Colonial Secretary, on whom, according to usage it falls, Mr.
Sid- ney Herbert intimated that an additional Secretary for Military Affairs will be furnished to that Miniater. Lord Ellenhorough has been the chief critic in the House of Lords ; objecting to any m. litary expedition to Turkey, and to the use of so many ships in the Black Sea, while the true strategy would be to strike Russia in the Baltic. Lord Aberdeen justly rebuked the effort of Lord Ellenborough to drag out the disclosure of military intentions -un- der the guise of a discussion of policy ; and he declined to an- nounce, through the usual channels of publicity, that which could be only valuable for the information and guidance of our principal enemy. Mr. Thomas Chambers has carried the appointment of a Com- mittee to inquire into the present state of conventual establish- ments, with a view to inspection as a means of securing the liberty of the subject iindor duress. Either Mr. Chambers has been un- able to collect materials for the case whioh was supposed to exist, or_he has not taken the pains ; for the evidence which he brought forward is not so strong as that which has been advanced at an earlier stage, and it too much partakes of the character of tittle- tattle. The inquiry can scarcely do harm, since it is likely to end in telling us how the matter really stands; and politically, the de- feat of Ministers by which he carried it is of no importance. Upon the whole, independently of these exciting subjects of convents and military matters, the discussions of the week have been dry. The Tenant-Right Bills, introduced by Lord Donongh- more as better than some previous projects, have been referred to the Committee on the subject. The Lord Chancellor's bill for amending Common Law Procedure presents partial facilities for dispensing with juries when they are not desired by either party to a suit, for substituting affirmation in place of oaths in cases of conscientious scruples, and some other admitted improvements : it is so far good, but it falls a good way short of the measure which everybody was prepared to expect. The bill to place the Church of England on a par with other unestablished sects in the Colonies, so far as local government is concerned, has been reintroduced by the Solicitor-General, with amendments. Mr. John O'Connell has obtained a Committee to inquire into emigration, with a view to check the mortality and other abuses on board ship ; Mr. Fre- derick Peel, on very insufficient grounds, attempting to cheek that complete inquiry which appears to be demanded by the facts of the case.
