POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

The proceedings in Parliament last night were more than usually varied, but not equally interesting.

In the House of Lords the Government of India Bill (No. 3) was read a first time; Thursday fixed for the second reading and Friday for the committee. [Nearly at the end of the sitting in the other House Lord Pamatnitsrox withdrew his Government of India Bill. He made a short speech on the occasion ; taking care to point out that the members of the present Government, although when in Opposition they had opposed legislation upon India, had, when they entered office, handsomely and creditably adopted the measure of their predecessors. The ma- chinery of the present bill has been altered and modified " from time to time," but many of its clauses are word for word, and many are sub- stantially the same, as those in the bill he then withdrew. Ho might say that this great measure was a legacy of the late Government. No comment was made upon this little speech.] Lord TRURO, admitting that the question of the slave-trade blockade had entered upon a new phase, inquired whether it was true that the Government intended to withdraw the squadrons from Cuba and the coast of Africa ?

The Earl of MALMTSBUP.Y said there is no difference in the feeling throughout the land with respect to the great importance of endeavour- ing to keep down, and if possible to abolish the traffic.

" With this impression, under the present circumstances of the case, we

have thought it more prudent, at length, to remove from the Cuban waters the squadron there stationed to keep down the slave-trade ; but we have no intention to remove the squadron from the African coast. After all the sacrifices made by this country I think it would be a most deplorable act for any Government to give up. the principle of repression, or to discontinue our efforts en the coast of Attica. That squadron, so far from being useless, has been most successful in obtaining the end for which it was placed there. During the Russian was we were obliged to reduce the squadron very con- siderably, and the moment our cruisers were withdrawn the trade sprang up again with great activity. Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, no intention to withdraw the African squadron, although they have given orders to diminish the squadron in the Cuban waters."

In the House of Commons Mr. Cox moved a resolution declaring that the cost of purifyins. the Thames should be borne in equal proportions by the ratepayers of the Metropolis and the Consolidated Fund ; and General THOMPSON seconded the motion. Mr. BENTINCK opposed the motion. Every town in the country has to pay the expense of its own cleansing. The demand came with a bad grace from London which enjoys tha advantage of a large influx of visitors from all parts of the kingdom. Mr. DL'NCOMBE retorted that as Parliament and the State contributed to the stench, surely they ought to contribute towards the purification of the river. Sir GEORGE LEWIS objected to the resolution that it was ir- regular. All money-grants ought to be preceded by a recommendation from the Crown. The SPEAKER, however, decided that the resolution was not informal as it was only the expression of an opinion. Mr. Ms- RAELI hoped the motion would be withdrawn. The Government intend, early next week, to bring in a bill for insuring the purification of the Thames. Motion negatived.

Various questions were put on the motion for the adjournment of the House until Monday. Mr. EWART inquired whether a Minister of Jus- tice would be appointed. Mr. CHARLES FORSTER, dwelling on the in- convenience of holding the sittings of the House in the summer, suggested that there should be an autumn and a spring session. Sir JOHN TRELAWNY desired to know what the Government would do with the church-rate question. Lord ELCHO preferred complaints, derived from the newspapers, that the soldiers in India are imperfectly and im- properly clothed, and that their rifle ammunition is defective. These questions were dealt with by General PEEL; Lord STANLEY and Mr. DISRAELI. As to a Minister of Justice, Mr. DISRAELI will be pre- pared to act in accordance with the resolution of the House when the Go- vernment is supplied with a satisfactory definition of the duties of such an officer. As to the sittings of the House the proposal of Mr. Forster is plausible. In theory he could not object to it, but there arc valid arguments against adopting so great an alteration at once. A measure upon church- rates Mr. Disraeli could not promise this session, but "next session " the Government will bring in a bill which he hoped and believed would be a satisfactory solution of the question. In answer to the complaints regarding military arrangements in India, General PEEL said that all the light clothing is supplied in that country, and he had no report upon what has been done. A large• quantity of boots and shoes had been sent out from this country, and he could not understand how the men of any regiment could be without them. Lord STANLEY said that if any of our troops are without light clothing those who are in direct command are responsible rather than the authorities at home or the East India Company. As to the Enfield rifle ammunition supplied to the troops, there is no doubt that some part of it was found very defective. instructions were sent out on the 8th of last month to inquire minutely into these defects, and, as far as possible, to amend them. Skilled workmen were sent out from England, and machinery has also been forwarded by which defective bullets, either of too large or not the proper shape, could be made fit for use.

The remainder of business consisted of proceedings in Committee of Supply. The vote of 83,7301. for the Department of Science and Art, raised some discussion. Mr. HOPE objected to the remote situation of the South Kensington—" the proper name of the place being Brompton" —Museum ; and Lord ELCHO, while defending the expenditure of the money, complained that a spirit and beer licence had been taken out for the institution at Kensington. If they made a publican of Mr. Cole, why should they not do the same for Sir William Hooker at Kew, whose visitors travel further than Mr. Cole's and stand more in need of refreshment. The vote was defended by Mr. COWPER; Mr. CARDWELL; Mr. ADDERI.EY, and Mr. Winsosr. The experiment has worked satis- factorily. The stimulus afforded to the schools has taken effect, and they are now gradually becoming more self-supporting. Since the schools of design were instituted our exports of porcelain and other articles of taste to France have largely increased.

