The Week.

an anti-state church speech , and tho house shortly after divided , AA'hen the motion AA-IIS negatiA'ed by 186 to 128 . The report of the committee of supply Avas brought up , and the house adjourned . On AVednesday , Air . Aleffor moved tlie second reading of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act ( 1851 ) Amendment Bill , and said that he did not affect to propose it as a final settlement of the question , but rather as a provisional measure until parliament could legislate effectively on the subject . The motion ivas supported by Mr . Hunt , AVIIO thought ,

however , that the bill contained many provisions which would require alteration in committee . The hou . member pointed out thafc the country would never consider the house in earnest iu the matter so long as individuals continued to spend large sums for the purpose of obtaining seats in Parliament . Sir F . Goldsmid thought the bill inadequate aud insufficient , Mr . Collier supported the bill , but suggested that it might bo rendered more complete by the adoption of the clause contained in Sir F . Kell ' s billrendering ifc necessary that every memberbefore

y , , taking his seat , should make a declaration that he had not paid , nor ivould pay , any expenses on account of his election except through the election auditor , together with a clause depriving of his seat any member who was proved to have made sneli payments , and another to make illegal the conveyance of voters at the expense of the candidate . Sir G . Grey declined to vote for the bill on the ground that there were two other measures on cognate subjects before the house . The motion for the second reading of the bill was withdrawn . —Air . E . James then

moved the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation of the act of 1 S . W , and , after some discussion , the motion was agreed to . —Air . Scholefield moved the second reading of the Adulteration of Food and Drink Bill . The motion was agreed to .

GENERAL HOJIE NEWS . —Cabinet Councils have been held twice this week , at which all the ministers have attended . The public health has deteriorated during tbe past week according to fche Regisfcrar-General's returns , and the dreadfully cold weather has caused a large increase of disease and death . At the beginning of the week the frost caused most of the ornamental waters in tlie parks to be frozen over ; but , owing to the continuous fall of snow , the ice was far from safe or smooth ; nevertheless , in spite of caution boards , some thousand persons

ventured upon the unsafe and treacherous ice . On the Serpentine , where numbers were , spite of the risk , enjoying the excitement of skating , several immersions took place . Unfortunately in one instance this was attended with fatal consequences . The person who lost his life was named George Gard . He had been half an hour in the water before ho could be rescued , after which all attempts afc restoration proved fruitless . The other sheets of water had also their , patrons , many of whom received a dipping for their temerity .- The great topic of discussion

has been Air . Gladstone's budget ; and it is not too much to say that ifc has been received with disapprobation . At tho meeting of the Alarylebone Representative Council , Air . Nicolay applied for "the use of the court house for a public meeting to denounce the new scheme of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for continuing the income tax at Id . in the pound under £ 150 a year , and at lOd . in the pound above that amount . " •At the ripe age of 7-1 , on Sunday last , Sir AA illiam Napier breathed his last . This event took place at his residenceScin . de HouseClapham

, , Park . Distinguished in the field as a gallant and successful soldier , he was no less famed in the gentler walks of literature , illustrating with his pen the history of that profession already honoured by the deeds of his sword . Sir AVilliam "Napier ' s "History of thc AVar in the Peninsula" cost the author sixteen years of continuous labour . He AA'as himself a ivitness of several of the series of operations , and was engaged in many of the

battles . His wide acquaintance with military men enabled him to consult many distinguished officers , English and French , and he was especially supplied with materials and documents by the Duke of AVellington and Alarshal Soult . A robbery has taken place at Bacon ' s Hotel , Great Queen-street . Air . Leeman , a solicitor , has been staying at the hotel for some time , and iu a box iu his bedchamber was deposited a large sum iu notes and gold , as well as jeAvellery . On retiring at night he locked his door , keeping the key in the lock , and on rising in the morning

discovered that the door had been unlocked from the outside in a very skilful manner , and the money and other property abstracted . On a further search it ivas also ascertained that other bedrooms in ' the occupation of gentlemen had been visited in fche same maimer , and money , gold watches , jewellery , and clothes taken away . The total lossls believed to exceed £ 200 . Since the robbery the police have been most active in their exertions to trace the depredator , but at present withoutsuecess . On Alondayin the justice-room at the Mansion-housean adroit thief

, , , inlawed by the presence of Sir R . AV . Garden , contrived to abstract a a pair of neiv troivsers from a bag in possession of a journeyman tailor , ivho Avas so admiringly intent in watching the decisions of the presiding magistrate as to be wholly regardless of the jirocess of cutting open the bottom of the bag , by ivhich the thief was enabled to perpetrate the robbery . The trowsers , it transpired , were intended for Alderman Challis . A Durham newspaper states that the excitement consequent upon the elopement of the Rev . AA illiam Prosser with a servant irl living at

g Croxdale Parsonage , has yet in no ivay abated , but seems to increase as various circumstances connected with the career of this accomplished hypocrite during his residence in that city come to be mere maturel y weighed . Ifc is now ascertained that on his leaving' Croxdale Parsonage , on Thursday , the 2 ( ith of January , he anel his frail companion took tickets at Ferryhill Station for London , where , it would appear they arrived safely , for on the following Sunday the

