The Week.

Mr . Edmunds had hinted that he could give an explanation of this further alleged deficiency , and if that explanation did not prove satisfactory , proceedings would be taken for the recovery of the amount , iir . Danby Seymour and Sir J . Elphinstono called attention to the circumstance that the House of Lords had granted a retiring pension of £ 800 a-year to Mr . Edmunds , and that the vacant clerkship in the House of Lords had been

conferred upon one of the Lord Chancellor ' s sons . Mr . Gladstone was obliged to admit that Mr . Slingsby Bethell stood in the relation of son to Lord AVestbury ; and as to the pension , the grant would come before the Houso in the Estimates . —Mr . Bentinefc moved a resolution , affirming that the Government ought to frame regulations for the better management of railways , but

the motion was opposed by Mr . Milner Gibson , and negatived without , a division . Lord Clarence Paget , in moving the Navy Estimates , entered into a long explanation of the various votes . In the course of his statement he said there were now thirty iron-plated ships , either complete or iu such a state of forwardness that they could , in the event of an emergency , be got ready

by the end of the year . He referred to various classes of ships which the Admiralty proposed to build , and said the House would be asked to sanction measures for securing increased dock accommodation . After a short discussion , the Committee reported progress . On Tuesday Sir ]? . Kelly moved , "That in any future remission of indirect taxation , this House should

take into consideration the taxation on malt , with a view to its early reduction and ultimate repeal . " He had no wish to stop the reduction of the income-tax , or to place fresh taxes on articles of general use , in order that the malt duty might be repealed . But his object was to put forward the claims of those who now suffered under the malt tax , in order that relief might be afforded to them when the financial condition of the country

would allow it . He supported his claim on free-trade principles . Sir Robert Peel had said that if they had free trade in corn it must be extended to agriculture , and the farmers must be allowed to make and consume their own malt . He proceeded to contend that the malt duty raised the price of beer considerably without bringing a corresponding sum to the revenue of the country . He alluded to the reductions of duty on corn , paper ,

tea , and other things , aruVcontended that malt had as good a claim as any of them . He believed if the duty were abolished the people would brew beer for themselves , which they might do for id . a gallon , and this would tend materially to lessen the intemperance in the country . The cultivators of land had sustained great injury from legislation , and this measure should be passed

in justice to them . Sir E . B . Lytton seconded the motion Mr . Neato moved the following amendment : — " That , considering the immunities from taxation now enjoyed by the owners and occupiers of land , they are not entitled to any special consideration on account of the pecuniary pressure of the malt tax ; and that if , on other grounds , that tav . should be

reduced or abolished , compensation to the revenue should be sought , in the first place , by withdrawing from land property the advantage it now has over other property in the shape of a total exemption from probate duty and partial exemption from succession duty and income tax . " Ho showed that the land had already great immunities , and contended that the malt tax need

not be removed . After some discussion , Mr . Noate withdrew his amendment , and Mr . Hardcastle moved the previous question . On a division , Mr . F . Kelly's motion was negatived by 231 votes to 171 . On AA'cdnesday , Lord R . Montagu moved the second reading of the River AVatcrs Protection Bill . He wished tho bill to be sent to a select committee , that it might be fully examined . He pointed out at considerable length the manner in which many of the rivers

and streams of this country are poisoned by the sewage of towns and the refuse of manufactories being poured into them . This killed the fish and prevented the water from being fit for drinking purposes . The beds of the rivers had , in many cases , been raised by the rubbish thrown into them . In London we were drinking the sewage of 800 , 000 people , and there was r . o way of preventing this except by turning the sewage on to the

land . Filtration and deodorisation were out of the qtiestion They had been tried , and failed . AVhen the sewage was thrown on the land , however , it was effectually filtered and deodorised , and it was the evidence of all competent witnesses that this could be done without injury to the health of the people . Sir G . Grey did notbelieve that the evils now existing from the

pouring of the sewage into the rivers were so great as had been represented ; but he believed that when the country was convinced of the value of sewage as a manure there wouid be much less difficulty in dealing with the question than existed at present . He objected to the Bill because it placed an almost unlimited power iu the hands of inspectors , and

gave the most extensive and important powers to the protection boards . He believed it would involve almost every district in large expense . He hoped the Bill ¦ would not be pressed to a second reading . Mr . Jackson moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months . Mr . Briggs seconded the amendment . After a long discussion , Lord R .

Montagu consented to withdraw the Bill . —The Sewage Utilisation Bill was read a second time , and ordered to be referred to a select committee . —The Prisons Bill was read a second time , and ordered to be referred to a select committee . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The mortality in London , and throughout the country generally , has greatly decreased during the last week . The general average over the principal towns

in the United Kingdom was last week 28 per 1 , 000 , in place Of 31 per 1 , 000 in the week previous . Of these towns Birmingham had the lowest average , London , with Bristol , was next , and the highest of all was Liverpool . The total number of deaths in London last week was 1 , 482 , which is rather under the ten years' average of 1 , 489 . The births amounted to 2 , 242 which is considerably above the average of 2 , 115 . All the diseases

have been less fatal during the last week . ——The favourable aspect of the returns issued by the Poor-law Board last week has not been maintained . The cotton manufacturing unions generally exhibit an increase of pauperism , comparing the fourth with the third week of February . Seventeen unions have more paupers on their books ; eight unions are the same ,

and three only show any decrease , and that but of trifling amount . The result is a net increase of 2 , 620 . jVshton-under-Lyne union has increased 2-20 ; Blackburn 230 ; Bury , 130 ; Chorley , 170 ; Chorlton , 380 ; Manchester , 320 ; Oldham union , 2 G 0 ; Preston union , 320 ; and Rochdale union , 190 . The adult able-bodied increased in the week by 1 , 170 . Tho

money expended by the guardians as outdoor relief last week was £ 6 , 203 , or £ 130 more than in the preceding week . ——The Gazelle contains the official announcement that Sir Frederick Bruce , who lately returned to England on leave of absence from his post as our ambassador at Pekin , has been appointed our ambassador at AVashington , in place of Lord Lyons , resigned .

The Gazelle also announces Her Majesty ' s gracious permission that Admiral Kupcr and other officers in command at the recent operations in the Straits of Simonosaki may wear the insignia of the French Legion of Honour and the Dutch order of AA'illiam . of the Netherlands . It is announced from the Horse Guards that the Earl of Lucan is to have the colonelcy of the 1 st Life Guards , vacant by the death of Lord Combermere , while Major General Lawrenson succeeds to the 8 th