purchase and improve existing dwellings, or to build new
ones in densely populated districts; to diminish, as far
as possible, the evils which arise from the present system
of sub-letting, by which both the real owner and the
occupier suffer; to show, by periodical statements of
expenditure and receipts, that the erection of new or the
improvement of existing dwelling-houses for the working
classes constitutes as safe an investment as is offered by
those companies whose avowed object is return for
capital; to show that, by the adoption of the system
acted on by this society, as regards the collection of
rents and general management, landlords may greatly
improve their property; to ameliorate generally the
domestic condition of the working classes. In the course
of the evening subscriptions amounting to £900 were
collected.

The Number of Persons Employed on the Railways
of Great Britain, is stated, in a Return to the House of
Commons just printed, to have been, on the 30th of June
last, 106,501. Of these, 265 were secretaries and managers,
42 treasurers, 309 engineers, 534 superintendants,
190 storekeepers, 204 accountants and cashiers, 986
inspectors and timekeepers, 1704 station-masters, 206
draughtsmen, 5,564 clerks, 1,441 foremen, 2,397 engine-
drivers, 2,460 assistant engine-drivers and firemen,
2,257 guards and brakesmen, 1,605 switchmen, 2,088
gatekeepers, 1,788 policemen, 10,499 porters and messengers,
4,909 plate-layers, 20,591 artificers, 40,747 labourers,
and 2,753 in miscellaneous employment.

Two parliamentary papers just printed contain the
reports of the Queen's Colleges at Galway and Belfast
for the academic year 1851-52. In the case of the Belfast
college a considerable increase in the number of students
has taken place within the last year, and in both colleges
the reports of the professors engaged in the instruction
of the students convey a very favourable idea of their
application and improvement. In the Belfast college
the number of matriculated students had increased to
120, against 110 and 90 in the two preceding years,
while the non-matriculated students are not so numerous
as at the opening of the college. In the Galway college
the numbers are as follow:—1849-50, matriculated
students, 64; non-matriculated, 4. 1850-51, matriculated,
23; non-matriculated, 2. 1851-52, matriculated, 32;
non-matriculated, 5. The total of students received
since the opening of the college is 130, and of these 67
were Roman Catholics, 48 Protestants, and 15
Presbyterians.

A general meeting of the magistrates of the county
of Surrey was held on the 19th inst., to take into
consideration a Plan for Reforming Juvenile Offenders,
in connexion with the Surrey Society for the employment
and reformation of discharged prisoners, which
having been established in 1824, became dormant, and
was revived in 1839, since which time it has been in a
languishing condition, and has worked with very
indifferent success. Mr. Puckle, chairman of the bench of
magistrates, explained that their object was not so much
to reform prisoners as to provide for the reformation of
discharged prisoners who appeared to be penitent. One
of the proposed means of the society was emigration
under proper guarantees; another, the reconciliation in
certain cases of the lapsed with their families, and their
restoration by this means to society. They also proposed
to supply handicraftsmen with tools, in order to break
the pressure of temptation in their case. It was
proposed that the women who seemed anxious to enter
upon a new course of life should be placed at the
Elizabeth Fry school, or Mrs. Neeld's school, and the
males at the Red Hill school, or the Colonial Institution
at Westminster. Resolutions in favour of the object of
the meeting were passed, a committee was formed, and
numerous liberal subscriptions were announced.

The Present Condition of British India and the Means
of Improving it, formed the subject of a large public
meeting at Manchester, on the 21st inst. The following
resolutions were unanimously adopted:—"That the
constitution of the Indian Government is not adapted to
secure the welfare of the people of India, and has not
promoted their best interests, nor provided for that wise
administration of affairs which it is the first duty of
Government to afford to the people over which it
rules. That abundant evidence has been adduced
to prove that, under the British Government, the
progress of the people in industry and wealth has
been retarded; the administration of justice has been
defective; the nature and mode of taxation has
been oppressive; public works have been inadequate for
the purposes of communication, navigation, and irrigation;
and that, altogether, the people have been left in
a state of misery disgraceful to their rulers. That
this meeting believes that no security can be given for
the reform of abuses in India but by a thorough reform
of its Home Government, and entertains the opinion
that the Court of Directors and proprietors of East
India stock should be entirely disconnected from the
government of India, which for the future should in this
country consist of a minister and a council appointed by
the Crown, and directly responsible to Parliament."
Petitions to both Houses of Parliament are to be
presented by Lord Glenelg and Mr. Bright.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

The Queen was safely delivered of a Prince on
Thursday, the 7th inst. Summonses were immediately
issued for a Privy Council, when a form of prayer and
thanksgiving was determined on. Shortly afterwards
the park and tower guns were fired in celebration of
the event. Her Majesty and the infant prince have
progressed most favourably.

The Queen has presented the executors of the late
Mr. Neeld, who left his large property to the Crown,
with £1000 each: Mr. Neeld had left them only £100.
The Queen has also granted an annuity of £100 to
Mrs. Neale, who saved Mr. Neeld's life on his making
a rash attempt on it during a stay at North Marston,
where he now lies buried. Mrs. Neale is a daughter of
the late Reverend Mr. Pinnock, who was incumbent of
the village.

The Rev. A. G. Jacob, D.D., has been elected
Master of Christ's Hospital, in the room of the late Dr.
Rice. The salary is £800 a year, with a residence.

The Magistrates and Town Council of Edinburgh
have presented the freedom of the city to the Earl of
Carlisle "in testimony of their regard for him as an
enlightened statesman, their admiration of his active
and generous philanthropy, and their gratitude for his
services in promoting the social and intellectual elevation
of the people."

On the decease of the late Duke of Wellington, there
remained in the possession of his family three Ribands
of the Order of the Garter. The latest worn by the
lamented hero has recently been presented to, and
graciously accepted by, her Majesty. A second, of very
old and historical interest, is retained in the family;
and the third has been sent by the present Duke of
Wellington to the Marquis of Londonderry, upon whom
the garter of the great Duke was conferred by the
Queen.

Prince Albert has headed a subscription list with a
donation of £25, towards the erection of a monument to
the memory of Dr. Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination.
The statue is to be a colossal bronze figure, to be
erected in the metropolis. The model has been
designed by Mr. Calder Marshall.

Viscount Enfield has been summoned to the House of
Peers by the title of Baron Strafford, of Harmondsworth,
in the county of Middlesex.

The French Emperor has made Rossini, the celebrated
composer, a commander, and Ponsard the dramatist,
an officer, of the Legion of Honour.

Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Mr. Justice
Halliburton, the author of "Sam Slick," arrived at
Liverpool on the 11th inst. A soirée in honour of
Mrs. Stowe was held at Glasgow on the 15th, in the
City Hall, which was filled by 2000 persons, chiefly
ladies; Mr. M'Dowall presiding. Mr. Stowe, Professor
of Theological Literature at the Andover Seminary in
Massachusetts, was also present. Dr. Wardlaw moved
a long resolution, partly an eulogistic criticism of
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," and partly the expression of
welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Stowe. This was seconded by
Dr. Robson. Mr. Stowe subsequently spoke. Two
denominations, he said, the Scotch Seceders and the