The Week.

couple were seen together at service in Saint Pancras Church . On Tuesday , Elizabeth AA-elzeiistein , Herman Frieck , and Alagdalena Jordan calling herself Atnio . Poninska , were charged at Marlborough street , with tiA-o other's not in custody , ivittuconspiracy and fraud against Air . Joseph StohAvassor , tailor , of Conduit-street . The prisoner , AAsdzenstcin , was the prosecutrix in the recent ease in the Queen ' s Bench , in ivhich an attempt ivas made to establish a charge of indecent behaviour against Air . Stohivasser , Avhose charity had been greatly imposed upon

by AVekeusteiu and her sirpposed husband . Air . Stohivasser now accuses them of swindling him out of £ 300 . They ivere remanded ; bail refused for AVeV / enstein ; the other two ivere ordered to find sureties for £ 200 . each . General Napier ' s funeral took place yesterday ( Friday ) afc Nor-Avood Cemetery . The charming little theatre at Campclen House is shortly to be the scene of a fashionable reunion , on the occasion of a theatrical performance in aid of the funds ofthe Royal Benevolent Society . Contrary to usual custom , the female parts are to be rej-reseuted by lady amateurs , and not by professionals , while noble lords and AI . Ps . will figure amongst the dramatis personal . Of the members of tho Rifle and Artillery Corps of Brighton , nearly one fourth belong to tho Craft .

FOREIGN NEAVS . —The Momtcur of Tuesday announced that the opening of the French senate and legislative body has been adjourned to the 1 st of March . The greater part of the French manufacturers aro aghast at the prospect of being compelled to compete ivith England . They do not seem to understand that , if one nation is to be benefited rather than the other by the treaty , it is France , and not England . Aleantime trade in France is in an utter state of stagnation . It is obvious that capitalists do not choose to invest their money while it is yet uncertain

whether tlie treaty will be ratified by England ; but , apart from that , in Paris as in England , there is no confidence whatever in the pacific intentions of the French Emperor , or in the doubtful prospects held out for the definitive solution of the Italian question . It is quite certain that the Austrian Government still holds out against fche fourth proposition submitted by the British Cabinet . It has been rumoured within the last few days that a congress or conference will shortly assemble at ParisAustria standing aloofbut there is no reason to believe that

, ; any official reply has yet been given by the Austrian Government to tho proposals of Lord John Russell ; it is probable , however , thafc a circular note will be addressed to the European powers within the next few clays . It is now said that Austria ivill so far depart from the obstinate attitude she has hitherto maintained as to consent to tbe annexation of Parma and Alodenii to Sardinia , bufc that she still insists on the restoration of Tuscany to the Grand Duke anel of the legations to the pope . The reforms promised in the Austrian ministerial programme are about to

be granted . Every province will receive a separate constitution and administration according to the wants of the different national-ties . AA e learn from Berlin that the reports circulating in Paris concerning an approaching conference of tho four great powers ( Avithout Austria ) on the English proposals , are here stated to be false . Prussia has not given in her adhesion to tho English proposals , aud probably she will refuse to do so . Prince Gortsehakoff is said to have informed the French government that the proposals of the British cabinet are not altogether

a satisfactory solution of the Italian question , anel a real understanding could only result from a conference of tho five great powers . From the United States we learn that on the 1 st instant , Air . Pennington ( republican ) ivas elected speaker , by a majority of one vote . On the 2 nd a fire broke out in Elm-street , New York , by which fifty persons perished . <* The hat factory at Brooklyn blew up on the 3 rd . The explosion was caused by the bursting of a boiler . Fifteen of the workmen were buried under the ruins . The Glasgow line of steamers has been withdrawn , and put on the Liverpool route .

INDIA . —Telegrams from Afadras to January I'Cth announce thafc the Governor had proceeded on a tour to the south , and would be absent for two months . The 44 th and ( Kith regiments , 200 of tlie 1 st Dragoon Guards , with Artillery , Sappers , and Miners , and the 21 st regiment of Madras Native Infantry , have been named for service iu China .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

Y . N . T . ' writes— " Some years ago it was necessary , before being exalted into Royal Arch , to pass the chair of a Craft Lod ge ; does such Mason rank as a P . AL , and can he open and close a Lodge ?'—The practice still exists in Scotland and other countries , but ifc does not give the P . M . rank in England . Bno . DAVISON will please accept our thanks . AVe do not remember

having heard from him en the subject before . "B . "—Never . " G . S . "—The first Grand Stewards were appointed in 1728—their number being twelve—they have since been increased to eighteen . "It . lt . "—AA e haA'e no doubt of its being an assumed name . "S . S . "—A Lodge cannot alter it- ; name Avithout the approbation of the Grancl Alaster or Prov . Grand Alaster-. —See page 02 ofthe Book of Constitutions .