The Week.

Germans probably deemed it necessary to hold for strategical reasons . As to the view taken of this measure by the Government he could only repeat what he had said before , —that he regarded it as an aggravation of the outrage committed in the occupation of Schleswig . The German Powers were perfectly informed as to the opinion of her Majesty's Government on the -subject , and it was not considered necessary to make a further

intimation of it to them . In reply to another question , the noble lord said that the German Diet would not be asked to send a representative to the proposed Conference until-the reply of Denmark had been received . —Mr . Roebuck gave notice of a question relating to the alleged Federal enlistments in Ireland . — -The Attorney-General , in reply to a question from

Mr . R . Long , said a Confederate cruiser would have a right to capture an English vessel carrying contraband of war , provided that the capture was made with the intention of taking the case before a Prize Court . —Iu reply to a question from Mr . Dalglish , Mr . Layavd said the Government was not prepared to accept an assurance from the builders of the suspected Confederate

steamer Pampero , which was recently seized in the Clyde , that no steps would be taken to fit out the vessel . A long debate took place on the Government Annuities Bill , but no progress was made with the measure . On Tuesday , Mr . Morritt gave notice of a resolution affirming that the duty ou malt ought to he reduced . —In reply to questions from Sir 3 . Fergusson , Lord

Hartington and Mr . Headlam explained the circumstances under which Mr . Smales , late paymaster of the Inniskillings , had been pardoned and put upon half-pay . —Mr . Ward-Hunt called attention to a remark made by Prince Gortschakoff , and reported in one of Lord Napier ' s despatches , to the effect that there was a question of greater importance to England , Russia , Austria , and Prussia , than the Schleswig-Holstein dispute , and that it was ,

therefore , their interest not to oppose each other in the controversy relating to the Danish Duchies . The hon . gentleman wished to know what the important question referred to was . Lord Palmerston said Prince Gortschakoff was probably alluding to the proposed general Congress ; but if the language of the Russian Minister was supposed to mean that there was a combination against Franco , ho eoulel assure the House that there

was no ground whatever for such an opinion . A long discussion arose on a resolution moved by Mr . Adderley , to the effect "that grants made from the Treasury to schools fur the working classes should not in every case he reduced hy the whole amount of all endowments . " Mr . Lowe ultimately accepted Mr . Adderley's motion , which was agreed to . On Wednesday , Mr .

Ormsby Gore's bill for assimilating the Irish law of trespass to that iu force in England was read a second time , — -Sir R . Peel , however , promising to propose amendments in committee . A bill , introduced by Sir H . Bruce , for supplementing the Irish Constabulary by a force for the " watching of towns , " was strongly opposed by the Chief Secretary , and , after a good deal

of discussion , was withdrawn . Mr . Ewart ' s bill for the permissive use of the metric system of weights ancl measures in this country , was read a second time by a majority of 38 . Several other bills were advanced a stage . GEXEEAL HOME NEWS . —The deaths in London are rapidly and even unexpectedly rising . The deaths of last week were

about 100 in excess of those of the week before , which were -again fully 100 above the aggregate amount of the week previous to that . Wo regret to have to announce the death of Sir William Brown , of Liverpool . The deceased baronet stood in the first ranks of our merchant princes ; but he was not more distinguished for liis great success in commerce than for the judicious liberality with which he employed his large resources for the social advancement of the community which now laments

his loss . The Pree Library and Museum of Liverpool is an enduring witness to his munificence . Sir William represented South Lancashire in the House of Commons from 1845 to 1859 , and last year he was High Sheriff of tlie county . He was created a baronet in 1863 , at the same time that that dignitywas conferred upon two other eminent representatives of the

commercial class—Sir P . Crossley and Sir David Baxter . His grandson succeeds to the baronetcy . Sir Rowland Hillwho services in connection with the revolution which has been effected iu our postal system it is impossible to over estimate —has , we regret to learn , been obliged by ill-health , to resign his appointment at the General Post-office . According to the

monthly return of Mr . Maclure , there are now 224 , 118 operatives working full time , 117 , 952 short time , and 153 , 864 without work in the mills , " although many of them occasionally obtain some other casual employment . " This shows an improvement in the condition of the cotton districts ; and further evidence in the same direction is afforded by the decision of the Central

Executive Committee to meet once a fortnight , instead of weekly , as hitherto . The committee have still , however , a large aggregate of destitution to deal with , and they wisely decline to " point to any time as the probable period of the termination of their labours . " A great county meeting was held at Stafford , on Saturday , in support of the agitation for the repeal o £

the malt tax . Lord Lichfield , Lord Hatherton , and Mr . W . O . Foster , M . P ., were among the speakers . The meeting unanimously passed resolutions condemning the tax , and it was further decided to petition Parliament in favour of its repeal . At the same time , one of the speakers urged that if they could obtain an instalment it would be unwise to reject iu , and insist , as Lord Palmerston would say , upon " going the whole hog . " A meeting of the leading merchants in the City was held on

Monday at the London Tavern to take measures for preventing the city from being inundated with the many railway schemes with which they were threatened ; Mr . Crawford , M . P ., in the chair . It was the general opinion of the meeting that though therecentreport of the parliamentary committee was satisfactory as far as it went , it was too limited in tbe scope of its inquiries to be all that was required . A resolution was carried that , in a

space so limited , and with such rapidly expanding business a 3 the City of London , no railway ought to be constructed that was not absolutely necessary . A committee was appointed to carry out the objects of the evening . A public meeting of the working classes , chiefly those connected with benefit and friendly societies was held on Saturday night in Exeter Hall , to

protest against that clause in the Government Annuities Bill which proposes to authorise the Government to take assurances for sums payable at death to any amount under £ 100 , Mr . Potter , of the Joiners' Association , was in the chair , and several speakers addressed the meeting , and resolutions were moved condemning the proposal , as involving the insulting averment

that the working classes were unable to manage their own affairs . To this an amendment was moved , approving of the scheme , and the speakers on that side were heard with tolerable patience , but the original resolution was carried by a large majority . The decision of the Hebdomadal Council and Congregation of Oxford that Mr . Jowett's salary , as Professor of Greek , should

be raised from £ 10 to £ 1-00 , has been reversed by Convocation . Summoned by urgent entreaties , non-residents flocked into Oxford on Tuesday , and the proposal to increase the pittance which Mr . Jowett annually receives for his labours as Greek professor , was rejected by 4 G 7 votes to 395 . The minority included Dean Stanley , Dr . Pusey , Mr . Cardwell , Lord Taunton , and Lord Harrowby . A most painful accident happened on Monday at Mersthaui , ' . in Surrey . Sir W . Jolliffe , M . P ., was