The Press.
London, England, 1854-01-21 00:00:00

JANUARY 21, 1854.

THE BE3IOTAL OF THE LAW COURTS was urged
nport Lord Aberdeen by a deputation from the Incor-
porated Law Society, which waited upon the Premier
on Monday last. As the reasons for this step they
alleged the insufficient number of the present courts,
there being only five rooms of moderate size, and two
small ones, while not rent t fifteen or sixteen were
requisite ; and the great inconvenience of the site,
distant a mile and a half from the centre of the legal
district, and occasioning a consequent delay and ex••
pease in the transaction of business. They urged
also that a favourable opportunity had now occurred
for clearing the site of the present courts, and appro-
priating it to the completion and improvement of the
Houses of Parliament. It was also proposed to con-
centrate all the offices of the several courts of law and
equity under the same roof. Lord Aberdeen ex-
pressed a favourable opinion regarding the proposal,
butsuggested the necessity of giving it a mature deli •
beration on the score of the heavy expense which it
must involve. A " Barrister" writing on the subject
to the Times estimates the loss of time and general
inconvenience to the profession, reckoning also wit-
nesses, jurymen, &c., as equivalent to 1,5001. for
every day that the courts:sit, all of which falls of course
eventually upon the unlucky suitors. The deputation
afterwards waited upon Sir W. Moleswortb, at the
office of Public Works, and presented to his inspec-
tion the plan and estimate of expenditure for the pro-
posed new courts. Sir William carefully examined
the plans, inquired into the sources from which the
expense was to be defrayed, intimated that it had
long been his opinion that the courts should be re
moved to the place proposed, rand promised to give
his favourable attention to the subject.
THE CITY Poises have resolved to present their
commissioner, Mr. D. W. Harvey, with a piece of
plate, as a testimonial for his late efforts in obtaining
an increase of pay, and for his general care of their
interests.
RESPECTING THE JERUSALEM BISHOPRIC the
Bishop of Oxford has written a letter to the Premier
seeking official confirmation of his belief that " no
interference with the authorities of the Eastern
Church was contemplated or would be sanctioned by
the authorities at home." Lord Abenleeen has re-
plied as follows :
Downing-street, Jan. 6, 1854,
My dear Bishop of Oxford,—l have no difficulty In answering
your letter, and lin fully confirming the declaration you have
made respecting the absence of any intention to interfere with
the authorities of the Eastern Church by the establishment of
the Jerusalem bishopric. The project gave rise to much appre-
hension, and met with considerable opposition from the Porte.
To remove this opposition Sir Stratton' Canning was authorised
to assure the Turkish Government that Bishop Alexander went to
Syria under strict injunctions from his ecclesiastical superior in
this country that he was not to meddle with the religious concerns,
ofeitherthe Milhoinedsn or Christian subjects of the Porte, and
that he was not to attempt to make proselytes to the Church of Eng.
laud from either of those classes. From my intimacy with the late
archbishop I had many opportunities of conversing with him
upon this subject, and of learning his wishes and opinions. I
should say that, in a religious point of view, he was opposed to
ell attempts at proselytising from the Greek communion, and
thathe did not contemplate giving any sanction to secessions
from it. He always spoke with great regard of the Eastern
Church, and lakes, forwent with hope to the possibility of some
nearer connection hereafter between that communion and the
Church of England. ABERDEEN.

THE BRIOIITON RAILWAY REPORT, for the half-year
ending December 3, has been issued by the directors
us a preliminary to the meeting of shareholders on
the 26th inst. During the six months the earnings
of the line have been 364,7161., showing an increase
of 31,8401. over the last half of 1859. Much of this
expansion is due to the rapid development of Croy-
don traffic, owing to the progress of the new Crystal
Palace. The expenditure from July Ito December
31 has been 148,4411., out of which the directors in-
tend to propose a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent.
During the last five years the business of this rail-
way has resulted in the following returns :—Receipts :
1848, 453,408/.; 1849, 500,4201. ; 1850, 533,8841. ;
1851, 585,086/. ; 1852, 581,642/. ; 1853, 636,661/.
Expenditure : 1848, 147,1321. ; 1849, 146,086/. ;
1850, 165,702/. ; 1851, 183,3981. ; 1852, 20101891.;
1853, 217,0141. The capital account of the railway
!bows a total amounting to 7,440,742/., and consist-
ing of—Mortgage debt, 1.787,5121.; preference capi-
tal, 1,037,596/.; consolidated stock, 4,615,6341.

THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PEEL RIVER
CoMPANY has been issued, and signed by Count
Strzelecki as chairman. With regard to the geolo-
gical and mineralogical survey of the company's pro •
perty, it being deemed essential to obtain a minute
and scientific report from some person of unques-
tionable reputation, choice was made of Mr. Odern-
heimer, ministerial assessor and inspector of mines
in the Duchy of Nassau, who had lately been em-
ployed for two years by the Marquis of Breadalbane
in a geological survey of his property in Scotland.
Mr. Odernheimer accordingly sailed for Sydney on
the sth of August, where lie intended to select the
most eligible spots for mining operations pending the
Arrival of eighteen German miners sent out to him
last month, together with crushing, concentrating,
and gold•washing machines of the simplest con-
struction and greatest durability. As respects the
Pastoral value of the Peel River lands, which were
selected by Captain Parry as surpassiDg iD