Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Week.
THE WEEK .
The Drawing-room on Saturday was a very br'riYuvnt affair . The Princess Eoyal proceeded from Buckingham Palace to St . James ' s in the same state , though with a rather less numerous retinue , than that which accompanies the Sovereign . She was accompanied by her sister , the Princess Helena , and met in tbe Throne-room by tbe Prince of AVales and tbe Duke of
Cambridge . The number of ladies specially presented amounted to about 250 . In spite of the repeated notice that gentlemen who did not accompany ladies were not required to attend the Drawing-room at all , several gentlemen , who came by themselves , did manage to find their way into the Throne-room . On the whole , however , the crowd was much less , and in
consequence there was none of that crowding and inconvenience Avhich was loudly complained of at the levee on the previous Wednesday , when the attendances amounted to upwards of 2000 . The Crown Prince of Prussia arrived at Windsor Castle from the Continent . His Royal Highness hacl travelled all night , ancl consequently outstripped the preparations that were
about to be made to receive him . He was accompanied by Lord Alfred Paget , who mot his Royal Highness at Dover . The Princess Alexandra , accompanied by her parents and her eldest brother , left Copenhagen on the 26 th ult ., on her way to England . The city was splendidly decorated , ancl the population made the most cordial demonstrations of respect and affection
towards the Eoyal lady who is so soon to become Princess of Wales . The journey has been made by slow stages ; she has visited Cologne , Hamburg , Hanover , Brussels , & c . In the latter place she was received with great ceremony by the Duchess of Brabant ancl Count of Flanders , aud the Eoyal party immediately proceeded to the palace , where a state entertainment was given in the evening . Her Royal Highness was
to leave Antwerp on Thursday evening . A telegram from Malta , dated Thursday morning , states that Prince Alfred , though still " weak , " continues to improve . It is understood that the illness of his Royal Highness has been much more severe than the reports which have been published wonld seem to indicate . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE OP LORDS on
Thursday , the 26 th ult ., a short conversation took place with respect to Mr . Odo Russell ' s relations with C ' ardine / AntoneHi . Lord Eussell said be was not aware whether the Pope ' s Secretary of State had declined to receive Mr . Eussell in an official capacity , but if Mr . Eussell had spoken to the Cardinal at all on state affairs , it bad been in consequence of friendly communications
from his Eminence himself . He further stated that he had not written to the British agent at Rome expressing regret that his Holiness had not quitted the Vatican . —On Friday , Lord Eussell , in reply to a question from Lord Ellenboiough relative to M . Bismarck ' s statement in the Prussian Chambers , said lie certainly had been informed by the Prussian and Russian
Ambassadors that tbe Governments of Berlin and St . Petersburg , had formed a convention in consequence of the insurrection in Poland . The noble Earl remarked that he was unable to understand the telegraphic report of M . Bismarck ' s observations , for recent events had shown that the agreement between the two Governments went further than he hacl stated . The Prince
and Princess of AVales Annuities Bill was read a second time , and , after conversations on the sweeping changes made in the constitution of Durham University , and on the question of criminal punishments , their lordships adjourned . —On Monday , the House was occupied an hour , and during about half that time the Prince of AVales watched tho proceedings from the cross benches . The bills granting annuities to bis Royal
Highness and his future Consort passed through committee ; and , after a short discussion , in the course of which the Duke of Somerset stated that we bad now a constantly increasing coastguard ancl volunteer naval reserve of about 2 S , 000 men , tbe Naval Coast Volunteers Act Amendment Bill was read a second time . —On Tuesday , the Prince and Princess of Wales Annuities
Bill was read a third time , and passed . In the HOUSE OP COMMONS on Thursday , the 26 th nit ., the Prince and Princess of AVales Annuities Bill was read a third time and passed . —In reply to a question from Mr . Lawson , Sir George Grey saicl he could not positively state whether a general measure would be introduced this session by the Government for amending the
licensing laws . —Sir F . Smith brought a " question of privilege " before the House . In the course of a speech , the other night , the hon . and gallant gentleman made some strictures on the appointment of Mr . Reed to the office of Chief Constructor of the Navy , and it seems that Mr . Eeed was foolish enough to send him a somewhat strongly-worded letter on the subject .
