The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

• matt the intlefa•igable Mr. Hendersonset to work, and • the able as•oiance of his intelligent lieutenant, Mr. G amma, riders were cliued away, scaffolding was re• m oved• fissuring laid down all through the interior, end an ioro meo vistibule ini;.euvised profusely ornamented with minims and shout and reminding one in impartial cone petinese of its ',Eli known predecessor in Hyde-park. la the gl ands the celerity with which the arrangements were ma le was equally remarkable. The tenacious and &w a i st end, the tenor of autumnal visitors, had all die 4 , p ,med, and • Celan well-gravelled pathway wound right mono ' all the objects aid points o f interest, so that the ry a vo ltage of distort ry was entirely free from the incon enteaces which might have been expected under the cir onstimm me we are now on Sir Joseph Paston's terri tory to hiss must be gives the credit of rivalling Potemkin, m the cepa:hal with which he created gardens for the re reptise of ilea ervenign. The royal earriwes arrived at the entrance punctually at 1. o s c L m e, In the first were her Majesty, the King of the ,s, thDucLcos ol Brabant, and Prince Albert. In the second w ire the Dake of Brabant, the Count of I.aaotn. the Prince* , Charlotte, and Lady Desert ; and a mor d e i nowed cue:ening the remainder of the royal pasty. m o j ea ty,isho appeared to be in the best health and a green arlk dress and crimson velvet mantle ; and the Duchess of Brabant, woo is a remarkably fine young leolladh a link dress and Stuart plaid shawl of a most 'a lleges. pattern. On alighting from her carriage the Winn wen ",, ~ by Mr. 1. ring, chairman of the com pany, Mr. Francis Fuller, managing director ; Sir Joseph ratios, cu e ews G lna arm ot enii, Fuquher u a', anducle, Calvertthe , d King of irectors. The Quen M Walt o me th, we, the Duchess of Brabant that of Prince c.n t rt, the Prisess Charlotte and the young duke tame next, sad the "old party, followed at • respectful docent , by the visitors who had been so fortunate SI to gain admteion, proceeded on their inspection of the Interior. Hating seconded the staircase opposite the south transept entrance her Jlajesty proceeded along the gallery beneath which lie in succession the vari ous courts which are to exemplify the great epochs in an cient and seders art. As her Majesty went along l'rince Albert frequently called her attention to points of view in the intetisr which he at once recognised from a previous inspec tin of the photogrepits. Through the unexampled exertions of the melons day, a clear passage had been obtained all round the building, so that her Majesty's walk along the g dleries was only interrspted by the various es'.jects of istmst , to which her Majesty gave a minute and careful attention. The galleries having been disposed of, the royal rty descended to the series of coons which will , when templets , form the greatest attractions of the building. They are in different stages of progress, from the Alham bra, which presents little more to the eye than incompre beatable bricks and mortar, to the Pompeian Court. re oplandent in colour end perfect in proportion. The Brae. hme Courts, although incomplete, contain many !letup 4 thst arrested the royal curiosity, and are rich in promise of the artistic gems of the period. In paining through the Medieval nun, Mr. Wyatt explained to the Queen that it %mild be furnished with numerous specimens of the period, embracing the f etes f (turf e of Gothic architecture in Germany, Italy, and England, the various applications of the pointed arch, with effigies and bassi relievi collected from all available sources. l'rince Albert appeared to attach much im portance to this series, and stopped often to explain the nature and uses of the different objects to his illustrious companion. The Renaissance court through whieli the royal party next _tweed is consider ably &dewed. The celebrated Florentine gates by fahlUerti, are in their place, and were minutely examined by her Majesty. The restoration of the Hotel Bourgthe mild, at Rouen, is in active progress. Here will be alsn specimens of English Renaissance in metal work, and a graduated series of the modern Italian school, from Micheal Angelo to Canon. The Egyptian court was then honoured with a short inspection, and lastly the royal party proceeded to the Pompeian court, in which a luncheon bad been pro vided for their entertainment. Of this court, which is now almost complete, her Majesty expressed her entire approba tion, and by the royal command Signor Abbatti, to whom the ornamentation has been entirely entrusted, was sent for and had the honour of a presentation. The Queen was gra ciously pleased is say that she considered the court " A complete success;" and there is no doubt that her Majesty's judgment will be confirmed by the general public. No thing, indeed, can be more striking than the proportions, nothing more harmonious and effective than the colouring of this beautiful apartment. The pillars by which it is in tersected are coloured half•way up the shaft in deep red, harmonising with the frieze, which is copied from the Par thenon, and showily coloured—a doubtful experiment. While the Queen and her friends were in this spartment his Grace the Duke of Devonshire arrived on the grounds, and a message from without having informed her Majesty of his arrival, he was graciously summoned to the royal presence. After luncheon her Majesty proceeded on a promenade through the grounds, resolutely exploring every portion, and showing an activity which was strenu ously emulated by the young princesses. The King of the Belgians appeared rather fatigued, but the Queen had evi dently made up her mind to leave nothing unseen, and accordingly was conducted over the entire grounds by Sir Joseph Purton. The last visit was paid to Mr. Hawkins's specimens of extinct animals, after which the royal piety returned to the interior, and having entered their ainnges departed from the Crystal Pane amid loud and hearty cheering, both within and without the building. The police arrangements reflected much credit on Inspector Lund and the officers under his command. THE ?VANISH QUESTION. NOTTINGHAM, TVISDAT. Last evening a meeting was held in the Exchange Ball to take into consideration the recent acts of aggression on the part of Russia towards Turkey, and to memorialise her Majesty on the subject of our foreign policy. The large roam was crowded to suffocation. The chair was taken by the MATOII, who expressed a hope that the result of such meeting in England would hi nefit not only this country but the whole civilised world. Englishmen knew their power, and their rights, and they would (he could answer, at least, for Nottingham,) offer their sympathies to the oppressed and suffering in other lands. (Cheers.) Mr EDMUND Haar, common-councilman, moved the first resolution, which pronounced the invasion of the Danu bian Principalities by the Emperor to be an unwarrantable and najustillable egression on the territories of Turkey, and a violation of International law. (Applause.) Mr. Mon seconded the resolution, which was carried by selamalies. A Sam was this read from Mr. Strad, one of the mem ber be is berengS, in whisk the right hon. gentleman excused blandness Steads& ea the ground, first, that be had awls a pier eispesasat secondly, that his assamisa with the asearamsal seriami it imposeible for bill as Staid a needs, et dint ehatuseer, while negotia tion were pending. Mr. Hoses wished Ms. Usiabart, who was present to Worm him what effect the mesa eiespeion of the Prin cipalities would have "pia No peke of bread, and the state of trade in this speatry; sad upon the relations of England and Frames. (Hear.) Mr. 12://GIIHAHT said that the occupation had put six millions of money into the pockets of the Czar. (Hear.) When the armies crossed the Froth an harvest was ready to be transferred to the shores of this country. The hordes of barbarian came down and devoured it. What was the Te nth ? Why, that every English mercantile house expert ✓aced a cheek. But what happened in the dominions of the rear ? Just an opposite result, so that it is said that one boom in a single day bad netted 16,0001. At all events it was clear that since the occupation of these states provision had risen 40 per cent. The price of money was now double. Before this it was to be obtained at the rate of 2 per cent, new it could sot be got for S per cent. (Hear, hear.) With re spect is our relations with Francs In 1906, the question pending between us might and would have been amiably arranged, but for the interference of Russia. The inflame of Russia was the same now as then, and the effect which it might have on our foreign relation was very apparent. