ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS. In the House of Peers, on

Monday, the Duke of ARGYLL, Lord Steward, read the following answer to the address of the Lords.

VICTORIA R.

44 1 have received with lively sstisfaction your dutiful and affectionate address. Tbe sot row you have expressed for the death of the late King and the testimony you have borne it. his virtues entirely accord with my own feelings. "I return you my thanks for the assurance of your loyal attachment to my person, and I fervently join in your prayer that Almighty God may strengthen and direct toy councils. '

On Tuesday, Lord JOHN RUSSELL reported the following answer to the Address of the Commons.

• " VICTORIA 11T.GINA. • "I have received, with the most sincere satisfaction, the loyal and dutiful address of the }louse of Commons, with the assurance of their great grief at eke lose the nation has sustained in the demise of his late Majesty. The ex- pectations that I have always entertained have been realized by that address; and it wid be the study of my life to preserve the libel ties and maintain the glory of this great country. I receive with great satisfaction your loyal and dutiful adiliess, in which you state you will without delay proceed to the coo- aideratiou of such measures sod make such provision as the public serene may require."

THE FORGERY BILL, OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON, ROBBERY AND STEALING FltOM THE PERSON, BURGLARY AND STEALING FROM THE PERSON, PIRACY, BURNING AND DESTROYING BUILDINGS AND SHIPS, TRANSPORTATION FOR LIFE AND PUNISHMENT OF DEATH BILLs, all Went through the Committees on Tuesday. On Thursday, they were read a third time, passed, and sent up to the Lords.

Tim SUGAR-DUTIES BILL wern through the Committee; and the House in Copmittee resolved that a duty of 24s. a hundredweight should be laid on all beet-root sugar manufactured at home.

CONDUCT OF MAGISTRATES, Mr. HAWES, on Monday, called the attention of Lord John Russell to the conduct of a Police-Magistrate al London, charged with committing an assault when in a state of in- toxication. and to the case of a gentleman bailed on a capital charge by another Magistrate. Had Lord Joint tak-ti any proceedings in these .eases to protect the public? Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied, that he bad made ingairies as to the first ; but, tindieg that it would be the subject of an action in a court of justice, thought it would be unfair to state auy thing further with respect to it at present. As to the second charge, which related to the dela( ing of a statue Sir Frederic Roe had admitted the prisoner to bail on being satisfied ;hat he would appear to take his trial; which was a very common proceeding under such ch.- eumstances. Mr. HUME asked if the same party had not forfeited his recognizance% in Leicestershire ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL was not aware that he had.

THE COMMITTEE ON CHURCH LEASER was nominated on Monday ; I -and in reply to a question from Mr. GOULBURN, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that he wished the Committee to be appointed in order to save some measure would rot be ultimately adopted. It did appear to him net:es.

Ohne.

wiry that *bete should be a Committee appointed at once, so that they might and the attention which hal been directed to this subject by the public, that base a course of examination on the *object, rather than delay it till the com- mencement of the w Parliament, because they might then have to wait two He could not anticipate, after the vote of so large a majority of that Rouse, or three months for arm which, if the Committee were appointed, could be tattered at once, &Rd .eerefore would be ready next session.

Mr. GOULDURN objected, that the Members of the Committee of -this session might not be in the next Parliament, and the decision of this Parliament might be overturned in the next. He protested against the proceeding of the Government: it was most unfair towards the owners of a large mass of property.

. THE MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES were discussed, on Monday' in a Committee of Supply. Most of the sums were voted without a word of discussion. On a few items some debate arose. Mr. BAINES ob. jecterk to the grant of 4,6001. to Di,senting ministers, French refugee clergy, and French refugee laity. He said that the Dissenters did not wish to have the money. Mr. SPRING RICE observed, that there was a difference of opinion among the Dissenters on this point ; and he would not consent to deprive many aged persons of a great comfort, because others objected to their receiving it. The grant was also sup- ported by Sir ROBERT INGLIS and Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL, and passed. Mr. HUME was opposed to the vote of 35,0001. for secret service money : he could not see why it was wanted in time of peace. And Mr. G. F. YOUNG said, there was a prevalent notion that the money was used for election purposes. Mr. RICE replied-- That no portion of this sum ever had been, or ever could be applied to the purposes of elections. The expenditure was under the direction of the three Secretaries of State for the purposes only of their respective departments. They were bound on oath to administer the money for the put poses of their OWD departments only : there could therefore be no departure from that principle, unless the Secretaries or Under Secretaries were guilty of punitive perjury and injustice towards the Crown, the House of Commune, and the country. Mr. HOME said-- The fact was, this item of secret service money was, to a great extent, a legacy left to the country by the Tories. Their policy had been to assign annuities to such men as Oliver, Castles, and others of that stamp. ("Hear, hear, hear!") The Governments of former days having pledged the country to these payments, the present Ministers were too much impregnated with the principle of Minket ialism to allow of any infrartion of bygone engagements; and thus it was that the country was saddled with the payment of a nullifier of pensions, no matter what were the services of the recipients. He, however, trusted that the present Government would never afford encouragement to this species of expenditure.