Lord Clarence Paget hoped that Sir Frederick would be content with an apology , which Mr . Reed was prepared to offer ; but tbe feeling of the House appeared to be opposed to such a course , and the delinquent was ordered to make his appearance at the bar on tbe follnwing day , when Mr . Reed made his appearance , and did due penance for the letter be had written to
Sir Frederick Smith . —Mr . Pope Hennessy moved an address to the Crown on the subject of Poland—a motion which gave rise to a long and important debate , iu which both sides of tlje House warmly expressed their symbathy with Poland , and strongly denounced the want of good faith of Eussia and Prussia . The motion was ultimately withdrawn . On
Monday , Mr . Cobden gave notice of his intention to call attention to the administration of the Board of Admiralty . —In reply to a question from Mr . Caird , Mr . Layard said tbe Government
had hacl their attention directed to more than one vessel alleged to be in course of preparation in English shipbuilding yards for the service of the Confederate States , but up to the present time no evidence had been furnished which could justify the authorities in proceeding to extreme measures . The hon . gentleman added , however , that strict orders had been given to watch
very closely any vessels supposed to be fitting out for the Southern navy . —In committee on tho bill for continuing the Union Relief Aid Act of last session , Mr . Hibbci-t moved the insertion of a clause empowering the Loan Commissioners to advance money to overburdened unions at 3 : i per cent . —such advances to be repaid within fourteen years . —The Chairman
( Mr . Massey ) pointed out that the initiative in any measure dealing with the State funds properly belonged to the Ministers of the Crown ; whereupon Lord Edward Hosvard appealed to Mr . Gladstone to give effect to the member for Oldham ' s proposition . Tho noble lord moved that the Chairman report progress , in order to afford the Government an opportunity of
considering the question ; but , after some conversation ,. the motion was withdrawn , and the bill passed through committee . —After a long discussion , the Tobacco Duties Bill was read a second time , on the understanding that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will , in Committee , propose several alterations in its provisions . — The House then went into Committee on tho Corrupt
Practices ; at Elections Bill , tbe second clause of which—providing for the disfranchisement of attorneys and others acting for candidates—was struck out by a majority of 110 to 103 . On Tuesday a curious scene occurred . Mr . Justice Williams and Mr . Justice Blackburn made their appearance in their state robes , for the purpose of announcing the passage of the Prince and Princess of AVales Annuities Bill by the Upper House ; but it would seem that what was intended to be a grave proccedim ? was converted into a screamiusr farce . The learned judges were
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Week.
THE WEEK .
The Drawing-room on Saturday was a very br'riYuvnt affair . The Princess Eoyal proceeded from Buckingham Palace to St . James ' s in the same state , though with a rather less numerous retinue , than that which accompanies the Sovereign . She was accompanied by her sister , the Princess Helena , and met in tbe Throne-room by tbe Prince of AVales and tbe Duke of
Cambridge . The number of ladies specially presented amounted to about 250 . In spite of the repeated notice that gentlemen who did not accompany ladies were not required to attend the Drawing-room at all , several gentlemen , who came by themselves , did manage to find their way into the Throne-room . On the whole , however , the crowd was much less , and in
consequence there was none of that crowding and inconvenience Avhich was loudly complained of at the levee on the previous Wednesday , when the attendances amounted to upwards of 2000 . The Crown Prince of Prussia arrived at Windsor Castle from the Continent . His Royal Highness hacl travelled all night , ancl consequently outstripped the preparations that were
about to be made to receive him . He was accompanied by Lord Alfred Paget , who mot his Royal Highness at Dover . The Princess Alexandra , accompanied by her parents and her eldest brother , left Copenhagen on the 26 th ult ., on her way to England . The city was splendidly decorated , ancl the population made the most cordial demonstrations of respect and affection
towards the Eoyal lady who is so soon to become Princess of Wales . The journey has been made by slow stages ; she has visited Cologne , Hamburg , Hanover , Brussels , & c . In the latter place she was received with great ceremony by the Duchess of Brabant ancl Count of Flanders , aud the Eoyal party immediately proceeded to the palace , where a state entertainment was given in the evening . Her Royal Highness was
to leave Antwerp on Thursday evening . A telegram from Malta , dated Thursday morning , states that Prince Alfred , though still " weak , " continues to improve . It is understood that the illness of his Royal Highness has been much more severe than the reports which have been published wonld seem to indicate . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE OP LORDS on
