The Week.

harbour . In answer to a question from Mr . AV . E . Forster Mr . Layard explained that the commercial negotiations with Belgium had been broken off in consequence of the Belgian government insisting upon the capitalisation of the Scheldt dues as a necessary condition of a commercial treaty with this country . He trusted , however , that this difficulty would yet be overcome , and that we should have conceded to us those advantages which had been granted to several other powers .

The House then went into Committee for the purpose of considering Mr . Walpole's resolutions on the revised code , when Mr . Lowe intimated that , in deference to the views so generally expressed during the preliminary debate , the Government had determined to make one or two important concessions . They were willing to agree , with some modification , to the motion of which Lord Enfield had given notice , and which declares that in giving Government aid to elementary schools

, it is expedient to give a certain sum per head on the average attendance of scholars , and a certain further sum per head on the satisfactory individual examination of the scholars in reading , writing , and arithmetic . The modification they proposed was that the grant should be made on the general report of the Inspectors instead of on the average attendance of scholars . The grouping by age would also be abandoned ; Mr . AYalpole's

resolutions with reference to pupil teachers would be adopted , as well as other alterations of the code which had been suggested . Mr . AValpole and Mr . Disraeli complimented the Government upon the concessions they had made , and the consideration of the question was deferred , ou the understanding that the Government would , on Monday , name a day for proceeding with the discussion On Monday

Lord Palmerston—who , we are happy to find well enough to be able to resume his parliamentary duties—stated , in reply to a question from Mr . Blake , that no official correspondence had taken place between the English and Spanish governments on the subject of the alleged persecution of Protestants in Spain . Sir James Fergussou moved a resolution to the effect that it is undesirable that the annual training of the militia should be of less duration than the minimum period recommended by the Royal Commission . Sir G . C . Lewis submitted that with our present volunteer force , and in the existing state

of foreign affairs , the increased outlay which an extension of the period of drill would involve was unnecessary ; and the House being apparently of the same opinion , the resolution was negatived without a division . A long and interesting discussion followed on a question of supreme importance to England . Sir F . Smith contended that the recent naval engagement at Newport News , proved , beyond doubt , that vessels of the Merrimac and Monitor class were of much greater valueas of

, weapons defence , than stone fortifications . Iron-plated ships , such as those built by the Federal and Confederate Governments , could steam by stationary forts with impunity , and he , therefore , urged that the proposed works at Portsmouth should be at once abandoned , and a fleet of iron gunboats and other small vessels constructed . Mr . Laird said the Federal authorities intended to abandon fortsand to rely solel a force of Monitors- and

, y upon , he trusted that her Majesty ' s Government would seriously direct their attention to the question of protecting tho country by an efficient iron steam navy . Sir John Hay ( Chairman of the Ironplate Committee ) admitted that he had changed his opinion as to the value of land fortifications , and he now thought that it was for the interest of the public that these works should he stopped . He supported the princile of a wooden hacking in

p constructing "ironsides , " and contended that the Admiralty might produce really serviceable engines of war by cutting down our wooden ships clothing them wifcli armour , anil fitting them with Cagtain Coles ' s cupola shield . After some remarks from Mr . Duff Abercromby , and Lord A . V . Tempest , Sir G . C . Lewis said that the practical result of the revolution demanded h the previous speakers

y would be a Minisfceral demand for a supplementary naval estimate of from twelve to fifteen millions . He did not regard the result of the action at Newport News as decisive on the question of iron-ships versus fortifications , for he believed that the inventors of modern artillery were sanguine of their ability to produce weapons which would crush these naval monsters . Whilehoweverit would be imprudent to adopt the suggested

