The Press.
London, England, 1857-07-18 00:00:00

Rlttrapalitan.

PRINCE FREDERICK WILLIAM OF PRUSSIA WRS on
Monday presented with the freedom of the city of
London, at a full Court of Common Council. The
circumstances under which this ancient ceremony
took place were invested on the present occasion
with peculiar interest. The old Guildhall looked
gay with its flags and decorations, while a crowd of
brilliant visitors, including the foreign ambassador 3
and most of the leading nobility, were present on the
occasion. The Prince of Prussia, in the course of
his reply to the c.ngratulatory speech of Sir John
Key, said:—

trust that the confidence which the British people are
willing to repose in me will not be unmerited, and that the
future happiness of the Princess—my affianced bride—
may prove equal to my endeavours to secure it, and to the
devoted and hearty attachment which I bear tc the Queen
your Soveregn.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE is
shortly to be presented by the City, not only with its
freedom, but with a sword of honour, a resolution
to that effect having been carried on Wednesday.
AN INFLUENTIAL MEETING OF RAILWAY DIRECTORS
and managers of railway companies was held last
Saturday at the King's Arms Tavern, Westminster,
to consider the propriety of opposing " A Bill to make
further Provision for the Conveyance of Mails by
Railways." A discussion ensued, in which the repre-
sentatives of the great railways took part, in the
course of which it was stated that the measure was
impracticable, fraught with danger to the public, and
calculated to upset existing agreements between the
railway companies and the Post-office, which arrange-
ments had been arrived at after long and patient
negotiations. Eventually a deputation was appointed
to wait on Lord Palmerston with reference to the bill.
On Monday the interview took place, and Lord
Palmerston promised to postpone the second reading
of the bill, and to give the question full consi-
deration.

A VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER against the Griffiths
and Perry, the employes of the North Kent Railway
Company, was returned on Monday by the coroner's
jury in the case of the persons killed by the late
accident at Lewisham. The court is adjourned till
Monday next, for the purpose of recording a verdict
in regard to the cases of the other sufferers.
THAT OLD CONVICT HULK, the Defence, lying off
Woolwich, and well known to all Londoners, caught
fire on Monday, and was scuttled to save her. The
origin of the ou►break is uncertain, but the fire is
supposed to have arisen from a quantity of oakum
which had accumulated in the hold becoming ovcr.
heated. The convicts on board were all removed, in
the first instance, to the Unit, hospital-ship, and the
intelligence of the disaster having been communicated
to the directors of convict prisons in Parliament.
street, stub prompt measures were taken that the
whole of the men on hoard, to the number of 150
invalids, were safely removed to Milibank Prison,
and located there without a single man having made
his escape.

MR. G. LAVIE, of the well known legal firm of
Oliverson, Lavie, and Peachey, was thrown from his
horse on Thursday morning within a few yards of
Buckingham Palace, sustained a fracture of the
skull, and died within an hour after the accident.
C. F. G., a witness of the whole affair, writes to the
Times, complaining of the conduct of the medical
officers of St. George's Hospital. He declares that
Mr. Lavie was left in the hospital for at least forty
minutes, " waiting, as I was repeatedly told, for Mr.
Hawkins, and it was quite evident to me that no one
present would take the responsibility of acting
without him." Mr. Lavie died soon after.

THE HEALTH OF LONDON continues satisfactory,
though the deaths show a tendency to increase, 088
being registered last week. The average would be
1,074. The births registered last week are in all
1,060 children.