NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE Ministerial plan for the extinction of Slavery in the Co- lonies, the outlines of which we published last week, was de- veloped by Mr. STANLEY on Tuesday, in a very long speech.

The House of Commons agreed to the resolutions which he pro- posed, without a division; upon the express understanding, how- ever, that the members were not pledged thereby to sanction any of the details of the measure. It is remarkable that the only de- cided. oppoSition that manifested itself, came from the son of the Premier: Lord HowIcx took the first opportunity of declaring his disapprobation of this elaborate plan of his father's Govern- ment.. The further discussion of the question was postponed to the 30th instant ; and it is generally understood that nothing More will be done upon it during the present session. Sufficient time will thus be allowed for giving this important subject the full consideration which it demands.

. Earl FITZWILLIAM'S resolutions for the revision of the Corn- laws were disposed of in the House of Lords on Tuesday, in a most summary manner. The Earl of RIPON Made a speech, which was intended, we presume, as an answer to • the very able and well- considered. arguments arguments of Lord FITZWILLIAM in exposure of the injurious operation of the present system. Perhaps a more com-

plete failure was never exhibited by a shallow talker, even in the House of Peers. But there was no need of facts or arguments to induce the great majority of the assembly whom he was addres-

sing to reject propositions having any ter.slency to lower rents. Earl FITZWILLIAM did not attempt to deny, that, to a certain ex-

tent, the Corn-laws exclusively benefited the landlord; but he proved to demonstration, that the advantage which he derived from the monopoly bore no kind of proportion to the amount of injury which it inflicted upon the rest of the community. Still, how- ever, the stubborn fact that the abolition of the Corn-monopoly would cause, for a time at least, a fall in the rent of land, could not be got over ; and after a few words from that sapient legis- lator the Earl of WINCHILSEA, the resolutions were put and negatived; and we presume their Lordships will not be bored again with this disagreeable topic during the present session.

The same subject was brought under discussion in the Com- mons last night, by Mr. WOLRYCHE WHITMORE; who moved

two resolutions,—to the effect, that the present system of ever- varying duties was injurious to the trade and general prosperity of the country, conferring no permanent benefit even on agricultu- rists; and that it would be advisable to substitute a moderate duty, fixed at all periods except those of extreme dearth. Mr. Hustz wished to simplify the question, by proposing that all sorts of corn, grain, meal, and flour, should be admitted at all times on

payment of a fixed duty. This amendment was subsequently withdrawn and Mr. WHITMORE'S resolutions were negatived by a majority of305 to 106. Lord ALTHORP expressed his disapprobation

of the present system of Corn-laws; but argued, that while so many exciting subjects occupied the Minds of the public and the time of the House, it was ill-judged to attempt to alter or improve it. This is

Nit another mode of proclaiming the negligence or incapacity of our rulers. If the Ministry were prepared to transact their part of the

business, the House would find time to attend to their propositions. The excuse is'such as never can be wanting to the Government of any country who:se cOncerns are as vast and extended as ours. We shall always have exciting-and important topics to discuss, but hone, perhaps, which require speedy settlement more imperatively than,thia deferred; one of the Corn-monopoly.:

Sir ANDREW .AGNEW'S Sabbath-observance-Bill has been re- jected, by a. slender majority. The numbers were 79 to 73 against the secOnd reading. , The attempt Will be renewed, we have no doubt, during the 'next session. The subject is in the hands of a 'plass of persons who are never vanipished by one defeat. ' The -single combat between Sir ROBERT PEEL and Mr. CDEBISIr. was decided on Thursday, in favour of the former. This result might have been anticipated ; for, even on equal gr3und, Mr. CORBETT is no match for Sir ROBERT as a debater; and on this occasion, no man could possibly have taken up a more disadvan- tageous position. By way of • inducing the House to address-the King to strike Sir ROBERT PEEL'S name off the list of Privy Councillors, Mr. COBBETT went over, for the twentieth time, the

worn-out, and now almost nauseating subject of the Currency, and

the bill of 1819. Nothing could be more triumphant than Sir ROBERT'S reply, or more effective than the castigation which he lavishly bestowed upon the aggressor in the strife. The opportu- nity to show off was the grand incentive to the exertions of both speakers; but Sir ROBERT was decidedly the better showman of the two; arid talked; as usual, of himself, and his family-his father's talents and low origin—with well-acted humility. When Mr. COBBETT rose to reply to a speech more full of fierce persona- lities than any which we recollect to have 'read; the House: coughed, yelled, and groaned at him, like a Covent Garden' mob which Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE is attempting in vain to conciliate:: Such conduct did Mr. COBBETT no harm, while it certainly (lid the House no good. The motion was rejected by 298 to 4; and sub- sequently, on the motion of Lord ALTHORP, every trace of -the proceedings was erased from the minutes of the House, by the vote of a majority of 295 to 4. The House could little afford the waste of time which this ill- judged debate occasioned. On the preceding evening, only 3.9 mem- bers were present at seven o'clock ; and an adjournment conSes, quently took place. Several important motions, and among them one for the repeal of the House and Window tax were thus laid on the shelf. Our Ministers are becoming quite adroit in the. per- formance of Parliamentary manmuvres, and our Representatives discover an unworthy alacrity to second them. Great exertions, we understand, were made on Wednesday night to induce mem- bers not to attend to their duty. This is the third time within a fortnight that the requisite number of forty members has not been mustered out of 658. The session, it is plain, will close with is great an arrear of business as ever was left unaccom- plished by the Rotten Borough Parliaments of former days. The Committee which sat upon the Warwick Election petition has reported against the return of Sir CHARLES GREVILLE, which is declared to have been obtained by means of gross bribery. The evidence is ordered to be printed, and the issue of the new writ is suspended for the present. It is some consolation, at any rate, to have the result of the Hertford and Warwick petitions as a set-off against the triumphs of corruption at Liverpool, Norwich, and

Bristol. •