NEWS OF THE WEEK.
PAB.LIAXENT employed a few more hours in decently completing the forms of the business before it ; it duly read a third time and passed those bills which were intended, to be passed ; and assem- bled at the proper hour. on Tuesday to hear the Speech from the throne. This time from the foot of the Throne ; for the unex- pected delays in the House of Commons last week caused the en- croachment of Parliament upon the present week ; and the Queen is now engaged in military business. Instead of her Majesty, therefore, the Lord. Chancellor delivered the Royal Speech ; and he so far emulated the often-praised reading of his Sovereign as to have won the approbation of the reporters for his voice and delivery.
Mfteept in two particulars, the Royal Speech is exactly what could have been anticipated. One point consists in the careful febitation of all the measures of any importance that have been passed, as though the authors of the Speech desired to make the most of the work done. The other point is, the allusion to " negotiations on the subject of questions in connexion with the affairs of Central America " ; on which subject her Majesty hopes the differences may be "satisfactorily adjusted." The ground of these hopes has not been officially indicated, but it is generally understood that it is connected with the proposal made by the State of Honduras. If it be so, Great Britain would surrender one object of contention—the island of Ruatan—to that state ; receiving assurances that the territory thus surrendered will not be handed over to rival powers, that the property of British sub- jects will be duly protected, and that Honduras will assist, so far as she can, in facilitating the transit and in defending the neu- trality of the Isthmus. The Government of Honduras has given active and earnest encouragement to the enterprise of a railway transit. It is also reported that the United States have con- sented to join in countersigning these guarantees, and have agreed to some stipulations respecting the independence and neutrality of Greytown. That the passage in the Speech refers to these negotiations is most probable, although the details have not as yet been authenticated.
The dismissal was the signal for a general dispersion. The early day at which Parliament closed this year had increased instead of allaying impatience, and niany MembAirs had anticipated the breaking up of the great school. Lord John Russell might plead delicate health in his family as a reason for hastening to the oongenial climate of Italy. Lord Brougham's years and recent suffering warranted his retirement to Westmoreland. But the majority of the leading men had remained on the ground after a large portion of the chorus had deserted. At last, however, all are off—at least those who can leave active duty. Lord Pan- mare, relieved from the sorrows of war, is off to his ancestral do- mains in Scotland ; Mr. Gladstone retires to Hawarden Castle in Wales ; Lord Lyndhurst rushes to Boulogne ; Sir James Graham loses himsel' somewhere on the Continent ; and although Sir Charles Wood cannot so summarily leave the Admiralty business, he unites routine and sea breezes by an official inspection at Ports- mouth, delectably extended to the Channel Islands. Other Mem- bers to other attractions—to the shores, the moors, the Alps, the
Nile, the Neva, the Tchernaya, the season in the United States, or a dash at the grand tour in India.
