The Week.

with passports iu the case of foreigners passing through the country , but that they would still be required as proof of nationality in the case of those who proposed to domicile themselves in Belgian . territory . Lord Palmerston stated , in answer to a question from Mr . AVarner , that a portion of the British squadron had gone to Japan , not for the purpose of hostility , but to afford British interests and British residents there a moral support . The Chancellor of the Exchequer , in committee on the Consolidated Fund

and Exchequer Bills Acts , submitted resolutions to tbe effect that it is the opinion of the committee that the principal moneys of Exchequer bills , with the interest thereon , shall be charged upon and paid out of tbe consolidated fund ; that tbe interest shall , during . their currency , be payable half-yearly by coupons at the Bank of England ; that an option shall be given at the expiration of eacli twelve months to the holders of Exchequer Bills to be paid the principal moneys of all such bills held by them ; and that all

Exchequer bills not so paid off from time to time shall have currency for tbe next twelve months following the date of such option ; that all Exchequer bills shall be receivable for duties granted to her Majesty during the last six months of each year during which they have currency by law ; and that when such Exchequer bills shall be paid of , the Treasury may issue the like amount of Exchequer bills to replace the bills so paid of . A short discussion ensued , in the course of which a general opinion was

expressed in favour ofthe proposed changes , and the resolutions were agreed to . On Thursday Mr . Mackinnon obtained leave to bring a bill for establishing equitable councils of conciliation to settle differences between masters and operatives . Mr . A . Mills moved for a select committee on colonial military expenditure , to inquire and report whether any , and what , alterations might be advantageously adopted in regard to the defence of the British dependencies , and the proportions of cost of such defence as now defrayed

from imperial and colonial funds respectively . The hon . gentleman said that his object was to enable the colonies to realise those principles of self-reliance which alone could qualify them for selfgovernment . Agreed to . Mr . Dodson submitted a resolution to the effect that the maintenance of any duty upon bops is impolitic , and that in any remission of taxation or adjustment of financial burdens provision should be made for the removal of such duties . The motion was negatived by 202 to HO . Sir J . Elpbinstone brought under notice the grievancesprevailing in the royal navy , and moved for a select committee to consider the present system of

promotion and retirement , and the present pay and position of the several classes of naval officers , and to report what changes therein arc desirable , with a view to the increased efficiency of the naval service . The motion was seconded by Mr . Baillie Cochrane . After some discussion , Lord Palmerston said that if inquiry were made , it would bo found that all the services were under paid , thc naval , military , and civil , but that any attempt to increase the remuneration would entail an addition to the national expenditure

which the country had little idea of . He recommended thc House not to rush blindfolded into the inquiry . Upon a division , the motion was carried by 102 to 97 . On AVeduesday Mr . Monckton Milues moved the second reading of thc Superannuation ( Officers of Prisons ) Bill , the object of which , ho stated , was to bring the condition of these officers into harmony with the superannuation system of the country . Mr . Packe moved that it be read a second time that day six months . After a lengthened debatethe House

, < livided , when the amendment was carried b y 140 or 00 . The bill was therefore lost . Sir John Trclawney '_ bill for the abolition of Church rates passed through committee . Tho select committees ¦ on transportation and metropolis local taxation were nominated . GENERAE HOME NEWS . —There is an increasing- improvement in the public health , as shown by the returns ofthe bills of mortality for last week . In the metropolis , the number of deaths was 123 S , that is , a decrease of SO ou the previous week ; of births in the same period

there were 202 S—boys 1020 , girls 1008 . The mean height of the barometer was 29 ' 8 inches , and tbe thermometer exhibited a moan temperature of 42 ' 2 degrees . In the City there were 50 deaths registered against 70 births—38 boys and 32 girls Monday evening witnessed the close of the Yelvertou . marriage trial , ivhich has excited an amount of interest rarely evoked Injudicial proceedings—an interest so powerful indeed that even the sedative atmosphere of a court of law proved impotent to restrain

from frequent outbursts of spontaneous feeling the closely packed auditory that hung day by day on every word ofthe long protracted evidence . The Chief Justice summed up in an elaborate and nicely discriminative charge to the jury , whicli occupied about eight hours in delivery . The jury , on returning into court , after twenty minutes' consultation , gave a verdict affirming the validity of both the Scotcli and Irish marriages . Inside the court a shout of applause followed this announcement , which was caught up by a vast and anxious crowd without ; a perfect frenzv of enthusiasm . seeming everywhere to prevail . At the Lambeth Police-court on Monday Mr , Elliott , the sitting magistrate , resumed the heariii "

