June 19.-A report from the Library Committee having announced the receipt of upwards of 1,800 volumes from the French Chamber of Peers, containing an account of their proceedings and other valuable matter, the Duke of Richmond moved a resolution of thanks to the Peers of France, which was agreed to unanimously.A Message from the Commons brought back the Irish Municipal Corporations Bill, with alterations, and requested a conference, at which their reasons for having so altered it might be communicated to their Lordships. The following Peers were appointed managers: The Lord President, the Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Cleveland, the Earl of Minto, the Bishop of Bristol, Lord Craven, and Lord Hatherton; and proceeded to the Hall of Conference. In a quarter of an hour they returned, and the Marquis of Lansdowne read the reasons stated by the Commons, which were merely an epitome of the arguments used by Ministers and their supporters during the debates on the subject.-Lord Melbourne moved that they be taken into consideration on Friday next, which was agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-May 30th.-On the assembling of the House, the Speaker stated that he had received a petition, complaining that the recent return of Mr. Daniel O Connell for Kilkenny was not a true return.-Sir Robert Peel presented one that excited some curiosity-it was from one of the native chiefs on the west coast of Africa, praying for the establishment of free trade between his territory and Great Britain. The House went into a committee of supply for the voting of the civil contingencies, which were all agreed to.-The expenses of the Poor Law Commissioners for the year were also voted; they amount to a fraction under 50,0001.Adjourned.

May 31.-Some private business having been despatched, Mr. T. Duncombe, for the purpose of affording the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the subject, moved an address to the throne, praying the royal intercession with the French government on behalf of the Prince de Polignac and his unfortunate fellowsufferers.-Lord J. Russell expressed sympathy for the situation of those captives, but submitted that it was a subject on which the Ministers could not advise his Majesty to interfere; and Lord Palmerston objected to the address as an unwarrantable interference in the domestic affairs of another power.-After expressions of sympathy from other members, Mr. Duncombe withdrew his motion. Mr. Bannerman moved for certain returns, to show the hardships inflicted on officers of the army and navy from the continued postponement of the customary brevet-promotion. The motion was agreed to.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward the question of the Jewish disabilities, but, instead of moving for a bill, proposed a committeeSir R. Inglis and other meinbers resisted the doctrine of allowing persons of any creed, or no creed, to be qualified for seats in a Christian legislature.-After a division of 70 against 19, the House went into a Committee, and a resolution, to serve as the basis of the proposed Bill, was agreed to and reported.-Adjourned.

June 1.-Lord J. Russell having moved the second reading of the Church of Ireland Bill, Lord Stanley proposed his amendment, which was for leave to bring in a Bill for the conversion of tithe composition into rent-charges; for the redemption thereof; and for the better distribution of ecclesiastical revenues in Ireland."-Lord J. Russell resisted the amendment, viewing it as neither more nor less than a mode of resisting the principle of the Bill, the second reading of which he had moved-a principle that did not contemplate the advantage only of the few, "but of the whole people, including the outlawed 6,000,000 of Roman Catholics."-After speeches from Mr. Lefroy, Mr. Buxton, Mr. Poulter, Mr. H. Grattan, and Mr. Hardy, (the latter of whom, in a forcible and impressive address, deprecated the attacks made upon the Protestant church in Ireland,) the debate was adjourned.

June 2.-The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Church of Ireland Bill, and Lord Stanley's amendment, was resumed, Mr. Barron opening the debate. -A long discussion followed, in which Mr. Maclean, Lord Morpeth, Mr. L. Bulwer, Sir James Graham, and others took parts; after which the question was again adjourned.

June 3.-The adjourned debate on the Irish Tithe Bill was resumed by Mr. Serjeant Jackson.-M. G. H. Ward, Mr. D. W. Harvey, and Mr. O'Connell severally addressed the House; after which Sir Robert Peel rose, and in a speech at once argumentative and brilliant, applied himself to the refutation of Lord J. Russell's proposition on the duties of a Church Establishment.-After a speech from Mr. S. Rice, a division took place. The numbers were-For the Bill of Lord Morpeth, 500; for that of Lord Stanley, 261; majority for Ministers, 39.-Adjourned.

