The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-16 00:00:00

Cbt Court.

The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Prince of We:e., the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice,
visited the new palace at Westminster yesterday aft‘vnoon.
The royal suite consisted of the Viscotuatess Jucelyn, Lord
Alfred Paget, and Colonel Benverie.
Her Majesty and the Pence, with the royal party, viewed
the frescoes, and then proceeded to the Upper Writing Hall.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness also inspected the new
House of Commons, ,the Centre Hall, St. Stephen's Hall,
and the Peers' Library.
The royal dinner party, yesterday, included the Duchess
of Kant, the Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Fanny Howard,
Baroness de Speth, Viscount Clifden, Viscount Jocrlys,
and the Right lion. William S. Laseelles.

Prince Frederick of Hesse left the residence of the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kew yesterday for the
Continent.

The Duchess of Cambridge, attended by Baron
Ruesebeck, left Yew yesterday monsieg for town and pro-
ceeded by the London and North Western Rad ..-ay on a
Tiait to the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle.
Sir William Clay had an interview with Lord
John Russell yesterday at his offhial residence in Dawning.
street.

The Etrl of Suffolk had an interview with Earl
Grey yesterday. Mr. Discs, M.P., had also an interview
with his lerdsLip yesterday at the Colonial-office.
The Judiceal Committee of the Privy Coancil sat
yesterday sod resumed and cone:tided the nearing of Raw-
son's. petition for an extension of N)ble's pat. lat. No ex-
tension granted. The Lords present were L•: rd Brougham,
the Muter of the Rolls, the Chancellor of the Duchy of
Cornwall, and the Judve of the High Court of Admiralty.

(From
nzttte.)
DOWNING-STREET, MARCH, 13.—The Queen has
been phased to appoint Falkner Hope, E,q., to be Rttsident
Magistrate at litc.hroond, in the settlement of the Cape of
Good Hope. Also, to appoint George Garcia, Hq., to be
her 3lsjt sty's Solicitor-General for the Island of Trinidad.
CROWN-OFFICE, MARCH 15.—Member returned to
serve in this present Parliament for the County of Sligo:—
Sir Robert Gore Booth, Bart., in the room of :lobo Ft. lliote,
Es q., who has accepted the office of Steward o frier Majewty
Chiltern Hundreds.

METROPOLITAN COMMISSIONERS OF
SEWERS.
THE DRAINAGE OF THE METROPuLIS.

Yesterday a special general court of the Commis.
'loners of Sewer, was held at the c ffices of the coreativion,
in Greek-street, Soho. Viscount Enainoros. N I'., who
presided, in opening the proceedings, said that, pur-
suant to a rooks:tun passed on the liith of Decem-
ber, • committee had been appointed to consider the merits
of the plans for the drainage of the metropolis. consisting of
Sir John Burgeyne, Mr. Stephenson, M.P., Ceram Vetch,
Mr. Harness, and Mr. Bendel'. It had been resolved to
present their report to a general court, and the present time
had been fixed for that purpose.
Mr. WOOLRYCH then raid the report of the committee,
in which, after defi3ing the various divisions, seven in num-
ber, among which the plans sent in may be distributed, they
proceed to state that "the best cones ived and meet practical
scheme subm:ttel to the eionamisioners is, in oar opinion,
that 0f,31r. J. B. M'Clean ; and though we do not deem our-
selves justified in recommending any one of these schemes
for adoption, as • whole, we yet think that Mr. ld'Cleata's
plan contains many of the main elements of a sound and
judicious system of drainage. It is characterised by a well
devised system of intercepting sewers, in determining the
situation and course of which • careful and elaborate study
of the levels hag evidently been made. These Ltercepting
sewers generally follow the direction of the main thorough-
fares, and avoid any extensive interference with private pro-
perty. The chiet of them on the north of the Thames
commences near Battle-bridge and after running a course
of nearly eight miles, terminates at the river Thames. at
soma distance below the river Lea." The commit.
tee, however, state that it did not seem that
sufficient provision had been made for the drainage of
the long narrow tract lying on the north mergin ef the
Thames between Coaring.cross and Shadwell, hut they at
the sense time notice in terms of high praise the judgment,
labour, cue, and skill which have been brought to bear on
the preparation of the plan. The committee aso seedy the
plans of Messrs. Nasmyth and Statham, ?dr. J. Bayley
Denton, Mr. J. Phillips, and Mr. H. Austin, as deserving
special notice, and give the details of the most marked fea-
tures of these plans. In conclusion, they state that in their
opinion ali the estimates sent In are totally inadequate, and
they remind the commissioners that the object of their ob-
tions is to present to the minds of the committee the
more prominent characteristics of the plans they are called
upon to consider, sad not to define the system of drainage
which it may hereafter be considered expedient to adopt.
To this report are appended an elaborate classification of
the plans sent in, according to their outlets.
Sir HENRY DE LA BECHE proposed that the report
should be adopted and printed for the use of the Commis-
sioner., and adverted at some length to the labours of the
committee appointed to decide upon the most important
question of the drainage et the metropolis.
Sheriff LAWRENCE said that many of the plans which
had been sent in might be said to consist of a series cf plena,
all in themselves sufficiently intricate, and requiring great
caution and judgment to decide upon ; but he believed that
all tle Commissioners mcst fully and fairly appreciated all
that the committee had said on the subject.
Sir JOHN BURGOYNE bore testimony to the ability
with which tke functions of the committee had been dis-
charged. Although his name stood first on the list of the
committee, it was not to be supposed that the whole of
the duty devolved upon him. Other gentlemen present
had contributed very materially to the decision which had
been come to. There appeared to be some mistake in re-
ference to the functions of the commissioners. They were
not bound to find a market far the sewage manure. Their
endeaviurs to remove it from amongst the habitations of
a crowded population were all they were called upon to
see to. It should be left for another body, when called
into existence to convey it away and to dispose of it. It
was not to be supposed that the commissioners could enter
into contracts with market gardeners, who, at present,
were not acquainted with the value of the sewage, or who
did not use it in farm yards or in market gatdens. He
considered that the commissioners discharged their duty
when they removed the offensive matter from amongst
the habitations of the people. It was better that it should
be removed and thrown into the Thames than left in
crowded neighbourhoods.

