabinet should not be broken up ; and he asked his mother, Viscountess Beresford, whether Mr. Alexander Beresford Hope, her youngest son, would be likely to keep it intact? She said that she thought he would. Mr. H. P. Hope executed a deed of gift, conveying the property

of the ,,,,us. ct TA/ , 1- 1CIRR ho executed another similar deed ; and he placed a piece of vellum in the cabinet, inscribed " This belongs to Mr. Alexander Beresford Hope." Constant additions and exchanges were made in the cabinet ; which remained in Mr. H. P. Hope's hands until the time of his death. He had a great aversion to the legacy-duty. On the part of the executors it was contended, that the deeds were not intended to operate as deeds of gift, but as wills ; and being so, were not legal. The latter deed was more strongly con- tested : it was delivered through Lady Beresford and a servant ; and the cabinet that contained the jewels having been changed, the descrip- tion of it in the deed had been erased, and a new description inserted in pencil, but not properly accounted for. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff; damages 40,000/.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, John Ogilvie alias Ward was convicted of extorting money and a gold watch and chain from Mr. Frederick Mieville ; and he pleaded guilty to a similar charge on the prosecution of Mr. Nielson. He was sentenced to transportation for life. It was stated, that at the last session of the Court, the prisoner, under the name of Ward, had prosecuted one Bowers on a charge similar to that which he threatened to prefer against Mr. Mieville ; but Bowers was acquitted. Ogilvie is said to be a nephew of the notorious Greenacre.

On Monday, William West, a man with many names, was found guilty of defrauding divers poor people by representing himself as an attorney who could obtain large sums of money for them which were in Chancery ; and he was sentenced to be transported for seven years.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Saturday, Samuel Simms, the master of the Thunder Waterman steamer, was found guilty of causing the death of Everett, a waterman, by running down his boat. The Jury deliberated five hours and a half, and recommended the prisoner to mercy. He has been sentenced to four months' imprisonment.

Mrs. Tyrwhitt, the lady who was accused of stealing a microscope valued at half-a-crown, from the Soho Bazaar, was tried at the Middle- sex Sessions, on Thursday. Mrs. Harker, the sub-matron of the Ba- zaar, swore positively to seeing the lady take the microscope ; and a doorkeeper, to having seen it drop from her dress after she had been charged with the theft. Mr. Chambers made an ingenious de- fence for the prisoner ; pointing out the improbability that a lady of fortune would take so paltry a thing with a felonious intent, and impressing upon the Jury that if it was not taken with such intent it was not a theft. Another circumstance savouring of innocence in the prisoner was her surrendering to take her trial when she had been admitted to bail : if guilty, she would not have appeared there. No witnesses were called to disprove the facts alleged for the prosecution ; but a number of persons of rank and of the highest re- spectability testified to the excellence of Mrs. Tyrwhitt's character, and several tradesmen spoke to the honourable character of her dealings with them. The Jury deliberated for two hours and a half, and then returned a verdict of "Not guilty." Mrs. Tyrwhitt, much agitated, again protested her innocence, and was proceeding to complain of false accusations, when the Judge stopped her. She was led from Court by her husband ; the bystanders showing their sympathy in cheers.

Burgess, the Bank of England clerk who committed a forgery to the extent of 8,2001., after a brief examination pro forma on Saturday, was brought up at the Mansionhouse on Wednesday. Mr. William Oxen- ford, an official agent in the Long Room at the Customhouse, the owner of the stock fraudulently sold by Burgess, Mr. Ingall, a clerk in the Consol Office, and Mr. Tokely, a stock-jobber, described the transaction as it had been previously reported. John Forrester stated, that he apprehended the prisoner on a small island called Brewster's Island, one of the dependencies of the United States of America, situate in the Atlantic Ocean, about eleven miles from the main-lard of America. The prisoner was remanded for a week. He is described as appearing little affected by his position, but in an enfeebled state.

On Saturday morning, John Forrester waited on the Governor of the Bank of England and placed in his hands 6,300/. part of the forgers' plunder. It is expected that 1,000/. more, the produce of some stock which Elder had purchased, will be brought over shortly from Boston.

The Times states, that Mr. Hobler, solicitor to Messrs. Rogers and Co., has suggested a mode of cancelling all the Bank of England notes stolen from that firm, so as to destroy their value to the wrongful holders ; and that the plan has been submitted to the Home Secretary, who has it under consideration. The Globe adds, that it has met with favour, and will probably be carried into effect.