16 DECEMBER 1854, Page 2

The Parliamentary proceedings constitute almost the entire news of the

week ; though affairs of course are going on in the other parts of the world. The siege at Sebastopol proceeds, or was pro- ceeding late in November; but we have nothing fresh to report upon it. Intrigues go on in Germany, as a matter of course ; and an Opposition begins to show itself in the Prussian Chambers, nibbling at the foreign policy : but there is no great fact. Minis- terial crises still alternate with Ministerial reestablishments in Spain ; and Senor Cellado is said to have been able to raise the wind—which is a great fact.

The news is not new : we have the text of the Austrian treaty, and know what the three Powers have really agreed to do. It is not unsatisfactory in itself. They have agreed upon the object of the war—the reestablishment of general peace secured against disturbance—as a " common" object ; they have agreed to hold council in common, to make no terms with Russia except in com- mon; a month after the exchange of ratifications, if the general peace be not restored, they will deliberate on effective measures to be taken in pursuit of the common object; and if those measures bring war upon Austria, the treaty becomes one offensive and de- fensive. Virtually, the joint action begins at once. At home, we have our dozen of elections more or less approach- ing completion ; some few Members have been taking their places in the House of Commons, without any pitbability that they will materially modify the tone of the debate or the resolutions ; while an expectant public is looking forward to Monday or Tuesday for the solution of the great Marylebone question, whether it shall be Ebrington or Bell.