Star.
London, England, 1830-04-14 00:00:00

PAROCHIAL REGISTERS, SCOTLAND.

A Bill has been introduce7l intituled " An Act
for the better Regulation of Parochial Registers in Scotland, and for
the general recording of such Registrations in the Office of the Lord
Clerk Register in Edinburgh."
Its preamble sets forth, that " Whereas it is expedient that a
uniform system of general parochial registration of marriages,
births, and deaths, in Scot, should be established ; be it
therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by
and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and
by the authority of the same, that immediately after the passing of
this Act, the Kirk Session of each and every parish in Scotland shall
be bound and obliged to keep up and maintain in all times there.
alter three separate and distinct Registers or Books of Record,
wherein shall be entered and inserted respectively all the marriages,
births, and burials, that shall take place in the said parishes."
It then contains clauses providing that the duty of keeping the
Registers to devolve on Session clerk ; without prejudice to war-
dens and baillies of burying-grounds in Royal burghs, &c. who may
keep the Registers of burials.
That the Session clerk do enter names of persona applying to have
banns of marriage published, and issue certificate of Proclamation
to parties requiring the same.
That officiating Minister to subjoin to the certificate an attesta-
tion of the marriage, and to be transmitted to the clerk for regis-
tration.

That parents to register the dates of birth, and present certificate
thereof to the Minister before baptism.
That no grave be dug until certificate of registration of death and
disease is granted according to Schedule.
That ever page of the Record be signed by the clerk; and a
meeting of kirk Session to be held annually to make up the Record.
That at a meeting of Kirk Session in February, the Records to be
collated and forwarded to Lord Clerk Register.
And to take effect from lst January, 1891.

The Middlesex Sessions commenced yesterday morn-
ing at Clerkenwell. John Lacy, a serjeant in the new pollee, was
found guilty of assaulting two respectable tradesmen, named Duncan
and Grant. The Court, after strongly censuring the conduct of the
defendant, sentenced him to be imprisoned for two months.--
John Anderson, a patrol of the parish of Shored:telt, was also found
guilty of assaulting Sarah Simpson, and sentenced to six months
imprisonment.
At Guildhall, yesterday, a man named Jamcs Boulton,
was charged with having deserted his wife, and left her chargeable
to the parish of Cripplegate. This was the third time he had
left his wife and two children, and for the space of six months
he had not supplied them with either food or money to pur-
chase it. He offered to pay ss. weekly in future towards repaying the
parish the money which had been advanced to his family, but his
word could not be depended upon, and he had no security to offer.
He was committed for three months.