June 6.-The House went into Committee on the Registration of Births Bill. The clauses, up to 33 inclusive, were agreed to, except the fourth, fixing a salary for the registrar, which was objected to by Sir R. Peel, and other Hon. Members, on a point of parliamentary practice, and postponed; and the 27th, charging the expenses of registration upon the parochial rates. On this clause a division took place; the numbers being-in favour of it, 71; against it, 28. The Chairman then reported progress, and the House adjourned.

June 7.

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-The Bankrupt's Bill was read a third time and passed; and the Cinque Ports Bill went through a Committee, and was reported.-Adjourned.

June 8.-No house.

June 9.-Mr, Buckingham obtained leave to bring in a Bill for protecting the copyright of engravings, after a division, in which the numbers were--for the Bill, 169; against it, 80.-Lord J. Russell moved that the Lord's amendments to the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Bill be taken into consideration. He viewed the Bill, as returned from the Lords, as a new law, not a measure to reform existing institutions, but to destroy them. The Noble Lord then proceeded to explain the course he intended to pursue. It was shortly, that the towns included in schedules A and B of the original Bill should have corporations. These amounted to eleven, and the Noble Lord proposed to add Carrickfergus; making twelve in all. Twenty other towns he would leave to be governed by the Commissioners under the Act of the 9th of George IV. In the former case the right of election would be vested in the 10., and in the latter in the 51. householders.-After speeches for and against the measure from Messrs. Hamilton, O'Loghlen, Shaw, Callaghan, and D. Browne, the debate was adjourned.

June 10.-The adjourned debate, on the amendments made by the Lords in the Irish Municipal Corporations Bill, was then resumed.-After speeches from Mr. Praed, Mr. Sheil, Mr. H. Grattan, Lord Ebrington, Lord Sandon, &c., Sir R. Peel addressed the House, and said the real question was, whether the refusal of muni. cipal institutions to Ireland would interfere with good local government in the towns of that country.The House divided, and the numbers were-For the ministerial plan, 324; against it, 238.

June 13. The Irish Municipal Corporations Bill, as amended by the Lords, was proceeded with.-Sir R. Peel said, that after the result of Saturday's division, he should offer no vexatious opposition; but as there were alterations proposed that were not even in print, he submitted that they should first be printed.-The House then went on with the consideration of the Lords' amendments, and restored the principal clauses which their Lordships had struck out; and having disposed of the clauses up to the 87th, the House adjourned at three o'clock till five. On the reassembling of the House, the further consideration of the Lords' amendments was deferred till Tuesday, to afford an opportunity for the printing of the new clauses. -Adjourned.

June 14.-After some business of minor importance had been disposed of, the House resumed the consideration of the Lord's amendments to the Irish Corporations Bill, beginning with clause 87. The Lords' amendments were disagreed totwo new clauses were proposed, and the schedule, retaining 12 Corporations, was adopted. The Bill having been agreed to, with the alterations, a Committee was appointed to state to the Lords, in conference, what reasons had actuated the House. June 15.-The House met at four o'clock, but there being only 37 Members present, an adjournment took place.

June 16.-Among the petitions presented on the subject of the Lords' amendments to the Irish Corporations Bill, was one from Coleraine, numerously signed, presented by Sir R. Bateson, who called particular attention to it; the petitioners imploring the House to adopt the amendments of the Lords, as calculated to defeat the arts of unprincipled demagogues, and to secure the peace of Ireland.-Mr. Alderman Wood obtained the appointment of a Committee, to ascertain in what manner it would be most advisable to raise funds for carrying on the contemplated improvements in the cities of London and Westminster.

June 17.-After a preliminary conversation of some length, the House once more went into Committee on the English Tithe Bill. After considering several clauses, the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Monday.-On the Report upon the Registration of Births Bill being brought up, Lord Stanley called the attention of government to the loss that would be sustained by parish clerks, a class of persons quite unable to bear it.-Lord John Russell was not prepared to entertain an immediate proposal for compensation, but thought the sug

gestion worthy of consideration.-The Established Church Bill was read a second time, and the House went into Committee on the Registration of Voters' Bill.

