translations of works published in other countries;
5, the assimilation of dramatic productions to books,
and the protection of them accordingly.

A new Westminster Bridge is to be erected as near as
possible to the present structure. Notices have been
given to the inhabitants of the north end of Bridge-
street, Westminster, of Manchester buildings, of Cannon-
street, up to the Board of Control, and other portions
of the east end of Parliament-street, that government
were prepared to bring in a bill next session
to pull down their houses to make room for the new
bridge.

Prince Albert has addressed a letter to the Society of
Arts, suggesting a Course of Lectures on the Probable
Results of the Great Exhibition of Industry. The
council of the society have adopted the suggestion; and
have issued the following prospectus of the "first part"
of an intended course of lectures:—" Nov. 26. Rev. W.
Whewell, D.D., F.R.S., Master of Trinity, Inaugural
Lecture on the general bearing of the Exhibition on the
Progress of Art and Science.—Dec. 2. Sir H. De la
Beche, C.B., F.R.S., Mining, Quarrying, and Metallurgical
Processes and Products.—Dec. 10. Professor
Richard Owen, F.R.S., Animal Raw Products.—Dec. 17.
Jacob Bell, Esq., M.P., Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Processes and Products.—Jan. 7, 1852. Dr. Lyon Playfair,
F.R.S., on the Chemical Principles involved in
the Manufactures shown at the Exhibition, as a proof
of the necessity of an Industrial Education.—Jan. 14.
Professor J. Lindley, F.R S., Substances used as
Food.—Jan. 21. Professor Edward Solly, F.R.S., on
the Vegetable Substances used in the Arts and
Manufactures in relation to Commerce generally.—Jan. 28.
Rev. Professor B. Willis, F.R.S., Machines and Tools
for Working in Metal, Wood, and other Materials.—
Feb. 4. J. Glaisher, Esq., F.R.S., Philosophical Instruments
and Processes.—Feb. 11. Richard Hensman, Esq..
Machinery and Civil Engineering generally.—Feb. 18.
Captain Washington, R.N., Shipping, particularly Life
Boats, in Class VIII.—March 3. Professor J. Forbes
Royle, F.R.S., the Manufactures of India."

The Board of Trade Returns of Exports and Imports
for the month, and for that portion of the whole year
which ended on the 10th October, have been issued.
The exports of the month have fallen short of the same
month in last year by £87,840, but still exceed those of
the same month in 1849 by £720,000. The exports of
the past nine months are very largely greater than those
of the same months in the previously unparalleled year
1850: the excess was £3,218,576. In the three years
1849, '50, '51, the exports of periods of nine months
ending on the 10th of October were £44,830,414,
£50,286,402, and £53,504,974. In the imports there is a
large increase of wool, and an increase of hemp, but a
decrease of other articles of raw material; a large
increase of bread-stuffs and provisions, and of tea, cocoa
and tobacco, but a decrease in coffee, sugar, and wines.
There has been a diminished importation of almost all
kinds of dyes and dyeing stuffs; also of leather
manufactures, and of oils (with the exception of train-oil)
and seeds. Metals show an increase in iron, lead, and
tin, and a decrease in copper and spelter; glass
manufactures, an increase in plate and ornamental glass, and
a decrease in other sorts. Guano, hides, and timber,
all show an increase.

The City Improvement Commissioners have given the
occupiers of the houses in St. Thomas Apostle, Bow
Lane, Great and Little Distaff Lane, and the other
thoroughfares lying between Queen Street, Cheapside,
and the south side of St. Paul's Churchyard, notice that
their dwellings will be required to come down forthwith,
in order to complete the neio street from London
Bridge to St. Paul's Churchyard.

