22nd inst. G. H. Whalley, Esq., M.P. (one of the
trustees), presided, and in opening the proceedings,
showed the value of Freehold Land Societies in giving
men a political existence in the country in which they
were subjects.—Mr. Tanner (Chairman of the Board of
Directors), stated the companies had been in existence
for building purposes for upwards of seven years. The
members, chiefly of the working classes, had been put
in possession of 311 freehold and leasehold houses, and
an interest of five per cent, had been paid upon investment
shares; the aggregate amount paid in both
purposes amounted to about £90,000, and the
number of shares 4870. The directors had originally been
restrained from investing in freehold land, owing to
the dictum of the government legal officer, that it
did not come within the words of the act, "other
real estate." That notion having been at length
exploded, and about £4,000,000 having been invested in
land with eminent success, the directors of the
British had resolved to comply with the request of
their members, and embrace it among their objects.
Auxiliary with the above companies there had been
established a system of life assurance, securing the
property to the member's family in the event of his death,
and the company against possibility of loss upon the
mortgage; and also a loan fund had been provided to
make immediate payments to members emigrating,
overtaken by sickness, or other temporary misfortune.—
Mr. Brooks, the secretary, explained in detail the new
features of the two companies.—Mr. George Thompson,
one of the trustees, delivered an address upon the social
and political advantages of freehold land and building
societies, and expressed his unqualified approval of their
combination with a principle of which the working
classes especially ought to avail themselves immediately
—life assurance.—Mr. Cleland, the provincial manager
of the Industrial and General Life Assurance Company,
gave an explanation of the manner in which life
assurance might be most beneficially connected with
freehold land and building societies.

A parliamentary return has been printed, giving an
account of Drunken and Disorderly Persons in London
for a number of years. It appears that in 1851 the
Metropolitan Police force took into custody 6318
persons (2556 males, and 3762 females) for disorderly
conduct, and 10,668 (6207 males, and 4461 females)
for drunkenness. For drunkenness and disorderly
conduct, within the Metropolitan Police district, 12,584
persons were taken into custody, of which 6972 were
males and 5532 females. The population of the
Metropolitan Police district was about 2,399,104 in 1851. In
1851, 280 persons were taken into custody by the City
of London Police force for drunkenness, and 651 for
disorderly conduct, out of a population of 127,869.

A return, relating to Drunken and Disorderly Persons
in Scotland, has been printed, by order of the House
of Commons. It appears that in 1851 the city of
Edinburgh police took into custody 2793 persons for
drunkenness and disorderly conduct, out of a population
of 166,000; and the Glasgow police, 14,870, of which
10,012 were males, and 4858 females. The population
was 333,657.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

Her Majesty held an investiture of the Order of the
Bath on the 22nd; when William Gore Ouseley, Esq.,
was created a Knight Commander, (civil division);
Lieut. General Charles Macleod, of the East India
Company's Service, a Knight Commander, (military
division), and Belford Hinton Wilson, Esq., a Knight
Commander, (civil division).

The Earl of Clarendon has been appointed one of
Her Majesty s principal secretaries of state.

Viscount Combermere has been appointed Constable
of the Tower, and Lord Lieutenant of the Tower
Hamlets.

Commander Inglefield has received orders to set out
again, with the Phoenix screw-steamer, to assist in the
search for Sir John Franklin. He is first to carry
stores to Beechy Island; then go whither he may deem
fit in the direction of his former voyage. The
Lady Franklin, sailing-vessel, is to accompany the
Phœnix as a tender, and be stationed at some spot
in Baffin's Bay while the Phœnix proceeds on her
voyage of discovery.

The National Institute of France have presented,
for the third time, Laland's Prize of about 300f. and
a medal to Mr. J. Russell Hind, of Mr. Bishop's
Observatory, for his discovery of the unprecedented
number of four new planets during the past year.
The Royal Astronomical Society have also presented
him with their gold medal at their last meeting, as a
testimony of their high appreciation of his merits.

Obituary of Notable Persons.

THE RIGHT HON. DAVID BOYLE, late President of the Court
of Session, died on the 4th instant, at Shewalton, in Ayrshire,
in his 81st year.

THE RIGHT HON. MR. NICHOL, late M.P. for Cardiff, died at
his residence In the Via Sistina, in Rome, on the 27th ult.

THE EARL OF TYRCONNEL, G.C.H., died somewhat suddenly
on the 26th ult., at Kipling, Yorkshire, in his 63rd year.

VISCOUNT MELBOURNE, G.C.B., died on the 29th ult., at
Brocket Hall, Herts, in his 70th year.

THE EARL OF BELFAST died at Naples on the 11th inst., in
his 26th year.

LADY COUTTS TROTTER died at Paris on the 18th inst. She
was the daughter of the Hon. Lord Rockville, one of the
judges of the Court of Session in Scotland, and widow of the
late Sir Coutts Trotter, Bart.

THE RIGHT REV. DR. WILLIAM GRANT BROUGHTON, Bishop
of Sydney, and Metropolitan of Australia, died on the 20th
inst., in the 64th year of his ago. His lordship arrived in
England a few weeks since by the La Plata.

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

The last overland mail from India brings the important
intelligence of the annexation of Pegu to the
British dominions. The following proclamation, by the
Governor-General, announcing this measure and
explaining its grounds, was read at Rangoon on the 20th
of December, amid the roar of artillery and the cheers
of the troops:—"The Court of Ava having refused to
make amends for the injuries and insults which British
subjects had suffered at the hands of its servants, the
Governor-General of India in Council resolved to exact
reparation by force of arms. The forts and cities upon
the coast were forthwith attacked and captured; the
Burman forces have been dispersed wherever they have
been met; and the province of Pegu is now in the
occupation of British troops. The just and moderate
demands of the Government of India have been rejected
by the King; the ample opportunity that has been
afforded him for repairing the injury that was done has
been disregarded; and the timely submission, which
alone could have been effectual to prevent the
dismemberment of his kingdom, is still withheld. Wherefore,
in compensation for the past, and for better security in
the future, the Governor-General in Council has
resolved, and hereby proclaims, that the province of
Pegu is now, and shall be henceforth, a portion of the
British territories in the East. Such Burman troops as
may still remain within the province, shall be driven
out. Civil government shall immediately be established,
and officers shall be appointed to administer the affairs
of the several districts. The Governor-General in
Council hereby calls on the inhabitants of Pegu to
submit themselves to the authority, and to confide securely
in the protection of the British Government, whose
power they have seen to be irresistible, and whose rule
is marked by justice and beneficence. The Governor-
General in Council, having exacted the reparation he