THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Dec. 23, 
Gibraltar in all haste on the 8th inst. for the coast of 
Malaga in search of a piratical vessel, of the presence of 
which certain intelligence has just been received. Thata 
pirate is cruising near Gibraltar in the very tract of vessels 
bound up and down the Spanish coast within the Straits 
there is not the slightest doubt; the only difference of 
opinion is as to the balance of probability in her being a 
slaver doing a little business as a Corsair, in consequence 
of being driven off the slaving coast by British cruizers, 
or the probability of her being the Santa Trinita under 
Greek colours, which a month since made several captures 
in the Levant, and whose Captain Theodoraki Spano 
then murdered six men two women and a girl, among 
other atrocities. 
West Inpies.—The Royal mail steamer Teviot has 
arrived at Southampton with dates from St. Vincent’s 
Nov. 17th; Barbadoes and Demerara 19th; Jamaica 
24th ; and St. Thomas Dec. Ist. Great dulness prevailed 
in Jamaica, Barbadoes, and other islands, which is partly 
ascribed to the slowness with which money returned from 
the interior into circulation in the commercial towns. The 
i Governor-General of Jamaica had set on foot the General 
Le Agricultural Society, by offering two prizes of 100/. each, 
one for the best essay on the manufacture of sugar, the 
other for a like dissertation on the mode of establishing 
and conducting industrial schools adapted to the wants 
and circumstances of the agricultural population. The 
legislative affairs of the colony were progressing but slowly. 
In Demerara four fires more or less destructive had oc- 
curred, and are placed to the account of incendiaries. 
The want of an efficient detective police is complained of. 
Some interest had been excited at Jamaica by the dis- 
covery of a new manure, the excrement of the West Indian 
bat ; but it was not found on analysis to be so powerful 
as the real guano of Peru. 
Brazits.—The ship Ville de Rouen, which arrived at 
Havre the 16th inst., brings accounts from Rio to October 
i 26th. The Legislative Chambers closed their sittings on 
i the 24th October. It appears that the Princess Januaria 
was then in a state of progressive convalescence. The 
Americans had been buying up coffee in large quantities. 
The loading of six cargoes was just completed, and prices 
were expected to give way in some degree consequent 
thereupon. The slave-trade was carried on with surprising 
activity throughout the whole line of coast. The papers 
: are far from confirming the hope which had been held out 
if and which was still entertained at Monte Video of the 
interposition of the Brazilian Government in the struggle 
between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video. The Govern- 
ment of Brazil had declared that it would not depart from 
i the policy of absolute neutrality, which it had pursued 
from the commencement of the existing differences between 
the two republics. 
CITY. 
Money Market, Friday.—Consols have advanced to 
961 to 3 for the opening, closing finally at 96}, sellers; 
a Three per Cents. Red., 963 to $; Three-and-Half per 
i Cents. Red., 1023 to 3; Exchequer Bills, 58s. to 60s. 
i prem. 
i HMetvopolis and fts Wicinity. 
Destitution of the Metropolis.—The following are the 
resolutions adopted by the Association for the relief of 
the Metropolitan poor at the late meeting at London 
House :—1. The objects of this Association shall be to 
i relieve destitution, and to improve the condition of the 
i poor in the metropolis, by means of parochial and district 
visiting under the superintendence and direction of the 
bishop and clergy. 2. The Association shall consist of 
the general body of contributors to the fund, the Bishop 
of London being President. 3. The business {of the 
Association shall be conducted by a Committee of Mem- 
bers belonging to the Church of England: one-third to 
go out annually, but to be re-eligible. The vacancies to 
be filled up by election at the annual meeting. 4. The 
Committee shall have power to defray from the funds of 
| the Association such expenses as they shall deem essen- 
tial for the efficient management of its concerns, but no 
4 part of its funds shall be applied to the payment of 
district agents or visitors. The attendance of five 
q Members of the Committee shall be necessary for the 
transaction of business. 5. An annual meeting of the 
Association shall be held—the President in the chair—to 
receive the accounts of the preceding year, to appoint 
auditors for the ensuing year, and to fill up the vacancies 
in the Committee. The duties of the Committee shall 
be to form and maintain a fund for the purposes herein- 
after specified, by occasional appeals to the public, to 
receive contributions, and to administer such fund under 
the following regulations :—1. To obtain from the paro- 
chial clergy, and to afford to thém information concern- 
ing district visiting ; for this purpose to enter into imme- 
diate communication with the clergy of each metropolitan 
parish, 2, In such parish where a Visiting Society is in 
operation, to request information respecting its working 
and results, and the general condition of the poor. 3. 
