then onh rntbiug inVorlianitut.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK.

Horse or LORDS. Monday, February 7. Trustees Relief Amendment ; Lord St. Leonards's Bill read a second time—Bankruptcy and Insolvency ; the Lord Chan- cellor's Bill read a first time.

Tuesday. February 8. Jamaica Immigration Act ; Lord Brougham's Question. Thursday, February 10. Moldo-Wallachia ; Question by Lord St. Germans- Winding-up Acts Amendment ; the Lord Chancellor's Bill read a first time. Friday. February 12. The Militia ; Lord Grey's Question.

Horse or Connoss. Monday, February 7. The Reform Bill; Questions by Mr. T. Duncombe, Mr. Bright, and Lord John Russell—Case of Strahan and Paul ; Mr. Sheridan's Question—Occasional Forms of Prayer; Mr. Walpole's Bill read a

first time—Civil Service Superannuation ; Mr. Disraeli's Bill read a first time— Manor Courts, (Ireland,) Sale and Transfer of Land, (ireland,) Receivers in Chan- cery (Ireland); Mr. Whiteside'. Rills read a first time—Markets, (Ireland,) Lunatic Pour (Inland); Lord Naas's Bills read a first time—Highways ; Mr. Hardy's Bill read • first tune.

11sesdeg, February S. The National Gallery ; Mr. Disraeli's Explanation—Mar,. Id& a Deceased Wife's Sister ; Lord Bury's BR! read a first Ume—Sittings of

the Rouse; Mr. Ewart's Motion negatived—Church-rates ; Sir John Trelawny's Bill read a first time—Irremoveable Poor ; Mr. Estcourt's Committee—Sale of Poisons ; Mr. Walpole's Bill read a first time—Church-rates ; Mr. Aleock's Bill read a first time—Supply ; Committee. Wednesday, February 9. No business of importance. Thursday, February 10. County Prisons (Ireland); Lord Naas's Bill read a first time—Municipal Elections; Mr. Cross's Bill read a first time. Friday, February 12. Unpaid Letters ; Mr. Rich's Question—New Government

offices ; Mr. Tile's Question—Titles to Landed Estates; Sir ilugliVairns's Bill read a first time, ENGLISH LAW REFORMERS.

The Loan CHANCELLOR introduced on Monday a Bill to amend the laws relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency. He reviewed at great length the legislation on this subject that has taken place during the present reign, going carefully through all the stages, and including in his re- view the principal steps taken out of doors as well as within doors. This was done with minuteness suited to a court of law. Ha- ving "cleared the way " he expounded the provisions of his bill. It establishes one court for bankrupts and insolvents, and abolishes' to a great extent, the existing distinction between them, and restrains the operation of imprisonment for debt upon final process. The non-trader will come under the act if he should apply for its benefit ; if he should leave the country to defeat his creditors ; or if he fail to satisfy a judgment creditor. Creditors are empowered to dispense with official assignees, and choose their own assignees. Should they select the official assignee he will become their trustee. The non-trader as well as the trader will be a free man in respect of future earnings when dis- charged by the court. Classified certificates are abolished. Certificates cannot be indefinitely withheld. The officers of the Court will have their duties readjusted ; and some, such as that of broker, will be abolished. Lord BROUGHAM said he agreed with some pares of the bill, but not others. He was glad to see that some of its most important provisions had been adopted from his bill of last year. Lord CAMPBE.LL put in a word for the consolidation of the law. Lord CRANWORTH thought it was best to amend and then consolidate.

The hill was read a first time.

THE REF0R3I Bur,.

Mr. Disraeli's reply to Lord Palmerston last week, touching the pro- duction of the Reform Bill did not give satisfaction ; and on Monday, Mr. THOMAS DIINCONRE, alleging as a reason a desire to remove miscon- ceptions, asked whether the bill will be brought in during the present month. Mr. DISRAELI did not give a direct reply. "The delay will not be considerable." Sir John Pakington will have to state what measures he deems necessary for the Navy. Lord Stanley will call attention to Indian fi- nance. These measures will require fair discussion. When they are settled Mr. Disraeli will give notice of a day on which he will introduce the Reform Bill. "We contemplate the second reading before Easter." And if, as "we fondly anticipate," it is read a second time, we may go into Committee before Easter. Mr. BRIGHT, amid cries of "Order," asked if ample time will be given to consider the bill.before it comes to a second reading. Mr. Disithana said ample time should be given. Later in the evening Lord JoRti- Russ= repeated the question—On what day will the measure be produced ? Mr. DISRAELI said, no time shall be lost. He had frankly answered, the question by his statement in reply to Mr. Buncombe. Lord Joint RUSSELL said, "It was in con- sequence of that statement I put the question."

