The Week.

fiir behind , which gives 40 , or Dublin , which gives 39 . The recent unhealthy weather has increased the deaths iu London ( 17-1-7 ) by upwards of 1 G 0 over the returns of the previous week , ancl by nearly as many over the ten years' average . The births were 1 SS 1-, which is 90 below the average . Her Majesty has bad her attention arrested by the number of

railway accidents which have lately appeared in the newspapers ; and the natural tenderness of her heart lias induced her , it appears , to address a representation to tbe directors of several railway companies on the necessity of greater caution in a matter of so much importance . It is not for herself , as her Majesty reminds them , that she is induced to interfere , as she

is well aware of the extra precautions that are taken for her safety when she travels ; hut she expresses the hope that the same security may be afforded to her family , to the officers employed in her service , and to her subjects in general . The weekly report on the pauperism of tbe cotton manufacturing districts shows on the whole a slight decline . Twelve

unions have more paupers , together 850 ; six unions are without change ; ancl ten show a decrease , together , 1 , 030 . On taking the difference it is found to be in favour of the last section of unions by 180 . The Bury union has 220 more paupers on its elief lists ; while the Blackburn union has 100 ; thj Haslingden union , 260 ; Manchester , 120 , and the Preston union , 190 fewer

than in the previous week . The total number of adult ablebodied paupers is now 21 , 100 . The outdoor relief disbursed by the Guardians last week amounted to £ 5 , 943 ; or less by £ 3 , 500 than in the corresponding season of 1 SG-1-. The cotton supply question formed , of course , ono of the most important topics iu the discussion which took place at the annual meeting

of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce . With regard to the prospect before us , there was some diversity of opinion , Mr . John Cheetham , for example , looking on matters more despondingly than he did twelve months ago , for many manufacturers who had been able to stand their ground were at last being compelled to give way under the continued pressure . The estimate that we might expect from any other countries

than . America . 3 , 000 , 000 bales of cotton during this year , he characterised as absurd ; and , even if a reconciliation were brought about between the Federal and the Confederate States , we must not expect the large supplies that we had had . The ncrease in the cultivation of cotton in various parts of the world was recognised with satisfaction by various speakers ;

but Mr . Ash worth complained—and in this complaint Mr . Bazley concurred—that tliey wore not able to conclude that any largo progress had been made in the improvement of the quality , or that there was any diminution to any extent worth naming in the fraudulent packing of cotton in India . At the weekly meeting of the Metropolitan Board of AVorks it

was agreed that their engineer should make a report upon the state of the building in . Westminster that fell , ' with such serious results to the people assembled inside . Mr . Baxalgette presented a report on the new railway schemes about to be promoted this session in connection with the metropolis . It appears that the railways projected are fourteen miles in

length , and that the cost of their construction will be £ 17 , 000 , 000 . The vacancy ou the Irish bench is at last filled up . Mr . O'Hagan , the Attorney-General , ha £ accepted the vacant seat on the bench , Mr . Lawson stepping from the post of Solicitor to that of Attorney General , and Mr . Sullivan to that of Solicitor-General . This is

the seventh Irish judge that Lord Palmerston has appointed , and the sixth of tho Roman Catholic religion . Something like official confirmation is given to the report that Mr . Justice AVilliams has tendered his resignation as one of the

judges of the Court of Common Pleas . It is rumoured that the Solicitor-General has declined the vacant office , and that Mr . Lush , Q . C ., will be tho new judge . Tbe will of an old man , Smart , a pauper in St . Pancras Workhouse , who alleges * , and has persuaded some people to believe , that he is heir to a large property , is exciting considerable interest among the

vestrymen and guardians of the poor in that parish . Mr . Bishop , who drew up the will , refuses to produce it , and declares tbe vestry have found a mare ' s nest . The master of the workhouse , who is to benefit largely by its provisions , denies that he used any undue influence . A committee which was appointed to investigate the matter met the other day at the workhouse , when

their object was baffled by the old man Smart liaving left the house . The committee was directed to continue the prosecution of its inquiries . -A gentleman , named Feather , has put in a petition of right , claiming compensation for an alleged infringement of a patent granted to him in the construction of what ar _ known as " Mr . Heed ' s" small armour-plated ships .

The case came before the Court of Queen ' s Bench some days since , and the Attorney-General raise ! the questions whether patents of improvements or inventions useful for the defence of the realm are valid as against the Crown ; and if so , whether the breach of them enn be the subject of a petition of right . There were minor pleas , but the real points for the decision of

the Conrt were those we have stated . These points have been argued at great length , and the Attorney-Genera ! was yesterday informed by tbe Lord Chief Justice that " at present he might take it that judgment would be given for tho Crown . " hi view , however , of the importance of the questions raised , the Court was anxious to prepare a careful statement of the grounds upon which its decision was based . The case will probably be taken to a Court of Appeal . —¦—Some time ago a clergyman

was convicted of an offence at the Middlesex Sessions . In the course of the trial his counsel called evidence to character , when the prosecution summoned witnesses to rebut it . Tins was resisted by tbe counsel for the prisoner as incompetent , and on the judge admitting the testimony , tho counsel appealed to the Court of Error . The case came on for hearing on Saturday , when the Court , consisting of the whole fifteen judges , heard

the pleadings and gave judgment . The judges were unanimous id holding that testimony to rebut good character , was admissible . They also held that as evidence to character must he general and not refer to special facts , so the rebutting evidence must be general also . And fourteen of the judges , while . Chief Justice Erie dissented , held that the

witnesses must speak as to the general opinion in their neighbourhood , not of their own knowledge . As in the case under discussion , fiie rebutting witnesses spoke of their own opinion , not of the opinion of tbe neighbourbourhood , the conviction of the clergyman was quashed . Several months ago , a Mr . Thornley , confidential clerk to a

Mr . Salomons , warehouseman , in Old Change , absconded , having robbed his employer , by means of forgery , to the extent of £ 40 , 000 or £ 50 , 000 . A detective officer was employed to trace him , but after spending several months in the pursuit , both in Canada and the States , was obliged to return without the offender , and Mr . Salomons' solicitor attended at the Guildhall

last week to report his ill success . The solicitor enlarged upon the energy , ingenuity , and assiduity shown by the detective , notwithstanding- his failure ; and while Alderman Lusk did not dispute it , he did not appear to be impressed with the same admiration for the energy of the pursuit in general that wasinsisted on by the solicitor . Following close upon tho

destruction of the Edinburgh Theatre by fire , we have to record a similar catastrophe to the Eoyal Surrey Theatre , Black .