The Week.

discreditable" conduct of the Federal authorities in refusing to investigate fully the representations which had been made to them by Lord Lyons . AVitUout going to the extent of Lord Clanricarde ' s suggestion that if our remonstrance failed the case was one for a declaration of war , he " must admit that the case was one of that class which did frequently lead to war , "

and he sincerely regretted that the United States Government bad not attended to the communications of her Majesty ' s representative . After some further conversation , the subject dropped . —In reply to a question from Lord Derby , the Lord Chancellor said he was willing to amend his Comity Courts Bill so as to extend the period within M-hicli small

debts can be recovered to three years . He would also propose that the bill should not be retrospective . On Friday , Lord Hardwicke referred to the proposed reform of Greenwich Hospital , and expressed a hope that the Admiralt y would , in spite of all opposition , endeavour to put an end to the present system of double government ivhieh did so much

to impair the usefulness of the institution . The Duke of Somerset explained that it was proposed to make the Hospital an infirmary for infirm and helpless seamen , and to devote the remaining portion of tho revenues to the augmentation of the pensioners' allowances , On Monday , their ' . ordships concurred unanimously in her Majesty's recommendation that a

pension of £ 1 , 000 should be granted to Lady Elgin . Lord Granville , Lord J _ . Henboroi . gh , and Lord Derby expressed their high sense of the eminent public services of the late Governor-General of India , and deplored his untimely death Lord AVharncliffe moved an address to the Crown praying that the late decision ordering the removal of the AVest Riding assizes from York to Leeds instead of to Wakefield be reconsidered . Lord Houghton seconded the motion , which was opposed

by Lord Granville , Lord Brougham , and Lord De Grey . Lord Derby believed that the weight of testimony was against Leeds and in favour of AA'akefield , but at the same time he recommended the withdrawal of the motion . Lord AVharncliffe declined to act upon this advice ; and , after some further discussion , the House divided , AA-IIOII the motion was carried by a

majority of 2 G . On Tuesday , Lord Chmviairde sought to correct a statement made by Lord Granville on the previous night , to the effect that the diversion to Calcutta of the troops forming the expedition to China was the spontaneous act of Lord Elgin . The noble marquis stated -that the fore was transferred to India on the requisition of Lord Canning . Lord

Granville admitted that the explanation was historically correct , but added that the responsibility of turning aside tbe China expedition for the purpose of checking the progress of the Sepoy mutiny " belonged equally" to Lord Canning and Lord Elgin . —Lord Lyveden ( Vernon Smith ) doubted the policy of granting pensions to the representatives of Indian Viceroys of

a year ' s standing , while Lord Stratford de Redcliffe expressed his satisfaction that the services ol an eminent public man had been publicly recognised . —An address , concurring in the proposal to make a grant of £ 20 , 000 to Sir R . Hill was agreed to . In the HOUSE OP COMMONS , on Thursday , the 4 th inst ., Lord Pahnerston moved a resolution pledging the House to give effect

to the message from the Crown recommending a pension of £ 1 , 000 a year to the widow of the late Lord El gin . The noble lord sketched the remarkable career of the deceased statesman , and delivered a well-deserved eulogy of his services in Jamaica , Canada , China , and India . Lord Stanley seconded the motion , remarking that it had the cordial assent of the Opposition .

After a short conversation , in the course of which it was stated by Sir Charles AVood that the Indian Government had also accorded Lady Elgin a pension of £ 1 , 000 a year , the motion

was agreed to . —A good deal of discussion took p lace on the Collection of Taxes Bill—a Government meaaure , which proposes to give any locality permission to decide whether its land and assessed taxes shall be collected as at present , or by the officers of the Inland Revenue . Mr . Gladstone said that great complaints ivere made of the "incivility , officiousness , and caprice" of the collectors , who , in many instances , were

practically irresponsible to any authority . This , he seemed to think , might be remedied if they were placed under the control of the Government . The measure would also save the public from the risk of being called upon to pay their taxes tivice over in consequence of collectors' defalcations . The bill passed through committee . On Friday , Lord Pahnerston , in

reply to a question from Mr . Disraeli , said the continuance of the Dano-German armistice ivas clogged with no conditions . — Lord R . Cecil moved a resolution in favour of relieving members of the House from the labour of sitting in committee on private bills , but , after a short conversation , the motion was Avithdrawn . —Mr . J . B . Smith moved a resolution , affirming that

the increasing trade and commerce of India requires that a gold currency should be established in that empire . Sir C . Wood contested this proposition , and the motion was withdrawn . On Monday , Mr . Cowper , questioned by Mr . Hibbe . rt and Mr . Gregory relative to the National Gallery question , on which the Government recently sustained a defeat , said an enlargement

of tbe building in Trafalgar-square would necessitate the purchase of the brrracks and other promises at the back . This ivould cost some £ 300 , 000 , and ho was unable to say what the views of the Government on the subject ivere . —Mr . Bruce , in reply to a question from Sir John Pakington , said it was not the intention of the Government to bring in a bill this session for tile amendment of the laiv relating to vaccination . —In

answer to a question from Mr . Kinglake , Lord Pahnerston said he had not seen , and ivas not inclined to believe , a statement to the effect that the belligerents had entrusted the duty of determining the lines of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to the French Ambassador in London . —Mr . Smollett moved foraselecfc committee to inquire into the claims of Azeem Jab to the title and dignity of Nawab of the Carnatic . After

some discussion the House divided , when the motion was rejected by a majority of 17 . From a somewhat lively conversation which folloived the announcement of the numbers , we gather that the division took the friends of Azeem Jah completely by surprise . Sir Fitzroy Kelley intimated his intention of again bringing the subject before the House . A morning

sitting on Tuesday reminds us that the session is on the wane . The entire sitting was occupied with a discussion upon the bill for extending the provisions of the Factory Act—so far as the employment of children is concerned—to potteries , paper staining works , and places where the manufacture of lucifer matches and percussion-caps is carried on . It was stated by Mr . Bruce ,

who moved the second reading of the bill , that the measure was intended as the precursor of a proposal to afford to all children in whatever trade employed , the protection of the Factory Act . Lord Ingestre moved that the bill be referred to a Select Committee , but after a discussion he withdrew his amendment , and the secondreading was agreed to . —At the evening sitting , Mr . Arthur

Mills gave notice of his intention to move the rejection of the Now Zealand Loan Guarantee Bill ; while Mr . Sothern Estcourt intimated that on Monday he should moi'e au address to the Crown , praying that the Order in Council making Leeds an assize town should be reconsidered . —Lord Wharncliffe carried a similar motion in the House of Lords . —Mr . Bernal Osborne gave notice of a speech on the publication in the public newspapers of the secret diplomacy of the Government