4 FEBRUARY 1832, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY was a Parliamentary dies non, in order to commemorate the death, some two hundred years ago, of a man of doubtful MONDAY was a Parliamentary dies non, in order to commemorate the death, some two hundred years ago, of a man of doubtful

character, who was beheaded by order of a court of questionable authority. Tuesday was absorbed by Free Trade and all that. The Bill has had a fair portion of the rest of the week. It has now progressed to the 28th clause ; and when we note this progress, we ought to add, that nearly all the clauses of dispute are finished. On Thursday, the House of Commons exhibited one of those scenes of impotent bluster and safe menace that have long been banished from every other assembly where gentlemen congregate. We thought that the race- of Fighting Fitzgeralds had died out ; but it seems to have again become incarnate in the shape of the Duke of WELLINGTON'S man. Sir HENRY HARDINGE on Thurs- day charged Lord EBRINGTON as an organ of the "Sections of London ;" and on Lord EBRINGTON'S denial of the ridiculous accusation, proceeded to—challenge him to single combat ! The Tories applauded this bravado, and the Speaker did not condemn it. Words are wanting to express our contempt of this poor endeavour to put down fact and argument by an appeal to the wager of battle. If Sir HENRY HARDINGE were not a man of tried bravery, the world would set him down at once as a bully or worse; and if he repeat these exhibitions, they will not be slow to do so, notwithstanding the accidental testimony which he carries at his side. The House has not much character to lose, or we should be more anxious on its account. A large proportion of its mem- bers have long been ridiculous to the public; they only complete their character when they render themselves ridiculous to each other.. • The question of the Russian Loan has been reargued in the Lords, more ingeniously and with better success than in the Cora- mons. The legal argument of Lord BROUGHAM seems to have deprived WYNFORD of his confidence and ELDON of his temper— miracles never cease.

Colonel DAVIES, we believe, calls himself a Reformer; and has, as such, delayed the Bill nearly as much as Sir CHARLES WE- THERELL himself. On Tuesday, on the pretence that the admis- sion of French kid gloves had destroyed the market for Worcester beaver, he engrossed the entire time of the House in a discussion on the principles of free trade, regarding which he has at this moment a special notice on the books! This gentleman ought to be sent to the right-about. If the Worcester people will have an enemy to Reform, let them get one who will fight fair.

A great many petitions have been presented against the Gene- ral Registry Bill this week. They are the effect, one half of mis- conception, the other of base self-interest. The measure is a great and a good one, and eminently calculated to serve the interests of the country gentlemen, whom cunning attornies are hounding against it. The Press is much to blame in this. The reporters will not or cannot see that there are other subjects than political ones that are of the highest interest. They did not report the debates on the Registry question; and the public not possessing the bill itself; and not being furnished with the commentary, were necessarily left the sport Of any rogue whO-wiihed to misrepresent either. - - In the division last week on the Russian Loan question, Sir HENRY PARNELL quitted the House without voting. It seems probable, that sonic previous cause of disagreement between Sir HENRY and his coadjutors had arisen, or he would hardly have cut with them on such an occasion; the more especially as his desertion, had it been followed by that of others, might have

affected the measure of Reform as well as the Ministry. Of • course, refusing to vote With Ministers on a resolution of censure

against them, Sir HENRY, in a plainer way than even words could have done, expressed his sense of their unworthiness; and having done so, he could no longer act with them. He has resigned ; and Sir JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE has been appointed to the office of Secretary of War. Sir JOHN is a clever, active man, a good debater, and a bold Reformer—not of necessity, like many of the members of the Honourable House, but of early and voluntary choice. A new election will be necessary for Westminster, Sir JoiaN's seat being vacated; but it will be of course a mere pro forma matter.

The office of Secretary of War has of late undergone a frequent change of occupants. Lord PALMERSTON held it no less than nineteen years, from October 1809 to May 1828; but in the four years that have elapsed since, there have been four followers of Ins Lordship; and Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE'S appointment makes a fifth. Sir HENRY HARDINGE succeeded lord PALMERSTON; he held office from May 1828 to July 1830; from that date to the change of Ministry, Lord F. L. GOWER filled it; in November

1S30, Mr. WYNNE succeeded Lord FRANCIS; and in April 1831, Sir HENRY PARNELL succeeded Mr. WvNNE. It is amusing to

observe, that both of these gentlemen resigned office because of a quarrel with the Cabinet; and both went out on motions on which the integrity of the Cabinet very much depended.

Mr. TENNYSON has been obliged, by delicate health, to resign the office of Clerk of the Ordnance. His successor is Mr. KEN- NEDY.