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Unehart then proceeded to address the meeting at great length upon the whole subject of the eastern question. Mr. Swxrr moved the adoption of a memorial to the Queen, in which, after stating the very general dissatisfac tion felt towards her M•jeety'_• foreign minister, the me morialists prayed that bar Majesty would be pleased to command that all foreign communications should cane instantly ; that a new parliament should be summoned, to inquire into the conduct of her Majesty's servants, and the system on which foreign affairs were conducted. Mr. PLACI seconded the resolution, which was supported by Captain M. Ruin, and carried unanimously. Mr. taihonAar then moved, and Mr. BOSTCYNIZI, Polish Wept, esseadsd, a vote of thanks to the Mayor, and the preeeediags terminated. FIRST DAT OF MICHAELMAS TERM.—Today being the first day of Michaelmas Term, the judges breakfasted with the Lord Chancellor, and afterwards proceeded to Westminster to open their several courts. THE BAPTIST NIANCAL for 1853 contain/ its usual amount of annual information respecting the Baptists of England, Wales, and Ireland. The results of the returns for the year exhibit 35 associations, embracing 1,134 churches. Of these, 1,039 report their condition; 851 having had a clear increase of 1,840 members, and 188 having suffered a clear decrease of 3'21 members. This dl4 minieuen, it is stated, is to be found chiefly, but not wholly, a mong the Welch churches and is regarded as a re-actka from the large accessions oiformer years. The net increase) of the whole is 1,519 an average of about one and a half to each church. Twelve new chapels bars been built and dedicated, and five have been enlarged. The " table settlements " shows a good deal of change in the pastoral odic. Sixty-two new pastors have entered upon their Mir tic'', and labours within one year, and 19 ministers have died. A tabular view is furnished of the increase of British baptist Associations since 1834, when their aggregate of membership was 40,763, and which now amoucts to 106,448. According to this ratio of increase, the denomination will --• trebled hays in 20 years. THE MUSEUM Or ORNAMENTAL Art AT MARL BOROUGH Houtm.—The namben attending, no., during the month of October, wen as follows: 25,807 persons on the public days, sad admitted fres ; 1,466 persons on the students' days, sad admitted as students on the paymeat of 6d. each, bss, the neletered students of the duns sad schools. THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. NOVEMBER 2, 1853. desired and desirable. But it appeared that this was not the case in the City of London. From the year 1800 to 1834 the fine of admission to the freedom of the City was 30/. 12s. 6d. Tne annual average of admissions during that period was 1,000. Between 1835 and 1847 the redemption fine was reduced to 101. 12,. 6d., to.lo/., to 81. 11.. led., and subsequently to 81. 6. 4d., but in the last period the annual admissions were only 887. whereas when the redemption fine was 301. the annual admissions were 1,090. ' In the five years between 1847 and 18-52, the fine was reduced to 31.65. Bd., and the annual admissions decreased to 650. He attributed this falling off to the natural re pugnance which an Englishman felt at any compulsion on his feelings or wishes. Last year the corporation went to London ; with a liberal bill, the object of which was to exempt resident non-freemen from the payment of this fine. This bill was approved of by the Court of Common Houma, and it was not opposed by the Court of Aldermen, as it did not affect to reform their own constitution. It was thrown out, however, by the committee of the House of Commons, in cmsequence of the opposition of the livery. But in the menthe of March and April of the pre sent year, although they admitted that the requirement of the tine from resident non-freemen was not right, this same corporation issued 4.032 proceedings against so many occu piers, to compel them to take up their freedom. Of these, 414 took up their freedom, at 31. ss. 61., which amounted to 1,3521. 764 required time, and time was given them, but they were charged 2s. 6.1. for the accommodation, which amounted to 761. be. • 164 occupied privileged ~l aces in the city. 196 were declared to be dead, to have removed, or to be contumacious, and 698 claimed exemption. One of the charges which he brought against the corporation was that they did not knew their own freemen. Ile bad a list of freemen who were actually on the ward lists ant were et summoned to take up their freedom. On the 14 of November the aldermen of the several wards sent in a list of the municipal electors in their respective wards, and the mode in which this list was made out was by tae beadle sending round a circular asking the occupiers whether they were free or not. Mr. Alderman Finois was ao dissatisfied with this mode of ascertaining who ought to be on the municipal list that he preferred sending in the whole list of parliamentary electors for the ward of Tower, amounting to 600, leaving it to others to pick out those who wen not duly qualified to be on the municipal list. All this might be easily remedied if the corporation set about it properly. Mr. Lewis—Do you think it desirable that the municipal franchise should be connected in any way with the trading companies ? Mr. Ackland—Certainly not. As trading companies the lost all their naetulnem. The Chairman—Would it not be objectionable to have the municipal franchise less extensive than the parlia- mentary ? Mr. Ackland—Yes, but as liverymen can't live for ever, it would be better to put up with an anomaly for a few years, than put up with injustice. The whole system, as at present conducted, was an anomaly. The last commission stated in their report that there were two classes of free. men ; but there were seven classes in point of hict, and great confusion and difficulty was the consequence. The tendency of a prosperous state of commerce was to dimi nish the municipal electors in the more commercial parts of the city, because land became more valuable and ware houses became more necessary, whilst in the larger wards— the outlying wards—there was an increase of population. In the ward of Queenhithe for instance every twelve omit- piers sent a member to the Court of Common Council ; every thirteen in the ward of Ventry ; every thirteen in the ward of Bread-street, whereas in the ward of Bishops gate every common councilman represented thirty-four municipal electors, and in Farringdon every common councilman represented 51 electors. In Bread-street ward there was a contest for the office of alderman between Mr. Hughes Hughes and Mr. Alderman Lawrence, and 6,000 i. was expended in the scrutiny. The votes were reduced to 11 on one side, and 10 on the other, and they would have been reduced by 5 or 6 more, if the contest bad not been at last decided more by chance than on its merits, in consequence of the expense attending