Vhere a Visiting Society exists, but is confined in its 
operations by want of funds, to render assistance. 4. 
here there is no Society, to submit a plan with the offer 
of effective co-operation. 5. Where no provision for 
district visiting exists or seems likely to be made, the 
case to be submitted to the Bishop. The funds shall be 
administered to objects deserving of relief, without dis- 
tinction of religious persuasion:—1. Upon application 
from any incumbent, or from the curate of any non- 
resident incumbent, a grant of money may be made, to be 
employed in the relief of the destitute poor by means of 
gratuitous district vi g- 2. Such incumbent or curate 
shall specify in his application the constitution of the 
i 
i 
i 
i 
i 
District Visiting Society by which he proposes to dispense 
the money granted to him by the Committee, and the 
general objects to which it will be applied. 3. And 
shall render periodically to the Committee an account of 
the actual expenditure of the grant. 4. All grants shall 
be made for one year only, but shall be renewable upon 
similar application, at the discretion of the Committee. 
In distributing the funds of the Association care shall be 
taken not to interfere with the legal administration of 
relief to the poor.’’—The Institution formed on the plan 
of Lord Ranelagh is to be called the ‘‘ Philanthropic 
Union for Refuge for the Destitute.” The address put 
forth by its supporters states that ‘‘ the Committee 
appointed by the public meeting held in Leicester-square 
last month have concluded their labours by a portion of 
the said Committee joining the City Association, which 
provides shelter and relief for only four months in the 
year. But that Committee, in so doing, states, ‘ that 
during the course of their labours, they have ascertained 
that the destitution among the poorer classes is so general, 
and so widely extended, that they feel that a more enlarged 
scheme for its alleviation is desirable.’ The main object 
of the present Committee is to carry out the above sug- 
gestion, by providing permanent houses of refuge. The 
objects proposed to be effected are—]. To provide nightly 
shelter for the houseless. 2. To co-operate and advise 
with other charitable establishments ; and, hereafter, to 
extend the benefits of the Institution as far as funds and 
increased knowledge as to the wants of the poor may 
3 
o 
g 
Court of Common Council.—On Monday a Court was 
held for the purpose of proceeding in the adjourned debate 
upon the report from the committee on the Election Act 
of the 11th George I., delivered on the 7th November, for 
the introduction of a bill into Parliament for amending the 
said Act. The Court was crowded from the commence- 
ment by Aldermen and Commoners, and the greatest 
interest was excited. Alderman Brown’s amendment, 
proposed on the last day of meeting, was then read (the 
original motion being “ that this Court do agree with the 
committee in their report ’?):—‘‘ That it is the bounden 
duty of this Court to protect the freemen of the City of 
London in the full enjoyment of their elective franchise 
as secured to them by law; and that to sanction any 
measure having for its object the admission of non- 
freemen to a participation in the franchise without 
becoming free would be a dereliction of such duty, and 
an act of great and manifest injustice to our constituents 
and fellow-citizens ; and that in the opinion of this Court 
it is highly inexpedient to appeal to Parliament for a 
reform of evils, whether real or supposed, in the muni- 
cipal institutions of this city, unless it shall hereafter 
appear that the powers of the corporation are insufficient 
to effect such reforms as are essentially necessary.” In 
the course of a discussion which ensued, Mr, Ashurst 
read the following amendment, which it was his intention 
to submit, should Alderman Brown’s stand as the original 
motion :—* That it be referred to a ward committee to 
inquire into the power of this corporation to enforce upon 
all persons whether carrying on business wholesale or 
retail within this city the obligation of taking up the free- 
dom of this city, and the propriety of enforcing the same 