The vote was agreed to.

For the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth, the sum of 9,0281. Was proposed. Colonel PeRcevaL, Mr. HAMILTON, Sir R. BATESON,, Lord SANDON, Mr. PI.UMPTRE, and others, opposed the grant ; but it was carried by 52 to 10.

The rema • g votes were agreed to, and the report ordered to be received the next day.

THE WILLS BII.L was opposed by Sir ROBERT INGLIS; who moved amendments against some of the clauses, which amendments, were negatived by large majorities; anti it went through the Committee. On Thursday the bill wits read a third time, and passed.

COMMON Law COURTS BILL. Mr. SPRING RICE moved the third . reading of this bill. Mr. HARVEY objected to it, that it created three new places, with salaries of 1200/. a year eaeN It was a .',udicial job. MR. TOOKE Said, it Was all outrageous job. Sir JOHN CAMPBELL said, that the chief duty of the Commissioners would he the taxation of costs, and he did not think the number proposed by the bill too great. The bill passed, after a division of 17 to 39 against a new clause, whose intent is not stated, but which was prepared by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

THE SHERIFFS' FEES BILL was read a third time, and passed, on the motion of Mr. 'rooks.

THE CAOUTCHOUC COMPANY BILL was passed on Wednesday, by a vote of 58 to 23.

LONDON AND BLACKWALL COMMERCIAL RAII.WAY. The report of the Committee on the bill for this railway was received, after a division of 64 to 27 against a motion to recommit the bill.

BRIGHTON RAII.WAY. On the motion of Lord GEORGE LENNOX, the report of the military engineer, which is in favour of Sir John Rennie's direct line of railway from Loreltm to Brighton, was referred to the Committee on the Brighton Railwity Bills.

COPYRIGHT. Time second reading of Mr. Sergeant Talfourd's bill for amending the law of Copyright passed, without discussion ; and Mr. TALFOURD then moved that the bill be committed that duty three months; his intention being to render it snore comprehensive in its grasp, and more perfect in detail. This was agreed to.

MANUFACTURE OF BONDED CORN. Mr ROBINSON moved that the Bonded Corn Bill he committed. The M.irquis of CHANDOS moved to commit it that day three months. A hi ief discussion ensued. Mr. WAKLEY, Mr. HUME, Mr. 0. F. YOUNG, Sir JOHN WItOTESLEY, and Mr. PouLETT THOMSON, spoke in favour of giving the measure consideration in Committee. Sir EDWARD KNATCHBOLL, Mr. BENETT, and Mr. G. PALMER, opposed it, as being a step towards the repeal of the Corn-hews. The House divided : for the amendment, 82; against it, 57. So the bill is lost.

THE FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS BILL Was read a second time, by a majority of 49 to 6. It was committed on Thursday, by a vote of 70 to 17.

THE SHERIFFS' COURTS BILL was postponed for three months.

CLERICAL SINECURES. Lord JOHN RUSSELL obtained leave to bring in a bill to continue for one year the bill of last session for sus- pending appointments to certain cathedral dignities and offiees. The bill having been brought in and rend alirsttimne, Mr. Hums asked Lord John Russell, whether he would insert a ehruse to prevent a person having clerical preferment worth 1.0001 it year from holding any other preferment ? Lord JOHN RUSSEI.L seid, it would he impossible to engraft such a provision on his bill, which was merely declaratory.. 11fr Hume, he observed, had been mainly instrumental iii continuing pluralities, by refusing to allow the Pluralities Bill of bust year to be- come a law. Mr. Hums. said, that the Pluralities Bill would have legalized a practice now positively illegal. CHURCHII.UILDING ACTS. A bill to continue these acts in operatiois has been brought in by Lord JOHN RUSSELL and Mr. Fox IVIA u LE.

THE IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT BILL went through the Committee, on Thursday, with little opposition ; and was ordered to be reported the next day.

BILLS or EXCHANGE BILL. The object of this bill is to allow a

higher rate of interest than five per cent. to be paid on discount of bills of exchange not having more thun twelve months to run. The 1aw, as it at present stands, !Units the higher rate of itatei est to bills baying ably three months to run. The bill was limonite • d by Mr. Gam ; strongly supported hy Mr. SPRING RICE, Mr. ROBINSON, Mr. RUNE, Mr. FORSTER, and Mr. P. M. STEWART; but oppteed by Mr. WAKLEY, mainly on the ground that the country had flour shed under the old law, and that monied men might combine to raise the rate of in- terest. The bill went through the Committee, and the rekort was or- dered to be received the next day.