MEMOIRS OF PERSONS RECENTLY DECEASED.

The following Biographical Sketch of the late Dr. Fletcher, is from the pen of his faithful and attached associate, Dr. Lewins, of Leith, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, who, we understand, is to write a life of his deceased friend, which will appear with the third part of Dr. Fletcher's "Rudiments of Physiology.”

THE LATE DR. FLETCHER.

It is with sincere regret that we announce the death of Dr. Fletcher, F.R.C.S., and Lecturer on Medical Science at the Argyle Square Medical School, Edinburgh; whose “Rudiments of Physiology" we lately recommended to the notice of our readers.

Dr. Fletcher was the eldest son of the late Mr. Thomas Fletcher, a respectable merchant in London.

It was the intention of his father to bring up his son to his own profession, and Dr. Fletcher, after having enjoyed the benefit of a liberal classical education, was actually placed in the counting-house for some time. But to a mind like his, a mercantile life was intolerable, and no prospect of ultimate advantage that it could hold out was considered by him sufficient to forego the gratification he promised himself in the cultivation of science and literature. To science and literature, therefore, he by degrees entirely devoted himself, and at an early period gave abundant promise that in due time he would gain for himself a name and a fame amongst the learned of the age.

Attracted by the superior advantages which the Medical School of Edinburgh presented, be repaired to the metropolis of Scotland in the autumn of 1813, and commenced the study of medicine, having previously attended, though irregularly, the lectures of the late Mr. Abernethy and Sir Charles Bell, in London.

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In 1816, Dr. Fletcher obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine, after writing and publicly defending an inaugural dissertation, De Rei Medicæ Vicissitudinibus," which from its excellence-but especially from the uncommon purity of its Latinity-attracted the notice, and we believe, obtained the approbation, of the late distinguished Dr. Gregory, then Professor of the Practice of Medicine in the University of Edinburgh.

Dr. Fletcher intended to settle in London, but an event occurred soon after he finished his medical studies, which not only frustrated his intentions, in regard to his proposed place of residence, but entirely altered the whole plans of his future life. This event, to which it is here unnecessary more particularly to advert, deprived him of all his patrimony, and rendered it necessary that he should call his talents into operation to provide for his immediate wants-wants which, although nurtured in affluence, he could, to his credit, make few, when prudence or adversity required such a sacrifice.

The system of teaching medicine, and the mode of granting medical degrees, at the period we allude to, (1817,) was in many respects faulty and imperfect. The practice of conducting all the examinations in the Latin tongue, made it necessary for the candidates to employ a class of men, known by the name of Grinders, who frequently did little else for their pupils than enable them to answer questions by rote in bad Latin. Dr. Fletcher's knowledge of this discreditable practice induced him to return to Edinburgh, with the view of establishing a system of tuition akin to that which is practised at Oxford in the way of private tutorship-a mode of life more congenial to his literary habits than the drudgery of general medical practice.

As soon as it was known that Dr. Fletcher had arrived in Edinburgh, with the view just mentioned, the most respectable medical students flocked to him for instruction, and he was thus enabled at once to render his superior medical and classical attainments available; and for all immediate purposes to supply his loss of fortune.

Dr. Fletcher's mode of tuition was widely different from any that had previously been attempted, and the following remark from a critique, written a few weeks ago

at Bristol, of his late publication on Physiology, is particularly applicable to his tutorial course of instruction:-" Many of his pupils, we have the means of knowing, gratefully ascribe to his means of training the distinction which they have earned in their profession, and in the scientific world; but all of them we can venture to affirm, will rejoice to see recorded upon tablets less perishable than their own memories, the lessons which, when orally delivered, yielded them so much pleasure and delight."

