I, accompanied by a legal friend, waited upon them at their lodgings at the Queen's Head, and informed them that as they were appointed by the crown to inquire into the state of municipal corporations, and as I believed that such a corporation existed in Gateshead, I hoped they would feel justified in extending their inquiries to that borough. They answered that Gateshead was not included in their list of corporations, and therefore they would require a prima facie case to be shown them, of the existence of a corporation there, to justify their interference. I laid before them such evidence as I had collected-and they were satisfied. They issued their summonses to the stewards; and at the appointed hour the commissioners and the stewards, and several of the inhabi tants of Gateshead, assembled in the vestry. There was considerable reluctance shown to give the commissioners any information; and a gentleman of the name of Hind, who was a Boroughholder, and had been a practising solicitor, protested strongly on the occasion against the idea of Gateshead being a corporation. At last, however, the commissioners were allowed to examine the contents of the iron-chest in the Anchorage. They told Mr. Hind that all they had seen and heard favoured the presumption that Gateshead was a corporation; but that if, on consideration, they should be of a contrary opinion, no use, of course, would be made of their notes, and nothing more would be heard of them. But something more was heard of them. The learned commissioners considered that Gateshead was a corporation; and the government, acting on their report, included it in the bill. Now I am quite ready to defend the course I took on this occasion. And it is strange and melancholy enough, that some of the Boroughholders-nay, some of the memorialists themselves-were tremendous advocates for a corporation- and tremendous advocates for the application of the bill to Gateshead-until they discovered that it was likely to interfere with their private interests. So soon as that deplorable probability was discovered, a corporation became the most odious and abominable thing imaginable, and its advocates were denounced just as loudly as they had been previously bepraised. (Applause.) To elucidate this part of the subject, I may mention that, not long after my reply to the "monster indictment" had been published, I met one of my accusers in the street. He had the modesty to stop me, and the following dialogue took place :-The complainant said, "Well! I see, sir, you have been making very free with me in your reply to the memorial to Sir James Graham?" "Yes," I answered, "I have. You made very free with me, you know; and I have followed your example." Complainant retorted, "Well! all you can say against me is, I have changed my mind." "Very likely," I replied, "but, you know, you cannot say the same of me." (Great laughter.) After this sample of the dialogue, gentlemen, I think it will not be necessary to continue it further. But, simple as this interview may appear to you, it unfortunately explains the whole secret of this miserable business. The real cause of quarrel with me is, that I have not changed my mind. I am to-day what I was yesterday:-I entertain in 1844 the same opinions which I professed in 1832. Had I swerved from those opinions-had I looked on interest instead of principle-had 1 regarded self as much as I have disre. garded it-had I sacrificed on the altar of selfishness the associations of my earlier days - I would have been placed, perhaps, in a very different position from that which I now occupy-I should have been, very likely, a member of the "four-and-twenty!"-(loud laughter) the only distinction which it is in the power of the Boroughholders to bestow. Instead of a town-councillor popularly elected-instead of a magistrate defending the public in their rights, and defended by the public in return, I should have been rewarded and bepraised to the poor extent of Boroughholder ability. But I thank my stars that I have been spared such a degradationthat I have been enabled to uphold the integrity of my principles, and to cultivate the consistent fellowship of my associates, without dishonour and without reproach. (Applause.) Had I imagined for a moment that the office of magistrate was to interfere with my free-will as a citizen-to deny me the common rights of Englishmen - to transform me from a freeman into a puppet -to compel me to repudiate the principles and to disgrace the memory of departed associates in the cause of freedom-I should have spurned the falselystyled honour as an insult, and trampled the commission

