Summary Of News For December.

brought from the Commons and read a first time . On the 21 st , it was read a second time and passed through committee ; and on the 22 nd , it was read a third time and passed . The House of Commons commenced their labours on the 13 th , and Lord Palmerston asked leave to introduce a bill to enable the Queen to accept any offers which might be made by militia regiments , or parts of regiments , to service out oi the united kingdom . The militia would be invited to volunteer for garrison service

in certain places in the Mediterranean , so as to set free tho regiments of the line for the purposes of the war . It might become advisable to extend the invitation to serve in North America ; but , in the meantime , the offer would be limited to such places as Gibraltar , Malta , and the Ionian Islands . After a short discussion leave was given , and the bill brought in and read a first time . The bill was read a second time on the 14 th , passed through committee on the 18 th , and read a third time on the 19 th . On the 15 th a vote of thanks , similar to that in the Lords , was passed by the

House of Commons to the troops and fleets engaged in the East for their gallant services . On the 18 th , the Foreign Enlistment Bill was brought from the House of Lords and read a first time . On the question of the second reading on the 19 th , Sir Ed . Lytton moved its adjournment for six months ; but after a smart discussion , the second reading was passed by a majority of 241 to 202 . The bill passed through committee with some trifling amendments on the 21 st , and was read a third time on the 22 nd , the numbers on a division being for the bill , 173 ; and against it , 135 . On the 23 rd , the royal assent was given to the two bills , and both houses adjourned to the 23 rd of January , when , what may be called the regular session , will commence .

THE WAR . But little need be said of the progress of the war , the weather and the want of reinforcements having prevented any operations of importance before Sebastopol since the battle of Inkermann . Large reinforcements , both from France and England , have , however , by this time reached the Crimea , and 25 , 000 of Omer Pasha ' s troops were , at the last accounts , on their road . Every exertion has been made to secure the

comfort of the troops during the winter , notwithstanding there were a great variety of stores lost by the destruction of the Prince , and other transports , in the storm in the Black Sea , last month . The latest accounts are to the 18 th , at which period the army appear to have been in good health , and gradually gaming ground and strengthening their position . The Russians had made various sorties , but they were all repulsed , with but inconsiderable loss to the allies—though , in one of the latest , the Russians are stated to have lost 700 men . A large bodof "Navvies" has been sent out to

y Balakclava to lay down a railway for facilitating the transport of artillery and stores to the camp of the allies ; and every exertion is being made for carrying on the war with the utmost vigour . A treaty has been entered into with Austria , which it is hoped will have the effect of assisting in bringing the war to a speedy termination .

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES . A dreadful murder of a twofold nature was perpetrated in Warren-street , Fitzroysquare , on the 8 th , the victims being Mr . George Moore , a soda water manufacturer , and Mr . C . Collard , a greengrocer . It appears that a man named Bartlemy , formerly employed by Mr . Moore , called upon him that evening , with a view , it would seem , either of extorting money or robbing him . Being opposed by Mr . Moore , the villain drew a pistol and shot him , as he did also poor Collard , who attempted to take him into custod The

y . ^ assassin has been committed for trial , and a subscription opened for the benefit of the family of Collard , who was in very humble circumstances . On the Ist of December , George Farrell , late a clerk in the Bank of England , was sentenced to fifteen years transportation , for obtaining large sums of money by forging dividend warrants . On the 3 rd , Isaac Hart , a general dealer , was transported for fourteen years for having received 600 / . worth of plate , knowing it to be stolen . On the morning of the 3 rd , the building lately occupiedby the Whittington Club ,