The Loan CHANCELLOR introduced on Thursday another measure of law reform—a bill for the incorporation, regulation, and amendment of the acts for winding up Joint Stock Associations. The main object of this bill is consolidation. It will enable all companies, whether having a share capital or not, to take advantage of the act to be registered, to become incorporated, and to have facilities for winding up in case of ne- cessity. The bill will embrace mutual building companies, mutual loan societies, mutual insurance companies; companies limited and unlimited; and intermediate companies—namely, companies where the shareholders guarantee, in the event of the winding up of the concern, to contribute a certain amount beyond their shares for the purpose of the liquidation. In short, the bill is a consolidation of all the provisions contained in all the former 'acts, and included every description of company.

Crvii. SERVICE SUPERANNUATION: Mr. DISRAELI introduced on Monday a Civil Service Superannuation Bill. It is similar to the bill introduced last year. According to the-re- ports full superannuation may commence when a servant has attained his sixtieth year. When he has attained his sixty-fifth, superannuation will be compulsory, unless the Government think that it will be advantageous to keep a servant of that age in the public service. In future superan- nuations will cease to count from ten years to ten years, an officer will count his yearly service. IRISH LAM Baas.

Severpl bills to amend Irish laws were introduced on Monday.. Mr. WHITES/DE brought in three bills. The first abolishes Manor Courts, and gives the magistrates a small debt jurisdiction to the amount of 20s., with an appeal to the County Court. The second repeals all acts relating to judgments in relation to landed estates, and enacts that no judgment shall be a lien upon land until equitable execution has been sued out, in the shape of a petition in the Landed Estates Court for the sale of the debtor's property against whom there shall be a claim. The third is the complement of the second, and abolishes receivers under the Court of Chancery. These bills are intended to cure the evils arising from the prodigious legal facilities given to Irish gentlemen to get into debt. Lord NAAS introduced two bills : one to regulate Markets in Ireland; the other to amend the lunacy laws so far as they relate to pauper lu- natics. This latter bill substitutes the local for the central authority, taking the power of nominating governors from the Lord-Lieutenant and giving it to the Grand Jury, and enabling them to enlarge old and build new asylums, and regulate everything connected with them. The sole power left in the hands of the Lord-Lieutenant will be that of compelling persons entrusted with the management of the asylums to obey the law. The bill provides for the removal of lunatics from gaols and workhouses,

and minutely defines the duties of all the persons acting under its pro- visions.

On Thursday Lord Naas brought in a bill to amend the laws relating to county prisons in Ireland. This measure repeals existing acts and consolidates the prison law of Ireland into one act. One object is to improve the condition of bridewells, which at present are "horrible places," and to provide proper gaol accommodation generally. The bill was read a secend time.

THE MARRIAGE LAWS.

Without a speech Lord BURY moved on Tuesday for leave to bring in a bill to legalize marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Mr. BERES- FORD HOPE protested against its introduction, and implored Lord Bury not, to damage his rising reputation by pressing on a bill which others had unsuccessfully endeavoured to pass. Mr. "array Dnommown in- sisted on a division which Mr. Hope at that stage would have foregone. The remit was that Mr. Drummond was defeated by l55 to 85; the bill was brought in, and read a first time.

Crreiten-neens.

Sir Some TRELAW1TY brought in his bill "to abolish Church-rates," on Tuesday, and it was read a first time. The Government offered no opposition, but it was understood that the bill should not be read a second time until the Government measure is before the House. Mr. WaLeozn described his promised bill as "a bill that Will provide a better settlement of the question" than that proposed by Sir John Trelawny.

Mr.'.A.Lcoeu has introduced a bill to provide for the voluntary com- mutation of church-rates. Sir ARTHUR ELTON has 8 set of resolutions on the subject on the notice-paper proposing to give incumbents and churchwardens power to hold property given for purposes relating to the pariah church and administer the income thence arising.

Moram-Warziente.