THE JEWISH MARRIAGES BILL went through the Committee, with lie following remarks from Colonel Taostesos- The object of this bill was to authorize Jews to follow the din ction of the Mosaic law, by marrying their brothers' widows. Now, if we a ho were not Jews presumed to obey the Mosaic direction, we were peewee' d iii conse- quence • end, on the other hand, in the case of the Jewish Sabbath, we were perseculed for not obeying. The inference he wanted to draw sea, that the Mosaic law was used against us as an engine of persecution to be shipped aud unshipped as suited the users.

AUSTRALIA. Sic GEORGE GREY brought in a bill to continue for another year the act under which the government of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land is conducted. He hoped next session to introduce a new bill, better adapted to the situation and wants of the colonists. Mr. HENRY BULWER spoke of the universal discontent of the Australians with the act about to be renewed, and complained of the mariner in which legislation on this subject had been postponed to the end of the session.

THAMES TUNNEL. A Select Committee was appointed, on the motion of Mr. SPRING RICE, to consider papers relating to the Thames Tunnel.

EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY BIS.L. On Monday, Lord BENTINCK moved the third reading of this bill. Mr. ROBERT FERGUSON said that this bill interfered too much with private pro- perty, and that a shorter and more practicable line for a railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow aright be found : he would therefore move that the bill be read a third time that day three months. Sir JAMES GRAHAM opposed the bill, on the ground of the injury it would commit on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Canal Company ; because it was resisted by many landowners, and absolutely destroyed the residence of one country gentleman. Mr. WALLACE reminded the House that the bill was supported by Edinburgh with 200,000, and Glasgow with 260,000 inhabitants, and by all the intermediate towns on the line ; while of 272 landed gentlemen, 126 were in its favour, 86 neuter, arid only 61 dissentients. As for the gentleman whose seat it was said it would destroy, it only cut off a sentry-box, called a porter's lodge, from his grounds. The fact was, that this railway would interfere with the profits of a canal which divided 28 per cent., and with those of another which he would call the Ditch Canal, whose agents were now in London canvassing Members most indecently to oppose this bill.

Mr. DUNLOP supported, Mr. Hon opposed the bill. It was read a third time, by 80 to 57, and passed.

POST-OFFICE. In reply to a question from Mr. Hume, as to whether it was intended to adopt Mr. Hill's plan of an universal postage, Mr. LABOUCHERE said, that there had been some misapprehension on this subject

The Commissioners of Post-office Inquiry had for some time past had under their consideration the question of the minagement of the Teopenny-post depart- ment in this metropolis, and they had considered Mr. Hill's plan ; but they had not reported to the Treasury upon the subject. He hoped, however, that in a few days the report would he in a state to lay upon the table. The accidental circumstance of the Secretary to the Commission having been absent, had delayed the completion of the report. Thus much he might say, that undatanedly in the report they had availed themselves of some of Mr. Hill's suggestions ; but he thought it would be unfair to Mr. Hill to say that their report was a corn • plete trial of the system peptised.

The five bills for consolidating and amending the laws for the regu. lation of the Post-office department, were read a third time on Wed- nesday, and passed, on the nrotion of the Earl of LICHFIELD.

MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The order of the day for the further consideration the report of this bill having been read on Wed- tiesday, the Bishop of HEREFORD said, that there was much am•

biguity in several of the clauses. Whatever the Dissenters might do, the clergy of the Establishment had made up their minds to solemmize marriage according to the old practice. The Earl of SHREWSBURY said, that Roman Catholics would be deprived of nearly all the bene- fits of the bill, because by it only detached buildings," could be licensed for the solemnization of matrimony; and to almost every Catholic chapel there was a school house, or other building attached. Lord MALSIESBURY wished the debate to be adjourned. Lord Cur TENHAM said, that to adjourn the debate would be to defeat tine bill ; which must be passed before the 1st of July, if at all. Lord MALMES- BURY observed, that this was another instance of the evil arising from the tardy manlier in which bills were sent up from the other House. The Earl of FINGALL wished to introduee S clause to obviate the ob- jection stated by Lord Shrewsbury. The Bishop of GLOUCESTER would divide the House *eeriest the clause, if it were pressed in the absence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lord LYNDHURST

"Thin bill had been brought into the other Hewn on the 21st of April. and !salt sent up to their Lordships on the 19th of June. The other House had had two months for its consideration ; and yet their Lordships were expened to get it through in six or seven days." At the suggestion of Lord HADDINGTON, Lord COTTENHAM post- poned the further considernttion of the bill to the next day, in the hope that it would yet be passed into a law on Friday. On Thursday, the bill was passed with a clause proposed by Lord

