POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
The week, not remarkable for striking incidents or unlooked-for news, closes much as it began. One novelty, indeed, is this morning reported. For some time there has been a cessation of those frequent Cabinet Councils that marked the six weeks before Christmas. They have now been resumed—reminding us that Parliament is close at hand. The announcement is curious
" A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury Downing Street. The Ministers present were the Lord Chancellor, Earl 'Granville, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Honourable R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Honourable M. T. Baines."
From this it would appear that not only Lord Panmure, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and the Earl of Ilarrowby were absent, but Lord Palmerston himself.
And another novelty is mentioned in our Money-market report—an unexpected raising of thereto of discount at the Bank of England.
More Anti-Income-tax meetings have taken place. The Vestry of St. Pancras met yesterday, and resolved that "the income-tax on trades and professions is alike odious, inquisitorial, tyrannical, and unjust." They appointed a committee to labour for its "unconditional repeal." A. meeting held in the Royal British Institution, Finsbury, adopted resolutions in favour of an immediate reduction" and an " equitable adjustment" of the tax on trades and professions. A meeting held in Newcastle on Thursday, the Mayor presiding, denounced the tax altogether, and advocated a property tax ; while a similar meeting at Bristol, held yesterday, limited its opposition to "the war ninepence.
The electors of Salford have fixed on Mr. Edward Ityle Langworthy, merchant, who has twice been Mayor, to succeed Mr. Brotherton in the representation of the borough. No opposition is anticipated.
Foreign news comes in fragments. It is reported from Constantinople, that "the Russians have occupied some islands in the Balkhan Gulf, on the Turcoman coast of the Caspian."
Spain is unquiet. Catalonia is seething with disaffection, and the Queen is said to have sharply rebuked the Ministry for permitting its continuance. General Prim is in trouble : in consequence of a letter published against the authorities of Catalonia, he has been arrested and sent to Toledo. On the other hand, "tranquillity has been reestablished in Valeneia,"—which, nevertheless, is under martial law.
Mr. Charles M. Willich, the eminent actuary, writes to us—."As many of your readers may feel anxious to know the result of the corn averages for the seven years to Christmas last, published by authority in the London Gazette of this evening, viz.— Wheat 6 111 per imperial bushel, Barley 3 11 ditto, Oats 2 9 ditto,
I beg to state, for their information, that each 100/. of tithe rent-charge will, for the year 1857, amount to 99/. 138. 714, which is a little more than 51 per cent above the last year's value."
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