The Week.

terms of peace to the Austrian Government , and upon these terms no opinion whatever was given . On Tuesday , Lord Stratford de Redeliffc complained of the suspension of the militia ballot , and called attention to the state of the defences of the country . During the last session that hacl taken place they had peace and war , and peace again , and he feared that they might have the same thing over again during the recess , for he had no faith that tho pending negotiations ivould result in the establishment ol peace on , 1 permanent basis . Lord Kingsclocvn

thought tho defences of thc country ivould never bo iu a proper condition unless they resorted to something like a conscription , for they could not otherwise man the requisite do fences . The Earl of Ripon said that the Government had the whole question under consideration , and no effort would be spared to place the defences of tho country in a satisfactory position ; but he thought it Would bo very injudicious to resort to anything like compulsory service . On AYednesdayseveral bills wore forwarded a stagebut no discussion

, , of any importance arose upon them . The House of Commons sat for some time ou Saturday , for the purpose of forwarding a stage several bills , to AA-hich there was but little opposition . On Monday , LordEloho moved that an humble address be presented to her Majesty , stating that in the opinion of this house it would be consistent neither with tho honour nor the dignity of this country , which throughout the late negotiations'has preserved a strict and impartial neutrality betAveen the contending powers and used its earnest endeavours to prevent thc

outbreak of hostilities , to take part in any conference for the purpose of settling the details of a peace , the preliminaries of which had been arranged between tho Emperor of the French and thc Emperor of Austria . The noble lord said that the conduct of the late government during the war in Italy had been strictly neutral , and ho was of opinion that that neutrality should bo maintained . Ho could not agree to consider Austria as thc aggressor iu the late war , which terminated because the Emperor of France found himself beset by obstacles greater than he

had calculated upon on the commencement of hostilities . He believed Austria did not take the stop of invading Piedmont until she know of the extent of the preparations of France , and tli . lt , in fact , war was a foregone conclusion . Under these circumstances he could not sympathise ivith Franco and Sardinia in a war which ho believed to bo unnecessary .

He believed it was for the benefit of England that she should abstain from interfering in this conference , for he could conceive no possible advantage as likely to accrue from it , while it was full of peril to its future tranquility . Mr . Horsman seconded the motion . Air . Kinglakc moved the previous question . The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the government were prepared to meet the motion of the noble lord with a direct negative ; but as the " previous question " had been moved , the government ivould not hesitate to support it . The

fact was that the terms of the peace could be settled by the belligerents themselves ; but if a conference should take place it would not be for the purpose of settling the details of a peace , but for the purpose of considering affairs which were not merely Italian , but European . Tho right hon . gentleman concluded by protesting against binding down the government to a particular course of action in thc way attempted to be done by the motion of tbe noble lord . Mr . S . Herbert said he ivas sure the house would not agree to the motion . NOAV that the war was over ,

it ought not to be said that England refused her sympathies with the allies in their efforts to place matters on a satisfactory footing , and to secure the peace of Europe . Air . AYhiteside said there was no necessity for a congress to settle the affairs of Italy . Lord J . Russell said that circumstances might arise ivhich would render diplomatic intervention necessary , and he could not consent to an ordinance compelling the government to abstain from a conference at which every European power ivould have a representative . AH . Disraeli defended the policy of the late government , ancl recommended Lord Eloho to withdraw his resolution . Lord Palmerston denied that a case hacl been made

out for interference with the discretion of government . The motion was withdrawn . The houso did not rise till three in the morning . On Tuesday , on the consideration of the East India Loan Bill , some conversation took place as to the propriety of giving the guarantee of this country for the loan about to bo raised for thc service of India . In the course of the discussion , Mr . Ayrton animadverted upon tho political economical principles which seemed to prevail on the Treasury bench . Sir C . AVoocl said tho question of an imperial guarantee was one of vast

importance—far too important to be discussed in the last feiv clays of the session . On AVeclnesday , Air . Bright moved for a select committee to inquire into the allegations contained in the petition of Hugh C . E . Childers , Esq ., respecting the ivithdrawal of the Pontefract petition . Air . Overdid said he was glad that Air . Bright had made this motion , as he had every wish for the fullest investigation , but at the same time he must deprecate the use of the word "defrauding , " as applied to his conduct . The hon . ancl learned gentleman entered into a lengthened

explanation in order to show that he had left London under the impression that tbe scrutiny into the late election for Pontefract was to be proceeded with . Air . Disraeli thought the house would think that Air . Overend had at all events vindicated his honour in tho transaction . It might have been better if the matter had not been brought before parliament , but as it had been it was better that the inquiry should be proceeded with . Even supposing all that ivas alleged by Air . Childers should turn out to be true , he could see no remedy , for the committee could do nothing beyond reporting its opinion , for it could not enable Air , Childers to present another petition next session . After some

The Week.

further discussion the motion ivas agreed to . On the consideration of the European Troops ( India ) Bill , Sir Do Lacy Evans repudiated the idea of employing foreigners , and contended that thc disaffected troops in India had good ground for complaint that the promises held out to them by tho First Minister of the Crown had not been carried out .

