The Week.

ager of Athole , drove out in the afternoon . The Queen drove oufc on the afternoon of the 4 th inst ., accompanied by Princess Helena , and attended by the Duchess Dowager of Athole and the Equerry in waiting . The Queen , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena , Princess Louise , Princess Beatrice , and Prince Leopold , arrived at AVindsor Castle at six o'clock , on the 5 th insfc ., from Cliveden . In attendance were

the Dowager Duchess of Athole , the Hon . Flora Macdonald , Lieutenant Genei-al Hon . C . Grey , Lord Charles Fitzroy , Lieutenant Stirling , and Mr . Said . The Duke of Edingburgh , attended by Colonel the Hon . A . Liddell and the Hon . E . Yoike , reeeized the freedom of the Merchant Taylors' Company , and AA-as entertained by them at their hall in the city after the

ceremony . The Queen , attended by her Royal Highness Princess Helena , left AA'indsor Castle for London , at half-past twelve o'clock on the 6 th inst ., attended by the Dowager Duchess of Athole , the Hon . Flora Macdonald , and Lord Charles Fitzroy . Her Majesty travelled by special train . to Paddington , and proceeded thence , escorted by a detachment of the 14 th Hussars , to Buckingham Palace . Her Majesty , accompanied by Princess Helena , left Buckingham Palace for AVindsor Castle , at half-past six o ' clock .

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE OF LORDS on the 31 st ult ., the Capital Punishment Bill was considered in committee . Earl Grey moved the omission of the clause retaining the designation of murder for a crime which ifc was proposed to call murder in a first or second degree . The Government opposed the amendment . On a division , the numbers were equal—38 for and against the clause . On tho usual ground , this

was held to be fatal to the clause , and the Lord Chancellor suggested that the further consideration of the bill should bo postponed . This was agreed to , and tho House shortly afterwards adjourned . On the 1 st insfc . the chief business was the discussion of the Sunday Trading Bill . A ai-ious amendments Avere proposed , and finally there was a division on the motion

that the bill do pass . It only found 39 supporters , while 69 voted against it , and therefore the bill was rejected . On the 4 th inst Lord Redesdale moved a series of alterations in the standing orders to give effect to the suggestions which he made on a previous occasion in reference to the manner in which railway and other companies are promoted and carried through Parliament . The motion was strongly opposed , and after a long discussion Lord Redesdale withdrew it giving notice that he

should move for a select committee to inquire into what amendments in the standing orders are necessary . The Houso soon afterwards adjourned . On the Sth insfc . the Earl of Clarendon complained of the attack which had been made upon him on the previous night , in the House of Commons , by Mr . Disraeli . Most of tbe charges made against him he could afford to pass over , but there was one which he must notice . It was

said-that in the Paris Congress of 1 S 5 G he entered into a conspiracy to put down the free press of Belgium . He denied that he had done anything of the kind . At the Congress Count AVaiewski had mentioned that there were journals in Belgium got up by French exiles and preaching assassination , and these might cause misunderstanding between France and

Belgium . The Earl of Clarendon said in reply to this that he could not be any party to an attack on the free press of Belgium , but it was the duty of everyone to denounce assassination . He read from the protocol to show that this was what took place , and said if Mr . Disraeli knew of the protocol his charge was uujusfcifinble ; if he did not it ivas reckless . Their lordships then took up the Public Schools Bill , and , after two divisions on clauses , passed it through committee . The Lord Chancellor brought up a Royal Messages announcing the approaching

marriage of the Princess Mary of Cambridge , and expressing assurance that their lordships Avould concur iu making further provision for her Royal Higness . The House then adjourned . In the House of Commons , on the 31 st ult ., among those who had assembled lasfc evening to hear the Reform debate were the Chinese Ambassadors and their suite . They had the pleasure of hearing a question asked as to their standing in the country ,

and Mr . Layard ' s explanation thafc , though they wore not regularly accredited to this Court , her Majesty's Government had been asked to give them every facility in seeing the country . Mr . Doulton was fired with new zeal for the causeof his constituents , and gave notice that in committee he should move that Lambeth be divided into two boroughs , with tivo

members each , the necessary two members to be found by disfranchising boroughs with less than 10 , 000 inhabitants where corrupt practises have prevailed . The adjourned debate on the Reform Bills was resumed by Mr . Julian Goldsmid . He pointed oufc anomalies in the Distribution of Seats Bill , and urged that as several boroughs with between 8 , 000 and 10 , 000 inhabitants

were still to have two members , while some of the groups would have more than 10 , 000 and only one member , this was unjust , and two ought to bo given to them . If that course was pursued with respect to the Honiton group he should vote fcr the Bill . Mr . Goschen had no objection , if the House agreed to it , to draw the line afc 10 , 000 inhabitants instead of 8 , 000 , bnt

wherever the line was drawn anomalies must be created . Turning to the general question , ho caustically showed up tlle policy of the Opposition in never venturing an amendment of their oivn , but backing up any proposal from the Liberal benches AA'hich threatened to obstruct the Bill . Finally , he declared that the Government could not accept a defeat on Captain Hayter ' s amendment . Sir John Pakington followed with a speech wliich

had apparently been prepared for the discussion on the Franchise Bill . He quoted Mr . Mill's declaration—thafc the Conservative party by the very law of its existence was the stupidest party in the State , and triumphantly asked did Mr . Mill think so now . Mr . Mill followed Sir John , and promptly replied that ho did think so , but added in effect that the Adullamites Avere running the Conservatives very close in this respect .

Referringto the appeals which had boon made fco his writings , he said he wished members would read more than tho passages they quoted . He gave in his adhesion to the Government scheme . Mr . Scorn-field followed with an attack on the Bills , while Miv Baxter sharply attacked the policy pursued by the Opposition ; and pointed out that it must inevitably lead to a more compre *

hensive measure being introduced . Mr . Mowbray , Lord F . Cavendish , and Mr . Ducano having spoken , Mr . Lowe attacked the Bills . He began by declaring that the measures beforethem had never been read a second time , and after that went on to denounce them in a series of most carefully elaborated sentences . The Attorney General replied , and the debate

Avas adjourned on the motion of Sir Hugh Cairns . On the 1 st inst ., the House was kept from the Reform debatefor more than an hour by a speech of Mr . AVlialley , who sought to show that Fenianism Avas caused by Roman Catholicism . A very extraordinary scene was exhibited owing to the pertinacity with which Mr . AVlialley persevered in addressing the House

against the Avishes of the members . In a very full House , containing about four hundred members , Sir P . Burrell moved that the House be counted , and simultaneously three-fourths of the gentlemen present rose from their seats and rushed to the door . A sufficient number remained to prevent the House being counted out , but Sir P . Burrell attained the much-desired object of bringing Mr . AA'halley ' s address to a close ; not , how-ever , before the Speaker had made an appeal to Mr . AA'halley .