The Week.

The House then resumed the debate on the Reform Bills . Sir H . Cairns led off with a speech in which ho echoed the criticisms of Mr . Lowe and all those who had opposed tho bills . Mr . A eland followed in support of the measure . In tlie course of the subsequent discussion Mr . C . W . Martin , one of the memhers for Newport , a borough proposed to be grouped , spoke against Captain Hayter ' s amendment . The other member for

Newport , Mr . Kennard , supported the amendment . —There was a short and sharp prelude to the Reform debate in the House , on the 4 th inst . Lord Elcho repeated bis question as + o whether the Government , in case they were successful in defeating Captain Hayter ' s amendment , intended to withdraw tho Distribution of Seats of Bill . Mr . Hadfield Avanted to know if the

Government had been informed that Captain Hayter intended to withdraw his amendment . The Chancellor of the Exchequer replying first to Mr . Hadfield , said the Government had had no communication ivith Captain Hayter . As to Lord Elcho's question he declined in effect to give any answer to it . Sir Hugh Cairns wanted to know if the Government adhered to

its resolution not to prorogue Parliament till the bills were either carried or rejected . Again the Chancellor of the Exchequer declined to give any answer . Mr . Hadfield addressed himself to Captain Hayter , and wished to know from him Avhether he intended to withdraw his motion . Captain Hayter replied that he could ] not just then como to a decision . Sir T .

Bateson thereupon ivantcd to know if the Government bad been to tbe gallant captain with auy promises of manipulation ofthe Distribution of Seats Bill . Captain Hayter replied emphatically in the negative . Mr . Horsmau , who probably felt the Cave growing darker , Avanted to know if the Government would stand or fall by the bill . The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that they had already said they Avould ,

and as yet they had made no change m then- intentions . — After this brisk cross-firing the debate on the real question Avas mildly begun by Lord John Manners , who , of course , opposed the Bill . Earl Grosvenor did not like the bills , but ho disliked a Tory Government more , and therefore he should vote Avith the Government . Mr . Bernai Osborne , in a speech hitting out right and left , supported the Government . Mr . Adderley

repeated in effect the speech he recently delivered at Stoke-upou-Trent against Mr . Bright and the Bill , and was smartly replied to by Mr . Grenfell . Lord 11 . Montagu opposed the Bill , Avhich found a supporter in Mr . Pirn and another opponent iu Mr . AA ' alrond . Mr . Wy ld hoped the Government Avould not regard their plan of grouping as unchangeable in committee , and Mr .

Mitford hoped the bills would be rejected . Mr . Heavy Seymour thanked the Government for bringing forward the bills , and Sir T . Bateson issued a fierce diatribe against the measures . Mr . Coleridge came next Avith a powerful speech , in which he fitly rebuked the extravagances of Mr . Lowe . He was replied to by Jlr . AVhiteside . After Mr . Marsh and Mr . A , Egerton had

spoken against the bill , the Chancellor of the Exchequer addressed himself to the { task of answering the objections fco the Bill . He spoke for about two hours , and effectually demolished the arguments of his opponents . Mr . Disraeli got the place he loves—that of last in the debate . Ho indulged in a good deal of sarcasm , but very little argument . Captain Hayter then

wished to withdraw his amendment , bnt the House would not permit this , and it was negatived Avithout a division . The House went into committee pro forma , and , after a rather exciting scene and a division , resumed . On the Sth inst , in reply to Sir Stafford Northcote , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said the Terminable Annuities Bill would not be taken on Thursday evening , but the Government would go on with the

Reform Bills . A string of amendments to the bills would appear to-day on the notices in his name , tbe object of Avhich was to fuse the two bills and to provide that they should both take effect at the same time . He thought it would be better to have the bills reprinted before going into committee ivith the amendments he should propose , and he moved a resolution to

that effect . A discussion followed , in the course of which it was said that the proceeding was irregular . Eventually the motion was withdrawn , on the understanding thafc ifc would be brought on again on Thursday . —In reply to General Peel , the ] Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the report that the proposed European conference had been broken off . —Subsequently there

were discussions in reference to tho payment of medical officers of unions in Ireland and Metropolitan Improvements . As to the latter , Mr . Baillie Cochrane moved a royal commission to inquire into the constitution of the Metropolitan Board of AA ' orks , the office of Public AA ' orks , and the office of AA ' oods and Forests with a view to the better carrying out of metropolitan

improvements . The motion was opposed , and after a short discussion was withdrawn . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up a Royal Message in reference to the marriage of the Princess Mary of Cambridge , and moved that it be taken into consideration on Thursday next . The motion was agreed to . The House ivas shortly afterwards counted out . On tbe 6 th

insfc ., tlie first business of importance Avas the consideration of the Real Estate Intestacy Bill , the second reading of which ivas moved by Mr . Locke King . The object of the measure was to assimilate the law of intestacy as regards real property to thafc in reference to personal property . There was a warm debate , the Bill being opposed by tho Attorney-General , Mr . B . Hope ,

and other members . Mr . Bright spoke strongly in favour of the Bill . Eventually it was negatived ; the numbers being—for the Bill S 4 , against ifc , 281 . —Air . Bouverie then moved the third reading of tbe Fellows of Colleges Declaration Bill . Mr . G . Hardy opposed the Bill , and moved its rejection . The debate upon it continued until a quarter to six , when it Avas adjourned to the llth of Jnlv .

GENERAL HOME NEAVS . —The Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg , accompanied by several members of the Oi-leanist family , arrived in London on the 31 st ult . It the Court of Common Council the Bishop of London , through the medium of a letter , applied for a piece of land near the Cattle Market as a site for a church . Jlr . Medwin sharply criticised the

Bishop ' s proceedings , and in the end the letter was somewhat cavalierly handed over to a committee . Afc a meeting of Common Council , it Avas finally resolved that Southwark Bridge should be purchased for £ 200 , 000 , the motion being carried by a mnjoritv of forty . Mr . John Scott Russell applied at the AA ' estminster Police-court , in obedience to a summons charging him with

perjury . The case arose oufc of some evidence given by Mr Russell , before the Court of Queen ' s Bench , as to a system of constructing iron ships which had been patented by Mr . Clarke The examination of witnesses lasted several hours , and the case ; was finally adjourned . In the Court of Probate on the 1 st inst . the petition of Mrs . Ryves , who claims fco be the legitimate

granddaughter of Henry Fiederick , Duke of Cumberland and therefore the inheritor of that title , came before a full court cf the judges and a special jury . AVhen Dr . AA * . Smith Avas entering into the facts of the case he Avas stopped by an objection of the court to the effect that if the marriage of the plaintiff ' s grandmother with the Royal Duke ivas proved , her mother ' s marriage , which took place after the passage of the Royal Marriage Act , would be illegal . The Lord Chief Justice asked Dr . Smith to address himself to this part of the case , and the