The Week.

appointed to inquire into the condition of the mercantile marine . It wa 3 urged by Mr . Chadwick that muny of the losses at sea were owing to the defective education of the seamen , and that something ought to be done to alter this state of things . Mr . Gibson said he was unable to promise a commission , but the matter should have his best consideration .

Professor Simonds has written a letter to the Clerk of the Council in reference to the attack of cattle plague at Mentmore . He comes to the conclusion that of the twenty-five animals said to have been attacked , eleven have really never had the disease , five are not severe cases , five have died , and four are sinking under the disease . He adds that as the animals have

been herded together , more cases may be expected , upon which Mr . Worms may test his system . Sir C . B . Phipps , expired suddenly on Saturday morning , after an illness of only two days . For the last twenty years he has held various important offices connected with the Court . At the time of his death he was Keeper of Her Majesty ' s Privy Purse and Receiver-General

of the Duchy of Cornwall . An accident which all will deplore happened on Saturday afternoon , the 24 th ult ., to the Kev . Dr . Whewell , Master of Trinity College , Cambridge . The rev . gentleman was riding out with a party of ladies when suddenly he was thrown from his horse—an animal which he has ridden for the last eleven years . He was

taken up immediately and carried to Cambridge , where medical aid was procured . It was then found that he was suffering from a severe concussion of the brain . There were two elections on Tuesday the 27 th ult . for London and Leominster . Mr . Goschen was re-elected without opposition for the city . In his speecli at the hustings he mentioned Reform , education , the Church , the cattle plague

Ireland , and Jamaica . As to Reform lie declined to go into particulars , and civilly refused te tell an elector , who asked him the question , whether he would support a £ 20 lodger franchise . In regard to both education and the Church he urged liberal measures . As to the cattle plague and Jamaica he confined himself to approving what the Government had done . Speaking

of Ireland , he said if England was to do good to Ireland , Ireland must meet her half way . He rebuked Mr . Roebuck and the shallow politicians who talks as he talks about Ireland being satisfied with the same institutions as England . Is nothing , asks Mr . Goschen , to be allowed for difference in the character of the people ? He insisted that such allowance

ought to be made . The right lion , gentleman was very warmly received . At Leominster Mr . Richard Arkwright , of Hampton Court , was returned unapposed to the seat which Mr , Gathorne Hardy has left for Oxford University . The police have apparently got hold of two very dangerous swindlers . The men , who are young , call themselves George Essen aud Charles

Allen . They appear to have advertised in the country papers to grant loans . When applications were made to them they pretended to make inquiries , after which they announced that the loan would be granted . They forwarded a promissory note for the amount to be borrowed and half a cheque , and promised on receipt of the five year's interest to

send tho other half of the cheque . This they did in fact , but when the cheque was presented it was found there was no account at the bank . They seem to have got a good deal of mouey in this way . Both men were remanded . The official report of the inquiry in reference to the loss of the London is published . It completely exonerates Captain Martin from any

blame , and says the accident occurred through the water getting down the hatchway , but suggests that there may have been some unknown leak . The report contains further some sugges tions in reference to the build of such ships as the London ,

At the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday , the 27 th ult ., it has announced that the bill which had been preferred against Mr . Kent for publishing the alleged libel against Mr . Sothern would be withdrawn . True hills were returned in the course of the day against the defendants Coleman and Cooper , and it was said that an application will be made to postpone the trial until the April sessions . The Marquis Townshend , on Tuesday

tbe 27 th ult ., took two young women to the Clerkenwellpolice court ancl asked for a summnons against a relieving officer of St . Pancras parish ancl the pauper porter of St . Pancras workhouse . He charged the relieving officer with behaving cruelly to one of the girls , and charged the porter with assaulting the others . The girls themselves made a statement , from which

it appeared that the Marquis had met them in Piccadilly , and advised them to apply for relief at St . Pancras . One of them said she had no complaint to make against any one , ancl should not have come to the court had it not been for the Marquis . The other girl said she had been pushed about by the porter , and in his case a summons was granted . The amplication of the Marquis ,

as far as tho relieving officer was concerned , was refused . 'Die Hon . George Denmnn was on Wednesday , the 2 Sth ult . returned for Tiverton by a majority of 46 over his opponent , Sir John Hay . The Marquis of Hartington was returned without opposition for North Lancashire . His colleague , Mr . Fenwick has probably not been so fortunate . AVhen this is

written the close of the poll has not come to hand , but at one o ' clock Alderman Candlish , the Radical opponenent of Mr . Fenwick , was ahead by nearly 100 votes . The National Reform Conference , convened by the Executive Council of the Reform League , held the first of its sittings on the 28 th ult . at St . Martin ' s Hall , and was numerously attended by provincial delegates . A resolution was adopted , affirming the

principles advocated by tbe Reform League of Residential and Registered Manhood Suffrage protected by the Ballot . Mr , Leverson submitted a bill which he had prepared by order of tho Council of the League . Its chief provisions were : an equalisation of electoral districts ; the appointment of an officer to be called the Superintendent of Elections , who should rank next to the Speaker of the House of Commons ; the qualifications

of a voter to be that he is of age , is not receiving relief under the poor rates , and has not been convicted of crime . the indemnity of Members of Parliament from election expenses , and the appointment of a permanent Committee of the House of Commons . The bill was referred to a committee of twelve , ——The annual meeting of the National Rifto Association was

held on the 28 th ult . The Duke of Cambridge presided . The discussion turned chiefly on the number of prizes given for small bores . Several of . those present urged that more prizes should be given for Enfields . There was also some discussion in reference to the Whitworth Rifle Company . Finally tbe report was adopted , ancl the Duke of Cambridge was

reelected president of the association for the ensuing year . The latest report represent Dr . AVhewell as remaining in nearly the same state . Some touching mementoes of the loss of the London have been received at Lloyd's . Several bottles containing messages from some of the passengers to their relatives have been washed ashore on the French coast . The perusal of these

sad missives will cause a pang to many besides the relatives of the ill-fated passengers . The arguments in tie famous Banda and Kirwee prize of money case have been brought to a close-The Judge announced that he should have to defer giving judgment , and it is believed judgment will not be delivered until Easter term . It is said the costs of the suit will be at least 50 , 000 ? , The seamen who were charged with mutiny on board the Scotland , were brought up for trial at the Central Criminal