COMMERCIAL ; AND PUBLIC COMPANIES . —Telegraphic advices have been received from Hong-Kong and Shanghai to thc middle of June , the respective dates being the 22 nd and 24 th . The English accounts were to thc 3 rd of Alay . The rates of exchange had receded to is . 10 . W ., and fis . 6 d , It is stated that thc export of tea was 60 , 000 , 0001 bs ., showing a decrease of 15 , 000 , 0001 bs . Largo settlements had taken place at Foochoiv at extreme rates . Silk showed an increase of 11 , 000 bales , the . total being 80 , 000 bales . Tho market opened at 22 s . to 2 Is . Gd . for No . 1

Tsatlcc . In the recent advices from llayti , it is stated that a law has been passed and confirmed by thc Senate , abolishing the impost of fifths and establishing an export duty of l ; jr dollars cm every lOOlbs . of coffee , payable on the departure of the cargo . This laiv Avas brought into effect on tho 10 th July . The project of a legal process against the mercantile firm of Lloyd's , for their alleged implication with the Emperor Soulouque aud his associate Dolva , in the coffee and mahogany frauds , occupied attention . The dividend of the Blackivall raihi-ayfor tho half-year

, ending the 30 th June last , will be at the rate of A' 2 los . per cent , on the capital stock , which is equal to the dividend of 2 . v . 9 i / . per share paid at the corresponding period of last year . The North London dividend is at the rate of 5 per cent , per annum against the same payment in the corresponding period of 1858 .

PnoviDKNT INSTITUTIONS . —A now Assurance Company has lately been established , which contains tho principles of life Assurance ivith that of a tontine , dependent , however , ou thc death of only one of tho assurers . Thus , the Company , which is called the Public , form classes of a given number of persons , at a subscription of £ 1 Is . each ; one-fifth is placed aside for expenses of management , and the other four-fifths invested in tho names of trustees for the parties assured ; one-third going to the family of tho person first dying , and the remaining

tAvothirds to the person fortunate enough to hold the next number in the list , care being taken that no one party shall hold tivo consecutive numbers . Thus , supposing a class of live hundred members is formed , twenty per cent , is deducted for all expenses , and the remaining four hundred guineas invested ; and on one ofthe members dying his family wilt receive about £ 140 ; and the next member an endoAvment of , £ 280 , with any interest accruing between the time when the class was first formed ancl the death of the assurer . By joining tivo or more

of these classes , a man ivill at all times have his life assured for the benefit of his family , and may come in for something considerable during his life . The premium once paid , no second premium is required lo keep thc policy in force until the class is dissolved by the death of a member . At tho Annual Meeting of the Royal Assurance Company , a , report was presented AA'hich cannot be othenvise than most gratifying to tho proprietors and assurers , as shoiving that notwithstanding the extraordinary loss by the fire at Valparaiso ( upwards of . £ 20 , 000 ) ,

the losses still continue less than the calculated average . The premiums in the fire department have increased since 1855 from . flUO . OGO to £ 196 , 148 per annum , or more than 50 per cent ., whilst in Loudon the tho business has increased from £ 2 , 150 in 18-18 to . to 7 , 6 SI , it having increased by upwards of .-CI 6 , 000 during the past tivo years ; the success being attributed by the directors mainly to the exertions of the London manager , Mr . Johnston . In the life department the IIOAV premiums amounted in the last year to £ 12 , 35-1 , against ± ' 8 , 850 in 1856 ; the total sum now assured being £ 387 , 752 . After paying tbe dividend and bonus of 7 s . per . share , - £ 30 , 000 ivill be carried to the reserve fund , which will be thus increased to - £ 110 , 850 .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

HAYMARKET THEATRE . —The neiv farce , "Out of Sight , Out of Mind , " by Mr . Charles Mathews , is as successful as it is possible for anything to be in the dog days when people are almost too languid either to applaud or condemn . ^ The acting of the author in the part o'f Qatherwool the absent man , is one of the drollest impersonations it is possible to conceive . Poole ' s farce , "A Nabob for an Hour , " has been revived for the purpose of introducing "a young lady " who has never before appeared on the stage , to a London public . The fair debutante is , Ave believe , so young that she has narrowly escaped being a " prodigy . " She made a hit , and ive have no doubt will become a public favourite .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

ItovAT , FREEMASON ' S' SCHOOL son FE _ . IAL .- _ GHILDREN . We havo been requested to correct a statement in our last week ' s paper , that "Emily Jane Nixon" is the "daughter of the late Pro . John Nixon ' . " ft should be " of the late Bro . Robert Ninon . " " HOBERT STUBS . "—The subject shall be inquired into . NORTHUMBERLAND LODGE ( NO . 1003 ) , NEWCASTLE , NEW BRUNSWICK . —The subscription of this Lodge lias been received .