The present condition of the river is an evil example of what may be done when men fancy their own selfish pecuniary interests will be promoted by impeding that which would be so manifest an advantage to the country at large, as the improvement of one of its principal rivers, so as to make it navigable for sea-going vessels to the furthest possible point inland. Some of them, however, are gradually awaking to the truth that no public interest can thus be sacrificed with impunity, and to discover their own shortsightedness in the matter. The time is not far distant when some of those who have hitherto been the bitterest opponents of the improvement of the river Severn will be found amongst its warmest supporters. WORCESTER TOWN COUNCIL. THE first charter of incorporation was granted to the city of Worcester in 1261—45th Henry III. The charter of James I, granted in 1622, was, with slight interruptions, the rule by which the city was governed up to the time of the Municipal Reform Act; and it must be said for the old Corporation that they appear to have been in a great measure free from the jobbery and malversation of funds which characterised so many of these close self-elected bodies. They had indeed a civic feast, for which £150 was yearly allowed, and kept a cellar of good wines; but these things were quite in accordance with the spirit of the time—some fifty years ago. John Wheeley Lea, Esq., was Mayor at the time of the extinction of the old body; the Earl of Coventry Recorder; Charles Sidebottom, Esq., Deputy-Recorder (a rather doubtful office then recently revived) and Town Clerk; and Mr. Deighton, Sheriff. Great efforts had been made to induce the burgesses, in the election of the new body, to make a calm and impartial choice of those persons who were really most fitted to conduct the business of the city, without respect to their political bias; but in the excited state of feeling which prevailed at that time, this was found impossible; and indeed it was hardly to be expected that the Liberals, after such an entire exclusion from office, should make terms with their opponents—it was at last their turn to enjoy the honours which the Tories had hitherto monopolised. The first election took place on Saturday, December 27, 1835, when out of thirty-six councillors, thirty-four chosen were Reformers—the Conservatives only returning two in St. Nicholas’s Ward. 1835—DECEMBER 30—The new body met for the first time, and took the declarations required by the act. 1836—JULY 1—First meeting for business, when the following Aldermen were elected: St. John’s Ward, Mr. Joseph Hall; St. Nicholas’s, Dr. Hastings and Mr. Edward Evans; St. Peter’s, Mr. George Allies, Mr. William Corles, and Mr. Francis Gibb; Claines’, Mr. C. H. Hebb, Mr. Richard Evans, and Mr. Thomas Stephenson; All Saints’, Mr. John Bradley, Mr. John Howell, and Mr. F. Williams. Mr. F. Williams declined the honour, and Mr. Thomas Chalk was afterwards elected in his stead.