The Week.

the White Lodge , at which a proclamation was agreed to be issued commanding a strict neutrality in ancl during hostilities between the Government of the United States of America and certain States styling themselves the Confederate States of America . On Tuesday the Prince Consort , went to Cambridge University . On Wednesday the Queen , accompanied by their Royal Highness the Princess Alice , Princess Helena , Princess Louisa , and Princess Beatrice , arrived at Buckingham Palace . The Prince Consort held

another levee hy desire of the Queen . ISO noblemen and gentlemen were presented . His Roy al Highness the Prince of AVales has heen solicited to attend the inauguration of a new sailor ' s home at Great Yarmouth , and has intimated , in reply , that if his presence would promote the welfare of the Institution , he would not be unwilling to go clown , but he cannot consent to any public'demonstration . The Prince has also been applied to to lay the first stone of a new corn exchange about to be erected at Bury St . Edmund's , but has replied that his other engagements will render it impossible for him to accept the invitation .

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —Thursday , the 9 th , being Ascension Day , the HOUSE OE LORDS did not sit . On Friday the Earl of Derby called attention to the rumour that letters of marque had been received in this country from the Southern States of America , and expressed a hope that the proclamation about to be issued by the Government with regard to the law forbidding British subjects to take service with foreign powers would be distinct and emphatic in warning persons thatif they interfered on either side in the

un-, fortunate conflict which hacl broken out , their blood ivould be upon then- own heads , ancl that it would bo idle to look to this country for protection or redress . Earl Granville said that the proclamation would be so worded that it would serve as a warning to all her Alajesty ' s subjects , ancl that the only reason it had been delayed was that its language might be carefully considered . Lord Stratford de Redcliffe moved a series of resolutions to the effect

that the House woulcl view with deep regret any circumstances leading to a continuance , however brief , of the occupation of Syria by foreign troops beyond the 5 th of June next . Lord AVodehouso observed , that a good deal of exaggeration prevailed with reference to the clangers which appeared to threaten the Turkish empire . The difficulties which the Government of the Sultan had to contend with were in some degree to be traced to the diversity of races and

religion ivhich was found in all parts of the empire . After somo discussion the motion was withdrawn . On Monday , the Princess Alice Dowry Bill was brought up from the House of Commons and read a first time . The Earl of Shaftesbury , in moving for the evidence on ivhich the part of the report of the Education Commission relating to ragged , schools was founded , characterised the the reports as unfair ancl ungenerous , and expressed his surprise

that the Duke of Newcastle—a member of the Cabinet—should have appended his name to the document . " He impugned the report as inaccurate , ancl charged the commissioners with having brought accusations against ragged schools which were equally

applicable to other schools . The Duke of Newcastle eulogised the report in question as one of the most able and impartial State papers that had ever been laid before tho House . AVith regard to ragged schools , the statistics relating to them , the fidelity of which was questioned by the Earl of Shaftesbury , hacl been supplied by the ragged school unions themselves , and all the commissioners had said with reference to them was , that as they did not look upon the schools as permanent educational institutionstbey could not

re-, commend them for grants of public money . The motion was withdrawn . Oh Tuesday , Lord AA odehouse , in reply to an inquiry by Lord Brougham , stated that her Alajesty ' s Government had learnt from the Government of Spain that the latter had , at the request of the inhabitants , accepted the annexation of tho eastern part of the Island of St . Domingo ; and he was glad to inform his noble friend that the communication was accompanied ban assurance

y that it was not intended to allow the re-establishment of slavery there . The Princess Alice ' s Annuity Bill was read a second time . In the HOUSE or COMMONS , on Thursday , the 9 th , in reply to a question from Air . Horsfall , Sir G . C . Lewis stated that the Government contemplated issuing a proclamation cautioning her Alajesty ' s subjects against any interference in tho hostilities that had unfortunately arisen between the Northern ancl Southern States of

