The Week.

23 rd inst . He at once said that as he should not sit boyond that day it would be no use his going on with the case , Throughout the country there is the strongest feeling that -the proper course to pursue would be to dissolve Parliament . Already numerous meetings are arranged for , at which doubtless this view of the case will be insisted upon . A messenger

from the Government left for Balmoral on the 19 th inst . It is said that not improbably her Majesty will immediately return to London . The minutes of the evidence taken during the Jamaica inquiry were published on ~ the 20 th hist . in a ponderous Blue-book , containing upwards of a thousand pages . Every question and answer is given , to the number of

nearly fifty thousand . The appendix contains the military and naval despatches which Mr . Bright asked for some time ago , but could not obtain . In tbe Court of Chancery further progress was made with the suit instituted by Bishop Colenso against Mr . Gladstone and others to enforce the payment of his salary out of the Colonial Bishoprics Fund . The

Attorney-General contended that there never was a legally-constituted bishopric of Natal , and that therefore Dr . Colenso's claim necessarily fell to the ground . The case had not concluded when the Court rose . A young man , a school teacher , named Wilhelin Goergs , has been brought up at Brighton charged with having written a letter to Count von Bismarck

threatening to kill him . The letter was read in Court . It promised death to the Count , and warned him that he would not be missed again as he was by Ferdinand Blind . The magistrates committed the prisoner for trial . FOREIGN I NTELHOEXOE . —Events thicken on the continent of Europe . The Federal Diet has , by a majority of nine votes to six , adopted the proposition of Austria , and ordered the mobilisation of tbe Federal forces . All the large States voted with

Austria . Thus the division shows on the one side Austria , Bavaria , Saxony , Hanover , Wnrtemberg , Electoral Hesse , Hesse Darmstadt , Nassau , and the 16 th Curie , which embraces Lichtenstein , Waldeck , Reuss-Greiz , Reuss-Schleiz , Schaumburg-Lippe , Lippe-Detmold , and Hesse-Homboui-g . On the other side were Prussia , Luxemburg and Limburg , the 14 th Curie ( embracing Meeklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenbnrg-Strelitz ) ,

the 15 th Curie ( embracing Oldenburg , Anhalt , Schwaraburg-Sondershausen , and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt ) , and the 17 th Curie ( embracing the four free cities of Lubeck , Frankfort , Bremen , and Hamburg ) . The Prussian representative at once put in force the threat of bis Government , and declared tbe Federal Pact dissolved . He proposed the formation of a new

Federal Bund , and then left the Diet . The Austrian representative insisted that the Pact could not be dissolved , and asked the Diet to make a declaration to that effect . The Diet at once complied . Thus , then , there is war between Prussia and Austria ; and , if Prussia carries out her threats , war between herself and the States which voted with

Austria . Those who believe that , spite of these things , peace is possible , should read the speech of the Emperor of Austria to a deputation from the Viennese municipality . " I have done everything , " said he , " to preserve the peace and liberty of Germany ; but it ha . s been impossible in all quarters for me to do so . This is the most arduous period I have

experienced since my accession to the throne . I now resort to the sword , with confidence in God , my good right , my valiant army , and the co-operation of my faithful subjects . " That is a declaration of war to all intents and purposes ; and we may expect at every moment to hear that the first blow has been struck . ——A telegram informs U 3 that the letter of the Emperor Napoleon has been most favourably received at Florence . It

would be strange if the case had been otherwise ; for it is clear that whoever may suffer from the action of France it will not be Italy . In the Corps Legislatif , in reply to M . M . Garnier-Pages , Rouher severely condemned the bombardment of Valparaiso by the Spaniards , and intimated that the great Powers might demand of Spain compensation for the damage she had

done to the property of their subjects in Vnlparaiso . La France , in a qualified manner , denies the truth of the report that tho Emperor Maximilian has made up his mind to abdicate . The CznrewUch has arrived at Copenhagen . His special object is probably to visit the Princess Dagniar , who was to have been the bride of his brother , and who is now

not unlikely to be bethrothed to him . Although we have not at this time news of any conflict having taken place , the war on tho continent of Europe ha 3 fairly begun . Prussia has shown how perfectly prepared she was for war by at once striking blows at the States which voted with Austria at the Federal Diet . Prussian troops have marched

into Hanover and into Saxony . The Prussians appear to have entered Hanover from two points . One detachment has come from Holstein by way of Harbnrg , and another from Minden in the Rhenish Provinces . The Hanoverian troops under this stress are retiring towards GSttingen , where they hope to make a junction with the Austrian Ivalik brigade and the Bavarian

army . This will altogether make up a respectable force . But most likely it will be in Saxony that thefirstblow will be struck if Benedek does not make a descent on Silesia . The Austrian 3 are said to have already entered Saxony in force , and it may be that we shall soon hear of another battle of Leipsic . A very doubtful authority—the Patrie —publishes a report that the Italian army has made a move on the Mincio . The Constitutiomiel ventures upon an explanation of the letter of tha

Emperor JNapoleon . It insists that when tho Emperor spoke of the equilibrium of Europe being disturbed , be did not allude to any natural or legitimate annexations of territory , such as Venetia to Italy , or Savoy to France . What he meant was that the equilibrium of Europe would be disturbed if either Austria or Prussia should absorb tbe whole of Germany . That would no doubt be a

disturbance of the European equilibrium as it is now understood but we are disposed to think that even a less disturbance will be found to be excuse enough for France to acquire more territory . A telegaam from Copenhagen informs us that an offensive and defensive treaty of alliance has been concluded between S-veden , Norway , and Denmark . The

reconstruction of the Italian ministry has been entrusted to Baron Ricasoli , who , it is believed , will assume the functions of President of the Council and Minister of the Interior . The Federal Diet has shown that its sympathies are thoroughly with Austria . By a majority of ten to five it was resolved that the motion of Saxony for assistance from Austria and

Bavaria should be acceded to . Hanover declared that she should side with Austria in the war , and Baden voted with the majority . The representative of Luxembourg declared that the Netherlands would remain neutral , a decision which was protested against by the President . Prince Charles of Bavaria is to be Commander-in-Chief of the Federal forces .

We received a summary of a manifesto which it is said the Emperor of Austria either has issued or is about to issue to his people . He maintains that he is attacked without provocation by Italy and Prussia , that he has used every endeavour to maintain peace without avail , and that now he has taken to the sword he will not lay it down until the integrity of Austria i 3 secure from all attacks , the Confederate States of Germany have