The Week.

accompanied by their Serene Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe , went to the Prince of AVales's Theatre . The Queen , accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Helena , went out driving on the 6 th inst ., attended by the Duchess of Roxburghe . IitPEEiAi PAELIAJIENT , —In the HorSE OP LOEDS on the 1 st inst , there was a cattle plague discussion . It was originated by the Duke of Bnccleuch , who , in presenting a petition from

salesmen at Edinburgh asking for the removal of some of the restrictions under which they were placed , condemned the hasty legislation which iiad taken place on the subject . The discussion , however , had very little interest . Another matter debated in the Upper House was the multiplicity of metropolitan railway schemes . The Earl of Carnarvon thought they ought to be referred to a select committee as in 1 S 63 . Earl Russell replied that itwas not thought necessary to take that course this year ,

as ten of the metropolitan bills had been withdrawn . Lord Redesdale suggested that there ought to be some legislation in reference to the manner in which railway companies were promoted . Their lordships rose at ten minutes to six o'clock . On the 2 nd inst . the Duke of Somerset denied that he had in any way been concerned in the proceedings at the Devonport Dockyard in reference to tbe petition against the sitting members for the borough . The Earl of Derby had a fling at the proceedings

, and elicited from the Duke of Somerset the announcement that Mr . Phinn denies having anything to do with the petition . The Earl of Derby made a most interesting statement in reference to the manner in which the trustees ' of the late King of the Belgians had discharged their trust . From this it seems that some of the pensioners of the late have , through their allowance been stopped , beeu reduced to poverty . The noble earl also stated that the Queen had desired the ex-Queen of France to

continue to reside at Claremont . Earl Russell made a few explanations on the subject , and promised that the ease of the pensioners should have consideration . On the 5 th inst ., Earl Granville stated that as the select committee on the Cattle Plague Bill had made numerous alterations in the measure which rendered its reprinting necessary , he proposed that it should be considered in committee of the whoie house on the Sth inst . If their lordships should adopt this course , be would

then move the suspension of the standing orders , so that the bill might be passed through its remaining stages on that day . —• the Lord Chancellor moved the second reading of the Law of Evidence Amendment Bill , the object of which is to amend some defects that experience had shown to exist in the procedure of the Divorce Court . —Lord Chelmsford aud Lord Taunton opposed the bill , and their lordships dividing , there appeared an equal number for and against the second reading , namely , 29 to 29 ;

whereupon the Lord Chancellor , iu accordance with the usual practice , gave his voice to the " non-contents , " and the bill was lost . The Cattle Disease ( Ireland ) Bill was , after a short discussion , read a second time , and the standing orders having been suspended , went through committee , and was read a third time and passed . Their lordships adjourned at half-past six . On the 6 th inst ., their lordships sat only a short time . The Royal assent was given by commission to the Telegraph Act

Amendment Bill and the Cattle Diseases ( Ireland ) Bill . Earl Russell was too ill to be present . Earl Grey postponed his motion in reference to Ireland to Friday the IGth inst . In the HOUSE OF COMMONS on the 1 st inst ., an announcement was made for which it has been anxiously looking . The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice that on the 12 th inst ., he should ask for leave to bring in a Reform Bill . He promised further -to lay the voluminous statistics which have been

gathered hy the Government in reference to the matter on the table as soon as possible . —Viscount Ci-aiibourne wished to be assured that the bill would not he brought in until the statistics had heen produced , but he failed in getting an affirmative answer . Before that announcement was made the House had been discussing the bill for making a new line of railway to Brighton . The bill was stoutly opposed , hut the second reading

of it was carried . Later , Sir John Pakington , on the motion for going into committee of -supply , called attention to rather an awkward piece of business at Devonpiirt . It seems that a petition has been presented against . Air . Ferrand and . Air . Fleming , the representatives of the borough . Ou the 20 th ult ., a telegram ivas sent to the dockyard from tho Admiralty requesting that every facility should lie given for the serving of Speaker's warrants . According- to Sir John Pakington not only was this done ; but attorneys were allowed to examine and cross-examine the men in the dockyard in reference to

The Week.

alleged acts of bribery . Lord Clarence Paget admitted the telegram , but professed ignorance as to the other part of the charge . A hot debate followed , in which the leaders of the House took part . Finally , the Chancellor of the Exchequer promised that inquiry should he made as to whether there had been such proceedings as those complained of , ancl after some further discussion the House went into committee of supply on the Navy Estimates . On the 2 nd inst ., Sir George Grey

gave notice that he should bring forward tho Oaths Bill on the Sth inst ., and Mr . AValpole announced his attention to move the rejection of the Church-rate Abolition Bill . The chief debate of the evening was on a motion made by Mr . Gregory in reference to a modification of international law , so far as the rights of neutrals are concerned . The discussion , in which Mr . Buxton , Mr . Baxter , and several other members took partoccupied a considerable time . On the

, Sth inst ., Mr . Bright gave notice that unless the despatches sent to the Admiralty and the War Office , relative to the disturbances in Jamaica , he should bring forward a distinct motion to have them laid upon the table of tho house . Mr . Beresford stated , in reply to Mr . AA alpole , that he should not propose the resolution of which he had given notice as an amendment to the second readinsr of the Church Rates

Abolition Bill , on the 7 th mst ., but ullow the division to be taken on the main question . If the hill passed a second reading he would move the resolution as an amendment to the motion for going into committee ; aud if the bill were lost he should propose it as a substantive measure . The Chancellor of tbe Exchequer stated , in answer to Mr . Craufurd , that the bill for an extension of the franchise , which he should ask leave to introduce on the 12 th inst ., would apply to

England and Wales only , but he should then state what course the Government proposed to take with regard to corresponding measures for Scotland and Ireland . On the order forgoing into commiteee of supply Lord C . Paget observed that , on a previous evening , he had conveyed to the house the idea that the First Lord of the Admiralty had ordered a telegram to he sent to Devonport , directing that facilities should be iven for serving the Speaker ' s warrant upon certain voters for

g that borough who were workmen in the dockyard . He found , however , that this was an erroneous impression . The Duke of Somerset had approved of the order , but Ihe fact was that he was not aware of its having been issued until many days after it was sent . This explanation gave rise to a renewal of the discussion on the conduct of the Admiralty . On its terminating the House went into committee , and the Marquis of Hartington brought forward the military estimates for the year 1866-67 .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , AA ' . C . EBEATA . —In Bro . Pcu-ton Cooper ' s communication , "Masonic Anecdotes , " vol . xiii ., p . 506 , line 9 , for "library collection , " read "literary collection ; " and line 13 , for "former Place Book , " raid " Common Place Book . " In our issue of the 21-th ult . we referred to Bro . Milner's letter

therein given , as being the third of the series written by that esteemed brother . AVe should have stated the letter referred to was the fifth of the series , the third of which is given in our present issue . In our issue of last week , in the letter of " Another Country P . M ., " line 21- from top , when referring to the money paid for the music , for ; Cl 15 s ., read £ 15 15 s .

I ' . W . —Wc have been much svieveu at receipt of yc-wr letter ancl its contents . We will write you by post and afford you our very best advice under the painful circumstances referred to . Scuui-ATOi :. —Will you kindly send us your address that we may communicate wiili you upon the subject of your letter of the 28 th ult . which we have NOT inserted . As we feel assured

, , when we inform you that the Brother to whom you refer is one holding a very high position in , and generally respected by , the Craft , lhat you would wish to modif y that " portion of your letter in which you make direct personal reference to him in terms which wc cannot in justice to the esteemed Brother give insertion to in our pages .