The Week.

Seymour Fitzgerald called attention to the Federal consular agents declining to grant clearances without a bond to the effect that no portion of the cargo was intended for the use of the Confederate States . Lord Palmerston said this practice was inconsistent with international law and the treaty rights of this country , and the Federal government had promised to put

an end to it . From representations which had been recently made to the Government , he feared that such bonds were still required , but ho trusted that when the matter was again brought under the notice of Mr . Seward , effectual steps would be taken to stop these proceedings . —Mr . Darby Griffith moved a resolution in favour of the reduction of tbe stamp duty on proxy

voting papers ; but the hon . gentleman withdrew his motion upon receiving an assurance from Mr . Gladstone that any evidence of an extensive desire for a reduction of the present charge would be followed by an effort on the part of the Government to meet , as far as possible , the wishes of those interested in the matter . —Mr . Berkeley moved a resolution declaring

that the grievances suffered by Mr . Bewicke , of Threepwood , in Northumberland , entitled that gentleman to the consideration of Her Majesty ' s Government . Mr . Bewicke , it may he remembered was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment for an alleged attempt to shoot some sheriff ' s officers . After a time it was shown that he had been the victim of a conspiracy , and a

free pardon Avas granted him . During the time he was in prison bis property was escheated to , and sold by , the Commissioners for Greenwich Hospital . On his liberation , the Commissioners handed over to him the sum for which his property had been sold—as Mr . Berkeley alleged—for less than a fourth of its value . Sir George Grey said nothing could be done in this case in tho way of compensation , but he admitted " that it might be a matter for future consideration whether a person convicted and

subsequently pardoned might not be placed in a more favourable position . " Some discussion followed , and , on a division , Mr . Berkeley ' s motion was lost by the narrow majority of two . — The House was occupied on AVednesday in pushing forward several measures . The Statute Law Revision Bill passed through committee , after a stout opposition from Mr . Hennessy . The

British Columbia Boundaries Bill was read a second time , and the Appropriation Bill passed through committee . —The Augmentation of Benfices Bill was being discussed in committee at a quarter to six o'clock , when the Chairman was ordered to report progress . GENEEAL Hojre NEWS . —The mortality of London continues

to be rapidly on the increase . The number of deaths last week amounted to 1364 , Avhich was 100 more than the deaths of the previous week , and that again showed an increase of 100 over the week that went before it . The deaths were also 141 above the ten years' average , chiefly arising from causes of diarrhcea and summer cholera , and of the victims by far the larger

number were infants . The births , during the week were 1110—the ten years' average is 1803 . At the weekly meeting of the Central Relief Committee , a report was presented from the Executive Committee , giving a statement of the present condition of the distressed districts , and throwing out valuable suggestions for tbe future guidance of those who have voluntarily

undertaken the arduous task of mitigating the force of the calamity which has overtaken so many thousands of our operatives . We gather from the report that the number of persons dependent upon the poor rates and the relief funds has been reduced nearly one half since December last . This result is owing to the temporary revival of the cotton trade , to the improvement in out-door labour , and to a careful revision of the relief lists . On Saturday a large number of tbe members of the both Houses of Parliament assembled in the tea-room of

the House of Commons , to meet the chairman of the Metropolitan Board of AA orks and the engineer , in order to proceed with them on an inspection of the outfalls of sewers provided hy the great main drainage scheme . They embarked at the Speaker ' s stairs on board a steamer , and proceeded to Crossness Point , in the Eritb marshes , when Mr . Bazalgette , the engineer , explained

to them the system adopted for disemboguing the southern drainage into the Thames . They then proceeded across the river to Barking , where in like manner be explained the scheme of the northern outfalls . Here tho works are so far in operation that the contents of the high-level sewer were for the first time allowed to run through the outfall direct into the river .

Mr . Bazalgette assured the company that in the course of the next twelve months tbe whole sewers of the southern drainage Avould be in operation , and that in tbe course of about twoyears and a half from this time the Thames embankment on thenorth Avould be completed , and the drainage of London perfected . . Friday , 17 th , was the last day of the Wimbledon

competition , and not Ibe least interesting . Among other features of attraction was the concluding shots for the decision of the match between the English and Scotch marksmen , with , respect to which the excitement manifested on Thursday was , if possible , heightened . Every shot was watched by a host of excited eager spectators ; every hit called

forth rounds of applause , while the few misses or indifferent shots produced almost as much dismay as if they bad hit the lookers-on . At last , after a gallantly contested struggle , fortune declared in favour of the- English , who won the match by S 3 points . On Saturday a review of several of the Metropolitan corps by the Duke of Cambridge , and a sham fight , wound up the proceedings . The whole affair was most successful . Theweath er cleared up , and a bright , clear evening followed the

cloudy and rainy morning . Favoured in this way , the spectacle was a pleasure alike for the actors and the spectators . The presentation of the pvizes ^ to the winners took place on Monday in the Crystal Palace . His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge occupied the chair , and handed the prizes to the successful competitors , who passed across the stage at the foot

of tbe Handel Orchestra , as their names were called hy Lord Elcho . About 12 , 000 persons witnessed the interesting but not very impressive ceremony . There was an interesting scene at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday . Some thousands of the charityschool children of London Avere gathered in the great orchestra , and sang a number of pieces very creditably . Unfortunately

the afternoon was wet ; but this did not prevent the yougsfers from enjoying themselves after the concert right heartily . An Irish schoolmaster , named Lyons , who on Friday night iveek was travelling , to London by the Liverpool and Manchester train ivhich reaches Euston Square at nine o'clock , suddenly attacked two men who were travelling in the same compartment

of a second-class carriage with hiui . He stabbed one of them very severely in the forehead , aud in the struggle which took place all three had their hands cut by the knife ,, which was finally wrested from the apparently insane schoolmaster . Tbe attack was made near Bletcbley , in Bucks , and it . Avas not until the train had arrived at Camden Town that the

occupants of the carriage Avere able to communicate with the police or the railway officials . This is another of those cases which give force to the suggestions that have repeatedly been made as to the importance of placing every carriage of a railway train in communication with the guard . Some time ago , a Mr . Powell , a coal owner , and one of the richest men in the

midland counties , died , Avhen it was discovered that his will had beeu stolen . Every effort Avas made for the recovery , but in . vain , till an anonymous letter was sent to his widow , offering to