under my feet. (Loud cheers.) But it was never so intended. And the result of this pitiful conspiracy against my friend Mr. Davis and myself, proves that it never was; for however the Boroughholders may have flattered themselves to the contrary, they have found to their mortification that the evil spirit-the despotism of faction and of party, has not yet reached the odious climax at which they hoped it had arrived, and that men in power, be they Tories or bel they Whigs, have not yet dared, nor, as I fondly hope and believe, will they ever dare, for the gratification of a few revengeful and mercenary partisans, to outrage the great principles of British liberty and justice. (Great applause.) And now, gentlemen, let me congratulate you on the consequences, distinct from local matters, which may result from this glorious assemblage of the people of Gateshead. Depend upon it, gentlemen, there are many more places than Gateshead that have their "hills" and their "Boroughholders." To such places the proceedings of this day will be a guiding star. They will gather confidence from your success, and strength from the glorious victory you have achieved. It is not the value of the Windmill-hills of Gateshead alone, but of the fields, and greens, and commons of a hundred other communities, which is concerned in this struggle. We have conquered-but the fruits of our conquest will be gathered by millions of our countrymen. There is not a corner of the kingdom into which the proceedings of this day will not penetrate, and in which that penetration will not be useful. And it is not, I trust, too much to expect, that a sense of justice-or say liberality, if they will-may yet overtake the Boroughholders of Gateshead. Instead of creeping attempts at compromise, let us hope they will, at last, come forward like men and like Englishmen, confessing that they have been in the wrong, and determining, henceforth, to be in the right. (Applause.) Let us hope that, like Mr. Strutt and Sir Robert Peel, (but far more called upon than either,) they will now come forth from the selfishness in which they have so unwisely indulged, and give up with a good grace what they have so long withheld. What could be the difference to the wealthy Boroughholders of Gateshead, whether the question were compromised or not? Why, not above a few shillings in the year. Let them give up the property at once. The hills would make an arboretum quite as beautiful-nay, perhaps more so than that of Derby; and surely the example of Mr. Strutt and Sir Robert Peel-of men who, like the Boroughholders, have been indebted for their fortunes to the labours of their working countrymen-ought not to be lost upon the present possessors of the Windmill hills. Let us hope, at least, that it may not; and that one consequence of the triumph which we are this night celebrating will be the immediate and unqualified relinquishment of the Borough Property to the uses of the public (Cheers.) I have detained you, I fear, too long (cheers, and cries of "No, no!")-yet there is one question which I have often asked-which I have no doubt many of you have often askedand which I shall endeavour to answer before I sit down. We have heard a great deal about who pulled down the walls-but we have never been satisfactorily informed as to who built the walls. This is an important question :-because the builders of the walls-or the persons to whom the Boroughholders had delegated such a power-are the real plaintiffs and prosecutors against Mr. Davis and myself. Now, to satisfy myself on this head, I addressed a note to Mr. Swinburne, a few days ago, requesting to be informed the date of the deed by which the property on the hills, &c., was conveyed by the Boroughholders to trustees. I requested to know also the names of the trustees, and whether the eight memorialists bad signed the deed. To this letter I received an answer to the effect that the deed was dated April 30, 1840-and that it had been executed by Messrs. W Kenmir, James Pollock, W. Hymers, J. Lister, sen., J. Lister, jun., George Watson, Thomas Glaholm, James Honeyman, Forster Walker, and Nicholas Andrews-but not by George Wailes. Mr. Swinburne seems not to have understood that I wished for the names of the trustees, because he does not particularize them; but I found the names, nevertheless, in a document in my possession, dated December 5, 1840-which states that the subscribers thereunto were trustees under the trust deed duly empowered to convey the property to purchasers. These trustees, therefore, and no other persons, are the parties, and the only parties, responsible for the building of the walls. Messrs. Lister, Watson, Andrews, and Co., had nothing what. ever to do with the property-they had sought refuge from their

difficulties under the wings of the trustees. And these trustees, gentlemen, I find were-"James Pollock, William Hymers, and John Lister." But as Mr. Pollock, disgusted by the proceedings of the Boroughholders some time ago, expressed, in my hearing, his determination to have nothing more to do with the trust, I, of course, exonerate him from any participation in the building of the walls. The remaining trustees, and, consequently, wall-builders-the real plaintiffs in the action-were William Hymers and John Lister. I have heard it whisperedbut the thing is too atrocious to be credible-that one of these men sat in judgment upon Mr. Davis and me during the investigation. It is impossible-at least it is incredible-that any man, honoured, by the confidence of his sovereign, with the great prerogative of doing justice between man and man, should sit, as it has been insinuated that one of these trustees sat, as a judge in his own cause-and not only as judge, but as leading counsel, cross-examining the witnesses, and conducting the prosecutionimitating, in short, on a vulgar scale, both the chief-justice and the attorney-general of an Irish Court of Queen's Bench! (Hear, hear, hear.) I conclude, gentlemen, thanking you most sincerely for your kindness, in the hope that, for the sake of justice, and more especially for the sake of the Gateshead bench of justices, no such scene, as has been reported to have taken place, can have been allowed to occur within the precincts of the borough of Gateshead. (Loud cheers.)