Dr. Fletcher joined the Argyle Square Medical School in 1828, as Lecturer on Physiology, and latterly he also lectured there on Medical Jurisprudence. He taught both of these branches of medical science in a manner which has seldom been equalled, never surpassed in Britain. The rapid extension of his fame in the medical and scientific world afforded unquestionable evidence of his superior attainments, whilst the steady increase of the number of his pupils, proved how highly his talents as a public teacher were appreciated and valued.

In the beginning of the present year, he announced his intention of delivering a course of popular lectures on Physiology, which he did to a numerous and intelligent audience, amongst whom were several of the members of the Scottish bar, and of the English church, and several other gentlemen distinguished for their intellectual endowments. The variety and extent of imteresting information Dr. Fletcher communicated, the vast store of scientific knowledge he brought to bear on the subject, and the beautiful preparations and diagrams, (all the work of his own hands and which would have done credit to a first-rate artist,) by which he illustrated his subject, delighted and astonished his audience. Little, alas! did they think, whilst listening to his graphic description of the wondrous structure of organized bodies, and his luminous, but delicate exposition of the functions of their various complicated organs, so illustrative of the wisdom and goodness of God, as he justly expressed it, that his sun was to set so suddenly whilst it was yet day, and before he had finished the work so energetically and auspiciously begun.

Dr. Fletcher, whose health for some time previously had been in a delicate state, found it necessary to coufine himself to the house on the 3rd of May; but so insidiously did the disease, which was destined within a few days to number him with the dead, make its attack, and continue its fatal progress, that no alarm had been excited in his own mind or in that of his affectionate wife, until a medical gentleman, having occasion to call on business, discovered the actual and alarming condition of his valued friend. Dr. Fletcher was afterwards seen by other highly talented members of the medical profession, who most anxiously and perseveringly rendered all the assistance which their art was capable of affording, but in vain. He expired early on the morning of the 10th instant, in the fourty-fourth year of his age, after a week's confinement to the house, and scarcely one entire day to his bed.

The immediate cause of Dr. Fletcher's death was an inflammatory affection of the lungs; subsequent investigation, however, discovered that the condition of these important organs was such as to preclude the probability, if not the possibility, of long life; but it is too true that Dr. Fletcher's intense and unremitting application to study was the means of shortening his valuable life.

Dr. Fletcher was the author of several works of considerable talent, but we shall here only advert to that on Physiology, and on it alone his claim to professional distinction may be safely founded. Of it, two parts only are published, the first on Organism, and the second on Life as manifested in Irritation. The third part on Life as manifested in Sensation and Thought, has yet to appear. Although the manuscript of that part is perhaps not exactly in the state in which the lamented author would have sent it to the press, yet, it is fortunately, sufficiently perfect for publication, and will appear in due time.

The merit of Dr. Fletcher's rudiments of Physiology is universally allowed to be very great; most honourable mention is made of the distinquished author, and of his admirable work, by the periodical press of the last three months, both in England and Scotland. We cannot omit here to advert to Dr. Fletcher's published introductory discourse to his popular Lectures on Physiology, which were cut short by his untimely death-a production of great talent and strikingly characteristic of an original and independent mind. This Lecture was printed at the special request of several gentlemen eminently qualified to judge, who heard it delivered, and were of opinion that its publication "in such a form as to render it easily accessible to all classes of the community would greatly subserve the cause of popular enlighten

ment."

It were an easy and a grateful duty to expatiate on Dr. Fletcher's private worth -on the refinement of his mind-on the extent and versatility of his talents and acquirements on the value of his friendship—and on the exemplary manner in which he performed his duties in private life; but as it is consistent in this only to delineate his public character, the writer shall only further add, that by Dr. Fletcher's death science has lost one of its most successful and industrious cultivators, and the medical school of Edinburgh has been deprived of one of its bright

est ornaments.

THE DUKE OF GORDON.