, , changes with haste , the Government would watch the progress of this question most carefully . Mr . Bright , Captain Jervis , Mr . Bernal Osborne , and Sir J . Pakington called upon the Government to suspend the construction of fortifications ; while Lord Clarence Paget submitted that forts , supplemented by

floating batteries , would still he the best means of defence . He stated that the recent engagement had proved nothing which the Government had not previously ascertained from the experiments which had been made in this country . After some observations from Mr . G . Bentinck and Mr . Coningham , the subject dropped . On Tuesday Mr . Berkeley asked whether , now thafc it was probable that guns of a heavier calibre would be required for the public service , it was intended that Sir William Armshould have the exclusive of

strong privilege manufacturing the new ordnance . Sir G . C . Lewis stated , in reply , that the Government had entered into a contract , not with Sir William Armstrong , but with the Elswick Company ; and that , if they ceased to employ the company , it would be necessary to granfc them compensation , as they had provided a plant which had cost £ 85 , 000 . The right hon . baronet added that proposals had been made for manufacturing rifled guns capable of throwing

projectiles weighing 3001 b and 60 Olb . — - —Mr . Hennessy submitted a resolution in favour of throwing the junior clerkships iu the-Civil Service open to competition ; hut , after a long discussion , the previous question- —moved by Sir Charles AVood—was carried by a majority of 21 . Mr . H . B . Sheridan then moved for leave to bring on fire insurance . The lion , gentleman proposed an immediate reduction of fche duty from 3 s . to , 2 s . and , after a lapse of five yearsthat another shilling should be struck off . Tho

, Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the motion , pointing out that in the present state of the revenue , ifc was impossible to make the sacrifice proposed by the member for Dudley . After ' some discussion , the House divided , when the motion was carried ' by a majority of 127 to 116 On AVednesday , the principalsubject under discussion was the Marriages ( Ireland ) Bill . Sir Edward Grogan took exception to the hill , and moved thafc it he read a second time that day six months . Ultimately the

amendment was withdrawn , and the the House went into committee , agreeing to all the clauses up to 44 GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The mortality in London rose last week to 1360 , which was about 90 more than the deaths in the previous week . It is still , however , 200 below the corrected average of the corresponding week for the last ten years . The births have for the first time during a considerable period risen : above the average , the numbers being 2124 , while the average is

2091 . The Eoyal Commissioners for the Exhibition have issued a notification on the subject of tbe opening ceremonial for that building . After stating the impossibility of her Majesty's personal attendance under the circumstances , which all her subjects understand and sympathise with , the Queen appoints that his Royal Highness the Duke of Camhridge , the Archbishop of Canterbury , the Lord Chancellor , the Earl of Derby , and Lord Palmerston , sir , 11 be her representatives to conduct it in her

name . The visit of his Majesty the Emperor of the French to the Exhibition appears to be fully settled , and six vessels of the Mediterranean squadron have orders to repair to Cherbourg to escort the Emperor to England . —•—The returns of the revenue for the quarter just ended , which happens also to he the termination of the financial year , have been published . The increase on the quarter , as compared with the correspondingquarter of last year £ 1070628 while the decrease on the year

, ,,, is £ 609 , 195 . A deputation of malsters waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to request an extension of the time allowed for payment of the malt duties . The deputation was introduced by Sir Minto Farquhar , Mr . Ducane , & c . The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that their application was too late for the present . He was willing to give it full consideration for the future , and with that view he requested that the deputation would send their case to him in writing ; hut he did

not hold out much hope of its being granted , as he said ifc would involve an increase to the burdens of the country . An influential deputation of shipowners connected with the . different ports throughout the country , waited on Mr . Milner Gibson , President of the Board of Trade , on Saturday . They were introduced by Mr . Horsfall , M . P ., and Mr . Moffatt , M . P . The object of the meeting was to bring under the right hop . gentleman ' s notice some alterations which they recommend in the

the hill now before Parliament to amend and consolidate various shipping acts , and which stands for a second reading ^ tonight . Mr . Gibson listened attentively to the different points they brought before him , and promised that they should —— have his fullest consideration in the subsequent stages of the bill . An influential deputation , consisting of the Duke of Marlborough the Bishop of London , and several other members of both houses , as well as other gentlemen and clergymen representing various societies formed to promote the better observance or