Mr. DAVIS was received on rising with general and hearty acclamations, and said:-Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, after listening to the excellent speech of my friend Mr. Brockett, it would be presumption in me to attempt anything beyond a simple expression of thanks; but though I neither possess the talents nor the eloquence of my worthy friend, you must not for a moment suppose that I am less sensible of the honour you have done me. (Applause.) I assure you it gives me the greatest pleasure to see such a number of worthy and respectable gentlemen assembled here this evening-assembled to express their approval of our conduct, and to congratulate us on our escape from one of the most treacherous attacks that ever disgraced civilized society-an attack that can only be compared to that of the base and cowardly assassin. (Applause.) But fortunately, gentlemen, the injury and disgrace which they intended to inflict upon us, has recoiled upon themselves with tenfold interest. Sir James Graham has plainly given them to understand that he did not believe them. I dare say, gen. tlemen, you are all aware that I offered to prove that all the charges brought against me in the celebrated memorial were false-that they did not contain one word of truth from beginning to end. My accusers were prudent enough not to accept the challenge. Had they ventured to meet inquiry, I was fully prepared to prove that some of their leading men knew positively that the memorial was false when they signed it. But what could you expect from men who could commit such a heartless robbery upon the health and recreation of the industrious population of Gateshead? (Applause.) I certainly do regret the farcical exhibition at the Home Office on one account; for should the inhabitants of Gateshead, at any future time, find it necessary to apply to that office, I am afraid they will only be laughed at-as, I understand, the Gateshead memorial has been a fund of amusement amongst the juveniles of the establishment. (Laughter.) One thing I think it my duty to notice before I sit down-that is, the report or opinion that has got abroad, that Mr. Swinburne was a party to this discreditable transaction- that he was the writer of the memorial. I beg leave to state, that I know, from good authority, that Mr. Swinburne had nothing whatever to do with it. He declined the honour, though he was the Boroughholders' Secretary. (Loud and long-continued cheers.) I once more beg leave to thank you most kindly and sincerely, and to assure you that what has occurred will not turn me either to the right or to the left-that as long as I have a seat in the Gateshead town-council I will fearlessly do my duty. (Loud applause.)

Mr. N. HANN sung, with excellent effect, and amidst loud applause and laughter, the song of "THE WINDMILL HILLS," to the tune of "The Fine Old English Gentleman."

Aw'll sing ye a bran-new sang, myed by a bran-new poet,
That nivver in bis life before a bit of poetry wrote;

And he wad nivver yet begun, if duty did not call

For him to raise his Muse, and sing about the Borough Wall, (laughter), Like a true-hearted Gyetsider, all of the prizzent time.

Noo, ye maun ken, within a mile frae wor awd canny toon,
Some hills there is where we bev played and sported late and soon,
At stealy claes and prison base, and racing up and doon;
And this was in wor schoolboy days, when oft we played the troon,
(laughter),
Like mony another Gyetsider, &c.
'Twas there wor mothers dried wor claes, to keep us neat and clean,
That at the Sunday-school and chorch we might be decent seen;
And o' the Sunday efternuins, wor faithers tuik us there,
To get the toon-stink blawn away, and snuff the country air, (laughter),
Like true-hearted Gyetsiders, &c.

And when to young men we grew up, wi' lasses we did gan
To walk, to talk of marrying, and whe should be wor man;
And tony a pleasant crack we had wi' lasses on their swills,
And mony a happy match was myed upon the Windmill Hills (laughter),
By Gyetside beaux and belles, &c.

Noo a road there was went ower the hills, to Bensham and the Tyems,
And folks they a'ways like to tyek the nearest to their hyems;
So when somebody built a wall, the folks went frae the toon,
And help'd our worthy Councillors to pull th' obstruction doon,
Like true-hearted Gyetsiders, &c.

Noo whe wad ivver think that plizzburs sec as these
Should e'er be stopped by wall or dyke, these borough-men to please?
The man that wad submit tid, ne other than a slave is;

So we'll fill wor glass and drink success to Brockett and to Davis,
(laughter).
So we'll fill, &c.

