supported by the rector, the Rev. Dr. Spry, John
Whitmore, Esq. (churchwarden), Charles Elliott, Esq.,
A. Daniell, Esq., C. George, Esq., G. S. Spencer Smith,
Esq., and a number of the leading and influential
members of the present vestry and ratepayers of
Marylebone. The children, 135 in number, were present in
the gallery, and their appearance created the most lively
sympathy. From the report, it appeared that this was
the only charity school in the wealthy parish of
Marylebone, and it was so excellently conducted that her
Majesty the Queen had taken it as a model for her own
school at Windsor. Notwithstanding this, all that had
been raised during the year was £800, and the
committee were £900 in debt. An earnest appeal, therefore,
to the wealthy inhabitants of Marylebone was requisite
to sustain it, or, after existing for 103 years, the institution
must fall. We regret to add that the subscriptions
were by no means adequate either to the excellence of
the institution or worthy of the most wealthy parish in
the kingdom.

A Meeting of Delegates from the various Literary,
Scientific, and Mechanics' Institutions in Connection
with the Society of Arts, was held at the Society's
Rooms on the 10th inst.; the delegates, about 400 in
number, having previously gone in a body to visit the
Crystal Palace at Sydenham by invitation of the
Directors. At the meeting Prince Albert presided. In
opening the proceedings he said: "Three years have now
elapsed since this society last distributed its medals, and
other rewards and testimonials. The interruption which
has taken place has been owing to the Great Exhibition
of 1851, the excitement it produced, and the large share
it occupied in the public attention. In the maturing and
carrying out of that Exhibition this society took a most
active and effective part, and I am sure you will agree
with me, that they have no reason to be ashamed of
their exertions. During that space of time great
progress has been made, and the prizes and rewards
that will be distributed to-day show that the inventive
genius and skill of the people of this country are making
rapid strides to ultimate perfection. Mr. Solly (the
secretary) read the report, and said that though for
three years the society had not distributed prizes, it
had done more than ever to advance the arts and
manufactures of the country. If the prizes were now fewer,
and smaller, it was because the altered spirit of the
times rendered such encouragement less needed." Prince
Albert then distributed the various prizes, after which
thanks were voted to his royal highness.

The Camp on Chobham Common, formed for military
duty and manœuvres on a great scale, was occupied on
the 14th inst. by the troops for whom it was destined.
The force assembled is from 8,000 to 10,000 strong. It
comprises four regiments of cavalry, three battalions of
Guards, two brigades of Infantry, each comprising
three regiments; one troop of Royal Horse Artillery,
three batteries of Horse Artillery, a company of Sappers,
and a Pontoon train. The cavalry is composed of the
1st Life Guards, the 6th Dragoon Guards, the 13th
Light Dragoons, and the 17th Lancers, commanded by
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. Colonel
H. Bentinck commands the battalions of the Grenadier,
Coldstream, and Scots Fusilier Guards. Sir De Lacy
Evans commands the 1st Infantry Brigade, which
consists of the 38th, the 93rd, and the 2nd battalion of the
Rifle Brigade. Major-General Fane commands the
42nd, the 50th, and the 95th, forming the 2nd Infantry
Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Bloomfield commands
the Royal Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Vicars the
Sappers and Miners, and Colonel H. D. Jones the
Pontoon train. The entire Division is under the
command of Lord Seaton, Lieutenant-Colonel B. Wood
being Assistant-Adjutant-General, and Colonel Torrens
Assistant-Quartermaster-General.

The annual meeting of the Society for the Amendment
of the Law was held on the 15th, Lord Brougham in
the chair.—The report for the past year stated that a
conference had been held in London, in November, on the
assimilation of the mercantile law; and a committee had
been appointed to consider the whole subject having
especial reference to the law of partnership. The
Committee on tribunals of commerce had reported against
them; admitting, at the same time, the necessity of providing
for the settlement of commercial disputes. Resolutions
condemnatory of the present system of Ecclesiastical
Courts had been agreed to, but the subject was not
disposed of. With respect to the law of landlord and
tenant, the Committee recommended, that as the landlord,
in the absence of any agreement to the contrary,
was entitled to compensation from his tenant for any
injury done to his farm, so the tenant should be
compensated for any improvements he might make: there
ought also to be a special tribunal to adjudicate on these
claims until some simple rules could be laid down in
reference to them. Of new members, 50, including eight
Members of Parliament, had joined the Society's ranks
during the past year; the total number at present is 346.
The receipts for the year were £664, and the expenses
£604. After the reading of the report. Lord Wharncliife
moved a resolution, that it is desirable the Legislature
should inquire into the present condition of the Inns of
Court, "with a view to their restoration to the purposes
for which they were originally designed." But this was
held to cast a censure prematurely on an honourable
body; and Mr. Webster carried an amendment, simply
expressing an opinion that the Legislature "should
direct an inquiry into the conduct and revenue of the
Inns of Court, and the purposes for which they were
originally founded."

The annual meeting of the National Society for
Promoting the Education of the Poor was held on the 15th, in
the Central School-room, Westminster. The Archbishop
of Canterbury presided. The report stated that grants
from the Queen's Letter Fund, voted in previous years,
had been paid for aid in building 190 schools, providing
accommodation for 23,799 children, together with 76
teachers' residences. No fewer than 189 schools had
been received into direct union with the Society during
the past year; making the total number of schools now
in union 10,020. The last paragraph of the report speaks
of the disputed question respecting the use of the Church
Catechism. "During the past year applications have
been made to the committee from several quarters to
sanction particular interpretations of their terms of union.
The committee have declined to do so, considering that
the language of those terms is suffciently clear and
intelligible, and that the principle embodied cannot be
mistaken. With respect to the management of schools,
the committee, having no power to interfere, cannot
undertake either to enforce the observance of the terms
of union, or to relax the obligation incurred by accepting
them. These questions are left to the good faith of the
managers of schools and the due oversight of the bishops
of the church; and the committee have full confidence
that the managers of schools in union will so act up to
the conditions upon which they have received aid from
the Society as may best, under God's blessing promote
the object for which it was incorporated—'the education
of the poor in the principles of the Established Church.'"
—Lord Redesdale moved, and Mr. Beresford Hope
seconded, a motion for the adjournment of the meeting;
not to stifle discussion, but to avoid exciting displays.
Mr. Archdeacon Denison opposed the motion. Referring
to the Catechism dispute, he expressed a hope that the
meeting would not lie under the stigma of having raised
a great question, and yet refused to decide upon it. He
demanded a specific declaration, did they or did they not
approve the grants made to schools where the children of
Nonconformists are instructed? Is instruction in the
Catechism to be made a sine quâ non? The Reverend
Downes Willis supported Mr. Denison; but he was
opposed by the Rev. Mr. Keble, the Rev. Canon Trevor,
the Rev. Prebendary Oxenham, and the Bishop of
London. Mr. Keble stated that he had presented a
memorial to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the
committee respecting the mode of teaching the Liturgy
and Catechism in the schools in union with the Society,
and suggesting inquiry. That inquiry had been made,
and the committee reported that the terms of the union
had, with very few exceptions, been faithfully observed.
He was satisfied with that report. They were about to
submit the documents on which that report was founded,
and he thought that time ought to be given to the
Society to examine them. This was the general
argument on that side. The Bishop of London pointed out
that it is not competent to the annual meeting or to the