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We regret to have to record the death of his Grace the Duke of Gordon, which took place at his house in Belgrave Square. The title is extinct. The Earl of Aboyne, born June 28, 1761, the next of kin, succeeds to the title of Marquis of Huntly. Gordon Castle and 30,000l. a-year go to the Duke of Richmond. The late Duke of Gordon sat in the House of Peers as Earl of Norwich. He was born February 1, 1770; succeeded his father, fourth Duke, Jan. 17, 1827; married Dec. 11, 1813, Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Brodie, Esq. His Grace was general in the army, and was appointed to the colonelcy of the 3d Foot Guards on the death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. He was a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Hereditary Keeper of the Castle of Inverness, Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen, and Chancellor of Mareschal College. He was brother to the Dowager Duchess of Richmond, to the Marchioness Cornwallis, and to the Duchess of Bedford; brother-in-law to the Duke of Manchester; uncle to the Marchioness of Tweedale, to Viscount Mandeville, M. P., to the lady of J. H. Calcraft, Esq. M.P., to Baroness Braybrooke, to the lady of Lord Eliot, and to the lady of C. Ross, Esq. M.P. His Grace's sisters are co-heirs presumptive to the Baronies of Beauchamp and Mordaunt. It will be perceived by the above that many noble families will be put in mourning by this me-' lancholy intelligence. The Duke of Gordon was a Conservative, and a more kindhearted, noble, and gallant gentleman never breathed. In society he was one of the most agreeable and unaffected companions that ever existed. His presence imparted pleasure to every company he adorned. His death will be universally lamented, more particularly in the north of Scotland, where his Grace had endeared himself to ‹ the inhabitants by his repeated acts of kindness and philanthropy.

MR. SERJEANT FRERE.

It is with very great concern that we have to announce to the public the death of Mr. Serjeant Frere, Master of Downing College, and of Dun-Gate, Cambridgeshire." This excellent man was, in the closing scenes of his existence, not unworthy of himself. He exhibited to his family the value of those principles of Christian piety, which he had taught them through life; and he died composed and tranquil, in per- ! fect resignation to the will of his Creator, and humbly trusting in the merits of his Redeemer. He was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, and obtained the highest classical distinctions in the course of his academical career. He was an ornament to the University-a gentleman, a scholar, and a Christian, and his loss will be long and deeply felt by all who knew him, more particularly by those to whom his ear was ever open-the friendless and the poor. He was in the 61st year of his age.

Married. At St. George's, Hanover Square, by the Bishop of Rochester, Captain George Marryat, to Anne Selwin, youngest daughter of the Prebendary of Gloucester.

At St. George's, Hanover Square, by the Very Rev. the Dean of Carlisle, Charles Wombwell, Esq., of the 10th Hussars, son of Sir George Wombwell, Bart., to Charlotte, eldest daughter of Thomas Orby Hunter, Esq.

At Cheam, the Rev. Edmund Dawe Wickham, youngest son of James Anthony Wickham, Esq., of North Hill, Frome, to Emma, only child of Archdale Paliner, Esq., of Cheam Park, Surrey.

At the Church of St. Roch, at Paris, and afterwards at the British Embassy, the Lord Stafford, to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Caton, Esq., and granddaughter of Charles Carroll, of Carrolstown, Esq., both of the State of Maryland, in the United States, and sister to the Marchioness of Wellesely.

Died. At his house, Devonshire Street, Portland Place, William Young Ottley, Esq, 1 F.A.S., in the 65th year of his age.

At his bonse, Great Stanhope Street, W. E. Tomline, Esq. F.R.S., F.L.S.

At Weston Super Mere, Annabella, widow of the late Hon. Charles Savile.

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In her 55th year, Mrs. M. Brock, many years. attached to the Royal household at Kensington Palace.

At Wimbledon, Charles Henry Bouverie, Esq., only son of Lady Bridget Bouverie and 1 the late Hon. William Henry Bouverie.

At Boulogne-sur-Mer, Thomas Deane Pearse, Esq., formerly Captain in the 14th Light Dragoons.

In Milton Street, Dorset Square, and formerly of Oporto, William Babington, Esq., aged 58.

At Hanwell, in his $7th year, Thomas Robinson, Esq., M.D.