it. Such • system could not last, and was breaking down every day in consequence of the bad feeling which it engendered between the resident note free men and the resident freemen, who were • miserable minority as compared with the others. The Chairman—Do you think it desirable to diminish the number of common councilmen ? Mr. Ackland thought it would be very desirable to diminish the number of the representative body, call it by what name they might. Bat he was not sure that there should be common councilmen at all, in the present accep tation of the term. The corporation, as at present coned toted, were anti-commercial in the large sense of the term. The aldermen and common council were of the shopkeeping elms, and the pursuit of small gains had not a tendency to give men large views, or to promote those great interests which they were not quali fi ed to promote. The Chairman—Can you suggest any mode of connecting the class of great merchants with the corporation ? Mr. Ackland—Not at present. What he looked to as the result of the present inquiry was that the corporation of the City of London would be proved to be so bad that it cos irremediable as at present constituted. And if the wemlnielies arrived at that conclusion, it might then ask he the assistance of gentlemen of experience in this matter te suggest the best means of adopting • better system. As Instances in which the corporation of London showed as anti commercial spirit, the witness stated their op position to the Blackwell Railway, which cost 7,0001. ; their opposition to the Dock Companies, and their resistance to a central railway terminus, although at the Instance of Mr. Wire and Mr. Asharst, both mem ' bees of the corporation, they came to a resolution to give • terminus in the City to the direct Manchester line. In fact, being a parliament of shopkeepers, they could be made to tarn to the east one day, to the west the next, to the north, and then to the south. The corporation represented not eslja small proportion of the area and population of the me tropolis but a small proportion of the area, population, and rateability of the City of London itself; and the great body et the citizens had reason to complain of the manner in which they were treated at the time of the Municipal Reheat Bill. The cora metage of the City of London sheented last year to 9,5961. They claimed to measure every man's corn by their own bushel, whether be wished it or no. The Messrs. Combe, Delafield and Co. matted their barley in the country, and sent it to Louisa in their own barges. But the corporation claimed he right of measuring their, malt, and legal proceedings W been going on for the last 14 years on the subject. The Clempany of Free Porters brought another action against them for 10,0001., all that they did being to watch from the door of some public-house how many bags Messrs. Combo and Delafield's men cleared out. The Chairman—Did they represent the case to the Common Council? Mr. Ackland should think not. There would be little nee in doing so, for they directed the officers of the corpora tion to conduct the proceedings, for which purpose thou sands of pounds were expended. He had known instances where the sort of metage would make such a difference that cargoes had been taken from the Thames to Liverpool to be unloaded. It was not surprising if, under these or cutuslances, the port of Liverpool was advancing beyond that of London. The corporation also charged 2d. on every cart which was not free of the City. They farmed this tax, for which they received a rent of 5,8101. in 1852, and the public must pay doable that amount at least. There were great complaints made of the blocking up of the streets of London by carts, that there was the corporation causing 200,000 carts to be stopped in the streets during the year, in order to get the payment of 2d. The commission would be able from this to form some idea of the amount of inconvenience in this part of London. The average constituency of each common councilman was 29, it being as low as 12, and the average rateable property represented was 9431., being as low as 7001. in some of the wards. The Chairman—Will you now direct your observations to the third head, that of the governing body. Mr. Ackland—The governing body of the corporation consists of the Court of Aldermen, the Court of Common Council, and the Court of Common Hall. The Court of Aldermen was composed of tradeemen, and were 26 in number. He begged to be understood that he did not wish to my a word invidiously against the members of that teem Two of the aldermen were auctionsae. two who* leer., two stockbrokers, two builders, one heamostar, oho saddler, One china manufacturer, one Woolley, ow silk manufacturer, see retired lotteessalhos keeper, one wine merchant, one coal mertiont, sae Ma easeehant, a printeeller, a solicitor, • elainaber, s d u - .a, and banker, aced so on. They wore magistraen W virtue of their office, and were elected for life. They ileslinl an the validity of corporate elections and even in the &Min of their own body. They had the disposal of Imp snail of money. Their patronage and influence was th ins very great in the City of London, and the offios osesseuently became one of great desire. A great deal of money was expended in obtaining the office. He believed that seven at least owed their election to pecuniary inducements. lie believed that the money invariably came out of their own pockets. He believed that more than seven owed their election to pecuniary inducements, but seven at least had their election conducted through one, agency. That was the practice for many years, but there were fewer re cently th an formerly. Money influence was more easily exerted in a small ward than in a large one—was satisfied of that. Was not prepared to name the aldermen who exerted this influence. Mr. Lewis—Have you any evidence to support your statement in this respect ? Mr. Ackland—Yes, I can procure witnesses who will state it. I have no doubt they will name the individuals. Mr. Lewis—ls there treating as in the case of some par liamentary elections ? Mr. Ackland—The publicans are all prominent agents on these occasions, because the local politicians of the ward were • good deal in the habit of going to public-houses. The publican, therefore, seemed naturally to present him self as an agent of corruption. Ido not think politics have had much to do with these elections recently. The Chairman—Can you suggest any remedy for the 1.• moval or diminution of the sources of corruption which yes have named ? Mr. Ackland—A court of aldermen may not be amsonety at all, but I would make all the offices in the Corporatioa of London worthy of the ambition of the higher class of persons, and I would give such a constituency, with such checks on the exercise of the franchise, as might together with such better class of men, prevent the probability, if not the possibility, of such occurrences. The Chairman—Do you think it would be passible to in duce the higher class of merchants to accept the ogles of alderman ? Mr. Ackland—The name of Alderman has got into such bad odour, that I think no high elan of merchants in the City of Lo ndon: would like to accept the office. But I think if the municipal government of the city were so altered that the particular odium now attaching to that body should no longer, in the opinion of their fellow. citizens, affect them, the higher class of merchants would give the time and labour which must neeesearily be bestowed on the office. _ flare you any further obaervations to make on this head ? Mr. Ackland—l think the Court of Aldermen, &log an irresponsible body, should not bare the power of voting away money without the consent of the Common Council. The Court of Aldermen voted away annuities to the broken down members of their own body. That is not right. The Court of Common Council also voted away money. The Court of Commou Council is too large for the management of accounts. The Chairman—How do you propose to arrange that ? Mr. Ackland—The question is troublesome, for there is as much corruption in the Court of Common Council as in the Court of Alderm'n. But whatever mnnici.al body be given to the City of Loudon, it was clear they ought to be responsible to their constituents for the administration of the funds. With regard' to the management of monetary details, that must either be let to a small committee ur to a paid officer duly qualified. It being four o'clock the commission adjourned till twelve o'clock this day, when it was intimated that the evidence of Mr. Travers would be first taken, the remainder of Hr. Ackland's evidence to be afterwards proceeded with. COURT OF ALDERMEN. —.