The Week.

on the 9 th inst ., accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Helena . Her Majesty held a Council on the 9 th inst ., at one o ' clock . Present—Earl Granville , Earl Russell , the Duke of Somerset , the Right Hon . Sir George Grey , and the Right Hon . W . E . Gladstone . His Royal Highness Prince Alfred was introduced , and took his place as Privy Councillor ; and the Earl of Cork and Vice-Admiral Lord Clarence Paget were sworn , in

members of her Majesty ' s most Honourable Privy Council . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT—Iu the HOUSE OE LORDS , on the 3 rd inst ., the chief business was the introduction by Lord Chelmsford of a bill to prevent Sunday trading . Its provisions will no doubt receive most careful attention . The bill was read a second [ time . —On the 4 th inst . the business was devoid of

public interest . —On the 7 th inst . Lord Chelmsford moved the second reading of his Sunday Trading Bill . The measure was stoutly opposed , aud the Government suggested that it should be referred to a select committee . Eventually the second reading was postponed . The other business was unimportant . —On the Sth inst . Lord Stratford do Redcliffe stated that be

had information that the Shah of Persia had not only put a stop to the persecutions of the Nestoi-ians in his dominions , but had given them a site for a church , and subscribed £ 100 towards its erection . He wished to know if the Government had similar information . The Earl of Clarendon said they had , and a congratulatory discussion followed . —An interesting

matter was debated later in the evening . The Earl of Cadogan wished to knoAV if the Government had taken any steps either by themselves or in conjunction with France and Russia to mediate in the differences between Austria , Prussia , and Italy . He seemed to be of opinion that the Government ought to have made active exertions in that direction . The Earl of Clarendon pointed out that there was now no

secret diplomacy , and therefore that the acts of all Governments were known to the public . This was probably the reason why questions on this subject bad not previously been asked of the Government . The desire of England that peace should be maintained had been made known to the Powers ; but she stood alone , and it would not be wise to urge our good offices Avhen there was no desire for them . He spoke inferentially

against the conduct of those wdio were dragging Europe into a war without any just cause , and declared that England , as far as possible , should have no part in it . Lord Stratford de Redcliffe , who came next , appeared to think that England ought to interfere , and that she might stop the war . Earl Grey traced all the existing troubles on the Continent to our refusal

to interfere in the Dano-Geruiaii quarrel . Earl Russell briefly commented upon this , and was followed by the Earl of Derby , Avho was apparently in favour of intervention , and gave again some of the snarls which be bestowed two years ago on Earl Russell's foreign policy . Earl Russell , however , returned to the charge , and vindicated himself , and , after some further

d ' scussion , the matter dropped and the House adjourned . In the HOUSE OE C OAOIOXS on the 3 rd inst ., the introduction of the Budget was delayed for some time by a discussion which arose in reference to Chief Justice Lefroy and the physical disabilities under which he labours . The Attorney General for Ireland had to admit that the Chief Justice had been unable to

read a sentence , although it was written in large hand . 3 Ir Lefroy , the son of the Judge , complained of this statement , and Mr . Whiteside thought it was unfair to call up a tiling which occurred in August last , and to make it matter of reproach IIOAV . Mr . Whiteside appears to think that as the aged Chief Justice was unable to discbarge a simple duty in August last , he is fitted for it now . —Mr . Gladstone having promised to bring in a bill to abolish compulsory church rates , proceeded

amidst the cheers of the house to make his financial statement . First he dealt with the past year . The estimated expenditurewas £ 66 , 147 , 000 ; the actual expenditure had been £ 65 , 914 , 000 , or a favourable balance of £ 233 , 000 . The estimated revenue was £ 06 , 392 , 000 , while the actual revenue was £ 67 , 812 , 000 . Coming to the current year , he said the estimated expenditure Avas as follows : —Charge on funded debt , £ 26 , 140 , 000 ;

Consolidated Fund charge , £ 1 , 188 , 000 ; army , £ 14 , 695 , 000 ; navy , £ 10 , 400 , 000 ; collection of revenue , £ 5 , 331 , 000 ; packet service , £ 611 , 000 ; miscellaneous civil service , £ 7 , 860 , 000 ; total , £ 66 , 225 , 000 . The revenue he estimated at , customs , £ 21 , 400 , 000 , excise , £ 19 , 750 , 000 ; stamps , £ 9 , 450 , 000 ; assessed taxes , £ 3 , 400 , 000 ; property tax , £ 5 , 700 , 000 ; post office , £ 4 , 450 , 000 ;

crown lands , £ 305 , 000 ; miscellaneous , £ 3 , 120 , 000;—total , £ 67 , 575 , 000 ; thus leaving an estimated surplus of £ 1 , 380 , 000 . Ho proposed to equalise the duty on wine in bottle and in bulk , which would cause a loss of £ 58 , 000 ; abolish the duty on pepper , £ 112 , 000 ; reduce the mileage duty on omnibuses from Id . to id . per mile , to take effect after the 2 nd July , £ 01 , 000 ;

and reduce the duty on carriages drawn by horses , £ 16 , 000 . He then turned to the operation which he proposed with respect to the National Debt . He explained at some length his proposal with respect to this matter , the chief feature of which is that ho wishes to convert the £ 24 . 000 , 000 invested by the trustees of Savings Banks with the Commissioners for the

Reduction of the National Debt into terminable annuities . There is besides a proposal for the reinvestment of surplus funds . By these operations the Chancellor of the Exchequer expects to reduce the National Debt by 39 J- millions in 1 SS 5 . The cost will bo about £ 500 , 000 a year , and this , together with the other reductions , would reduce the surplus to £ 286 , 000 . A brief discussion followed the introduction of the Budget , it being

proposed to take the resolutions respecting it on the 7 th inst . — On the 4 th inst . Sir F . Kelly Avished to have the resolution in reference to the National Debt postponed from the 7 th inst . in order that the subject might have full consideration . The Chancellor of the Exchequer , however , thought it best to bring on tho resolution , have it reported on the 8 th inst ., and then bring iu the Bill to give effect to it . Upon the Bill there would be

ample time for consideration . — On the motion for going into committee of supply several questions were discussed . Mr . Blake complained of the treatment of prisoners arrested under tho Habeas Corpus Suspension Act aud lodged in Waterford . Gaol . He moved a resolution declaring that the Government should take measures to prevent the unnecessary and illegal

restrictions put upon prisoners iu Waterford Gaol . This led to an interesting discussion , in the course of which Mr . Maguire elicited important explanations from Mr . Chichester Fortescue . Eventually the motion Avas Avithdrawn . —After brief discussions on harbours of refuge , the boundaries of boroughs , and litigation in Scotland , Mr . D . Griffith called attention to the

disturbed state of the Continent , and urged that Great Britain should do her best in the Avay of mediation . Mr . White expressed his opinion that the present confusion arose from the refusal of the British Government to join in the European congress proposed hy the Emperor of the French . Mr . Watkin was calling attention to the American

fisheries question when the House Avas counted out at five minutes past eight . —On the 7 th inst . Mr . Layard , replying to Mr . Alderman Salomons , said the Government had made known to all the Powers of Europe its Avillingness to act as pacificator ,, but obviously beyond leaking the fact known it could do no more . —In a very full House the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for leave to bring in a bill to redistribute seats . The changes he proposed to make were