The Week.

menfc of the United States . Lord Derby said every man , ivoman , and child in the Queen's dominions must reprobate the atrocious murder of Jlr . Lincoln , but he hoped that "her Majesty ' s Government had taken pains to -ascertain that there was nothing unusual in the motion that would render it in the slightest degree doubtful whether the unanimous assent of the House could bo given fo it in point of form . " Lord Russell

replied that there would bo nothing in the form of the motion that would make it in the slightest degree objectionable . In reply to a question from Lord Chelmsford , Lord Bussell said the Government continued their exertions on behalf of the En- * glish captives in Abyssinia , whoso treatment , ho added , was not so harsh as it had been represented . —On Friday the Courts of

Justice Bills were read n second time , after a good deal of discussion . —On Monday Earl Russell in moving an address to the Crown , praying theQiiccu to convey to the Government of the United States the sentiments of their lordships upon this dreadful event , said her Majesty had already sent a message of sympathy to the American people , and bad moreover despatched

an autograph letter to Jlrs . Lincoln condoling with that lady upon her husband ' s lamentable death . His lordship paid a warm tribute to the integrity and the humane and conciliatory disposition of the late President , and expressed a hope that the Administration of his successor would be guided by the same spirit of mercy and forbearance . Lord Derby

would have ' preferred a resolution to a motion for an address , but be entirely concurred iu the expression of horror and indignation at tho murder of Jlr . Lincoln . This feeling was universal iu tho country , -and ho trusted that the unanimity of British opinion on this deplorable event ivould tend to convince the American people of the groundlessness of the idea that England is unfriendly to th e United States . It was

impossible , lie said , to believe that the Confederate authorities approved this great crime , and he looked wiqh confidence to their expressing their detestation and abhorrence of it . After a few remarks from Lord Stratford De Redcliffe , the motion was agreed to . Nr . Hadfiekl ' s Abolition of Qualification for Offices Bill was thrown out on the second reading by a majority of

71 to 4-9 . On Tuesday , Lord Clarendon intimated that tho " Public Schools Bill would be [ referred to a Select Committee . The proposal to go into committee on the Courts of Justice Bill was resisted by Lord Bedesdale , but on a division the Government obtained a majority , and the various clauses of the measure were agreed to , Several other Bills advanced a stage .

In the HOUSE OP COMMONS on Thursday , Sir G . Grey , on behalf of Lord Pahnerston , gave notice of a motion with reference to the Washington tragedy . Jlr . Gladstone then rose amidst tho loud cheers of a crowded House to make his financial statement . He said the Appropriation Bill passed hist year provided for au expenditure of £ 07 , 773 , 000 , whereas the actual outlay , omitting

that involved in tho fortification scheme , which was provided for by terminable annuities , amounted to £ 66 , 462 , 000 . The revenue for the year just closed was estimated at £ 67 , 128 , 000 , but the actual income had boon £ 70 , 313 , 000 . There hud thus been an excess of revenue over expenditure of close upon four millions . Without following the right- honourable gentleman

through the elaborate sketch which he gave of the financial history of the country during the past few years , we come to what our readers will regard as , on the whole , the most important part of his statement , AA'ith the taxation of the country as it stands at present , he estimates that there would be a surplus , in round numbers , of four millions at the close of

the financial year upon which ive are now entering . He , therefore , proposes to take 2 c ? . off the income tax , to reduce the tea Gil . per pound , to reduce the fire insurance duty to Is . < nl . per

cent ., and to give malsters tho option of paying the malt ta : by weight or by measure . Several minor changes are proposed the effect of the ivhole being to leave him with a margin o about a quarter of a million for the coming year . Jlr . Glad stone's speech was followed by a discussion , in ivhieh Jlr AVhiteside , Lord John Maimers , Sr F . Crossley , and othei

members took part , tbe Budget being generally well received On Friday , Jlr . Dillivyn announced the postponement of the adjourned debate on tho Irish Church . A motion foi a committee to inquire into the grievances of the outdoor officers of Customs was rejected by a majority of 11 ; and the House was counted out at

twentyfive minutes past seven o ' clock . On Slonday , Mr . Jlr . Gladstone , iu reply to a question with reference to the reduction of the sea duty , said it would be impossible to allow a drawback on the stocks of tea in the hands of the retail dealers . Sir George Grey then moved an address on the assassination of Jlr . Lincoln precisely similar to that moved in the Upper

House by Lord Russell . Jlr . Disraeli seconded the motion , and , in tho course of a brief speech , sought to " reassure the Americans agrinst any unreasonable panic , "—reminding them that " assassination has never changed the history of the world . " The motion was agreed to unanimously . —Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the recommittal of the Bank Notes Issue

Bill . The Bill did not ask the adoption of any new principle beyond the Act of 181-4 . It was desirable , however , that the absorption of private issues should go on more rapidly than it did under that Act , It was therefore proposed that the issues should continue for a fixed term of years on certain payments being made , after ivhieh Parliament ivould be free to deal with the subject . Nothing in the Act would , however , affect those banks

which did not choose to avail themselves of its provisions . After some discussion the IIouso went into committee , and ivas occupied for some time with the various clauses and amendments which were proposed . —Jlr . Jlilner Gibson moved the second reading of the Partnership Law Amendment Bill . He said it had been introduced in fulfilment of a pledge given to Mr . Scholeficld . It would relax the law of partnership so as to

allow a person who lent money to a firm on condition of receiving a portion of the profits to rank as a creditor instead cf a partner . Servants might bo rewarded by a portion of the profits instead of a fixed salary , and the widow and children of a deceased partner might receive a share of profits ivithout being partners . All of those would , however , be in the position

of postponed creditors not to be repaid till all other creditors had been repaid , Jlr . J . Peel moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months . The Bill , he contended , would open the door to fraud . A lengthy debate ensued , and the second reading of the Bill was carried by 12 G votes to 39 , The Chelsea Bridge Tolls Abolition Bill was

read a second time after a debate by 27 votes to 14 . On Tuesday , Sir George Grey stated , in reply ton question from Jlr . Adderley , that the Government was considering the propriety of issuing a new minute to remove tho distinction drawn between rural and other schools in the Education Office minute of JIarch , 1 SG 1-. Captain Jervis moved an address to the

Crown , praying for the redress of " the grievances admitted by the commission on the memorials of Indian officers to have arisen by the departure from the assurances given by Parliament by 21 st and 22 nd of Victoria , cap . 106 , and 23 rd and 24 th of Victoria , cap . 100 . " Lord Elcho seconded the motion , which was opposed by Sir Charles Wood . The right hon . Baronet contended that the position of the Indian officers whose cause Captain Jervis had espoused was now better than it was be-