The Week.

unfounded . Of course there was a cry against this , and the Speaker insisted that Sir Robert should retract . In an illconditioned manner be refused , and iu the end got out of his difficulty by a sort of half explanation . Subsequently there was a discussion on the School of Musketry , and then the House went into committee of supply . After several votes had been taken the House resumed . The Chancellor of the

Exchequer then , in reply to Mr . Bazley , said the Government had given permission to the Bank to issue notes beyond the limit provided by the Act of 1 S 44 On the 14 th inst . a long debate on the Distribution of Seats Bill was expected . The expectation was not fulfilled . Mr . Disraeli made a long speech in which he found not a single merit in the Bill , though he found

a good many in pocket boroughs . He was bitterly severe on the Government , and especially on the Chancellor of the Exchequer , hut he reserved for the committee his more dangerous attacks on the measure . Mr . Cardwell replied to his diatribes , and then , after a guerilla fight by small men , the bill was read a second time . Subsequently it was agreed that the Franchise

Bill and the Distribution Bill should be amalgamated in committee , and that the committee should be on the 28 th inst . The other business on the paper was got through quickly , and the House was up early . On the 15 th inst ., on the motion for adjournment over the Derby , Sir Lawrence Park introduced the subject of the bombardment of Valparaiso . He blamed the

conduct of Admiral Denman in not preventing the bombardment , and asked a string of questions on the subject . Several members took part in the discussion , and Mr . Layard gave a full account of the whole of the proceedings . He denied the truth of the statements made by the merchants at A ' alparaiso , and declared that Admiral Denman had acted in the most proper manner . There was some subsequent discussion , and

then , in reply to Mr . Sandford , Mr . Bruce explained Avhat the Government had done with respect to the prevention of cholera . The motion for adjournment was agreed to . Mr . O'Reilly then moved for a select committee to inquire into the state of national educution in Ireland , and a long discussion ensued . GEifEitAii HOME NEWS . —The failure of Overend , Guruey , and Company on the 11 th inst ., was followed by a day of

intense anxiety . It was on all sides expected that a severe pressure would be experienced by the various banks and discount houses , and every possible step had been taken to meet the demand for deposits and balances . The different houses opened their doors some time before the usual hour , in order to invite a return of confidence . The City was early crowded with persons

painfully anxious to meet the events of the day . A " run" was made npon most of the banks , but , Avith the exception of the English Joint-Stock Bank , the trial was endured without any apparent inconvenience . The English Joint-Stock did a respectable business of a middle class , and had upwards of thirty branch establishments . Of rumours there were many of the

most reckless character . The only one which has become a fact is the failure of the highly respectable firm of Messrs . Peto and Betts , railway conteactors . Their liabilities are about £ 1 , 000 , 000 , and their assets are nearly a million beyond this amount . The stoppage is expected to be only temporary , and it is satisfactory to know that the large undertakings

of the firm will be carried on by arrangement . The only hope of an improvement in the general prospects of the commercial and financial world has been , that the Government would at once suspend tho Bank Chapter Act . The Home Secretary has decided that the life of Charlotte AVinsor shall be spared . The sentence of death has been commuted to penal servitude for life . The man Smith , alias

Denton , who is charged with the murder of Mrs . Millsou , at Messrs . Bevington ' s warehouse , in Cannon-street , was brought up on the 11 th inst . before the Lord Mayor , for final examination . Mr . AVontner , Avho appeared for the prosecution , asked that the prisoner should he committed for trial . He also mentioned that there was reason to believe that the man Smallman > who was examined at the last hearing , and swore positively that

he had seen the prisoner at Messrs . Beeington ' s door on the night of the murder , was not a credible witness . He proposedi therefore , that his deposition should not be included among those which had been taken . Mr . AVilliams , for the prisoner , opposed the application , and insisted that the deposition should be included . He blamed the police for their conduct in the

affair . The Lord Mayor vindicated the police , and committed the prisoner for trial . The deposition of Srnallman was included . One at least of the Adullamites has come out of the Cave . The constituents of Mr . Hanbury Tracy have taken him severely to task for his union with the Lowe Horsman party , and he has written a letter defending himself . Of course

he says he acted rightly , and like many of those who erred as he did , and are now conscious of their mistake , he finds a salve iu the conduct of the Government in introducing the Distribution of Seats Bill . It is true the Government , before the division of the Franchise Bill , said they should act as they have done , but Mr . Hanbury Tracy seems to have been

incredulous . However , the important fact is , that he announces his intention to support the Government Bill . The representatives of some of the small boroughs are taking alarm . at the Distribution of Seats Bill . The two Liberal members for Bridport visited their constituents on the 11 th inst . Mr . Hodgson , however , had to return to town without speaking publicly . His colleague , Mr . Mitchell , addressed a meeting ,

aud denounced the Government scheme as being scandalously unjust to Bridport . He declared that the Bill was wholly in the interest of the landlords in the counties , and he should give it his most determined opposition .- At the Clerkeuwell Police-court , on the 12 th inst ., two women , named Forester , were brought up on remand , charged with having caused the death of a Avoman called SIOAVOH , by endeavouring to procure

abortion . A statement made by the dying woman was read by the doctor n-ho had attended her inculpating the prisoners . The elder Forester Avas committed to take her trial for wilful murder , and her daughter as an accessory after the fact . AVe regret to announce the death of Mrs . Keble , the widow of the author of " The Christian Year . " She has soon followed

her husband . It may be remembered that some time ago an old mar . named Keeble was tried at the Central Criminal Court for cruelly wounding his wife . For the defence it Avas urged that when he inflicted the wounds he Avas under the delusion that thieves were in the house , and that he was defending himself . On this plea he was acquitted . On the 14 th inst . the

same man was brought up at the Highgate petty sessions charged with attempting to poison his wife . It seemed that she had asked for a dose of medicine , and that he had given her iodine instead . Medical aid was procured , and Mrs . Keeble is out of danger . In evidence it Avas stated that the prisonercould not read without his spectacles , and that he had not them

on Avhen he sought for the medicine bottle , and got that containing poison . Under these circumstances he was discharged . — —At Bow-street a young gentleman named Finney was charged with stealing a silver spoon from the Albion Hotel , The spoon was missed , and Avas ultimately found in the prisoner ' s pocket along Avith an extraordinary miscellaneous collection of articles , some of which at any rate ap .