Notes Of The Week.

disposed of , drew attention to certain unreformed borough corporations in England and "Wales , not incorporated under the Act 5 and 6 William IV ., c . 7 Q . Lord R . Churchill spoke amusingly and with great ability in opposition . The Attorney-General agreed to produce a part of the returns

moved for , provided Sir C . Dilke withdrew his motion , which was accordingly done . Mi * . E . Jenkins then moved a resolution , having reference to the Irish Church , calling for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the distribution and application of the funds of the

Disestablished Irish Church . In the debate that followed the principal speakers were Mr . Gibson and the Irish Solicitor-General , who opposed , Mr . Jenkins being defeated by 148 to 34 . Mr . Whalley then brought up the Tichborne trial , but his speech only elicited ironical cheers from the House , the Home

Secretary declining to entertain Mr . Whalley s views . Mr . Hope then moved tho second reading of the Increase of the Episcopate Bill . Sir W . Harcourt spoke at some length on the measure , which he evidently regarded with but little favour . Several motions for the adjournment of

the debate were made , yet defeated in turn , but the motion being again renewed , Mr . Hope at length yielded , and the debate was adjourned . The Treatment of Animals Bill was withdrawn , and the House soon after rose . On Monday , the chief business transacted was the settlement

of the question relating to the exclusion of strangers . The debate on the Marquis of Hartington ' s resolutions was continued by Mr . G . Hardy , who opposed them . Col . Mure followed , then Sir R . Knightloy , Mr . Roebuck , Sir TV . Harcourt ( who supported his leader ) , Mr . Horsman ( who

opposed him ) , and Mr . Ward Hunt . The Marquis having replied , the Honsc divided on the first resolution , and the Government were victorious by 254 to 147 , or a majority of 107 . The second then came on , and Mr . Newdegate moved an amendment , after which Mr . Disraeli moved the

resolution of which he had given notice , to the effect that on the espial of strangers , the Speaker or Chairman shall put their exclusion to the vote of the House , without allowing any debate or explanation , provided that he ( the Speaker or Chairman } may order , if he think fit at any time ,

the withdrawal of strangers from any part of the House . Mr . Newdegate ' s amendment found but little favour , only 30 members supporting , while 192 opposed . Mr . Disraeli ' s proposition was then carried , amid cheers . On the motion that the House go into Committee on the Friendly Societies

Bill , Colonel Barttelot moved a resolution to the effect that no Legislation can be deemed satisfactory which does not provide for registration and audit , and for the gradual introduction of a properly calculated scale of contributions . The Chancellor of the Exchequer having explained the scope

and purpose of the Bill , the amendment was withdrawn , and the House went into Committee , getting as far as the eighth Clause , when it resumed , and the Chairman reported progress . The House adjourned at half-past one . At the morning sitting on Tuesday , Mr . Whalley impeded

the progress of public business by moving the issue of a writ for the vacant seat at Norwich . Dr . Kenealy seconded the motion , a most unusual one for any private member to bring forward . A little wrangling ensued , and ultimately Mr . R . Yorke ' s amendment , to the effect that the writ be

suspended till the evidence of the Norwich election petition had been considered , was carried . The House then resumed the Committee on the Friendly Societies Bill . Clauses 10 and 11 were agreed to , after a very minute discussion , several amendments more or less salutary being

proposed . On tho 12 th Clause , progress was reported . Sundry bills wereread a third time , and the sitting suspended till nine o ' clock , when Sir J . Hay drew attention to the question of Navy Promotion and Retirement , in a long speech ; but nothing resulted from his motion . On Wedncs day , Mr . Crawford moved the second readinjr of the

Landlord and Tenant ( Ireland ) Act ( 1870 ) Amendment Bill , which relates to Ulster and the custom of tenant right in that province . Mr . Gibson moved that it be read that day three months . Mr . Butt supported the measure . A long debate followed , the Marquis of Hartington , who

proposed to vote for the second reading , without pledging himself to the details , bringing- up the rear . On a division , the bill was defeated by 301 to 151 . On Thursday , nearly the whole of the sitting was devoted to the Friendly

Societies' Bill in Committee , and , having reached tho 28 th clause , the Chairman reported progress , the further consideration of the Bill being reserved for the day following , at a morning sitting . The week has been a lively one . Ou Saturday , Hei

Notes Of The Week.

