Literary Extracts.

and fashion of England , and travelled across the Channel during the Anglo-mania Avhich prevailed iu France in the latter part of tho eighteenth century . The Baron de Y says , " It was even represented at " V ersailles , but I cannot affirm whether it Avas by the English ambassador in person . " The remainder of the career of

whisb is well known . It was welcomed to all the chocolate-houses , clubs , and fashionable assemblies . It became the lion of the clay . It was talked about and Avritten about . Ouce really known , it was esteemed a universal favourite , admired and respected by all ; and in spite of a little contretemps with the premier baron of England , some thirty years back , it has retained its ascendancy until now . —London Society .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE Cor / itl . —Her Majesty and the younger members of the Eoyal Family continue at Osborne . The Prince and Princess of AVales returned to London on Saturday , and on Monday visited Covent Garden Theatre . LAIPEBIAI , PABMAITEST . —Tbe session was opened on Tuesday by Eoyal Commission . In the Speech from the Throne , the

conclusion of peace between Denmark and Germany is referred to , and her Majesty states that the communications she " receives from foreign powers lead her to entertain a well-founded hope that no renewed disturbance of the peace of Europe is to be apprehended . " The American war , the late operations in Japan , the rebellion in New Zealand , the proposed

confederation of tbe British North American provinces , the expedition against the Bhootanese , and the Calcutta cyclone , are the remaining topics of the first division of the speech . Turning to matters of domestic interest , the House of Commons is assured that the estimates " have been prepared with every attention to economy , and with due regard to the efficiency of the public

service . " "My lords and gentlemen" are then informed that the general condition of the country is satisfactory ; that the revenue " realises its estimated amount ; " that the distress in Lancashire " has greatly abated ; " that Ireland has had a good harvest , and is experiencing a " gradual extension of trades and manufactures . Bills will be introduced for tbe concentration of

the law courts in London , for continuing and completing the revision of the statute law , for the amendment of the patent laws , and for conferring on the County Courts an equitable jurisdiction in cases of small amount . An effort will also be made to remedy certain defects in the Poor Law , and Parliament will be invited to give its sanction to a measure founded on the report of the Public Schools Commission . In the HOUSE

OT LoitDS tbe address in reply to the Eoyal Speech was moved by Lord Charlemont and seconded by Lord Houghton . Lord Derby , after a sarcastic allusion to the tameness of the programme submitted to a moribund Parliament , called attention to the notice given by the Government of the United States for the termination of the Beciprocity

Treaty and of the convention by which tho neutrality of tbe American lakes has for many years been secured . It was absurd to suppose that the Canadians entertained any designs upon the United States , and he could only view the course taken by the Government of Washington as hostile and aggressive . In this state of things it would be the dut } - of England to secure a

preponderance of power on the lakes , and he rejoiced at the prospect of our North American provinces being consolidated into a powerful nation . The noble earl referred to the distress in Lancashire , remarking that , though fluctuations in the state of employment may still be expected , the worst of the crisis had been passed . AA'ith reference to the public works , he was afraid I

that in somo eases schemes had been sanctioned which demanded skilled labour , and had therefore conferred but little benefit upon those for whose relief the Act was specially passed . Heexpressed his regret at the proposal to bring in a Bill on the . public schools , preferring in such matters voluntary to compulsory reforms . After some remarks from Lord Granville and

Lord Leitrim , Lord Eussell replied to one or two of Lord Derby ' s observations . Lord Derby bad attributed the rupture of diplomatic relations with Brazil to the course taken by the Foreign Office , but Lord Eussell submitted that the Brazilian Government alone was to blame . He expressed a hope , however , that the breach would soon be healed . Coming to a more

important question , he said Lord Derby had not taken sufficient account of the not unnatural irritation which had been produced in the American mind by the depredations of Confederate cruisers , and the mischief done by Southerners who had made Canada a basis of operations . At the same time , while making overy allowance for tbe irritation which prevailed

in the United States , her Majesty ' s Government would not allow claims to be pressed which were not founded upon law and justice . Lord Granville remarked , with reference to the notice given by the American Government for the termination of the treaties , that there was still time for negociations with respect to these matters . The address was agreed to , and their

lordships adjourned . In the HOUSE OF COUJIOXS , several recently elected members took their seats , and new writs were ordered for Salford , Tralec , Cork , and Truro . Several notices of motion were given . —Sir John Pakington will shortly move for a select committee to inquire into the constitution of the Committee of Council , Mr . Moftatt for a committee of inquiry into the Bankruptcy Act , and Lord B . Montagu for a committee on the utilisation of sewage . —Sir Fitzroy Kelly proposes to submit to

the House a resolution on the malt tax , and Mr . Eoebuck intends on an early day to ask whether the Government would institute an inquiry into our railway system , with a view to future legislation on the subject . Tho address -was moved by Sir Hedworth Williamson , and seconded by Mr . Hanbury-Traey , and , after a long and not very interesting discussion , the motion was agreed to . On AA ednesday , Mr . AA alter gave

notice of his intention to move , as an addition to Sir John Pakington ' s motion on the Committee of Council on Education , the words , " and also as to the best mode of extending the benefit of Government inspection and parliamentary grants toschools supported by the State . " Sir Hedworth Williamson ' having brought up the report on the Address , Mr . A ineent

Scully moved tho omission of the paragraph relating to Ireland , and the insertion of a sentence expressing regret at " the general condition " of that country . . Air . O'Eeilly seconded the amendment , which , after a short discussion , was rejected by 67 votes to 12 . The report was agreed to , and the House adjourned .

GEXEKAL HO . AIE NEWS . —The rate of mortality in the metropolis continues to be high , and was last week 15 per cent , more than in the corresponding week of the last ton years . But , by the comparison now drawn in the Registrar General ' s report , it is pleasant for Londoners to see that of tho ten great cities of Great Britain only two have a lower death rate than Londoiu

these two being Birmingham and Bristol , which are considerably below the average and a trifle below the metropolis . Glasgow seems by the present return to be the most unhealthy city of the ten . No fewer than 32 deaths resulted during the week from accidents ; but the additions to the juvenile population continue to outnumber the deaths .- The weekly return of the Poor-Law Board indicates a stationary condition of the pauperism of the cotton manufacturing unions . Six are re-