upon all traders whomsoever, and particularly upon whole- 
ceive him, when Mr. Rock, Mr. Howett, and others of the 
parishioners endeavoured to follow him into the church, 
but were at first repulsed by the beadle and others who 
had been stationed there by Alderman Gibbs to guard the 
doorway. After a violent scuffle the beadle and officers 
were disarmed, the parishioners rushed through the church 
and presented themselves before the select vestry. Alder- 
man Gibbs commanded Mr. Howett who was amongst the 
foremost to retire from the vestry as a trespasser, and 
told him that he should have to answer for his conduct 
before the Ecclesiastical Court. Mr. Howett refused to 
retire unless removed in custody, and a scene of inde- 
scribable confusion ensued, in the midst of which Alder- 
man Gibbs and the other gentlemen of the select vestry 
packed up their papers and retired amidst loud manifesta- 
tions of tumult and displeasure. Mr. Rock was then 
called to the chair, and proceeded at considerable length 
to comment upon the conduct of Alderman Gibbs and of 
the select vestry, reiterating the Alderman’s position with 
reference not only to the parish of Walbrook but in con 
nexion with the Margate Sea-bathing Infirmary, the 
Sheriffs’ Fund, the Cannon-street Ward, St. Benet’s 
Sherehog, and St, George the Martyr. Mr. R. Cunliffe 
the banker followed, and deprecated the conduct of 
Alderman Gibbs in having sent a letter to Dr. Croly, 
stating that with the approbation of the Archdeacon proper 
persons would be placed at the Church doors to prevent 
the entrance of any persons other than Dr. Croly, the 
members of the select vestry and the vestry clerk, Mr. 
Cunliffe believed that the latter part of this letter con- 
tained a falsehood. He therefore moved that a deputa- 
tion consisting of Mr. Cunliffe, Mr. Flight, and Mr. Rock, 
do wait on Archdeacon Hale and ascertain if he directed 
or approved of any particular and what mode of proceed- 
ing to effect the exclusion of the parishioners of St. 
Stephen Walbrook from the Church or the vestry-room on 
the 15th inst. After some desultory discussion the vestiy 
was adjourned to receive the report of the deputation on 
the result of the interview with Archdeacon Hale. 
East India Company.—The quarterly general court of 
proprietors was held on Wednesday, Mr. Cotton in the 
chair, In regard to the motion at the last meeting 
respecting Scinde, the chairman said that application had 
been made to the Board of Control, and the Earl of Ripon 
had replied that ‘additional papers relating to Scinde 
will be laid before the Court of Directors at the earliest 
period ‘at which in the judgment of the Board such @ 
step can be taken without the risk of prejudice to the 
public interest.’’ The chairman stated the papers already 
ordered to be printed upon this subject would be ready for 
delivery to the proprietors on Tuesday, the 26th inst. Mr. 
Poynder obtained leave to postpone his motion respecting 
the illegality of the annual payment of 6,000/. to the temple 
of Juggernaut to the March court. A resolution was then 
passed admitting Capt. John Paterson to an annuity of 
2004, a year as compensation for maritime services. The 
chairman said that the death of Sir F. Chantrey had caused 
some delay in regard to the statue of Lord Wellesley, but 
measures were in progress to complete the statue forthwith. 
Fire in Guildhall.—On Tuesday shortly before mid- 
night an alarm was raised that the Guildhall was on fire. 
The flames were discovered by one of the watchmen 
bursting through the ceiling of the Town-clerk’s offices, 
sale dealers, with liberty to the said to report 
any information, matter, or other suggestions to this 
Court which they may think fit ; and that the considera- 
tion of the report of the Election Act Committee be 
adjourned until the said committee now to be appointed 
shall have reported to this Court.’’ After a very long dis- 
cussion a division took place, when there appeared for 
Alderman Brown’s amendment, 113; against it, 54— 
majority, 59. Subsequently Mr. Ashurst’s motion, drop- 
ping the words after “ think fit,” was carried by a large 
majority. The effect of the division was to throw out the 
report and the bill. 
