The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

Valittral.

CABINET COUNCILS, attended by all the Ministers,
were held in Downing-street, at the official residence
of the Prime Minister, upon Saturday and Wednes-
day last,

THE MINISTERIAL WHITEBAIT DINNER, in anticipa-
tion of the close of the session, will take place this
day, at the Trafalgar, Greenwich. Every effort will
be made to bring the session to a close on Saturday,
the `22nd inst., so as to enable ber Majesty to pro.
rogue Parliament in person, previous to the depar-
ture of the Court for the north, which will take place
on Monday, the 24th inst., in the event of the session
being over at the expected time.

ThE ELECTION CommirrEEs have concluded their
tabours. Petitions were presented against no less
than fifty one of the returns made at the general
election, but only twenty five returns actually became
the subjects of investigation, the petitions against
the remaining twenty-six having been withdrawn.
The greater number of these returns gave rise to two
or more petitions. Including Huntingdon, for which
there was a double return, thirty-three members
were obliged to defend their seats, of whom nine
were unseated. In only one case, exclusive of Hun-
tingdon, was a disputed seat given to a petitioner,
the exceptional case being Sligo, which is now repre-
sented by Mr. J. Wynne, instead of Mr. J. P. Somers.
The grounds upon which the returns were impugned
were in two cases—Mayo and Drogheda—violence,
intimidation, and undue influence ; in two cases—
Marlborough and Beverley—insufficient qualifica-
tion of the sitting members ; and in five cases—
Cambridge, Wareham, Bath, Huntingdon, and
Sligo—the improper reception and rejection of votes.
In the remaining sixteen cases the allegations sub-
stantially relied on by the petitioners were those of
bribery, corrupt practices, and treating. Out of the
nine members who have lost their seats, two—Mr.
Heatbcote and Mr. Somers—were unseated upon a

scrutiny; one—Mr. Glover—for want of a qualifica-
tion; live—Mr. Neste, Mr. O'Flaherty, Mr. Merry,
Mr. Watkin, and Mr. Torrens M'Cullagh—for bribery
committed by their agents; and one—Mr. Moore—
for undue influence exercised by his agents. In no
case has a committee, in unseating a member, de-
clared that he was cognisant of the acts on account
of which he was unseated. On the other hand, only
two petitions—those against the returns of Mr.
Roupell for Lambeth and Mr. Bramley.Moore for
Maldon—have been declared frivolous and vexatious.

MR. ANDREW, the chairman of the Euphrates
Valley Railway Company, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thursday at his
official residence in Downing-street.
MR. SERGEANT KINOLAKE AND MR. P. W. MARTIN
were entertained at a banquet on Wednesday by the
Liberal electors of Rochester.

Mn. COWPER is preparing a large measure of
Medical Reform for next session.

gittrogotitan.

THE PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES OF ENGLAND
serving abroad have resolved to establish a home
and school for their sons in England. Land has
been purchased at Blackheath, and a building is at
once to be erected for the accommodation of one

hundred boys.
THE LATE BISHOP BLOMFIELD was buried on
Tuesday in Fulham churchyard. Upwards of one
hundred of the clergy were present, but the Bishop
of Oxford was the sole representative of the Epis-
copal Bench.
THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS have given rise
to some official correspondence just published by
order of the House of Commons. The principal
paper is a letter from Mr. Pennethorne to Sir B.
Hall, dated the 11th ult., remarking on his (Sir
Benjamin's) recent report to the Treasury on the
subject of metropolitan improvements, and offering
certain explanations with a view of showing that he
(Mr. Pennethorne) had been anxious to facilitate
Sir 13. Hall's inquiries, and that he had not unne-
cessarily delayed his report; that he had no control
over the funds, and that his estimate for the street in
Chelsea had not been exceeded, Are. Mr. A. Austin,
the secretary to the Office of Works, replies in a long
letter, dated the 16th ult. Two other letters passed
between Mr. Pennethorne and the Board of Works
on the same subject at the end of last month.
THE QUESTION OF A TOLL OR NO TOI.L on the new
Chelsea-bridge was brought before Lord Palmers-
ton by a deputation on Wednesday. Lord Palmerston,
who listened with great attention to the representa-
tions of the deputation, said that it was quite un-
necessary to argue the point with him, as he felt the
necessity of the case as strongly as they did them-
selves. He confessed, however, ho had no idea that
the bill would have met with the opposition which it
bad received :

Ile was very sorry and very much surprised at the
result. All he could say was that the Government were
still of the same opinion, that it was an absurdity to make
a park at a great expense—the chief object of which was
to afford an outlet to the labouring classes—and then to
put a toll upon the bridge, which would practically make
it no bridge at all. lie could not, however, state at the
present moment what course the Government were pre.
pared to adopt, but if upon full consideration they felt
they could bring the subject before Parliament

nezt year, with a better prospect of success, they would
only be too happy to do so. He would see Sir B. Hall, the
Chief Commissioner of Public Works, on the subject, and
in the meantime he hoped that the gentlemen present
would preach patience to the portion of the public most
interested in the opening of the bridge. If, upon thinking
the matter over, the Government could see a prospect of
arriving at a solution of the difficulty, they would be very
happy to do so.
The House of Commons' select committee recom-
mend the conditional abolition of the tolL