The main discussion took place on the vote of 223,0001. for public 'education in Ireland. Mr. Cliannas Buxrox took a survey of the state of education in Ireland, and complained that the pledge enforced by the National Society upon patrons as a condition of receiving help---that no child should receive religious teaching to which its parents ob-

bejected—shut out something like 100,000 children from the benefit of being educated in the National Schools. The object for which the pledge was established—the combined education of Protestant and Catholic children—has not been accomplished; and the pledge, though potent for evil, is impotent for good. Mr. MAGUIRE; admitting that the education conferred by the National Society is a "priceless blessing," discovered in its working a tendency to undermine the faith of the Roman Catholic children, and objected to the numbers of Protestants as compared with Roman Catholics who constitute the Board. The administration of the Board was defended by Mr. Sergeant DEASY ; who said he would support it with all its defects until some better system is established. He could not join in the accusations brought against it by Mr. Maguire. Mr. LEPROY; on behalf of the Church Education Society, said that all they asked was that in every school where the Bible was taught the National Board should, without asking any question, allow a portion of the grant. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that 600,000 children are enjoying the inestimable benefits of a sound education under the present system. The House of Commons must not halt between two distinct systems of education for Ireland. They must either maintain the existing mixed system in all its essential features, or adopt the separate system which prevailed in Eng- land, and for his own part he believed the former was that which was best adapted to the wants of the Irish people. Mr. Wenrons said he never would do anything to disturb the principles of the National system of education. If it were possible to devise a scheme by which those who did not now participate in the grant should be able to do so for the fa. ture, he would never propose any modification which should interfere either with the rights of conscience or with parental control. Mr. HORSMAN said he was glad to hear that the Government would assent to no modifications of the present system which would interfere with the rights of conscience and parental authority. He hoped it would be understood that, so far from an exclusion of the Scriptures being made a condition, great pains had been taken to encourage the patrons of the schools in allowing the Scriptures to be read at reasonable hours, the only limitation being the 15th rule, which declared that patrons, mana- gers, and teachers should not induce children to attend religious instruc- tion contrary to the wishes of their parents.

After some further debate the vote was agreed to.

On the vote of 300/. for the royal Hibernian Academy, Lord Henn, Mr. ARTHUR KINNAIRD; and others, objected that living models should be paid for out of the public money. It demoralizes the humbler classes of society. It was proposed to reduce the vote by 280/. ; but the mo- tion was negatived by 148 to 24.

The vote of 2500/. for the theological professors at Belfast was opposed by Mr. CROSSLEY, but carried by 122 to 24.

A full report of the speeches delivered at the dinner of the Trinity House Corporation, on the 3d instant, has made its appearance. The Prince Consort was in the chair, as Master. Speeches were made by him, and by Lord Chelmsford, Sir James Graham, Mr. Henley, Sir Stephen Lushington, and Mr. Disraeli. In proposing the health of " the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family," the Prince Consort made some statements of historic interest. He said-

" Since I last attended the Elder Brethren in this room, it has pleased Almighty God to remove from among us the last of the children of King George the Third, the revered and beloved Duchess of Gloucester ; the Quoin has had another daughter born to her ; and our eldest child, united to the husband of her own choice and who is in every way, worthy of her, has left us for a distant country. I was happy to meet her the other day, and to find. her in the possession of every domestic blessing. (Loud cheers.) The in- terest and sympathy so universally shown by the people of this country in that marriage could not but be highly gratifying to the feelings of her pa- rents." (Cheers.) Last night there was a fete at Cremorne Gardens for the "nobility and gentry " alone. This " exclusive" entertainment has provoked much wit, and some sharp discussions in the newspapers. The price of admission was half-a-guinea, the test of fitness a place on the visiting lists of the lady patronesses. The funds were to go to some charity, and 3000 tickets were sold. Cremorne was beautified for its select revellers ; there were profuse illuminations, an abundance of flowers, real plate from Hancock's. But the weather spoiled all the anticipatedenjoyment. The rain poured down, and prevented the pleasure-hunters from engaging in any of the out-door amusements practicable at Cremorne. Nevertheless 2000 persons were present ; and it is reported that "they toiled to secure an evening's pleasure with a zeal worthy of a higher cause." But the fete was a failure.

Dr. Sadleir, one of the Senior Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, has committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree in the garden of his brother's house at Castleknock. He had been for some time in a depressed condition. His loss is generally lamented, for he was an amiable and esti- mable man. A Coroner's Jury has found that ho died while labouring under an attack of temporary insanity.