Isle Of Man.

brethren separated , having enjoyed a highly intellectual treat from the manner in which Bro . Hamer conducted the installation , ancl a delightful evening from the harmony that existed at the festive board .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COUET . —We regret that Her Majesty was compelled to postpone the reception at Buckingham Palace , ivhich had been fixed for Saturday , in consequence of indisposition . Her Majesty had been suffering from neuralgia in the face . Her Majesty having somewhat recovered , left Windsor Castle on Wednesday for Osborne House , where she arrived in the course of the

afternoon . The station at Windsor , as well as other points along the line , was crowded with spectators , mostly ladies ; ancl it was remarked that Her Majesty did not , as she used , withdraw herself from the public gaze , but took an interest in the scene , and graciously returned the loyal salutations that greeted her on every side . The stay of the Court at Osborne is expected to

continue for two or three weeks . The King of the Belgians returned home via Dover on Tuesday . Prince Alfred has gone on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham . IMPEEIAL PAELIAJIENT . —In the HOUSE OI ? LOEDS on Thursday , April 1-lth , the Punishment of Rape Bill passed through committee—an amendment by Lord Wensleydale , rendering the

measure compulsory instead of optional , having first been agreed to . —The Improvement of Land Act ( 1864 ) Bill was read a second , time . On Friday Lord Lucan called attention to the fact that in the present year some 10 , 000 soldiers would be entitled to their discharge , ancl about 8 , 000 next year . This was a serious prospect ; and he wished to know what steps the

Government intended to take to avert such a heavy depletion of the army . Lord De Grey , relying upon past experience , calculated that 6 , 000 out of the 10 , 000 whose period of service expired this year , would re-enlist . He proposed to give an additional £ 1 to men who re-enlisted . After a few remarks from

Lord Dalhousie , the subject dropped . ——On Monday Lord Derby called attention to the experiments with the Mackay gun , and observed that if the results obtained were accurately stated in the newspaper reports , the weapon would prove a formidable rival to the guns of Sir XV . Armstrong and Mr . "Whitworth . Lord De Grey said the report handed in by the officer sent down specially to watch the trials confirmed the

accuracy of the newspaper accounts , but the experiments could not as yet be considered conclusive . A conversation followed , in the course of which the Armstrong gun was condemned by several Peers , ancl the Duke of Somerset could only reply that his department was in a fog on the subject . —Lord Granville made a statement in defence of Mr . Lowe ; and , some other

business having been disposed of , the House adjourned . On Tuesday Earl Russell , in reply to the Earl of Malmesbury , said no answer had yet been received from Berlin in reference to the bombardment of Sonclerboi-g , and probably no answer would he given on the ground that a neutral Power had no right to ask a question on the subject . He strongly condemned the

bombardment . —The Earl of Clarendon , in reference to the departure of Garibaldi , denied that any representations had been made to him by the Emperor of the French on the subject . On the contrary , that potentate had admitted the propriety of the reception given to Garibaldi in England . No concessions whatever had been asked for on the subject . —The Land Securities

Company Bill was read a second time after some discussion . In the HOUSE or COMMONS on Thursday , the 14 th inst ., Colonel Barttelot moved that the consideration of the duties upon sugar be postponed until the House should have had tho opportunity

of considering the expediency of the reduction of the duty upon malt . The hon . and gallant member deprecated the discussion of tbe question from a party point of view , but frankly avowed that his object was to take a portion of the surplus revenue which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had at his disposal , and apply it to the reduction of the malt tax instead of the sugar duties . He contended that the malt tax was opposed to the principles of free trade , ancl reminded the House that both Sir Robert Peel and Mr . Cobtlen had admitted that if the corn

laws were repealed the malt tax could no longer be maintained . He believed that a remission of the duty would bo a great boon not only to the consumers of beer , but also to the growers of malt . Mr . Cobbett seconded the motion . After a long discussion , the motion was negatived by 347 to 99 . The House then went into committee of ways ancl means , ancl agreed to the amended resolutions ofthe Chancellor of the Exchequer relating

to the sugar duties , as also those continuing the duty on tea , altering the duty on corn , and continuing tho income tax at Qd . The propositions relating- to stamp duties ancl licenses to sell tea were also agreed to . On Friday , Mr . Hennessy gave notice of a motion , affirming that England is no longer bound to recognise the sovereignty of Russia in Poland ; and Mr .

Kinglake announced his intention of moving an amendment on Mr . Bernal Osborne ' s resolution on the affairs of Denmark . — Mr . Disraeli pointed out that " contrary to the provisions of the act of Parliament regulating these matters , " there was five Under Secretaries of State iu the House of Commons , or one more than the legal number . Lord Palmerston

declined to go into the subject . —In reply to a question , Sir George Grey said he intended to bring in a bill to amend some of the details of the Highways Act . —Mr . W . E . Forsterwho complained that the trade of England with foreign nations suffered from the imperfect arrangements of the two departments , which ought to take every opportunity to facilitate the development of English commerce with other countries—moved that a Select Committee bo appointed to inquire into the whole subject . The motion was agreed to , after a long discussion , in

which Mr . Milner Gibson , Mr . Layard , Lord Stanley , Mr . Cobden , and other members took part . On Monday a discussion took place on the curious point raised by Mr . Disraeli respecting the presence of five Under Secretaries of State in the House . Legally only four such officials can hold seats in the House of Commons , ancl it was afterwards decided to appoint a Select Committee " to consider whether the Under Secretary of State

last appointed to office has vacated his seat . " The Under Secretary last appointed was the Marquis of Hartington . —Mr Lowe entered into a statement explanatory of his conduct with reference to tbe alleged mutilation of the school inspectors' reports , and his explanation appears to have satisfied Lord R . Cecil ancl Mr . Disraeli that be was entirely innocent of tho

charges preferred against him . Lord Palmerston gave notice that on Thursday he should move for a Select Committee to inquire into the matter . Ou Tuesday Mr . D . Griffith , alluding to tbe rumours as to the political reasons for Garibaldi leaving England , asked if there were any truth in them . Lord Palmerston , in reply , made a statement similar to that made

in the House of Lords by Lord Clarendon , ancl added that he believed it was solely from considerations as to his health that Garibaldi was shortening his visit to this country . —Mr . B . Osborne called attention to the effect of our policy in Denmark ancl the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein . Ho attributed the whole of the confusion which had arisen to the Treaty of

1852-concocted by the present Premier . That treaty had made away with the rights of an ancient people and of an hereditary duke . In making the treaty the noble lord had