A parliamentary blue-book has just been printed,
containing Lieut.-Colonel Jebb's Report on the
Discipline and Management of Convicts for the year 1850.
On the 31st December last, there were 6128 convicts
accommodated. Of this number, 2269 were in separate
confinement, 2689 employed on public works, 654 in
invalid depots, and 516 in the juvenile prison at Parkhurst.
There was accommodation, as it is termed, at
the end of the year, for 6481 convicts. On the 1st of
January, 1850, there were, in the convict establishments
5929, and the number received in the year was 2949.
In the year, 2495 were disposed of, leaving, as already
stated, 6128 in the prisons. In the same year, (1850,)
the number transported was 2092, of which 1386 were
sent to Van Dieman's Land with tickets of leave; 384
to Western Australia for public works, 938 to Norfolk
Island as incorrigible, and 284 for public works at
Bermuda. There were 14 removed to lunatic asylums,
and 13 to the Philanthropic Society's Farm School.
There were 247 pardons granted in the year, of which
11 were free, 20 conditional, 105 on medical grounds,
and 111 on the expiration of a moiety of sentence under
a rule. There were 13 escapes and 116 deaths. In
Millbank, the average expense was £242 19s. Id. per head.
Pentonville, £252 9s.; Portland, £232. 15s. 8d.: hulks, £22
4s. 10d. In Millbank, the earnings of the prisoners
averaged £2 15s. 5d.; in Pentonville, £3 19s. 11d.;
Portland, £15 19s.; and in the hulks, £8 6s. 10d. The
average cost of each prisoner a year in England and
Wales, was £21 13s. 3d.

The friends of the Freehold Land Movement held their
third Annual Conference on the 24th. The meeting was
very numerous, and the various Freehold Land Societies
were represented by their officers. The Report laid
before, and adopted by, the Meeting gives a concise and
comprehensive view of the progress of the movement:—
"The council of the union, in presenting their second
annual report, cannot but congratulate you upon the
present position of the Freehold Land movements.
Since your meeting in Birmingham, twelve months ago,
many of the prejudices and objections which existed
have become nonentities, or numbered amongst the
follies that were, and the effervescent excitement of
some over-zealous friends have found their level; and
the grand principles involved in your operations have
been consolidated and strengthened, and are now being
duly appreciated by all classes. During the year more
than 20 new societies have been formed under the most
favourable auspices, and a great number of public
meetings have been held, 51 of which have been
attended by your secretary, and as many more he has
found himself unable to accept invitations from; and
the council have not been in a position to supply the
demand: indeed, it appears that had they been enabled
to send an advocate, no one would have been so
acceptable as your secretary, as his personal attendance is
invariably insisted upon. The council again call the
attention of the conference to the absolute necessity of
assistance in this department. The council have to
complain of the negligence of the secretaries of the
societies in not filling up the printed form sent them, by
which an accurate statistical table of immense importance
could have been supplied to this conference of the
various particulars required. There are more than 100
societies in England and Wales, from 62 only of which
returns have been made. Forming, however, our
calculations with the greatest care from those received as
to the remaining societies, we shall find there are 45,000
members subscribing for 65,000 shares; 150 estates have
been purchased, 12,000 allotments made, £400,000
actually received, and upwards of £2,000,000 sterling being
subscribed for! These figures, compared with those of last
year, show an increase of more than 20 societies, 15,000
members, and 25,000 shares. The actual receipts have
exceeded not only all preceding years, but are £60,000
more than the total sum before subscribed; or, in other
words, the receipts since your last meeting have reached
the magnificent sum of £230,000, or nearly a quarter of
a million sterling. The council require no other facts
to impress you with the value and importance of this
movement. The council have viewed with much anxiety
and care the discussions now going on in reference to
the mode of allotting shares, which question they
earnestly entreat the conference to coolly and
deliberately discuss, and whatever differences of opinion
may exist upon this subject, they entertain no fears that
you will not let any other than friendly feelings guide
your arguments, so that the issue may lead to (if practicable)
an uniform mode of allotment. The council refer
with exultation to the triumph achieved by freehold
land societies in the revising barristers' courts; everywhere
the most desperate efforts have been made to
disfranchise those qualified by these institutions, and