The CHAIRMAN put the adoption of the report to the
meeting, and it was agreed to.
Sir H. DE LA BECHR moved, and Sheriff LAURENCE
seconded:—" That it be referred to a committee of the
whole body of the commissioners to adopt such =sawn ea
might be considered expedient for the drainage of tte differ-
ent portions of the metropolis."
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR quite agreed to what had been stated
in reference to the functions of the oommissioners. The
former plans had been pressed upon them by • former com-
mission, but now the commissioners were thinking of the
real subject. The question before the commission was of the
greatest importance; indeed that which had been referred
to the committee might be said to be the principal obi, et of
their appointment. He cordially supported the motion.
Lord EBRINOTON said it was not like beginning de
noro. Tary had been at • great deal of expense to obtain
these plans, and mach valuable Information had been
gained.
The resolution was adopted, and • general court was
formed for the despatch of business.
The court then adjourned for throe weeks.

PROTESTANT DISSENTING DEPOTATION.--Yester-
day a special general meeting of this body waa held at the
King's Read Tavern, Poultry, to take into consideration the
subject of church rates, diuenten' grievances, and Mr. Stuart
Wortley's marriage bill. Mr. John Remington Mills took
the chair. Ile said that, since their last meeting, the deci-
sion of the Exchequer Chamber in the Braintree church-
rate case had been given, and the judges had declared that
the minority of a vestry had the power to impose a rate on
the majority. This judgment, should it be affirmed in the
House of Lucia, would sap the foundation of British liberty.
A committee of the deputies had hid an interview with Lord
John Russell on the subject, but his lordship declared that
he had no intention of interfering with the church-rate qua-
tion,and the Rouse of Lords could deal with the decagon in the
Exchequer chamber. A petition to parliament was then
agreed to, praying for the abolition of church rates in
England, of the annuity tax in Scotland, of ministers'
money and church ens in Ireland, and of the ecclesiastical
court ; against the renewal of the Regium DJI?Ura, and any
payment from the public funds for ecclesiastical purpose.,
and for the entire removal of the civil disabilities to which
dissenters are still subjected. A petition In (avow of Mr.
Stuart Wortley's marriage bill was elsi sdopfed, Mr.
Griffin stating that though dissenters were not the only
parties aggrh.ysil by the present law, the board of minister.,
and nearly all the dissenting corgregations in the kit.gdosi,
had declared in favour of Mr. Wortley's measure. A reso-
lution was also passed, directing_the secretary to draw up •
petition infavo•r of Mr. Pete Wood's affirmation bill.