Thursday , the 26 th ult ., a short conversation took place with respect to Mr . Odo Russell ' s relations with C ' ardine / AntoneHi . Lord Eussell said be was not aware whether the Pope ' s Secretary of State had declined to receive Mr . Eussell in an official capacity , but if Mr . Eussell had spoken to the Cardinal at all on state affairs , it bad been in consequence of friendly communications
from his Eminence himself . He further stated that he had not written to the British agent at Rome expressing regret that his Holiness had not quitted the Vatican . —On Friday , Lord Eussell , in reply to a question from Lord Ellenboiough relative to M . Bismarck ' s statement in the Prussian Chambers , said lie certainly had been informed by the Prussian and Russian
Ambassadors that tbe Governments of Berlin and St . Petersburg , had formed a convention in consequence of the insurrection in Poland . The noble Earl remarked that he was unable to understand the telegraphic report of M . Bismarck ' s observations , for recent events had shown that the agreement between the two Governments went further than he hacl stated . The Prince
and Princess of AVales Annuities Bill was read a second time , and , after conversations on the sweeping changes made in the constitution of Durham University , and on the question of criminal punishments , their lordships adjourned . —On Monday , the House was occupied an hour , and during about half that time the Prince of AVales watched tho proceedings from the cross benches . The bills granting annuities to bis Royal
Highness and his future Consort passed through committee ; and , after a short discussion , in the course of which the Duke of Somerset stated that we bad now a constantly increasing coastguard ancl volunteer naval reserve of about 2 S , 000 men , tbe Naval Coast Volunteers Act Amendment Bill was read a second time . —On Tuesday , the Prince and Princess of Wales Annuities
Bill was read a third time , and passed . In the HOUSE OP COMMONS on Thursday , the 26 th nit ., the Prince and Princess of AVales Annuities Bill was read a third time and passed . —In reply to a question from Mr . Lawson , Sir George Grey saicl he could not positively state whether a general measure would be introduced this session by the Government for amending the
licensing laws . —Sir F . Smith brought a " question of privilege " before the House . In the course of a speech , the other night , the hon . and gallant gentleman made some strictures on the appointment of Mr . Reed to the office of Chief Constructor of the Navy , and it seems that Mr . Eeed was foolish enough to send him a somewhat strongly-worded letter on the subject .
Lord Clarence Paget hoped that Sir Frederick would be content with an apology , which Mr . Reed was prepared to offer ; but tbe feeling of the House appeared to be opposed to such a course , and the delinquent was ordered to make his appearance at the bar on tbe follnwing day , when Mr . Reed made his appearance , and did due penance for the letter be had written to
Sir Frederick Smith . —Mr . Pope Hennessy moved an address to the Crown on the subject of Poland—a motion which gave rise to a long and important debate , iu which both sides of tlje House warmly expressed their symbathy with Poland , and strongly denounced the want of good faith of Eussia and Prussia . The motion was ultimately withdrawn . On
Monday , Mr . Cobden gave notice of his intention to call attention to the administration of the Board of Admiralty . —In reply to a question from Mr . Caird , Mr . Layard said tbe Government
had hacl their attention directed to more than one vessel alleged to be in course of preparation in English shipbuilding yards for the service of the Confederate States , but up to the present time no evidence had been furnished which could justify the authorities in proceeding to extreme measures . The hon . gentleman added , however , that strict orders had been given to watch
very closely any vessels supposed to be fitting out for the Southern navy . —In committee on tho bill for continuing the Union Relief Aid Act of last session , Mr . Hibbci-t moved the insertion of a clause empowering the Loan Commissioners to advance money to overburdened unions at 3 : i per cent . —such advances to be repaid within fourteen years . —The Chairman
( Mr . Massey ) pointed out that the initiative in any measure dealing with the State funds properly belonged to the Ministers of the Crown ; whereupon Lord Edward Hosvard appealed to Mr . Gladstone to give effect to the member for Oldham ' s proposition . Tho noble lord moved that the Chairman report progress , in order to afford the Government an opportunity of
considering the question ; but , after some conversation ,. the motion was withdrawn , and the bill passed through committee . —After a long discussion , the Tobacco Duties Bill was read a second time , on the understanding that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will , in Committee , propose several alterations in its provisions . — The House then went into Committee on tho Corrupt
Practices ; at Elections Bill , tbe second clause of which—providing for the disfranchisement of attorneys and others acting for candidates—was struck out by a majority of 110 to 103 . On Tuesday a curious scene occurred . Mr . Justice Williams and Mr . Justice Blackburn made their appearance in their state robes , for the purpose of announcing the passage of the Prince and Princess of AVales Annuities Bill by the Upper House ; but it would seem that what was intended to be a grave proccedim ? was converted into a screamiusr farce . The learned judges were