It is not, perhaps, generally known that the Royal
Menagerie, in the Tower of London, has been, for the last six hun-
dred years, a Repository for Wild Beasts and Birds, as presents to
the Kings of England ; and since its foundation it has never been
known to contain within its walls so rare and numerous a collection
as at present, viz. r eight Lions, three Royal Tigers, five Leopards,
three Tiger Cats, four Hyenas, one Panther, four Bears, three
Bloodhounds, two Jackal's, one Porcupine, two Nylghans, one •
Seal, two Kangaroos, one Zebra, one Elk, four Einem, two Crown
Cranes, one Pelican, and upwards of one hundred specimens ut
Birds, Monkeys, &c.
THE COURT OF CONSCIENCE.—Of the usefulness of
this court the inhabitants of Newcastle have had ample ex
The extent to which recourse is had to it may be y con-
ceived when we state that at its monthly sitting on Wednesday
last between four and five hundred suits were disposed of. But great
as is the accommodation thus affirded to the community for reco-
vering small debts, it is much to be regretted that its jurisdiction
should be limited to sums under forty shillings. The corporation
of Newcastle would confer a most important benefit on the town
if they would obtain a legislative enactment empowering persons to
sue in the Court of Conscience for debts to the amount of Zb.—
The advantage of such a power as this, vested in the different
Courts of Requests in London, is much felt by the shopkeepas
of the metropolis. The want of the means of proceeding in
this way at a trifling, indeed almost nominal expence, for
sums between two and five pounds, is we know a source of
great loss to tradesmen. The coat of a suit in the ordinary mode
is so great, that many worthy, honest men, think it better to
submit to be defrauded out of what justly belongs to them. than to
have recourse to legal proceedings, which may happen by their issue
to deprive them of tour or five times the amount of their demand.—
Lawyers of every class, of course, are opposed to any law reforms
which threaten to lessen their profits, but the community at large
are deeply interested in obtaining an easy, summary, and cheap
method of recovering the payment of their debts, and should never
rest till they accomplish it.—Tyne Mercury.
DREADFUL PROFLIOACY.—A complete nest of
thieves, of both sexes, has been broken into by the police officers
of Gateshead, and six of them have been taken into custody. Three
others have unluckily escaped fur the present. Two of them are
young, expert, daring London thieves, and it is almost incredible
the number of robberies they have committed within the last three
weeks. Their plan was, to enter dwelling houses for the purpose of
begging, and then to steal any thing within their reach. The lads
stole, and the girls received the articles when stolen, and passed
them from hand to hand to avoid detection. They have stolen six
watches privately from dwelling houses; besides which there is reason
to believe they entered into Mr. NVilliansson's, at Whkkharn ; Mr.
Banes* Farnsaes ; Mr. Atkinson's, Can Hill; Mr. Park's,
Gateshead, where they stole a great coat and umbrella ; 31ra. lito-
kel's, Mr. Bulman's, Mr. Bell's, Mrs. Byre's, and several other
dwelling houses, stealing articles of wearing apparel from each.
The parties committed to gaol are, James Roseman, a lad of 1b;
Rose Matthews, aged lb; William John Brown, aged 16; Eli-
zabeth Bell, aged le ; Martin Macmillan, aged 30 ; and Catha-
rine Mac (lane, aged 18. A singular occurrence took place on
Tuesday last, as English, the constable, (who had been very active
in apprehending then thieves,) was conveying the squad en a
coach from Gateshead to Durham Gaol. When the coach arrived
at the entrance to the city, he observed his young Jr ends all nod
to an Italian who was playing on an organ in du. Street. Ile took
no apparent notice of the cueurnstarce, but as soon as be had de-
livered his ;trimmers over to the governor, he returned to the Ita-
lian, and tapping him on the shoulder, took him into n public.
house, when he peremptorily commanded hint to give up the watch
he had in his pocket. The Italian was thunderstruck, and asked
what watch ?—when English instantly replied, " the watch that
was stolen from Whickham." This was inesistible—the watch
was produced—the Italian taken into custody, and he sad hie or-
gan brought to Gateshead. After undergoieues
inanimation, we
understood the Italian has been admitted the ju-
venile depredator, and his organ demised as doilarat appear-
ance.—/hid.

ELECTION AT TILE EAST INDIA HOUSE,

(7111 S 111 r)

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'great prevails at tlit• India this :,.ortaa:44-,
in consequence of the k.lectiot, or six Dfrcetora, lieu d thos:othu
go out by rotation. More than usual tar iosay is excited to leant
the result of the ballot, as there are four candidabas in orpassition to
the House List, some of whom have great support from a large body
of the proprietors Great influence har been used 13 render the
election of Messrs. Baillie, Cantu, Lushington, Maras rats, and
Wigram, sure--the more importance being attached to the election,
and to having a complete union in the Directors, in consequence of
the approaching discussions in Parliament on the subject of the le•
newal of the Last India Company's charter.
The proprietors who have been canvassing for Directors' tents, in
opposition to the Douse List, are Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr. Georg.
Lyall, Mr. Russell Ellice, and Aar. Charles 9114kinnon, all well
kmArn as being intimately connected with trade and commerce. The
ballot commenced at 9 o'clock, and will close at 6 this evening.