The City Solicitor.—Mr. C, Pearson the City Solicitor 
has been prominently before the public during the past 
week, in refutation of an attack made upon the Corpora- 
tion and himself, in a recent number of the ‘‘ Westminster 
Review.’’ Mr. Pearson’s speech at the London Tavern, in 
explanation of these charges, occupied three days in its 
delivery ; and at its close, the meeting adopted the fol- 
lowing resolutions :—1. That, in the opinion of this 
meeting, Mr. Pearson has successfully vindicated his in- 
tegrity and consistency as a public man from the imputa- 
tions cast upon him by an article in the ‘‘ Westminster 
Review” of May last. 2. That they are, moreover, of 
opinion that the amount and sources of Mr, Pearson’s 
income and emoluments, stated in that Review, are, as ex- 
plained by him, at variance with the real facts, and, so far 
as they are able to judge, do not exceed that fair and 
proper remuneration which is necessary to maintain the 
character and position of a gentleman, and a high public 
officer. 8. That this meeting are indebted to Mr. Pearson 
for a large amount of information, which, in detailing his 
long connexion with the Corporation of London, he has 
communicated ; and that his statements have corrected 
many prevailing errors, as well as proved the great advan- 
tages that may be derived from a good system of local 
government based upon a representative principle.” 
St. Stephen’s, Walbrook.—On Friday, this Church was 
the scene of another tumult in connexion with Alderman 
Gibbs’s accounts. It appears that, in pursuance of a 
notice, issued officially by the Alderman, and stating his 
intention of holding a “ select vestry,” to make a rate for 
the poor and other paupers, a large crowd of parishioners 
assembled round the church door, anxiously waiting to be 
admitted. At one o’clock the church door still remaining 
closed against them, the parishioners became clamorous and 
impatient. At this moment Mr. Alvin, one of the select ves- 
try, arrived at the door which was partially opencd to re~ 
underneath the gallery leading to the ord- 
nance chamber. All hands upon the building were at 
once assembled, and the powerful engine kept in the hall 
being well supplied with water the fire was extinguished 
before any considerable damage was done. The fire origi 
nated from the stone slab beneath a patent stove having 
become red hot, and set fire to the joists of the floor. At 
the time it was discovered, it was rapidly progressing 
towards the centre of the building, which but for that cit 
cumstance would probably have been destroyed. Many 
of the valuable papers in the town-clerk’s offices are 
much injured by the water. 
National Art Union.—The annual meeting for the 
distribution of prizes by this lottery was held on Monday 
at the Freemasons’ Tavern. The report stated that the 
Union consisted of about 2804 members; that the value 
of the prizes drawn would be upwards of 1430/., and the 
expenditure had exceeded the receipts by a very consider 
able sum, the former being 5000/., the latter about 29000. 
The successful drawers for the highest prizes were—Mr- 
Norris Best, Bilston, 150 guineas; Messrs. Rowe and 
Norman, 100 guineas; Mr. Pugh, Parkfield, Wolvet- 
hampton, 50 guineas; Mr. D. Yonge, Exeter College 
Oxford, 50 guineas. In addition to these there were tw? 
prizes of 30 guineas, four of 25 guineas, twenty of 20 
guineas, twenty-one of 15 guineas, nineteen of 10 guinea’ 
and one of 6 guineas, besides a print given to each perso? 
at the time of subscribing. ( 
King’s College.—The Rev. Dr. Jelf, Canon of Christ 
Church, has been appointed Principal of this College, and 
Mr. Hullah has been appointed Vocal Professor. The 
students on Monday presented their late Principal, Bishop 
Lonsdale, with three elaborate silver salvers asa test!- 
monial of their esteem on his retiring from the college. 
Commission of Lunacy.—On Tuesday a commission of 
lunacy was opened at Kennington before issioner 
Barlow and sixteen freeholders of the county of Surrey» 
of whom Mr. Puckle, chairman of the Surrey sessions; 
was the foreman. The subject of the inquiry was Mr. 
Arthur Legent Pearce, formerly a surgeon at KensingtoOs 
but now an inmate of Beihlehem Hospital during het 
Majesty’s pleasure, having been acquitted on a plea of 
insanity by a jury at the Central Criminal Court 1 
November, 1840, when he was tried for having discharged 
a loaded pistol with felonious intent at his wife, an 
grievously wounding her. Mr. Pearce was a man of high 
attainments, eminent in his profession, and the author of 
several works; and during his confinement he had em- 
