The Week.

1 S 61 . Mr . Gladstone proposes an alteration in the Customs duties on manufactured tobacco . He will move that the duty on cigars be fixed at 5 s . per lb . ; on snuff at 3 s . Sd . ; and on other kinds at 4 * . He also proposes to levy a charge os 3 * . 8 d . on every pound of " Cavendish" made up from home consumption from manufactured tobacco " warehoused in any warehouse approved for security of duties of Customs . " Mr . Lindsay , M . P ., gives a positive denial to the statement that he is a holder

of Confederate bonds , and that he and his partners have contracted with the Southern government for the construction of Avar steamers . Col . Bernard , the member for Bandon , died on Friday , and Captain Gladstone , one of the members for Devizes , and brother of the Chancellor of the Exchequer o athe following day . At the meeting of the Relief Committe , Mr . Farnall reported a further diminution in the pauperism of the cotton manufacturing districts . The Commissioner , however ,

directed attention to the opinion of competent judges that the operatives will probably be but half employed during the present year , and urged the importance of looking out for new spheres of labour for the thousands whose prospects wear so gloomy an aspect . Tho George Griswold arrived in the Mersey on Tuesday , from New York , with provisions and other supplies for the operatives of the cotton manufacturing districts . As the ship passed up the river she was welcomed by a salute

from- the North Fort . It is proposed to present addresses to the captain , and to acknowledge in other ways the munificent gift of our kinsmen on the other side of the Atlantic . Convocation met on AVednesday . AVhen the formal business was disposed of Archdeacon Denison brought forward a motion for the suspension of the standing orders , in orde :-.- that Convocation might consider what steps it ought to take in the matter of

Bishop Colenso ' s book . The motion was agreed to . Archdeacon Denison then moved that an address be presented to the Upper House , praying them to appoint a committee to examine the Avorks of Bishop Colenso on the Pentateuch , Avith a view of reporting whether or not those books contain heresy . Two amendments were moved and lost , and eventually the original motion was carried . Iu the Upper House the Bishops were eagaged in the discussion of the question of the increase of the episcopate . A curious breach of promise of marriage case

has been tried , Adams v . Russell , resulting in a verdict that the plaintiff had not proved hev case to the satisfaction of the jury . The defendant is a surgeon of eminence and a married man , the plaintiff being the daughter of a deceased medical man , who , with her mother , obtains a living as teachers . A singular case , in which a Mr . Clare , of Liverpool , claimed half a million from the Government as the inventor of the lans on which the Warrior and other iron-cased

p ships of war are constructed , has been brought to a close in the Court of Queen's Bench , after a trial which extended over several days . The jury returned a verdict for the Crown . —A case of some interest to authors and publishers came before Mr . Baron Bramwell at the Court of Exchequer . Mr . Augustus Mayhew wrote a tale in the columns of tho Welcome Guest , which Mr . Maxwellthe proprietor of that serialwished

after-, , Avards to publish separately . Mr . Mayhew agreed to extend the tale so as to allow it to be published as a two shilling volnme , and he received the stipulated price for the work . It was delayed , however , from time to time , and when at last delivered it was found to be still far short of the proper length . On this Mr . Maxwell sued for damages , but on the suggestion of the judge the parties agreed to settle the dispute out of court .

Thesteamer Bussorah , Captain Gray , left the Clyde for Calcutta on the 16 th of last month , with a general cargo , and a crew of 30 persons . It is feared that the vessel , which was only built last year , has foundered in one of the many gales that have lately visited these islands . Fragments of her boats and fittings have been washed ashore on the Isle of Islay . If that be correcc , all hands must have perished . Another unhappy ballet

girl has been seriously , if not fatally burned on the stage . The accident occurred at Sadler ' s AA ell ' s Theatre , on Monday night . The poor girl's light gauze dress caught fire , and in an instant she was enveloped in flames , and seriously , though it is hoped not fatally , injured . The inquest on the body of the policemen Avho was murdered at Acton has been brought to a close . No further evidence Avas offered ; and the Coronerin summing