The Earl of Sr. GERMANS, reciting some of the articles of the Con- vention relative to the organization of the Principalities, asked Dud Malmesbury whether the election of one person to the office of Hospodar of the two Principalities was not inconsistent with the letter as well as the spirit of that convention. Lord St. Germans held that the framers of the Convention intended there should be two Hospodars, and he trusted that the Powers would enforce the bond fide execution of the conditions on which they guaranteed the political existence of these states. • The Earl of Marasrenune said that it would be inconvenient to the public service were he to give an opinion on the convention. It is more than probable—he t say it is nearly certain—looking at events that have taken place in e Principalities, that the Powers who signed that convention will have to consult again and determine the inter- pretation of that and other clauses to which his noble friend had called at- tention. It would not, therefore, be desirable by any expression of opinion in their lordships' House to anticipate a discussion which might take place elsewhere.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.

A question from Sir HENRY WILLOUGHBY led Mr. DISRAELI on Tues- day evening to make a statement of the intentions of the Government with respect to the National Gallery. Determined not to have more in- quiry, Mr. Disraeli entered into direct negotiations with the Royal Aca- demy. He was prepared to- offer them a site and ask for a vote to build them a new gallery. Unwilling to compromise their independence, and having funds, they announced that they would build a house for them- selves but they accepted a site from the Crown, on ground near Burling- ton House. The building in Trafalgar Square will, therefore be wholly devoted to the National Gallery, and will receive the pictures which must be removed from Marlborough House to make way for the Prince of Wales, who enters on possession in November. In the meantime the pictures now at Marlborough House will be placed in a gallery built for the purpose at Kensington Gore. In two years the Royal Academy will be in their new house, and the Turner and Vernon collections will be placed in the National Gallery.

This statement seemed very satisfactory to the House.

WEST INDIAN IMMIGRATION.

Lord BROUGHAM inquired whether the royal assent has been given to the Jamacia Immigration Act ? The Earl of CARNA.RVON, in reply, made a statement of some length.

Last year the Jamaica Legislature passed an act which Lord Stanley felt bound to disallow on account of its objectionable provisions stating, at the same time that he would gladly allow any measure free from them. The Jamaica Legislature then framed the bill recently sent home. It contains some blemishes but on the whole it is in conformity to Lord Stanley's re- presentations. After carefully considering it Sir Edward Lytton has re- solved to submit it to her Majesty for confirmation. The objections to the bill have been based on misconceptions. The system of immigration adopted in Jamaica conforms to that practised successfully for years in the other West Indian colonies. It is said that the bill was hastily passed, on the contrary it was under consideration for two sessions. There are, how- ever, some points in the act which the- colonial legislature will be instructed to amend.

Lord BROUGHAM said the bill was introduced on one Wednesday and passed on another, so as to preclude petitions against it. He pledged himself to demonstrate that it is hostile to the independence of the work- ing classes, and that it will encourage the slave-trade. Earl Gaze re- marked that Lord Brougham had indulged in a somewhat too unsparing condemnation of the system of immigration. Under proper regulations it will be productive of great advantage to our West Indian colonies. In Trinidad and the Mauritius the labourers who had gone home frequently returned to the colony and brought with them their friends. Lord Grey gently censured as imprudent the course adopted by the Government in submitting to the Queen for confirmation an act which contained objec- tionable clanses. When once confirmed, the suggested alterations could not be enforced, except by an act of Parliament—an objectionable pro- ceeding. The Earl of AIRLIE spoke at some length and with much force on the necessity of encouraging a free labour immigration in the West Indies, as a means of retrieving the position -we lost by slave emancipa- tion. The Bishop of OXFORD backed up the view, taken by Lord Grey respecting the imprudence of the Government.

Lord CARNARVON said he feared he had led the House into some mis- take. The blots and blemishes in the bill to which he referred are not important in themselves. If they are not remedied no practical evil will follow. The Colonial Legislature have shown good faith and an honour- able intention of aiding the Government. MUNICIPA.L Ezzerioxs. Mr. Caoss has brought in a bill to amend the law relating to municipal detections, with the object of preveting bribery, and corruption, and saving expense.