— Yesterday, a Court was held for the despatch of Easiness. FLAGRANT CONDUCT OF A SWORN BROKER. The court was attended by a large number of the mem bers, the summons having contained notice of the intention of the court to consider the petition of Henry Earle Lovell, of 8, Clarence-street, Old Kent-road, house decorator, complaining of the conduct of William Le Grand, a broker who lately failed on the Stock Exchange, and disappeared after having appropriated to his own uses various sums of money with which he had been entrusted for the rnrchase of stock, shares, &c. Mr. Le Grand did not appear, and his sureties (his fatht in-law, Mr. Thomas Dunman, of 8, Avenue-terrace, Bew and Ma brother, Mr. 0.11. Le Grand) stated that they had not seen him for several months, aad could not tell where he was. Mr. Dunman said that his Bon-in-law owed hint 6911., for which he bad obtained a judgment, and sold the household furniture under a bill of sale fur 1171. Mr. Lovell's petition was then read, and stated that " llaving received a distributive share of a legacy in right of his wife he wished to invest it in the funds, and on let of September last he went, with his brother, Mr. John Lovell, to the office of Mr. Le Grand, No. 9, Tokenhouse yard, Lotkbury, and told him he wished to purchase 40W. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock. Mr. Le Grand said that the price would be 405/. 10s., and the petitioner handed over the deals to the clerk that sum in bank notes and gold, and received an acknowledgment for the money. Mr. Le Grand then stated that he would send on to him the stock receipt; but not having done so, in about a week afterwards the petitioner called at Tokenhouse-yard to require his transfer ticket to be given to ham, but the clerk stated that Mr. Le Grand was out of town. The petitioner called again some days after, and the clerk then stated that the purchase had not been made, and that as the books were closed the purchase could not then be made, but that when the stocks re-opened Mr. Ls Grand would purchase the same, and allow the petitioner interest in the meantime- The petitioner, having called several times at Tokenhouse yard without seeing Mr. Le Grand, or obtaining any satisfactory result, wrote Mr. Le Grand a letter, request log the matey to be returned, but he received no reply. On calling at the office on Tuesday morning last the peti tioner saw the clerk, who stated that the office was no longer Mr. Le Grand's, that • Mr. Le Mark had taken it, and that he, the clerk, was no longer Mr. Le Grand's clerk, but Mr. Ls Mark's clerk. The petitioner then made in quiries at the Bank of England, and found that the money had not been invested; and he had been informed that Le Grand bad been declared a defaulter at the Stock Ex change, and was absent from this country. The petitioner concluded by praying for such relief as the court might see fit." --- --- The petitioner was then examined, and declared all the statements set forth in the petition to be true. Alderman SAIOIIOII6 said, as the petition showed, be hond the possibility of doubt, that a gross breach of trust ad been committed by the broker, he thought the court would not be doing its duty if it did not instruct the City Solicitor to take steps, for the purpose of compelling Mr. Le Grand to restore the 4051. 10e. to Mr. Lovell, and in the event of failure in this quarter, to proceed against the two sureties for tho amount. (Hear, bear.) He moved, there fore, that the City Solicitor be instructed to take lame ' diets steps for the recovery of the money. (Rear, hear.) The motion having been seconded by Alderman Corn- LAND, was carried unanimously. Three other petitions were also put in, and dealt with in a similar manner. Tote amounts to which the two sureties are liable are 5001., each having entered into bond for Le Grand to the extent of 2601. METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS. Yesterday a special court was held at the office, Greek-stzeet, Soho. The commissioners present were—Mr. Jane, in the chair, Sir J. Burgoyne, Mr. Baker, Mr. G. L. Smith, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Gordon and Mr. Redhead. TIM FOLIILIII DISTRICT. An important deputation attended from the sanitary cou mittes of the pariah of Fulham on the subject of the drain age. It consisted of the Bishop of London, the Right lion. L. Salina, the Rev. R. G. Baker (vicar of the parish), Major M'Lean, Messrs. Roe, Shepherd, Res, Wing, John son, Bell, Nelson, and Panter. The Bishop of LONDON said he desired to represent, on behalf of the memorialists, the very defective state of the sewerage of the large parish of Fulham, and to request the immediate attention of the board to that particular district. Mr. Woouarcli, the secretary, then read the memorial. It set forth that the present sewage of the parish, contain ing by admeasurement 1,648 acres, with a population in 1851 of 11,886 persons, which had sinew been largely in creased, and comprising a property amused to the poor est* at 48,0001., was in a moat defective state, utterly inadequate to provide for the wants, the convenience, and the health of the inhabitants, and prejudicial to the value of a large extent of property which it was impossible for the owners or occupiers thereof, however imperfectly, to drain ; that scarcely any of the houses had any drainage whatever beyond that of ceupools ; that during the pre valence of cholera in the autumn of 1849 the mortality in the parish during nine successive weeks exceeded four-fold the average mortality of the same season during the five preceding years, nearly one half of the deaths having arisen from actual cholera, ia many instances of the most malignant character ; that very few of the gully holes and gratings of the sewers and drains throughout the parish were trapped, and that almost all the drains in the parish (the whole of which were enumerated) were nuisances of such a positive character, that in the opinion of the memo rialists they would in the present state of the law be liable to a summary process of correction if they affected the estate of any individual owner or occupier. The memorial was signed by about 100 psrishionen, representing an aggregate asseassment of nearly 17,000/. The report of the engineer of the court, Mr. Levick, was also read. It concluded with the following remedial sug gestions . 1. The trapping of such of the various gully holes and gratings of the sewers and drains throughout the parish se admit of being so dealt with. 2. The construction of about 1,250 feet of 18-inch half brick sewer, in lieu of the present defective drain from the Pond at Parsons-green, at an estimated cost of 2501. 