The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-09 00:00:00

Aittropolit an.

A SERIES OF PROTESTANT MEETTNas have recently
been held at St.. Martin's-hall, Long-acre, in order to
consider the subjects. of "Romish Priests and Romish
Sisterhoods In the English Church." No practical
conclusion has yet been arrived at, but at each meet-
ing a number of clergymen have addressed the
audience at considerable length upon the workings
of the Romish priesthood in this country.

THE ACQUISITION OF INDIA BY THE SWORD WAS the
subject of a lecture by Mr. E. Fry on Wednesday
evening, at Sussez•hall, Leadenhall-street. The
conclusions Mr. Fry drew from our conquests and
annexations were that we had not, as a nation, gained
by the policy pursued. The resources of India
were undeveloped and the prosperit; of her people
repressed :

Who then had gained? Certain "honourable" indi-
viduals, who raised immense fortunes out of the ruin of
the Indian princes and people. The gentlemen of India
were acute and observant men, and when missionaries
spoke to them of the Christian religion and its mild and
humane precepts, they referred to the acts of their Chris-
thin rulers, and they drew their conclusions from our con.
duct and not from our language. He was afraid that
the practice of torture in India, and the personal deport-
ment of the rulers of India towards their dependants,
engendered in the Indian mind those feelings of revenge
which broke out into such terrible acts as characterised
the present outbreak.

WITH THE COLD WEATHER the number of deaths
has risen even above the regular average ; the
actual amount being I,4l3—the average, allowing
for increase of population, giving only 1,417. The
births for the same period show au increase, amount-
ing in all to 1,933.
THE PARAGRAPH lately going the round of the
papers upon the subject of the Crown jewels con
tains, says a contemporary, an important inaccuracy.
The jewels constituting the regalia at the Tower are
not those respecting which there has been a ques-
tion between our Court and that of Hanover. Some
jewels belonging to George 11., and some in the
possession of Queen Charlotte, were it. seems the
subject of a bequest to the Crown of Hanover.
Under that bequest they were claimed, and her
Majesty having submitted the claim to competent
authority, its 'validity was admitted. The Crown of
Hanover, however, has nothing to say to the regalia,
which will remain as at present.
FIVE 1001. DRURY-LANE THEATRE SHARES were
sold on Thursday at the aution mart at 2/. per
share.

THE LONDON CORPORATION are engaged in making
preparations for the purpose of giving the citizens,
through that body, an opportunity of offering their
compliments of congratulation to her Majesty, the
Prince Consort, and the royal pair, the celebration of
whose nuptials is appointed to take place on the
25th instant.

A GREAT FIRE occurred at Bothell:lithe on Sunday
lest, on the premises of Mr. Thompson, Government
ship-boat builder, at the Horseferry•stairs, Bother-
}lithe, whose workshops, as well as those of Mr.
Thomas, also a ship-boat builder, were totally de-
stroyed. The fire was extinguished by the engines
and firemen of the brigade, &c.—namely, the two
steamfloats, four engines of I), one of A, two of B,
and that of the West of England•ofce.
A BEAUTIFUL SCREW CORVETTE YACHT, pierced for
twenty-two guns, and intended as a sea yacht for
the King of Portugal, was successfully launched
last week from the building•yard of Messrs. Green,
at Blaakwall. The Portuguese and Brazilian Minis-