Mr. JOHN BLAGBURN rose to propose the toast of "The Mayor and Corporation of Gateshead." (Cheers.) It must not be supposed, he said, that the dinner had been got up simply as a compliment to two private individuals. Highly as Messrs. Brockett and Davis were esteemed in that capacity, it was not to do them honour as men that they bad met together, but as magistrates who, when the right of the public was at stake, had well and manfully done their duty to themselves and their fellow-townsmen. (Applause.) Nor would the burgesses of Gateshead rest from their labours with the present demonstration. November was nigh at hand (hear, hear), and none but anti-wallers (laughter)-none but Jerichoites (laughter)must be sent to the town-council. No more wall-builders must be elected. (Laughter.) The great road over the Windmillhills, he had heard compared to the road that Bonaparte made over the Alps. (Great laughter.) And he did think that the magnificent work of the Napoleon of Gateshead was comparable, in many respects, to that of the Napoleon of France; but there was this difference between the two-that the road over the Alps was passable. (Laughter.) And while Bonaparte's road still left room enough, and to spare, on the mountains, for sport and recreation, the Boroughholders' road almost covered the hills (laughter), and left little space for amusement. was a sore deprivation for all, but especially for the Ranters, who were not over-well-off for places of worship, and made a sort of chapel-of-case of the hills. (Roars of laughter.) The building of the walls was bad enough in itself, but every one knew that the encroachment was not to end there: the walls were only erected as a preliminary to the erection of houses. (Hear, hear.) In a short time, there would have been "building sites for sale;" although it was difficult to conceive how any person should be so foolish as to build without a title. He knew an old woman in Sunderland (laughter) who lost her house in a law-suit. It was afterwards offered for sale, and she cried out, "Whe's gaun te buy a stolen hoose, d'ye think?" So, when the Borough holders offered their sites for sale, the inhabitants might ask, "Whe'll buy your stolen hills?" (Laughter.) The present popular demonstration would give the lie to the bold pretence of the Boroughholders, that all the respectability" of Gateshead was on their side, and only the rabble against them. (Applause.) In conclusion, Mr. Blagburn proposed the toast-"The town-council of Gateshead-thanks to them for their unanimous resolution to restore to the public the footpaths over the Windmill-hills." (Three times three.)

This

Ald. WILSON rose to return thanks-(and with him rose, aiso, Aldermen Brockett and Davis, and Councillors Garbutt, Hymers, Revely, Robson, Kent, and Wilson). He was glad, he said, to see so close a community of feeling between the people and council of Gateshead, and he hoped that the latter would at all times be found prepared to maintain the rights of their constituents. (Applause.)

Mr. REVELY, being loudly called upon by the company, also said a few words in reply to the toast. The memorialists, be observed, had paid a poor compliment to the town-council, when they accused them of becoming subservient to the private and selfish ends of one individual. Now what were the facts? The

We trust that some means will be adopted of bringing the Boroughholders and our other townsmen into friendly negotiation. In that event, an arrangement, if we are not very much mistaken, would be effected with little difficulty, calculated to 66 sweeten the breath of society" in our borough. The Boroughholders, we are sure, must wish with ourselves that Gateshead was "well rid" of that bone of contention, the Borough Question. The time is now favourable for its final settlement; and the opportunity should not be disregarded.

The Duke of Cambridge, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh Strelitz (son in-law, we believe, of his Royal Highness), with Baron Knesebeck, arrived in Gateshead on the evening of Sept. 13, about 6 o'clock, by the Newcastle and Darlington Railway, on a visit to Lord and Lady Ravensworth. His lordship and the Hon. T. H. Liddell were in waiting at the railway station, to receive their Royal Highnesses, and accompany them to the castle-where there was a select dinner-party to meet the royal guests. The train in which their Highnesses travelled comprised four private carriages. The Duke and Grand Duke, it is understood, will go forward to Scotland on Monday, to visit the Duke of Buccleuch at Dalkeith Palace; and will afterwards visit several other members of the Scottish nobility. To-day (Saturday), they will probably inspect several of the principal manufacturing establishments on the Tyne.