Majesty ' s birthday was celebrated in the usual manner and with the usual loyalty , though the weather was not the most favourable , either in the morning for the military displays , or in the evening for the illuminations . There was , in the first place , the ceremony of trooping the colours

at the back of the Horse Guards , the Duke of Cambridge and a numerous staff being on the ground , while the Princess of Wales and her children viewed the sight from the Horse Guards . At Woolwich , at Portsmouth , at Aldershot , in fact at all the great military and naval

stations , the troops and ships did honour to the occasion , and expended tho needful amount of gunpowder in the accustomed salutes and feus-de-joie . In the evening , Mr . Disraeli , the Earl of Derby , the Home and War Secretaries , and other leading ministers , gave the usual

banquet < . Tho Prince of Wales dined with tho First Lord of the Treasury , the Duke of Edinburgh with the First Lord of the Admiralty , and the Dukes of Connaught and Cambridge with the Secretary for War . The reception afterwards held at the Foreign Office was brilliant , the

Prince , the Dukes , and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the Duke of Teck and the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh being present . In honour of the auspicious occasion Generals Sir John Forbes Fitzgerald , G . C . B ., the Marquis of

Tweeddale , K . T ., G . C . B ., and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales have been raised to the rank of Field Marshal , while several other distinguished officers , both naval and military , have had the honour of the Bath of the first or second class

conferred upon them . The effect of the illuminations was sadly marred by the rain , as also were the special programmes provided at the Alexandra Palace and elsewhere . On Monday , by command of Her Majesty , the Prince of

Wales held a Levee at St . James ' s Palace , nearly 400 presentations taking place on the occasion , while the Diplomatic and General circles were both numerously attended ; the Dukes of Edinburgh , Connaught and

Cambridge being present . Her Majesty ' s Body Guards of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms were in attendance , under the Earl of Shrewsbury , as were also the Yeomen of tho Guard , under Lord Skelmersdale .

The most eventful episode of the week is tho departure , on Saturday afternoon , of the Arctic Expedition , under Captain Nares . In the forenoon the two ships were officially inspected by the Lords of the Admiralty , there being present the First Lord , Mr . G . Ward Hunt , Lord

Gifford , Sir Alexander Milne , Sir Massey Lopez , and Mr . Vernon Lushington . "My Lords " minutely inspected everything , both men and materiel , and finding all , as might have been expected , in a satisfactory condition , shook hands with all the officers of both ships , wishing

them and the crews God speed on their adventurous voyage , the latter promptly acknowledging the honour by three hearty cheers . Just before starting , the Queen , too , sent the following telegram to Captain Nares : " I earnestly wish you and your gallant companions every success , and

trust yon may safely accomplish the important duty you have undertaken . " To this Captain Nares replied : " I feel deeply the great honour Her Majesty has clone myself and the other members of the expedition in wishing us success . Her Majesty may depend on all doing their duty . "

At the last moment also , two bulky parcels , addressed to the respective Captains of the ships , were sent aboard , as presents from Her Majesty . When the final leave-taking between the officers and men , and their families and friends was over , tho ships slowly left their anchorage , amid the

cheers of the multitudes assembled at every point , aswfll as from tho ships in harbour , the crows acknowledging with a will this hearty farewell . As we have remarked before , both vessels are fitted with everything that can contribute , as well to the comforts of those on board , as to the success

of the expedition . That it may return , after achieving its object , is the prayer of every loyal Briton . The Horse Show at the Agricultural Hall , Islington , is always looked forward to with great interest , and this year

the entries wero more numerous than at any previous exhibition . The work of judging commenced on Saturday , and was completed on Monday , after which the leaping went on , to the delig ht nnd admiration of thoso present .

On Saturday , the Crystal Palace held its annual Flower Show , over seventy prizes being awarded among tho twenty-six classes of exhibits . The show was most successful , the principal attractions being the stove and greenbouse plants . Among the principal prize winners were Messrs , Jackson and Sons , of Kingston , Mr . B . S . Williams