3. The diversion of the drainage from, and the filling up an open ditch at Sands-end. This work, as one of gnat emergency, I have ordered to be dime. 4. The covering ever the open Relbrook sewer behind the premises of the Swan Brewery, at Walham-green, and of those portions of this sewer from near Peterborough Villas to Sand's-end, a length of about 1,700 feet, at an estimated cost of 4001. " With respect to the open Kensington Canal," continued the engineer "two miles in extent, which, together with the open ditcher connected with it, are stated to require a vigilstit and efficient control of the nuisances which it has created," there seems to be some ambiguity in the requirement of the memorial as to whether it may point to the necessity for covering over this serial, a suggestion of a deputation from this locality, or only to its periodic cleansing. This canal is certainly an open sewer, but at the same time it is a navigable and navigated creek. Although it may be possible to free this canal from sewage impurities by comprehensive works, it is impracticable to mitigate the evil by covering it over. The question, how eves, of the cleansing . of this canal is a fitting one to enter tain, but oaths commissioners are aware, this work involves certain considerations irrespective of the necessity for it, however great that may be ; and whieb may, indeed, some what operate, as they have operated, to the exclusion of that vigorous control deemed so essential." This report was signed " Thomas Lovick, Engineer," and dated " October 24, 18E4." The CHAIRMAN said that a sixpenny rate, after the neces sary deductions had been made for agricultural lands and gardens, produced about 1,0001. a year ; rather more than half of which was unearned on what were termed the ordinary expenses of the parish. These ordinary expenses consisted of the maintenance of existing sewers, which was • small item, and the cleansing of sewers, open ditches, and so on, which was a heavy item. There remained a net balance of 6001. • year towards making new sewers; and if that were converted into an annuity for 36 years, reckoning money worth more than four per cent., it would not produce much more than 8,0 0 01. It would coat 160,0001. to render the sewerage of the parish complete. The half of that would still leave 80,0001., which was ten times the amount that would be produced by a sixpenny rate. This might be an unpalatable truth, but he considered it best to look the truth in the face boldly. Ten shillings in the pound annually would not supply all that was malted ; and LONDON CORPORATION INQUIRY COMMIS JOY. --0-- Yesterday the Right Hon. H. Labonehere, the Right Hon. Sir J. Paulsen, and Mr. Cornewall Lewis— the commissioners appointed to conduct the inquiry into the Corporation of London—assembled at 12 o'clock, at the official resideuce of the Prime Minister, for the purpose of hearing evidence on the subject. The only persons pre sent besides the commissioners were their secretary, Mr. Coleridge, sad the representatives of the public press. Mr. Ackland, (secretary to the City Corporation Reform Society, was the first witness examined. On Mr. Labouchcre, the chairman, putting the first question, Mr. Ackland asked to be sworn, on the ground that at the last inquiry several of the witnesses refused to give evi dence on oath ; and, as be anticipated the possibility of asking that oaths might be administered to witnesses on the present occasion, he thought it would be less objection able to ask to be sworn himself in the first instance. The Chairman said that without expressing any opinie• on the point as to the administering of oaths to witnesses, Mr. Ackland could, if he so desired it, be sworn. The oath was then administered, and Mr. Ackland me resiled to give his evidence, which lasted from 12 till 4 o'clock. The evidence, as fsr as it went, embraced three heads of inquiry, via , the relation of the City to the me tropolis, the constitution of the freemen, sad of the govern. ing body of the corporation. Mr. Ackland said that the association of which he was secretary consisted of 1,200 members, and was composed of small shopkeepers in the City of London who were not able to pay the 61. ss. 4d. fee demanded for the freedom of the City ; of Manchester warehouseinea, and of others who felt the necessity of cor. porate reform. The object of the society was to secure to all rateable occupiers of the City of London full and equal participation in all the rights and privileges now possessed by freemen, and also to protect parties whom the corpora tion proceeded against fur the purpose of compelling them to pay the fine of 61. ss. 4il. for carrying on business In the city. Their object was rather to expose abases which existed in the corporation in the first instance, than to suggest specific remedies for their correction. The com plaints of the society had reference to the constitution of the corporation, and not to its individual members, whom they regarded rather as victims of the system, in common with the general public. The Chairman—You are aware of the report of the Commissioners of Municipal Inquiry for England and Wales in 1834. Will you go through the heads of inquiry there stated, and in the first place state your views with respect to the limits of the corporation ? Mr. Ackland—The commissioners of 1834 seemed to have been impressed with the idea that the arta of the City of London might advantageously be extended over a con siderable portion, if not the whole of the metropolis. But, with regard to municipal privileges and duties, he (Mr. Ackland) thought . the advantage very much depended on whether they were conceded to or imposed on a constituency. The parliamentary boroughs of the metropolis had always the opportunity of applying for municipal charters, if they were so minded, but he believed there was no instance of their having done so. It did not follow that because the inhabitants of the metropolis numbered two-and-a-half millions, that they obeli be included in one menicipslity. That was not done k the mane of Manchester and Salford, which was far less pipulome boss themetzopolis. He was opposed to the a lleles MIMI moleopelis to the City of London, because he doonght that the municipality of the City of London had a specialty which mould be overlaid and destroyed by so vast and incongruous an addition as that of the metropolis. The specialty he alluded to was that of commerce. The in habitants of Southwark frequently petitioned the corpora tion of London to be admitted to the privileges of citizens, but their prayer was always rejected. The ward of Bridge Without comprised five of the eight parishes which consti tuted the parliamentary borough of Southwark ; and they stood in this peculiar position, that whilst they were de nted the rights of freemen, they were called on to discharge several of the duties of freemen. It was not denied that the ward of Bridge Without belonged to the City of Lon don, and in ancient times the resident inhabitants elected four citizens, out of whom the corporation of London selected one to serve the office of alderman. There was so doubt therefore that the Bridge Without formed • ward and aldermanry, though it did not appear that its alder men exercised the same rights as the other aldermen, or that it ever elected a common council. Mr. Lewis directed' the attention of the witness to page 82 of the Report of the Municipal Commission of 1834, in which it was stated that the act of Edward VI. in reference I to Southwark was carried into effect. Mr. Ackland said he referred to Southwark for the pur pose of showing the anomalous position in which it was placed, being in this position, that it could not apply for a charter of incorporation as it constituted a part of the City of London, whilst it had none of the privileges of citizens. The Chairman—Can; you state whether there is • strong desire on the part of the inhabitants of Southwark to be joined with the City of London? Mr. Ackland could not state what the feeling was; but the inhabitants petitioned in 1788 and 1814, and several times since. The high bailiff of Southwark was appointed by the Common Council of London. His jurisdiction ex tended only over the five parishes constituting the ward of Bridge