to have a Minister of Justice. The Lord Chancellor
would be thus relieved of a great part of his labour, and
could perform the duty of such a Minister." Mr.
Stewart concluded by moving the appointment of a
committee "to consider the propriety of establishing a
Minister of Justice in this country."—The motion was
adopted.

The ninth of November, Lord Mayor's Day, was
celebrated with all the formalities prescribed by ancient
custom. The "Show" was got up with the help of Astley's
Theatre, even more elaborately successful, and the day
being fine, the exhibition went off to the great satisfaction
of the thousands who crowded the streets and
windows. An allegorical pageant was a conspicuous
part of the procession. First came "Justice,"
represented by a very dignified lady in appropriate costume,
and seated upon a throne some 20 feet above the ground.
Next came "the Nations," represented by gentlemen
on horseback. The Frenchman—an exquisite of the
first water—had precedence in this array. Italy and
Spain followed, and then came Turkey, whose appearance
was the signal for a shout of encouragement from
all quarters of the crowd. Russia followed at a respectful
distance behind the Mussulman, and on the moment
of his recognition the "Bravos" with which Turkey
had been greeted were quickly changed into derisive
cries of a most uncomplimentary description. A
gold-digger's cart, drawn by two oxen, with most enticing
nuggets at either corner and a fierce-looking "Digger"
surveying them from the cart, formed a very popular
feature. Another pretty sight was a couple of country
girls on horseback bearing implements of industry and
attended by a swain similarly caparisoned. Miss Avery,
an equestrian attached to Astley's Amphitheatre,
supported one of these characters, and gained great applause
from the spectators by her grace and accomplished
horsemanship. The Grand Tableau designated "Peace
and Prosperity," immediately preceded the Lord
Mayor's State Coach. This subject was so elaborate as
to defy description. The principal objects were two
ladies, seated almost in mid air, over the representation
of a globe—a sleeping lion reposing below them. The
formality of swearing in the new Lord Mayor (Mr.
Alderman Sidney) before the Barons of Exchequer,
took place as usual, after the customary complimentary
speeches from the Recorder of London and the Lord
Chief Baron. The banquet in the Guildhall was of
more than ordinary costliness and splendour. About
2000 persons were present, and the visitors included
several of her Majesty's ministers, foreign ambassadors,
&c. There was little that was remarkable in the
speeches. Mr. Buchanan, the new American Ambassador,
said, that "in his native land he had often read
descriptions of this gorgeous pageant of the middle ages;
that the reality had quite equalled the description, and
had made a deep and lasting impression on his imagination
in this utilitarian age."  The Earl of Aberdeen spoke
vaguely about the policy of ministers; "it was," he said,
"a policy of peace, but that the occasion might arise when
war could not be avoided except at the expense of our
country's honour." Lord John Russell alluded to the
inquiry going on respecting the management of the
affairs of the city of London. He was gratified to find
that the Corporation did not shrink from that inquiry,
but manfully courted the most searching investigation;
and he believed that by promoting useful reforms the
Corporation would best promote their own stability and
their efficiency as an element in the government of
the country. Lord Palmerston, with characteristic
gallantry, toasted the Lady Mayoress and the ladies.
Lord Campbell stood up stoutly for the Corporation of
London and the Lord Mayor's Show. He congratulated
the Corporation on the magnificence of the present
festival, which indicated anything rather than decay or
annihilation. Rumours had been circulated that the
Corporation was about to be swept away, but he trusted
that it would last for ages to come, and that in the reign
of King Albert the Tenth the Corporation of London
would entertain the sovereigns, ministers, and judges,
and as magnificently as they did on the present occasion.
He was positively alarmed to think of the abolition of
the Lord Mayor, and was sure that if his noble friend
near him (Lord Aberdeen) were to send despatches to
the continental courts announcing the event, the
conclusion would be that a revolution had begun. He
hoped that no such result would take place, but that all
necessary reforms would be conceded, because he could
assure his City friends that to reform was really to
conserve. The last speaker was Mr. Sheriff Wire, who, in
returning thanks on his health being given, expressed
his determination, while upholding the privileges of the
city as far as he could, to advocate whatever reforms
were requisite and in conformity with the spirit of the
age.

The following interesting Letter from Mr. Roebuck on
the subject of Education, has been sent to the Mayor of
Sheffield, in reply to an invitation to attend a soirée of
the Mechanics' Library:—"I am sorry to say 'No' to
any request of yours; but as my great object is now to
take my place in the House of Commons next year, I
rigidly observe every rule of conduct prescribed to me
by which I am told I shall be able to obtain my wish.
Among other things, all excitement is forbidden; and I
was blamed for making my appearance at the Cutlers'
feast. All speaking and public meetings are especially
proscribed; and I am ordered to be as quiet and calm as
my nature will permit. To be absent from your gathering
will be to me a subject of great regret. I say this
sincerely, and without affectation. Education has ever
been with me a subject of the greatest interest. My
first efforts of a public man were to promote it, and my
last wishes will be in its favour. All other subjects in
comparison with it appear to me insignificant; and could
I see the people of this country once impressed with a due
sense of its importance, I should then have no fear as
to our future. But at present I see sectarian differences
and the private interests that thrive upon division in the
way of all improvement; and it would seem that to
some minds ignorance of everything appears better than
a creed differing from their own. Those people seem to
forget that morality among the various sects of England
is the same, and that a man may be honest and a good
citizen, no matter to what sect he belongs. But the.fact
is, that it is not religious belief that stands in our way
so much as human pride. What is feared is the top of
power, not error in belief. But whatever may be the
cause of opposition, the opposition itself, to all attempts
at legislative aid in support of education, is at the
present time so formidable as really to be a complete
obstruction. In this state of things I look upon mechanics'
institutions as neutral ground, and one of our chief
means of educating the people. By this means the
people will, I hope, be able to do for themselves what
the State ought to do for them, and they, therefore,
have my warmest support. Again I say, would that I
could be with you; but my first duty is to be again, if
possible, in Parliament—to that I make everything
yield; and I therefore most reluctantly deny myself the
pleasure of being at your soirée. I hope this my excuse
will appear to you sufficient, and that you will not think
me lukewarm in the good cause."

A guard of a Glasgow omnibus has been refused the
privilege of Baptism for his Child, on the ground of
his attending the omnibus on Sundays. The matter
came before the Free Church Presbytery on a reference
from the kirk-session of the man's church, to whom he
had applied for the privilege. Mr. Paxton (the minister)
said the guard attended church forenoon and afternoon,
his avocations being followed before and after church
hours. Mr. Gibson moved a resolution—"That, while
the Presbytery must continue to hold all systematic
labour for gain or pleasure and all traffic on the Lord's-day
to be sinful, and contrary to the fourth commandment,
and the spirit of God's Word especially expressed
in Isaiah, lvii. 13; and while all the kirk-sessions of this
church are bound to make the violation of the fourth
commandment a subject of church discipline as much
and as truly as the violation of any other commandment
of the moral law; nevertheless, considering the present
state of the question of Sabbath desecration, the Presbytery
approve of the conduct of East Campbell-street
kirk-session in referring to them for advice, sustain the
reference, and further instruct the said session to deal
with the man with a view to induce him to give up an
employment that involves the habitual violation o. the
fourth commandment, and renders it impossible that he