THE ALDERMANIC GOWN OF BREAD-STREET WARD.--It is supposed that there
will be a hard contest for the Aldermanic Gown of Bread street, vacant
by the resignation of Alderman Lainson, who on Thursday last addressed a
letter to the Lord Mayor, announcing his determination to retire, in
consequence of ill health.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.--The works are now about to commence in good
earnest for forming Victoria Park. Great progress is being made by the
Commissioners of the Metropolis Improvements in the formation of the new
street at the West-end. The new street leading from Oxford street to
Holborn has been marked out by the erection of poles along the line.
Last week several houses were disposed of by auction, for the purpose of
being taken down. Some delay has arisen in respect to the purchase of
the houses which have formed the locality known as Little Ireland. Among
the buildings to be removed is the chapel situated at the top of
Plumtree street. In this street the whole of the houses on the west side
will be shortly removed, for the new street which will lead from
Waterloo bridge. In Belton street, in the line for this intended street,
the inmates of several houses received notice to quit yesterday. The
occupiers of the several houses forming the clump at the end of Monmouth
street, in Holborn, have also received similar notices. Similar progress
has been made with the new street communicating between Coventry street
and Long acre. The line has been cleared from Castle street to Long Acre
on the east. On the west side the inmates of the houses, it is expected,
will in a few days have notice to quit. Improvements will also be made
between Long acre and St Giles's; and in Upper St Martin's lane the
whole of the houses on the west side will be removed, the greater part
of which are already taken down.
REPORT ON THE MODEL PRISON.--The commissioners appointed to superintend
the management of the Pentonville Prison have just presented their
report for the approval of the Secretary of State. The report states,
that it is the intention of the Secretary of State to appropriate the
prison to the reception of convicts between eighteen and thirty-five
years, under sentence of transportation not exceeding fifteen years; and
that the convicts so selected shall undergo a term of probationary
discipline for eighteen months in the prison, when they will be removed
to Van Diemen's land under their original sentences.
RETURNS OF THE ROYAL MINT.--The Master of the Mint has issued his annual
return of the work done in the refinery of the Mint, and of the assays
made during the past year on other accounts than those of Government,
and of public and private bodies, in conformity with an order of the
house on a motion made by Mr Hume. The return estimates the amount of
bullion refined in the year 1842, under this head, at 940 lbs 0 oz. 19
dwts. of gold, and 24,376 lbs. 11 oz. of silver, the amount received by
the refiner being about 600_l._ The number of assays made in the same
period is put down at 2,158, at a rate of charge of 2s. for each assay.
POST-OFFICE LAW.--It may be interesting at this season, when so many
persons who are out of town have their letters forwarded to them in the
country, to see the answer to an inquiry whether a letter forwarded
after delivery at one address to another in the country is liable to
second postage:--"General Post office, Sept. 7, 1843.--Sir,--I am
commanded by the Postmaster-General to inform you, in reply to your
communication of the 29th ultimo, that a letter re-directed from one
place to another is legally liable to additional postage for the further
service. I am, Sir, &c. &c."
SINGULAR EMPLOYMENT OF THE POLICE.--Under an order recently issued by
the commissioners of the metropolitan police, a number of the officers
of each division have been actively engaged in collecting information
and making out a return of all new houses completed since the year 1830,
in which year the police force was established; all new houses commenced
but not finished; all new churches, new chapels, new schools, and other
public buildings; all new streets and squares formed since that period,
with their names and the name of the neighbourhood.