Without, and not over the other three parishes which west to form the parliamentary borough of Swath week. He was decidedly of opinion that the borough of Southwark should be dissevered from the City of London es that ground particularly. The borough of Lam beth might be constituted into another municipa lity, and both might co-operate together Wi for the perms. of drainage and water supply. With meet to to the feelings of the inhabitants of Southwuk, there were a great many citizens of London living there who desired that it might be united to the City of London. DM by far the larger and more important portion of the inhabitants were, he believed, of opinion that it was not imitable that it should form part of the Corporation of Maim as it existed at present, but part of the corporation se it skald be and might be mods The iahabitants on the meth of the Thames were ash the mese. Mr 1. Pattison—Would it set he asawnery, in order to gime Southwark the same rights as the City of London, to lobe It out of the county of Surrey altogether, for no other- Mr timid it have the same rights as the City of London. Hr. Ackland—The City sever snorted its right' for limethwark as it should have doss. The oonnexion of Southwark to the corporation of the City of London was Miler disgraceful to the letter. mere pralarly as related to the conservancy of the Thnmes t kr they took all the MI" mays sad water ball=to south side, sad yet flaraa their duty to the llawle—Sappeelag it was ikeeht advisable to agn ate Ilselbwork from the simily et Nervy. add rhea he =mon Gramma et the emit d ememlaa woo d s. MWellsarliatm4? Ms Adding aid that he did not know whether any beg leaboimaliss might Mod in the way ; bat for all ponstkel poopomess esl as he es the enjoyment of eivie rights wee sessersed, the eerpooottin of the City of Lon don had the peeper of giving to the inhabitants of the ward of Bridge Wilhelm that which they had been asked to give, but which they refused to give. Mr. Lewitipposing the City of London to be left with 110 pesesst touraderies, and Southwark and Lambeth cow dime. =lit;el, would you leave the rest of the me lie any municipal organisation ? rsAcklend would grant municipal orgemleatiss wher ever it was desired, but he would force it sewhaes Ho I would concede it, not impose it. Speaking is the public interest, be had no doubt that not only aseli all the me tropolitan boroughs be constituted into aunialpol humenghs, but that there should be a kind of general logislathe seism for the metropolis, where general objects, sunk as water supply and drainage, should be attended to. The Chairman—Wauld you give to each a separate po- Bee and a separate magisterial jarkillotion ? Mr. Ackland—Not a separate police, but a separate ma- Material jurisdiction, if properly constituted, they might have. With regard to sewage, that could not be properly and efficiently attended to under separate jurisdiction. Paving and lighting should be in the ;same hands as the sewage, and the water supply ought to be under one and not under several jurisdictions. Mr. Lewie—Taking away all these, what functions would remain for a municil body ? Mr. Ackland—Wardmote functions would, he thought, convey the idea he entertained on the subject. He also thought that the appointment of magistrates might be left to the different corporations. The Chairman—Do you think that the administration of justice by the aldermen is mere satisfactory than that of the magistrates appointed by the crown ? Mr. Ackland—No ; because the appointment of aldermen took place in a way that opened a way for the suspicion of partiality. The Chairman—You would assimilate the practice to that which prevailed in other large cities ? Mr. Ackland—Yes. Mr. Lewis—Do you know if the system works harmo niously where there are two municipalities ? Mr. Ackland could speak personally of only Mambeersirt and Salford, and there he was not aware of there bag may antagonism or conflict of duties. He thought if equal representation were given to all parts of the metropolis that the representatives of Marylebone and Clerkenwell would so overlay the representatives of the City of London that it would lose its commercial character. In fact, he thought the City of London was in itself too large for one munici pality. The Chairman—Will you now turn to the next head of inquiry—the constitution of the corporate body—and state any observations you have to make on it. Mr. Ackland—The corporation of the city as at present constituted was in very bad odour with the inhabitants. The freemen of the city of London were till the year 1835 necessarily members of a company. It was decided at that period that persons might empire the freeman's character without being primarily a member of any of the guilds or liveries. The being a freeman of a municipal corporation lbdi be I privilege, and it It were a privily is would be therefore if the thing was to be done properly, the pro prietors in the locality must put their hands in their pockets. and proceed vigorously in the matter. The Bishop of LONDON hoped the commissioners would attend to the trapping and cleansing of the sewers. The CIIAIRMAN intimated that they would; and added, that the Western Uas Company had been summoned to appear that day to answer a charge with respect to their refuse water. Some other gentlemen having i.ddressed the court, the deputation withdrew. TUE GAB COMPANIES. Mr. BAR/SER, the secretary of the Western Gas Com pany, appeared, in answer to a summons, to show cause why that company should not pay a penalty of 501. for the offence of discharging gas washings and refuse into the public sewers, the property of the commission, FP. A new inspection of the premises was ultimately ordered, the summons being adjourned for • fortnight for the report of the surveyor. A similar decision was given in the cases of the Commer cial Gas Company, represented by Mr. Martin, their solicitor, and of the Great Central Gas Consumer's Company, repre sented by Mr. Musty, the secretary, and Mr. A. H. Hill, the manager. A great numb r of summonses against private individuals were then disposed of, and alter • prolonged sitting the court adjourned. THE CHOLERA. (From the °coeval Boari of MAUI, Nov. 1.) METROPOLIS. From returns made by the superintendents of the F, H, K, L, M, I', and Thames divisions of police, and transmitted to the General Board of Health, it appears that 19 cases of cholera hare mimed iu those districts since the last reports therefrom. In ten instances the result was fatal. In one case death ensued 8 hours after the attack, and in another "after 4 hour,: illness." This case occurred in Bennett's-buildings, Kennington-lane. In a third death followed after 16! hours' attack ; in another 12l hours; and in another 17 hours after seizure. In 4 other cases death followed within 24 hours after attack. In three instances the houses are described as "badly ventilated," there being no backdoors, win dows, or yards. hi one case also no water is laid on—neither is any privy . attached to the house. In the other " the privy is in front for the use of several houses, and smells very offensive." The case, which ended fatally after l 6 hours' illness, was the second within ten days in the same house. The privy is de s cribed as offensive, the drain bad, and the adjoining houses in a similar condition. There is but one water-tap to supply nine houses, and the inhabitants complain that they cannot get sufficient water for common use. The house in which the death occurred after 12 hours' illness is also de- scribed as very small, privy- and drain close to back door, in bad repair and offensive. Also a very offen sive drain, and a quantity of duet and vegetable refuse within a few yards of the front door. The inhabitants complain of its being very seldom cleansed, and the place being badly paved. This is the third case in this same place (Suffolk-place, Bermondsey) within fifteen days. From another police return it appears that on the 31st October a death from Asiatic cholera took place in a common lodging-house in Old Kent-street, Southwark, after 11 hours' illness. Another death occurred on the same day in a non-registered common lodging-house in Blue An chor-yard, Whitechapel. Peter-street St. James's, Westminster, Oct. 31. Cholera 1 (21 hours). A death from cholera occurred in Regent-street, Westminster, on Saturday, 14 hours after attack. In this instance the privy was in the house, and was so very offensive that the medical men, ou entering the premises, were completely sickened by the e•ffiuvia. So bad, indeed, was the smell, that the landlady was obliged to take tike off the roof of the privy to effect some kind of ventilaticn. The land lord is now introducing a water-closet instead of the cesspool, and a quantity of quick limo has been thrown down to counteract the effect of the offensive effluvia from the cesspool. St. James's, Westminster.