GATESHEAD BRITISH SCHOOL.-The annual meeting and examination took place on Thursday, Sept. 12, in the long room of the Grey Horse inn, (William Kenmir, Esq., in the chair). There was a numerous attendance of our neighbourschiefly ladies. The boys read the scriptures, and were examined by their master (Mr. Parker) in geography and mental arithmetic. At the close of the examination, the Secretary read the Report of the Committee, showing that the daily attendance at school amounted on an average to 120 boys; and that the institution (thanks to the bazaar) had money in the bank. The girls' school, it was stated, had been closed, owing to the unwholesomeness of the room in which it was held; but the committee hinted that a second appeal to the public would probably be made, to enable them to add to their reserved fund, and erect a building for both boys and girls. The report was received and adopted, and (on the motion of the Rev. Mr. Pullar, seconded by Mr. Mather,) a committee appointed, consisting of Mr. Hutt, M.P., President, Mr. W. H. Brockett, VicePresident, the Rev. Messrs, Pullar, Hine, Forsyth, Stoney, Rouse, and Anderson, and Messrs. H. Brady, T. Swinburne, H. Walker, W. Rowntree, R. Garlick, Joseph Clephan, Charles I'Anson, John Fawcett, C. A. Windeatt, and Thos. Morland.The Rev. Mr. Forsyth moved a vote of thanks to the Bishop of Durham, Mr. Hutt, Mr. Cuthbert Ellison, Mr. Ralph Carr, Mr. J. W. Williamson, Mr. R. C. Forster, and the other donors and subscribers; which being seconded by Dr. Jollie, was carried unanimously.-Thanks were voted to the Mayor by acclamation, on the motion of Mr. Vickers; and his Worship, in acknowledging the compliment, expressed the gratification which he had derived from the proceedings of the evening, and observed that the examination reflected infinite credit on the master of the school.

CHEAP RAILWAY TRIPS.-The train from Darlington, on Sunday, Sept. 8, consisted of 41 carriages and 3 engines, bringing passengers respectively at 3s. 6d., 2s. 61., and Is. 6d. About 800 came to Gateshead and Newcastle, 200 to Sunderland, and 200 to Shields. Many of the passengers travelled in third-class carriages, and had a ride of about a hundred miles for eighteenpence!-On Monday, Sep. 16, there will be a trip to the Tees, the Wear, and the Tyne, from the Ouse at York. Fares, to and fro, 5s., 4., and 3s.!-On Tuesday, there will be a second trip from Darlington to Newcastle, Sunderland, and Shields, on the same terms as on the 8th inst.-And in a week or ten days, (probably on Monday week,) there will be a trip from Gateshead, Newcastle, &c., to York, at 5s., 4s., and 3s.

NEWCASTLE AND BERWICK RAILWAY.-It is now well known that there are two projects in the field-which may be briefly described as Mr. Hudson's and Lord Howick's. The shares in the former line are stated to be all taken. The projectors of the other line-the atmospheric-are actively promoting its reception with the public; and Mr. Brunel and Mr. T. Sopwith are now surveying the country through which it is

to pass. One great difficulty stands in the way of all parties— of the locomotive and the atmospheric advocates alike:-viz., the passage from the county of Durham into and through the town of Newcastle. A "high-level bridge" there must be. But where shall it be erected? and is the railway, on leaving the bridge, to run through Newcastle on the surface, or under it by tunnel? If by a tunnel, is its northern terminus to be at the Town Moor or in Pandon Dean. The tunnel-(to borrow a joke which is almost "used up")-will be a "great bore;" and travellers who pass through it can hardly say that they have been "in Newcastle." It will encourage, indeed, the Cockney delusion, that Newcastle is nothing more than a huge coal-pit! The tunnel will never do: our engineers must find their way through, not under the town.-One of them proposes to erect a stone bridge from Greene's-field, Gateshead, to the Castle-garth, Newcastle; with a branch-bridge over the Side (near about Mr. Young's shop), and over Pilgrim-street, to the Newcastle and North Shields Railway. This is the likeliest project-if the railway must intersect the site of Newcastle; which some folks think by no means an imperative arrangement-seeing that it may just as well go to the east or the west of the canny old town. We believe we must leave the Future to decide the question. THE MINERS.-A late parliamentary inquiry shows the number of miners employed in Great Britain, viz.:Coal mines.....

Tin ditto....