America . The proclamation would be made under the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act . The discussion on the Budget was resumed , and the various clauses agreed to , ancl leave given to bring in a bill founded on them . Several votes were taken in supply . On Friday , on going into a Committee of Supply , a long discussion took place relative to foreign politics , and Lord John Russell having briefly reviewed the proceedings ofthe international

commission and the recommendations for the future government of the Lebanon , said the great difficulty which had always jireseuted itself was , that the Russian Government deemed themselves bound to take under their protection the Greek subjects of the Sultan ,

whereas tho French Government regarded themselves as the patrons and protectors of the Roman Catholics . The British Government had honestly and consistently endeavoured to induce the Sultan to extend to all his subjects that justice and protection to which they were alike entitled , whether Greek or Roman Catholic , Mussulman , Maronite , or Druse . AA ith regard to the evacuation of Syria by the troops of France , he had every reason to rely upon the good faith of the Emperor of the French

to complete the arrangement into which he had entered . The Princess Alice's Annuity Bill was read a third time and passed . On Monday , after a painful discussion raised by Mr . Roebuck as to the alleged conduct of members of the opposition in bringing down Mr . Andrew Stewart from a private lunatic asylum , to vote against the Government on the budget , whilst labouring under insanity , in which it was exjilained that , though subject to mental

excitement , and resident at Dr . Winslow's for a short time , he was not under restraint , a long discussion took jilace on the motion for the second reading ofthe Customs and . Inland Revenue Bill , it being contended by the one party that including the various propositions in the budget in one bill was an attempt to interfere with the privileges of the House of Lords , so as to prevent their expressing an ojiinion on the repeal of the Pajier Dutyancl bthe other that

, y tbe course pursued by the Government was perfectly constitutional , and in accordance with precedent . After one or two divisions in favour of the Government , the discussion was adjourned . On Tuesday , Sir Hugh Cairns moved for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the law affecting the contracting and celebration of marriage in Ireland . The right hon . and learned

gentleman said that he had been prevented by accidental circumstances from bringing forward the question last session . This he mentioned in order that the House might not sujijiose that he had been influenced by- a recent remarkable trial to introduce it on the present occasion . Mr . AA'hitesicle seconded the motion , and jiointed out the anomalies and inconveniences of the jiresent system . Mr . Scully moved , as an amendment " That an humble address be jiresented to her Majestypraying that she will be graciously jileased

, to issue a royal commission to inquire into the marriage laws of England , of Ireland , and of Scotland respectively . " Mr . Cardwell assented to the appointment of the proposed committee , and exjiressed a hojie tlmt Air . Scully would not jiersist with his amendment . The amendment was withdrawn , and the committee agreed to . On Wednesday , Air . Butt moved the second reading of the New Trials in Criminal Cases Billthe object of ivhich was to

, jirovide for the formation of a tribunal to review erroneous verdicts in criminal cases . He jirojiosed to abolish the distinction which now existed between felonies and misdemeanours ; to give a right of appeal in the former as in the latter cases ; and to enable the Court of Queen ' s Bench to send a writ of certiorari to any court of criminal jurisdiction , in order to obtain a review of a verdict . Sir G . C . Lewis movedas an amendmentthat the bill be read a second

, , time that clay six months , and that was agreed to . The Chancellor of the Exchequer obtained leave to bring in a bill to increase the facilities for the transfer of stocks and annuities transferable at the Bank of Ireland , and to make further provision respecting the mutual transfer of capital in certain jiublic stocks or funds transferable at the Banks of England and Ireland respectively ; and for other purposes .

GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The welcome rise in temperature on AVednesday , "following the change of wind from bitter north-east , where it seemed to have taken up jiermanent quarters , may be expected to influence beneficially the public health , as the unseasonable cold for weeks past has certainly clone prejudicially . By the returns of mortality for the last week the deaths in the metropolis show a serious excess over the average , the total number being 1240 . Of births there were 181-8 registered—972 boys and 870 girls .

Reports of the state of trade in tbe manufacturing districts are of a discouraging character . His Grace the Duke of Bedford expired on Tuesday , aged 73 . The presentation of degrees in connection withjtheLondoiiUniversity took place on AVednesday . Lorcl Granville , the Chancellor , delivered a speech highly eulogistic of the Univer . sity , and complimented it especially on its school of medicine , which he said stood higher than any other in the country . The

207 th anniversary of the Festival of the Sons of the Clergy was celebrated in St . Paul's Cathedral on AVednesday , in the presence of a large number of civic and clerical dignitaries . The dinner took place in the evening . AA ' e are glad to learn that the guarantee hind of the International Exhibition oi' 1802 now exceeds £ 100 , 000 . In the Court of Queen's Bench oil Saturday , an action was brought to recover the sum of £ 78 12 s . Gd . This was the claim of a

" man in possession , " and represented the balance of an account amounting to £ 100 17 s . 6 /' ., eighteen months' possession money . No wonder that Air . Collier , the j . laintiff , was told be might almost consider himself a member of the family after such a lengthened stay . Air . Furber , for whom Jlr . Colliei- bad held this long possession , dis-