— Marlborough-court, Carnaby-street, Oct. 30.—0n0 cholera. This case is described as occurring in a narrow court in a densely ' populated neighbourhood, the sewers of which are all undergoing repair. King-street-terrace, New North-road, Oct. 29. One cholera (12 hours). St. Olave's Union.—From returns made from the board of guardians of the St. Olave's union, South wark, it appears, from the 27th of September to the 28th of October, there have been 98 cases of choleraic disease within that district, 12 of which have resulted fatally. In one case death ensued five hours after attack ; and it is remarked that the " pavement of the row of houses in which this case occurred is al most without exception broken up, and that the smells proceeding from this and the water-closets are most intense." In another case the mother of the patient bad also recently died of cholera in the same house. The medical officers of Fulham union have just reported six cases of cholera and four deaths. In one instance death ensued after seven hours' illness, and in another 10 hours after seizure. At Erith and Bexley attacks of choleraic disease, as well as of Asiatic cholera, have been reported as having recently occurred. EDINBURGH. Dr. Gavin, being on his way to Dundee to moist the authorities in the adoption of preventive mea sures against the outbreak of cholera, which appeared to be impending there, was informed at Edin C al of some cases that had just occurred in that city, of which he learnt the following particulars: On the fourth floor of a "land" called James court, in the Lawn-market, in one room of a trian gular shape, the two sides measuring 15 feet, there lived a man and wife and four children, their ages 84. 28, 6,4, 21 years, and 12 months; they all slept in one closet, 7 by 41, on a bed which exactly filled the closet, the doorway being the only space for the admission of air. On Friday week, the 21st, the child aged 21 first took iIL On the 24th the child aged 6 took ill, and also the father. The mother was attacked last Sa turday (the 29th). All these cases passed on to cholera. The child 21 years' old died on the 25th. The father, mother (who was suckling the infant), and one child were removed to the cholera hospital, where the two former are now under treatment and the latter is in consecutive fever. The room in which these deaths occurred was found on inspection in the same state es when left, the cholera stools were unremoved, and no cleansing measures what- ever had been executed or were apparently saa templated. These people dared not remove from their room, the whole refuse of their domestic life unless at the stated hours authorised by the police. To do this the female had to watch the arrival of the cart, and to secure clean, or pure, and remove dirty water she had to go up and down four flights of stairs. It is to be noticed that the non-removal of the cholera stools of these people is equally provided against by few, or the removal of all other domestic refuse. It is stated that no arrangements of any kind have been made for the gratuitous supply of medicines under such urgent and necessitourcunumstancee. The following melancholy particulars have been furnished of the two most recent deaths in this town. The wife of a gentleman inhabiting a house in Causewayside, who died on the morning of the 27th, was taken severely ill with cramps on the morning of the 23rd, at 4 a.m.; she had suffered previously from vomiting and bowel complaint, but she delayed to apply for advice till 4 a.m. of the 23rd, as she thought the diarrhcea would pass off. She fell into collapse on the evening of the 26th, and died in 15 hours. Her mother-in-law reported herself ill on the forenoon of Saturday, the 29th ; she had had cramp and diarrhoea the previous day ; but, on an examination, she concealea these symptoms, lest she should alarm her son. She died at 12 p.m. that night. On a careful inspection of the house where these deaths occurred, Dr. Gavin found the sanitary condi tion of this gentleman's residence worse than that of the poor family in the Lawnmarket. Opposite, and about 15 or 20 feet from the bed room of the old lady, there was an open privy, re ceiving its contents into a small open cesspool by its side (of two feet square), which overflowed out of the yard and over the pathway into an open gutter in the street, at the mouth of a sewer. Near the back door, within three feet of this house, a drain hole was placed, and at the door itself there was a cess pool, three feet deep by two feet square, filled to overflowing into the drain with putrid water, which, on being stirred, sent up thousands of air-bubbles. This cesspool was only known through the inspection instituted at that time. The floor of the parlour was laid on the damp ground, and the boards were rotten. The room %%here the mother died was excessively damp, and the paper had fallen from the walla. NEWCASTLE-I:PON-TYNE. Oct. 31. Deaths—. Cholera, 1 ; diarrhoea, 1. WOLsTANTON.—Oct. 29. Death—Diarrhma, 1. TEM./KING (Sr. Osicrit).—Oct. 29. Diarrhces, 2. EASINGTON UNION.—Oct. 16. Death—Cholera, 1. This case (which is just reported) occurred at Seaham-harbour, in this union. There was another case about five weeks ago, which also occurred at Seaham-harbour ; but nu return was then made. The description of the locality is, that the situation is confined and the walls damp. TIIOIISE UNION.—Oct. 29. Deaths—Cholera, 1. Oct. 30. Cholera, 1. I.rroN.—Oct. 29. Death—Cholera, 1. Oct. 31. Death,—Cholera, 2. DEE.—Oct. Deaths—Cholera, 4. EDlNnuitilo.—Oct. 29. Death—Cholera, 1. These were mother and daughter, in a respectable station in life. The premists aro described as being in a very unsatisfactory state. A cesspool at the back has been already cleansed, and a quantity of old rubbish removed and buried. ARIIROATII.—Oct. 29. Death—Cholera, 1. SOU ill SIM:TAM—Oct. 21 to 29. Seven deaths from choleraic die.ease have been registered in this union during the above period. Of these five have been registered as occurring in South Shields, and 2 iu Hebburn. Three deaths arc entered as caused by Asiatic cholera—one in tour hours, another in 18 hours, and a third in 21 hours after seizure. Three more are entered as cholera, and 1 diarrhoea. The total number of deaths to the 29th ult. has been 67. HEALTH OF LONDON. -...-- The weekly return of the Registrar General states that the number of deaths from all causes registered in the week that ended on Saturday was 1,141,e xhibiting an increase of about en hundred ou the first three we, lei of October. la ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-52 the average number was 974, which,if rui•ed in progirtion to increase of rpulatim, becomes 1,971. There is therefore an excess of 43 M the present return on the corrected overage, arising chiefly from the epidemic, whose progress has been recorded during the last twu months,and witch has now attacked many parts of the metropolis, widely distant, between Hammer smith and Whitechapel. The deaths from cholera, which were about 16 weekly in the beginning of September, rose last week to 96. 