The Week.

the average number . -The Revenue returns bear fresh testimony to the resources of this country . Notwithstanding the reduction of tho property tax and of the tea duty , the income for the quarter just ended is only £ 216 , 000 below the receipts for the corresponding period of last year ; while the decrease on tin ) twelve months falls short of £ 700 , 000 . Taking the longer period , we find that every item—excepting the income-tax and

customs—shows an increase , the improvement under the head of excise being no less than £ 1 , 992 , 000 . Stamps have yielded an increase of £ 327 , 000 ; Taxes , £ 77 , 000 ; the Post-office , £ 70 , 000 ; the Crown Lands , £ 5 , 000 ; and Miscellaneous , £ 195 , 000 . The total revenue for the quarter was £ 18 , 274 , 000 ; ancl for the year £ 69 , 992 , 959 . In December , 1862 , when

the pressure upon the cotton manufacturing districts was most severe , the pauperism of the distressed unions was 278 , 200 , this , of course , being exclusive of the large number of operatives supported by the local relief committees alone . The numbers have now fallen , according to Mr . Purdy's return for last week , to 94 , 400 . These figures show that the present excess is about

40 , 000 over the average of active times . The total decrease last week was 1 , 210 . Manchester decreased 370 , and tlie Bury union 220 . The Burnley union increased 150 , and Blackburn and Rochdale unions slightly . Though the return shows a

decrease in paupers , there is an increase in the expenditure for outdoor relief , which last week amounted to £ 5 , 399 , or £ 22 more than shown by the previous statement . Nearly 22 , 000 adult able-bodied persons continue to be maintained in the district as paupers . The June returns of the Central Relief Committee , which have just been issued , show thafc with the progress of summer the employment of cotton

operatives has daily improved , till the total number relieved has been reduced to little more than 100 , 000 . In January , 1863 , the number was 455 , 090 , and last January 203 , 000 . In eleven of the twenty-eight unions in the cotton manufacturing districts the local committees have entirely suspended operations , and of the 170 districts reported on 43 only consider it necessary to

continue to distribute relief . The show of horses at the Agricultural Hall opened on the 1 st inst ., when a large number of visitors , including many members of the aristocracy , attended . There were upwards of 300 animals exhibited , all of a high standard of merit . The National Association lor Promoting Social Science—especially that branch of it connected with the

amendment of the law—dined together at Greenwich on Saturday evening . Lord Brougham was in the chair , and in the course of his various addresses reviewed the progress of law reform , and commented with some freedom of criticism on the

various measures which had latel y been brought forward with that object in view . It may be as well to state that the old society for the Amendment of the Law is now incorporated with the Social Science Association . A meeting was held in Marylebone on Saturday in support of the Bishop of London's Fund for raising a million sterling in the course of ten years , to provide for the spiritual destitution of the metropolis . The bishop

himself was present ; and in urging organisation to accomplish the work , he stated that £ 150 , 000 had already been raised from the contributions of only 1 , 600 persons . It was evident , therefore , that with a more perfect organisation a larger sum would be realised . Sir Stafford Northcote , Earl Nelson , Mr . Gregson , M . P ., and other gentlemenaddressed the meeting

, , and a committee of noblemen and gentlemen for the purposes of the fund was formed in the borough . Ou Friday evening , the 1 st inst ., Colonel M'Murdo , the inspector-general of volunteers , was entertained at a banquet at Edinburgh . In speaking of the condition and prospects of the volunteers , the gallant Colonel bore high testimony to their efficiency , and said he

considered their present strength to be but the nucleus of wiiat would be required in times of war . The number at present enrolled was 163 , 000 , of whom about 130 , 000 or 140 , 000 were efficient . Judging by the number who had passed through drill , and retired from the force , ha calculated that in an emergency the volunteers would very rapidly increase to 200 , 000 .

Col . M'Murdo made an allusion to another body of volunteers , theyeoinanry , whom he saicl he should like to make more of soldiers than they are now . The Wolverene , 21-guns has been ordered tolleligoland , " as the pioneer , " says the Army and Navy Gazette , " of the squadron which will be despatched northwards , in the "event of circumstances requiring the interference of England

in the Dano-Germaniequarrel . " The tliree foreigners who are charged with defrauding Messrs . Legrand , Tanco , and Co ., bankers and merchants in Paris , of silks and other goods to the value of £ 30 , 000 , have been before the presiding magistrate at tht * Mansion House , and further evidence having been adduced , the alderman committed all three for trial , but one of the number ,

AVerner , who is not accused as the others are , of the additional crime of forgery , was admitted to bail . —¦—Two boarding-house keepers—one residing in Liverpool and the other in Londonhave been committed for trial on charges of having violated the Foreign Enlistment Act , by engaging men in this country for service on board the Confederate steamers , Georgia and

Rappahannoclc . Both prisoners have been admitted to bail . At the Middlesex Sessions , George Chapman , described as a warehouseman , was convicted of obtaining money fraudulently from the head waiter at the Freemasons' Tavern , by leaving iu trusfc a comparatively worthless watch and other articles , representing them to bo of great value . Other indictments of a similar character were made against the prisoner . He was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour . An affair which lojks very

much like a trick has been exposod at the Marlborough-street , ! Police-court . Mr . Makins , barrister , stated that recently the widow of a lieutenant-colonel had died in Gloucester-terrace , Hyde Park . Shortly after her death was announced a letter was received from Frankfort , enclosing six shares in an Austrian lottery , for which a remittance of £ 5 was asked . The letter was written so as to convey the impression that the dece . ised

had ordered the shares . Inquiries were made , and then it was stated in a letter from Frankfort that the deceased had given the order for the shares to a traveller employed by the parties writing . Mr . Makins stated thafc at the very time when the order was alleged to have been given the lady was bedridden . Thero has been a curious termination to an inquest in

Paddington . The body of an infant was found in the street ancl was conveyed to the dead-house of the Paddington Workhouse . A jury was summoned to hold an inquest on the child , bufc when they went to the dead-house it was discovered that the body had been stolen . Of course , as the jury could not see the body , they could not hold an inquest . There the matter

rests . The dead-house is said to be wholly unfit for its purpose . An inquest has been held by Mr . Payne , coroner for the City , at the Saracen's Head , Camomile-street , on tho body of Henry Edward Hawkins , who had been a corporal in the Coldstream Guards . The unfortunate young man , who was but 24 years of ago , had , ifc seems , through a quarrel with a

girl , his sweetheart , come to be negligent of his military duties , in consequence of which he was reduced to the ranks . Tliis appears to have preyed upon his mine " , and inducing the girl to meet him once more , they agreed to commit suicide together . Both partook of a quantity of poison , according to the girl's statement ; bat ifc only proved fatal in the case of Hawkins , who expired soon after having swallowed the dose . A verdict of suicide