The Week.

THE WEEK .

TEE COUHT . —The Queen and their Eoyal Highnesses the Princess Louise , Prince Arthur , and Princess Beatrice arrived at Osborne on the 6 th inst ., at two o'clock from AVindsor Castle , Tiaving travelled in a special train on the Great AYestern and South AYestern Railways , and crossed over from Gosport in the royal yacht Alberta , Capt . his Serene Highness the Prince of

Leiningen . Her Majesty drove out on the morning of the 7 th inst ., accompanied by Princess Christian . The Queen , accompanied by Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice , drove out in tbe afternoon , attended by the Hon . Harriet Phipps . Lord Charles Fitzroy was in attendance upon horseback . Her Majesty drove out on the morning of tbe Sth inst ., accompanied by

Princess Christian . The Queen drove out in the afternoon of the Sth inst ., with Princess Louise , and her Majesty and her lloyal Highness walked and rode on ponies on the morning of the 12 th inst . The Queen drove out in the afternoon , accompanied by Princess Christian . IMPERIAL PAKHAUIENT . —The only matter of special interest

in the HOTJSE OE LORDS , on the 7 th inst ., was the Announcement by the Earl of Carnarvon that he would state what course the Government intended to take in reference to the Confederation ' of the North . American colonies . Their lordships only sat forty minutes . On the Sth inst ., Lord Bedesdale called attention to a pamphlet published by a Mr . Francis , in which

5 iis lordship was attacked . Next week he should move that Mr . Francis be called to the bar of the house . —The Duke of Somerset , in moving for some returns as to the navy , made a defence of liis administration of tlie department , and wholly denied that the navy was in a helpless condition . He strongly urged that the building of ships should proceed slowly . It will probably be remembered that the charges which have brought

about this defence of himself by the duke were made by Sir John Pakington . It is , then , rather remarkable that Lord Derby , in reply to the duke , complimented his grace on the manner in which he had discharged the duties of bis oflice , and declared that he did not agree with the charges -which had been made : It seems by this discussion that Sir John Pakington is not to have full swing with his new reconstruction craze . —¦

On the 11 th inst . there wero only about five peers in the House , and the business lasted thirty-five minutos . Tho Bishop of Down wished to have some returns in reference to tho Irish Church , ¦ which the Archbishop of Dublin thought unnecessary , and tho production of which the Earl of Derby opposed . Tho motion of tho Bishop was negatived . On tho 12 th inst . the Earl of

Carnai-ron laid on tho table a bill for the confederate union of tho North American Colonies , and fixed tho l 4 th inst . for tho second reading . —A matter of much personal interest next occupied tho attention of thoir lordships . Earl Russoll presented a petition from Mr . Rigby AYatson , praying that an inquiry might bo instituted into charges ivhich he made against tho Chief Baron of the Exchequer , Sir Fitzroy Kelly . These charges imputed to

his lordship perjury and other offences of a similar kind . Earl Russell , in presenting the petition , declared that ho did so with great reluctance , that ho had no belief in the charges that wero made , and that ho had no doubt a perfect answer to thorn all would bo forthcoming . Tho Lord Chancellor followed -with a long vindication of Sir Fitzroy Kelly . Ho denied tho truth of ono and all of tho charges madeand as to some of them declared

, that they were false within Ms own knowledge . Ho attributed tho presentation of tho petition to ill-feeling on tho part of Mr . AAatson towards Sir Fitzroy Kolly in consequence of a quarrel between them many years ago . Tho Lord Chancellor Warned Earl Russell for presenting tho petition . Lord St .

Leonards insisted that Eaid Russoll ought to demand an inquiry into the truth of the charges . Earl Eussell said he had presented the petition because it came from a subject of her Majesty , and he felt that if petitions wero refused to be pre " sented by their lordships it might be said that they were closing their doors against the just complaints of the people .

He expressed his entire disbelief of all the charges , and said he should withdraw the petition . Lord Derby approved of this course , and the petition was withdrawn . —Lord Stanley of Alderley wished for some information about the alleged Fenian invasion of Chester , and Lord Derby detailed the steps which had been taken by Mr . AYalpole . —Subsequently the Metropolitan

Traffic Regulation Bill was read a second time , and the House then adjourned at a quarter to seven o ' clock . ¦ In the HOUSE OF Connors , after the questions had been disposed of , Sir Stafford Northcote asked leave to introduce a bill to meet tho case of railway companies in financial difficulties . He made a lengthy statement , insisting thafc

railways having received special Parliamentary favours in order that they might benefit the public , there was a right on the part of the public to see that its interests so acquired wero not jeopardised . He reviewed the difficulties in the way of dealing with bankrupt railway companies , and then proceeded to discuss the means of obviating

these difficulties . One way would be to remit such companies to the Court of Chancery , where a scheme for their relief might be devise . d . That he did not think would be advisable . Another suggestion was that debenture holders should be placed on the footing of mortgagees , and have power to foreclose it their interest was not paid . That would be most objectionable , because it would jeopardise the public interests . The only course he could see was to deal with each

case by a special bill . But it would not be safe to leave to private individuals to bring in private bills , aud the proposal he hacl to make was that on a requisition from the creditors of a bankrupt railway company , the Board of Trade should bring in a bill to deal with thafc special case . He asked leave to introduce a bill to enable this to be done . Mr . AYatVin , Mr . Milner Gibson , and Sir Eoundell Palmer criticised the

proposed bill adversely , and then leave was given for its introduction . —Leave was subsequently given for the introduction of ' bills relating to shipping tolls , and to religious disabilities . The House adjourned at half-past seven o'clock . On the Sth inst ., Mr . Gladstone wished to get to know what the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to do in reference to the Reform

question . The Chancellor of the Exchequer , however , did not satisfy the curiosity of the House . He said he would rather not tell what was to be done . Yet , if we may believe the Oloie , that which Mr . Disraeli refused to tell the House had been told to some one connected with that journal . "The Government , " says fche Globe , " is to proceed by resolution

acting on the precedent of the India Government measure . " Iu other words , the Government is to abdicate , while it will yet receive pay . —Mr . Gathome Hardy brought in a bill relating to the administration of the poor-law in London , which was favourably regarded by all members who spoke . He proposes to have one great hospital for small-pox and fever patients .

All the imbeciles are to bo put into separate establishments , and children over two years of age are to be sent to separate schools . The workhouses are to be supervised by nominees of the Poor-Law Board . Dispensaries are to be appointed in the different districts , at which the out-door sick aro to get their medicine made up from prescriptions given by the medical officers . The local Acts are to be abolished , and all the parishes