118,233

15,407

11,419

10,949 6,101 Of which number 2,662 are females of twenty years and upwards, and 2,628 under that age, employed in Great Britain and the British isles; while in Scotland the numbers respectively are 440 and 403. Of persons employed in the manufacture and working of metals, there are (besides the miners) :

Iron

29,407

2,126

1,293

..... 1,320

GATESHEAD MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

W. of Design, established in connection with the North

B. SCOTT, Esq., of the Government School

of England Society for the Promotion of the Fine Arts, Newcastle upon-Tyne, will on WEDNESDAY EVENING NEXT, Sept. 25, (at the request of the Committee,) deliver an ADDRESS on the APPLICATION of a KNOWLEDGE of the FINE ARTS to INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS, in the Library of the Gateshead Mechanics' Institute, commencing at 8 o'clock. G. S. DIXON,

JOHN FAWCETT, Secretaries.

TO MESSRS. GEORGE HAWKS, WILLIAM H. BROCKETT, CHARLES BERTRAM, ROBT. DAVIS, AND JOHN GRACE, JUN., ESQUIRES, MAGIS. TRATES OF THE BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD.

E, the undersigned, most respectfully hope and

trust you will be able to make it convenient to attend the Adjourned Licensing Meeting for the Borough, on Tuesday next, Sept. 24th, and that you will be pleased to take our respective cases into consideration, as we have very strong reasons to be dissatisfied with the proceedings on the 6th September last, two Magistrates only being present-one of them much interested, and the other his particular friend. We are, Gentlemen,

Your obedient, humble Servants,
JAMES N. WARBURTON,
JAMES MINTYRE,

C. J. PEARSON,
ANTHONY HEADLAM,
JOHN HUDSON,
JOSEPH BOWLT.

Gateshead, Sept. 20th, 1844.

p Brockett, W. H.p Cummins, T. p Pollock, James Dunn, Charles Sowerby, G. p Edward, J. p Wilson, Thos. p Garbutt, C. p Davis, Robert

Hyiners, J. Kent, Samuel p Lister, J., sen. p Lister, J., jun. Potts, John

Robson, D. p Robson, J. p Smith, James Sowerby, T

p Wilson, J. R. Wylam, Ralph

p Revely, T. [Those marked p were present.] THE town-council met by adjournment on the 2nd of Oct.The TOWN CLERK read the minutes of the preceding meeting, and letters acknowledging the receipt of the addresses to the Queen and Prince Albert on the birth of a prince. Mr. Kell also stated, that the Auditors, after going through the borough accounts, had declared a balance due to the Treasurer of £67 odd. It had been thought that the balance was on the other side; and the Council, it will be remembered, were thereby inBut the Auditors, in duced to vote the payment of a debt. going through the accounts, discovered that the Treasurer had committed an oversight in arithmetic to his own prejudice.— Ald. DAVIS inquired if the Treasurer would not feel offended at the town-council, if they placed more faith in the Auditors than in himself? (Laughter.)

The order for payment of the debt was suspended.

The minutes of the Railway Committee were read, showing how the Brandling Company stood with the corporate body. The former having agreed that matters in dispute should be referred to arbitration, the claims of the latter were drawn up, and submitted to the directors, that they might point out those which they disputed; after which, the Council would appoint an arbitrator. The railway-secretary subsequently intimated that the directors had made choice of Mr. N. Wood as their arbitrator. The Town Clerk, in reply, reminded them that they had not yet distinguished between the claims which they admitted and those which they disputed; and they had never taken the slightest notice of the communication.

The MAYOR observed, that it was of a piece with their conduct from beginning to end. They blinked and evaded everything.

Ald. BROCKETT: The bridge in West-street is almost as great a nuisance as ever: it is continually dripping in wet weather. We shall get no satisfactory settlement with the company, except by law.

The MAYOR: Yes-it must come to that. They treat, not merely us, but the people whom we represent, very contemptuously.

Mr. GARBUTT said, it was evident the company had no disposition voluntarily to concede the just claims of the public; and it was very desirable to effect a settlement before the old company ceased to exist, and thereby avoid any unpleasant collision with their successors. He would therefore move that the Railway and Town Improvement Committees be empowered to take the necessary steps for enforcing the rights of the corporation.-Seconded and passed.

From a Report made by the Town-Improvement Committee, it appeared that the large open drain, running from East Bailey chare to Cannon-street, had been cleaned out, for the first time within the memory of the "oldest inhabitant." On the motion of Ald. BROCKETT, it was referred to the Commitee to ascertain and report the expense of covering the drain. Mr. CUMMINS brought forward a motion on the subject of St. Mary's church-clock. He proposed that the borough-fund should contribute £40 towards its repair and illumination. What more was required could readily be raised by subscription in Gateshead and Newcastle.