of the summons taken out by Mr . Benjamin Webster , lessee of the Adelphi Theatre , against Mr . Morton , proprietor of the Canterbury Music Hall , which charged him with permitting the performance of stage plays at his house without "the necessary licence . The worthy magistrate , in giving his decision , said he had come to the conclusion that , according to the interpretation clause of the act relating to dramatic performances , this must be held to be a stage play ; but as nothing more than testing tbe legality of

the thing was desired by the prosecution , a nominal penalty of £ 5 would meet the requirements of the case . Notice of appeal was given . Mr . Commissioner Holroyd on AVeclnesday delivered his judgment in the notorious bankruptcy case of Laurence , Streatfeilcl , and Mortimore . He was of opinion that the charge of reckless trading of the most mischievous kind had been established against bankrupts , that the charge of wilful misrepresentation and deception had been established against Laurenceand that his conduct in

ob-, taining discount of the bills of the failed houses closely approached to obtaining money by false pretences . The certificate of Laurence was ] refused ; that of Mortimore was suspended for one year from the day of hearing ; and that of Schroder for two years from the same period . Laurence is at liberty to apply for protection after six months' imprisonment ; Schrader after three months '; and Mortimore has immediate protection . The certific . ites of Mortimore and Schrader will be of the third class .

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE . —By the new Austrian Constitution the Reichsrath is abolished , and a " Council of the Empire " established in its place . It is to consist of a House of Lords and a House of Deputies . The former will be composed of princes of the blood , sitting by right of birth ; the heads of those great , noble , and territorial families to whom tbe Emperor may give an hereditary title to a seat ; the archbishops and bishops having princely rank ; and lastly , men distinguished in the Church and State , or in science and art ,

whom tho Emperor may nominate as members for life . Tbe latter will be composed of persons elected by the diets of the respective countries , to each of which , all being included , a specific number of representatives is allotted . The Council is to meet once a year , and is to have a right to discuss all matters in which the whole empire is interested , including finance and taxation . Hungary is , along with the other nationalities , to send members to the Council , the proportion allotted to her being eighty-five , the largest of all . It thus appears that she is not to retain her ancient constitution ; and the measure is likely to be hotly

opposed at the meeting of the diet on the 2 nd of April . Very startling events have taken place at Warsaw . On tbe 27 th ult ., an assemblage of a somewhat angry character gathered in the streets of the city , and stones were thrown at the troops , who replied by firing upon the crowd , killing six persons , and wounding several others . The funeral of those who were killed took place on Saturday , and , as might naturally be expected , gave rise to a great popular manifestation . It is said 100 , 000 men were present . Since

then , we learn by a later despatch , the citizens of Warsaw have drawn up an address to the Emperor , declaring that the recent demonstration sprang from the deepest and most unanimous sense of the unsatisfied wants of the country , and tho result of many years of suffering . A searching inquiry is to be made into the cause of the movement ; and meanwhile , the Russian general , who gave the order to fire upon the people , has been brought before a courtmartial . Contrary to the general expectation and hopesthe

, effusion of blood is not to cease with the fall of Gaeta . The Governors of Messina and G'ivitella del Tronic have refused to surrender , and the Sardinians are now engaged in the reduction of those places . ¦ The Monileur publishes a report from thc Minister of Justice , addressed to the Emperor , on the subject of M . Mires' arrest , the purpose of which is to repudiate in tbe strongest manner the common rumour that scandal was to be avoided by allowing the prosecution to drop . 'The Minister declares that , in full accordance with the

early instructions of the Emperor himself , justice shall pursue the inquiry with a care and patience which shall be baffled by no obstacle . AMERICA . —In America the chosen leaders of tlvj contending states are now face to face . On Monday last Mr . Lincoln took the oaths at the Capitol , at Washington , and assumed the Presidency of the United States—any disseverance of whicli lie has pronounced rebellious and intolerable . On thc IStli ult . Mr . Jefferson Davis was inaugurated President of the Southern Democracy at

Montgomery , In his address on the occasion , he said . — " The judgment and tho will of tho people arc that union with the Northern states is neither practicable nor desirable . If necessary , ive must maintain by final arbitrament of the sword the position we have assumed . It was expected that the Mis-ouri election would result in favour of the Union candidates . The Tariff Bill had passed the Senate . I ' roiu Mexico we learn that Mejia bad entered tho town of Riverde with 2000 men , butchered 2 u 0 men and burnt the town . CoioniaciAi ., —The half-yearly meeting of the Railwiy Passengers Assurance Company was held at the offices on Wednesdav .