64 males and 42 females sunk under the disease; 32 died under 15 years of age, 49 between 15 and 60 years, and 15 at 60 years and upwards. The 96 deaths occurred in the five metro politan divisions as follows: In the west districts, 16; in the north, 3; in the antral, 1 ; in the cast, 24 ; on the aouth side of the Thames, 52. In the sub-district of St. Paul, Hammersmith, Kensing ton, the epidemic has raged with especial violence. Last week the births of bl 7 boys, and 800 girls, in all 1,617 children, were registered in London. The average number in eight corresponding weeks of the years 1846-52 was 1,400. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.690 in. The mean temperature was 65.5 deg., which is 7.7 deg. above the average of the same week iu 38 years. The mean daily tem per-tore was from 8 deg. to 10 deg. above the average on every day of the week except Saturday, when the excess was only 1.6 deg. The greatest difference between the dew-point temperature and air temperature occurred on Wednesday, when it amounted to 11.2 deg.; the mean dif ference of the week was 3.9 deg. The amount of rain in the week wrs 1.46 in., of which 1.05 in. tell on Thursday. The wind blew from the south-west and south. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. MACCLESFIELD. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH) The liberals have returned ten of the newly elected members, end the tories only two. OXFORD. The municipal elections of this city have excited greater interest than on almost any previous occasion, in conse quence of parties being an equally balanced in the council, and owing to the fact that the of the aldermen have to re tire on the 9th instant, and to submit to a fresh election. The liberal party have made a spirited effort in almost every ward, but have only succeeded in gaining a majority of two on the day's poll. The following it the result of the election _ _ . Central Ward: Messrs. Hallam and Castle (conserva tives), re-elected without opposition. Eut Ward: Thompson (conservative), 278; Tarry (conservative), 271. West Ward : Atkins (liberal), 231 ; Faulkner (liberal). 208 ; Hodges (conservative), 144. South Ward : Slitter (liberal), 152; Richards (liberal), 144 ; Burrows (con aaaaa tive), 62 ; Baxter (conservative), 63. North Ward: Davis (liberal), 278; Miller (liberal), 271; W. Herbert (Conservative), 67 ; D. Herbert (Conser vative), Gl. The only ward which the conservatives lost was th• South ; in the other wards where liberals were returned they were either re-elected, or succeeded other. who had withdrawn. SOUTHAMPTON_ Ten members have been elected, 4 of whom are liberals, and 6 conservatives. The liberals have still an immense majority in the council. rTcrwonnnr Yesterday was the day appointed for the election of town councillors for the ensuing year. There was less excite ment than usual, only five of the wards out of sixteen being contested. In one of the wards the retiring candidates were re-elected without opposition. In Great Georges ward Mr. Alexander Shand was elected withoat opposition, in the room of Mr. W. A. Clayton. The wards contested were—West Derby, where Mr. William Erie (liberal) was opposed by Mr. P.A. Clint (conservative) ; Seotlaad, whey* Mr. Woodruff (liberal), was opposed by Mr. James Jack (conservative) ; Vauxhall, Mr. Daniel Powell (liberal) op posing Mr. William Nicholson (conservative) ; Abercromby, where Mr. 11. Branekey(liberal) opposed Mr. R. C. Gard ner (conservative); and Pitt-street, where Mr. John Smith (liberal) opposed Mr. W. P. Jeffreys (conservative). At 4 o'clock on the conclusion of the polling in the contested wards Mr. Clint was found to have gained his election in West Derby Ward; Mr. Woodruff in Scotland Ward; Mr. Nicholson in Vauxhall Ward ; Mr. Jeffreys in Pitt-street Ward; and Mr. Gardner in Abercromby Ward. MUSIC. THE TONIC SOL-FA ASSOCIATION. Several months ago we gave some account of the labours of the Rev. Mr. Curwen, of Plaistow, in promoting popular instruction in vocal musie,—laboun on which, for a considerable time past, we have bestowed a good deal of ear attention, believing u we do that they are producing very beneficial results. Mr. Curwen'a method of tuition is sow spreading rapidly and widely. Many influential elergymen of the established church, as well as of various dissenting persuasions, co-operafe with him in furtherance of his views. A. great number of schools attended by large bodies of pupils have been formed, not only in London and its neighbourhood, but in various parts of the provinces ; and an association consisting of many members, both lay and clerical, has been established, and acts with seal and activity in promoting an object which is justly regarded as conducive to the happiness and welfare of the great body of the people. This associatioa has taken its name from the peculiar feature of Mr. Curwen's method of teaching ; the intro duction of a new and very simple mode of writing Toad music. Its nature we briefly explained on a former oo• casino; and we shall therefore only say at present that it is founded on the application of the Italian system of soyeggio," or " solfa.ing," need in teaching singing, to musical notation. As in singing a melody, the notes are sung to the syllables do, re, me, de., which designate their position in the seal*, and are always the same, whatever may be the key or pitch of the melody ; so, in writing a melody the notes are expressed by the first letters of those syllables, the key note being written LI, the second M, the third F, and so on. By the addition of a few very simple devices for marking the measure and rhythm, vocal music, either in one or more parts, may be noted down without ruled paper, and with an ease and rapi dity which can scarcely be imagined by thus who have net tried it. Mr. Curwen, however, is anxious, in all his lec tures and writings, to impress upon t►e public, that hie method is by no means intended to supersede the old esta blished notation. He desires it to be applied only to that simple description of music which is suited to popular use. For a florid opera air, or a piece of instrumental music, it would be out of the question ; but for song, a hymn, an anthem, a glee, a chorus, not crowded with chromatic harmonies or rapid passages, Mr. Curwen has shown, by the ample experience of hundreds of pupil% that it can be used with great ease and advantage. In learning it the youngest pupil acquires a knowledge of the nature of the scale; and it is learned at ea small an expense of time and trouble that it presents no obstacle to the sub sequent acquirement of the ordinary notation, which Mr. Curwen always recommends. The association are at present giving a uric" of choral meetings at Finsbury Chapel, one of whieh took place last evening. That great building was filled by a large and most respectable assemblage ; and a selection of piect s of vocal harmony, both sacred and secular, consisting , hymns, glees, and harmonised sown, wet sung by a numerous body of pupils of the various schools, very nice looking young persons of both sexes, whose vocal perform ance both surprised and delighted us. It was not only pure and accurate, but th, re was a warmth, a feeling, a fresh ness about it rarely met with in exhibitions of mach higher t reteneions. Mr. Cnrwen himself was pretest; he did not deliver a formal lecture, but occasionally made illustrative observations of a very useful and interesting kiid. _. , ?,- tr NEWBY PARK.—It is stated %tat; IR. i 4 vi York, hu just purchased Newby Park - . . 190,000 t. The purchue is made mt • Down*, already a large landed progriageg F~ I