, up , pointed the circumstances that tended to criminate the two prisioners Isaac and John Brooka . The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against both . FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE . —The King of Prussia has replied to the address of his deputies . His reply is a personal one ; he

dispenses with the formality of speaking through his Ministers , in order the Chambers may know his individual will . He assumes the responsibility of all that the Ministers have donedeclares that though the budget was not voted the administration must still be carried on ; and reminds the Chamber that the constitution requires the assent of all three Estates to the budget . He insists on his determination to maintain the rights of the Crownand naively adds that after this conciliatory

, statement he expects that the house will meet his views . . The difficulties which Marshal O'Donnel has had to encounter in maintaining himself in power against the attacks of the Opposition have , it seems , brought on an attack of illness , and in consequence the sittings of the Cortes have been suspended by a Royal decree . This measure had caused great sensation in Madrid , as the belief was prevalent that it would be followed by a

dissolution of the Congress , The Queen is said to have again expressed her entire confidence in her Prime Minister . The refusal of Duke Ernest of Saxe Coburg to accept the Greek Crown is reported to have produced a very unsatisfactory impression in Athens . Tranquility still prevails , although some accounts express a doubt whether the unsettled political condition may not lead to popular disturbances . The National Assembly have passed a decree entrusting the functions of

Government to three members , who are to preside in rotation . The telegrams from Poland still show the insurrection to be in full vigour . The insurgents are in possession of all places between Czentochow and the Prussian frontier . The greatest defeat the latter had sustained was near AVoncsock , where they lost a great number of men and arms . A telegram from Lembevg announces that the Emperor of Austria had prorogued

the Galician Diet till the 2 nd March , in consequence , it is supposed , of Prince Sapieha having expressed his intention to propose that the Diet should address the Emperor requesting his diplomatic intercession with the Emperor of Russia in favour of Poland . Telegrams from AA arsaw and AA ilna indicate

that the Polish insurrection is being partially repressed , but it must be borne in mind that these telegrams emanate from an official Russian source . The new Pasha of Egypt , in replying to an address from the European inhabitants , has made a speech renewing his declarations that he will "introduce a series of liberal reforms ; " and he has already ordered the lines of his railway to be doubled , and every available steamer to be employed in transporting down the

Nile , the cotton , com , and pulse , which are ready for shipment . AMERICA . —The Damascus has conveyed to us New York intelligence to the evening of the 27 th uit . The principal news is the announcement that General Burnside had resigned the command of the Federal army of the Potomac . General Hooker had been appointed to succeed him ; and Generals Sumner and Franklin , the chiefs of two of the " grand divisions" of the

army , had been " relieved of their commands , " probably because they were unwilling to serve under General Hooker . " Bad weather and wind , " we are told , " prevented any forward movement" of the army now under General Hooker's orders . No general movement had been made by the Federal forces in North Carolina ; but on the 16 th ult . there was an engagement at Pollocksvillebetween a Federal detachment and 1300

Con-, federates , and the Federals " captured a flag . " The Federal gun-boat Hatteras had been sunk off Galveston , after a " sharp engagement" with a Confederate steamer , supposed to have beeu the Alabama , or the Oreio , or the Harriet Lane , which was recently captured by the Confederates at Galveston . Federal gun-boats had likewise been engaged , on the 14 th ult ., with the Confederates in one of the bayous of Louisiana ; and " no

Confederates were captured , " while the Federal commander was killed . The House of Representatives had passed the Finance Bill framed by the Committee of AVays and Means . The 2 Bbernia has arrived with four days later intelligence . Among the items of interest are the capture and destruction of a Confederate iron-clad steamer—set off by the capture of several Federal vessels .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

F . B . —Apply to Bro . Spencer , Great Queen Strseet . _ A YOUNF MASON . —AVe do not recommend one Masonic Jeweller ovei another . Consult our Advertising Columns . B . B . —Had better buy the hook of Constitutions . CATO must have altogether misunderstood the purposes of om remarks . J . P . —AVe do not interfere with the private disputes of any lodge .