The Week.

and another is projected on a grander scale , to explore the western branch of the Canton river as far as practicable . As to Lord Elgin ' s future movements little is known . The , -Brancahas arrived at Southampton , with dates from New York to tho 10 th March . The political news is unimportant ; tho question of an extra session of Congress was si-ill undecided . The American [ minister in China states that an extensive trade in coolies is carried on between China and Cuba . The coolies are entrapped and barbarousltreated . Sickles ' s trial for murder was to

y commence on the 22 nd ult . A fearful explosion occurred at the Hounslow powder mills of Messrs . Curtis and Harvey tliis day week . The precaution to prevent accident seemed to be perfect , and the origin of the disaster is a mystery . Six men were killed instantaneously , another died of his wounds soon after , and many are hurt , more or less seriously . Medical gentlemen arrived speedily to render aid to the wounded . The bodies of the killed were torn in pieces , and carried by tho force of the explosion to a great distance . About 320 menwomen

, , aud boys were engaged in the various departments at tho time , who rushed about in a frantic state of terror when the buildings blew up . The Marquis of AVaterforil has mot with his death , in the prime of life , by accident This melancholy event occurred while hunting with his own hounds . In leaping a small fence , not much more than two feet high , tha marquis ' s horse missed its hind legs on the hank and dropped his fore legs into a small cut on the other side , which throw the animal on its knees ,, so that his lordship was thrown oft' on his head ' , and never

after spoke . He lived about ton minutes . The marquis dying without any issue , his estates descend to his brother , the Rev . Lord John Beresford . In the House of Lords on Tuesday , Lord Campbell moved the second reading of tho Juries in Civil Causes Bill . He dwelt on tho hardships whicli one wrong-headed juryman could inflict on the others , and tho injury and expense to tho suitors . Ho thought that tho decision of a majority of nine should be sufficient for a verdict . Lord Lyndhurst opposed the second reading of the bill because its object was to change one of the fundamental laws of the kingdom . On a division the bill was thrown

out by a majority of sixteen . On Friday tho Earl of Derby , in reference to the defeat of the government in the Commons , said that he had consulted with his colleagues , and had had an interview with the Queen , , but declined to state the re suit until Monday . On that day he rose , amidst profound silence and attention , to make his statement . The noble earl said : AVith the unanimous concurrence of my colleagues and myself it was decided that that vote left to Her Majesty ' s government only two courses which they could with honour pursue—either immediately to resignor to appeal to the constituencies of the country at large . The

, noble lord proceeded to trace the action of parliamentary parties during the last ten years ; and reviewed the tactics and intrigues of the coalition to prevent the discussionof tho bill , stating that he believed there was not one of his colleagues that would not have gladly accepted the alternative < > f relioving themselves from the labours and responsibilities of office , and retiring to the enjoyments of private life . But I ( said the noble earl ) believe there is no country in Europe iu which the lovers of peace do not look with serious apprehension to tho overthrow of the present

government , to substitute for it a government presided over by either of the two noble lords , the member for the City of London or the member for Tiverton . My lords , Her Majesty was graciously pleased , without any hesitation , to intimate her pleasure that we should continue to hold the offices entrusted to us , ancl she now sanctions an appeal by us to the judgment and to the opinion of the people . To that appeal I look with confidence . A \' e do not appeal to tho country on the subject of parliamentary reform ; we appeal to the country on a

much larger and more comprehensive scale—to know whether the present state of the House of Commons , split in hundreds of party divisions , each incapable of carrying on the business of the country , but each capable of obstructing the proper discharge of that business—to know whether that state of parliament will receive the countenance and support of the people of England . Tuesday and Thursday wore occupied in the House of Commons by the adjourned debate on the Reform Bill , of which it is impossible in our narrow limits to give even the most meagre outline , One of his finest orations was delivered by Mr .