SALE or POISONS. Mr. WaLroLs explained, on Tuesday., the pro- visions of his measure to regulate the keeping and sale of poison. To a great extent the Arsenic Act has succeeded in diminishing deaths from that poison. What is wanted now is a provision for the keeping as well as the sale of poison. To supply that defect Mr. Walpole proposes that all parties who keep poison shall label them conspicuously " Poison' ; and when they are sold, that the cover in which they are enclosed shall be so labelled. Penalties are to be inflicted for breach of these arrangements, and justices are to be empowered to order constables to enter any shop and see that the law is observed. The poisons referred to will be named in a schedule. They are thirteen in number. In dealing with opium, so constantly in re- quest by the poor, Mr. Walpole proposes that where small quantities are asked for, or where any poisonous article is required in a medical prescrip- tion, the stricter provisions of the bill shall not apply.

The bill was read a first time.

TEE STATE SERVICES. The Occasional Forms of Prayer Bill was read a second time on Monday, after a faint opposition from Mr. HADFIELD, who asked for delay, seeing that the bill does not go far enough. He would like to see provision made to enable Dissenters to preach in churches, and cler- gymen in chapels. Mr. ROEBUCK said he could not understand what his colleague meant. The bill concerns only those who are members of the Church of England. Mr. Hadfield prides himself on being a Dissenter. If the Church of England chose to preach twenty-four hours every day it could be nothing to him. He hoped the Howie would deal with the bill like men of common sense. The House liked the advice, and Mr. Hadfield receded.

Srrrizos OF THE HOUSE. Mr. Brotherton is dead and Mr. Ewart has caught his mantle. On Tuesday, modifying Mr. Brotherton's proposal, Mr. Ewart moved that the sittings of the House on Tuesdays and Thursdays should terminate at twelve o'clock. In the course of his speech in support he drew an amusing picture of the House after midnight. At a certain hour all must yield to the overpowering necessity of sleep. Dean Swift, in his celebrated sermon on Eutychus falling from the third loft in a deep sleep, said preaching might convert a hardened sinner, but it could have no effect on a determined sleeper. If a foreigner entered the House during a debate prolonged to a very late hour what would he see ? The Chancellor of the Exchequer sleeping like Palinurus at the helm ; the Secretary of the Home Department, the great regulator of all the prisons of the empire, himself imprisoned in the bonds of slumber; and the Woods and Forests themselves nodding to their fall.

Mr. LAI:TULE seconded the motion ; but it was opposed by Mr. Loom Kuco, MIL WALPOLE, and Lord PALMERSTON, and rejected by 237 to 28.

Peon Laws. On the motion of Mr. ESTCOURT, the Select Committee on three statutes relating to the removeability of the poor, was reappointed. The question must be dealt with because the act providing that the relief given to irremoveable paupers shall be charged on the union fund, expires this session.

THE WEDNESDAY Srrruve occupied this week one quarter of an hour. The mincipal business was the bringing up a report of supply, and the no- mination, on the motion of Mr. Ewart, of a Select Committee on the Coloni- zation and Settlement of India. It will consist of the following Members— Mr. William Ewart, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Campbell, Mr. De Vero, Mr. Gregson, Mr. Kitinaird, Mr. Knight, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Lygen, Mr. Arthur Mills, Mr. Nisbet, Sir Erskine Perry, Mr. Richardson' Mr. Danby Seymour, Mr. John Benjamin Smith, Mr. William Vansittart, Mr. Villiers, and Colonel Sykes.

PAUL and STRARAN. In reply to a question from Mr. HENRY SHERI- DAN respecting the remission of the punishment of Sir John Dean Paul and Mr. Strahan, Mr. Waixozn gave an explanation without giving an answer. It is known that the punishment for the offence they committed has been reduced to a maximum of three years penal servitude ; but that the statute under which they were convicted is not repealed. This, together with the representations made to him by persons of high rank that he took a pre- judiced view of the case, placed Mr. Walpole in a painful position. There is no instance on record of any person convicted under a particular law being held entitled to mitigation of punishment in consequence of subse- quent legislation. But the highest law authority in the land has informed Mr. Walpole "that it is reasonable to consider the subsequent law as vir- tually repealing the former law, and as entitling the parties to some miti- gation, though not stating what it ought to be." In future the Court will be able to inflict cumulative punishment where a series of groom delinquen- cies have been committed. For the past Mr. Walpole will have to lay down a rule, partly by conjecture, as to what the punishment would have been had the convicts been convicted under the later statute. In doing this he will "take special care to draw no distinction between those convicted under the statutes " ; and he earnestly hoped the House would support him in the discharge of his duty. (Cheers.)