Ald. DAVIS said he would second the motion, if Mr. Cummins would include a grant towards the purchase of a clock for St. John's, Gateshead Fell. (Laughter.)

At the suggestion of one or two members, Mr. CUMMINS postponed his motion to the next meeting.

Ald. BROCKETT observed, that he had given notice of a motion touching the removal of the quays in the High-street. His proposal was, that the Council, in certain cases, should undertake their removal; and he had selected, as a beginning, a quay as to which, he had thought, there could be no difference of opinion. But an opponent of his motion had started up in a very unexpected quarter, the gentleman in possession of the property having expressed his unwillingness to have the change effected. He had two or three objections to the motion, but the principal one seemed to be, that so long as the quay stood he

had a good look-out, both up the street and down. (Laughter.) He (Mr. Brockett) had no wish, of course, to interfere with the innocent enjoyments of any gentleman, and would therefore withdraw his motion.

The MAYOR, in compliance with a communication which he had received from Ald. Davis, produced a copy of the evidence taken by the Magistrates in the affair of the "walls," and asked him if he wished to have it read. He had not seen it,

Ald. DAVIS replied in the affirmative.

he said, before it was sent off to Sir James Graham, and was anxious to know the nature of it.

The TOWN CLERK read the voluminous depositions; and on the motion of Ald. BROCKETT, it was resolved that they be entered on the minutes of the Council.

Ald. DAVIS said, he had been reported to the Home Secretary by eight of the Boroughholders, and recommended to dismissal from the bench, on certain grave and weighty charges, affecting his character as a man and a magistrate. Those charges were utterly false; and he took the opportunity of saying so, publicly, and to the face of his accuser, Mr. Lister. Let him produce the evidence on which his accusations were founded. Those accusations, he repeated, were false; and he defied Mr. Lister to prove that they were true.

[There was here a significant pause; but neither the elder nor the younger Mr. Lister said a single word in reply

Ald. BROCKETT said, he had nothing to add to the letter which he had addressed to the Mayor in reply to the memorial of the Boroughholders. In that letter he had expressed his conviction that his Worship would fairly and impartially investigate the charges preferred against Ald. Davis and himself; and he was therefore not surprised to find that he had done so. The Mayor had acted just as honourably as he expected.

Ald. DAVIS expressed his full concurrence in the observations of Ald. Brockett.

The MAYOR said, he was gratified by the admission of his impartiality. He had no purpose to serve in the investigation; and if he had, he should not have chosen such an opportunity of effecting it. He had done no more than his duty, and he hoped he should never do less. (Applause.)

The TOWN CLERK stated, that the town-councillors who went out of office on the 1st of November were:-East Ward, Messrs. James Hymers and Charles Dunn; West, Messrs. W. Kenmir and Thomas Cummins; and South, Messrs. T. Sowerby and D. Robson. On the 9th of November, three aldermen would retire, viz., Messrs. Barras, Brockett, and Davis. Mr. REVELY gave notice of a motion on the subject of the Windmill bills.

Miscellaneous business was transacted (including the imposition of watch and street-act rates), and the proceedings terminated.

THE WINDMILL-HILLS.

NOTICE of a motion on this subject has been given in the Gateshead Council. We are not sure that this is the best course that could have been adopted. On the contrary, we are inclined to think that the inhabitants themselves, in public meeting, could better promote the contemplated object than their representatives in the council-chamber. This, however, is mere matter of opinion.

We have had sent to us, through the postoffice, an amusing handbill from the Newcastle Journal press, citing a clause from an Act of Parliament, giving power to the Boroughholders to " stop up" or "divert" any path or paths over the Windmill-hills, "with the consent or approbation of two or more Justices of the Peace for the county of Durham," in such manner as the said Justices "certify may be done without prejudice or inconvenience to the person or persons having a right of way or passage over and along such last-mentioned ways or roads." This clause is actually adduced to "establish, beyond a doubt, the legal right of the Boroughholders to close up and divert the footpaths on the Windmillhills, as they did recently." That is, without the consent or approbation of two or more Justices of the Peace!"

66

What good can come of argument with men who reason so ridiculously? who set reason and justice alike at defiance ? They well know-the Lord of the Manor knows-the late respected Rector of Gateshead knows and will avouch (or we