Sinteavisseav, which removed his objection on behalf of the Roman Catholics. The Bishop of GLOUCESTER proposed the clause of wL,hich he gave notice ; but withdrew it, on the representations of Lord thasf.I.F.Namtouon that it was altogether inconsistent with the principle of e bill. OPERATION OF 'I' HE POOR. LAW. hitic iitilisi. el leer. ors I uesday, Earl STANHOPE presented the petition against the new Poor-!aw, agreed to at the great Huddersfield meeting, which was attended, its his Lord- ship said, by about 300,000 persons. Ile spoke for some time in vehe- ment reprobation of the measure, which he described as grinding and ap- presfivr ; and if not repealed, would as certaf nly Iced to imi versa! eliffrege as the sufferings of the poor, the cry for le ead in IF30,Ied to the passing of the Reform Act. Lord Stanhope stated as a reason why be had passed so much of his time abroad, and had given so little attention te the proceedings in Parliament that what he said received very little notice in the House ; and that with respect to the Poor law especially. he had not been in his place to oppose it, because as it had the sanc- tion of the leaders on both sides, it was utterly in vain to attempt oppo- sition to it.

The Earl of HAREWOOD strongly disapproved of the Poor. law, bet would not sanction a meeting which was called to give countenance to the violent resistance of the law, which bad been got up in the We Riding of Yorkshire.

The Marquis of TAVISTOCK and Lord PonTstaan bore strong testi- mony to the beneficial working of the law in the Midland arid South- ern counties. Lord BROUGHAM, Lord MELBOURNE, and the Duke of Rienmosta also defended the measure from the attack of Lord Stan- hope. The debate resulted simply in a motion that the petition should lie on the table.

On Thursday, Earl STANHOPE presented several petitions from parishes in Yorkshire, complaiiiiog of the operation of the Poor-law; and took the opportunity of again expressing his disapprobation of that measure in strong language. He was answered by Lord RADNOR, tbc Duke of Ittenstose, Lord Hanowieee, and Lord HATHERTON, whc denied that Lord Stanhope wins correct either in his facts or his in- ferences front them. Lund STANHOPE said, that he harl entered the service of the poor rather as a conscript than a volunteer, and had no wish to address unwiilimmg audiences. He was sine that unless this Poor-law were repealed, the Fleece of Lords would be destroyed He thanked the very few lords who had been so good as to listen to him,— a number so small iruleed, that they presented the singular spectacle of a House consisting entirely tf speakers.

IRISH MEASURES. LOrd .MELBOURNE stated on Thursday, in reply to Lord Clatnricarde, thnt it was not the intentions of Government tc proceed with either the Irish Corporation, the Irish Tithe, or the Irish Poor Bills. The Duke or WELLINGTON expressed his strong desire to settle these Irish questions, and promised his concurrence in the wart Parliament in any reasonable measure fur their 'settlement.

NATIONAL EDUCATION. Lord BROUGHAM withdrew his Educatior and Charities Bill ; mei Lord LANSDOwNE said lie should be prepared to apply himself to the consideration of the great question, of National_ Education in the next sesion, being convinced that the subject must to a greater or less extent be taken under the superintendence of the Government.

DEMISE or TIIE CROWN: DURATION OF PARLIAMENT. Lord Chancel- lor COTTENHAM ObtIttoill leave to bring in a bill to provide for carrying on the government of the country inn the event of a demise of the Crown, when the next heir was out of the comimntry. The provisions, be said, were chiefly copied from those of an Act for a similar purpose passed in the reign of ()revel' Aim. 'fine bill was brought ill, read a first time, and ordered to be read a seetred time on Monday. Lord MANS- FIELD suggeeted that it might be well to alter the law which terminated the existence of Parliament within six months after the demise of the Crusvii: he doubted wheiher any good which might tlaw from that rule was not more than counterbalatired by the inconvenience it occasioned_ Lord :MELBOURNE admitted that the suggestion of Lord M msfield deserved so ious consideration, and that he was iniclined to concur with him ; but he could not agree to make so great a constitutional change at the present time.

PRIVATE MAINERS. Lord SHAFPERBURY presented the Report of the Committee on Private Business ; and stated the recommendatioe of the Committee to be- " That no opposed private lull be referred Co an ()pen Committee ; that every opposed private bill be ref.-, red to a S..leet Cot ttttt ittee of live Peers; that such Select Committee Ju (Meuse its own Chairman ; that no Peet who is not of the five do vote ; that nettle lied* be exempted Irmo sea viog upon a Com- mittee on any ptiv:Ite bill when their intereets arc alit,. tett thereby ; that the Chairman of the Committees and four other Peers select the ntenbers of the Select Committees."

The Report of the Committee was ordered to be printed ; and or Moudey, Lord SHAFTESBURY t, iii !MAT that the resolutions be made standing order of the House for next session.