POSTSCRIPT.

SAT17RDAY.

In the House of Lords last night, there was a considerable discussion on the well-worn question of secondary punishments. It arose on the motion for going into Committee on Sir George Grey's Transportation and Penal Servitude Bill. Lord CAMPBELL attacked the bill : he said it would make transportation a kind of order of merit, the reward of the worst offenders ; a Judge would merely say to a convict, "I sentence you for fifteen years to the discretion of the Home Secretary." Earl GREY defended the bill, as a retracing of the erroneous step taken in 1862-'3. The Earl of CARNARYON, Lord DUNGANNON, and the Farl of DERBY spoke, with more or less objection to the bill ; arguing that some new place for a penal colony might be found. The House went into Committee adopted the clauses, and resuming, received the report. Some further changes were made in the Divorce Bill on the report, on the motion of the BORD CHANCELLOR. One, substituting "judicial separation" for a divorce "a mensa et thoro " ; a second, enabling, the court, in eases where the separation was on the ground of desertion, to reverse the judgment on cause shown that the desertion was unavoidable ; a third, enabling persons judicially separated to come together again, by entering a notice to that effect in some book kept by the court. Earl NELSON moved, that. when divorced persons married again, it should be by civil contract. The object of this was to relieve the clergy who have scruples of conscience. Negatived by 21 to 17.

The proceedings in the House of Commons were of a financial character. The House was engaged in conversation for some hours without any result. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir Flusters BARING asked for explanations respecting the expenditure of 11,000/. in St. James's Park without the previous sanction of Parliament. Sir BENJA.MIN HALL gave an explanation, showing that he was led to commence the works at a time when he could not obtain Parliamentary sanction for the expense, because by beginning at that time he was able to save 4000/. in material. The House did not seem altogether satisfied with the explanation.

In Committee, Mr. WILSON made an innovation on the established practice : he gave a general explanation of the Civil Service Estimates, similar to that usually given of the Army Estimates, in order to show how it happened that the amount had increased from 2,393,000/. in 1838 to 4,407,000/. in 1852, and 6,724,000/. in 1856. This he did by statements partly accounting for the increase ; showing that large items which were formerly charged upon the Consolidated Fund and upon the revenues of the Woods and Forests, and therefore did not come before Parliament, are now regularly placed in the votes. Since 1852, the sums transferred from the Consolidated Fund amount to 1,436,0001.; there have been increased votes for education, harbours, art, printing and stationery, prisons, public buildings. He made out that the increase had arisen from sources over which the Government had no control, and that where they had control they had saved 20,0001. He moved a vote of 136,146/. for repairs of palaces and public buildings. Mr. Wilson's statement caused a general desultory discussion, very little of which was devoted to the vote before the Committee ; and loud complaints were made respecting the inconvenience of the course adopted by Mr. Wilson. The Committee got so wide of the vote, that Mr. Was; to bring it back, moved that the Chairman should report progress. In some measure his purpose was effected. Mr. WILLIAMS moved that the vote should be reduced by 17,834/. It was complained that many items were lumped in one vote. Different Members wished to reduce different items, but it was found that by the forms of the House only one reduction could be made in the vote. So great was the dissatisfaption that the vote was postponed. A second vote of 75,7811. was moved for repairs in parks and pleasure-grounds; but a motion to report progress speedily put an end to what the mover called "the confusion" into which the Committee had fallen.

In both Houses there were complaints of the sufferings endured by ladies in attending her Majesty's drawingrooms. In the House of Commons, Sir BENJA3LEC Hatt stated that he had instructions from the Government to prepare plans for the enlargement of the accommodation of St. James's Palace—(Loud cries of "No no !" "Oh, oh !")—and he hoped he should he should be able to lay Leh plans upon the table at an early period. (Murmurs.)

The Gazette notifies that her Majesty will hold a dravringroom at St. James's Palace on Tuesday the 23d, at two o'clock.

The Colonial Secretary presided on Wednesday at a dinner given at Chelmsford to celebrate the Liberal victory in South Essex. -The half=yearly public examination of the cadets educated at Addiscombo took place yesterday. After distributing theprizes, the Chairman of the Court of Directors, Mr. Mangles, alluded to the great alteration in the deportment of European officers towards the Native officers and men of India. In expressing that opinion, he was supported by a highly distinguished officer' regretted he eretted much to find that there did not exist that cordiality between the Europeans and Natives that ought to be maintained. He besought the cadets to cultivate more friendly relations with the officers and men, to join them in their sports, and advise them in their troubles. If they could not be held by love, they couldnot be held at all ; and he therefore entreated them by every means in their power to keep on good. terms with the people among whom they were going to dwell.

The inhabitants of the South-western districts of the Metropolis are uniting to obtain a removal of the toll on the new suspension-bridge, which gives a passage from the South Sloane Street quarter to Battersea Park, Clapham, and the Crystal Palace. A Select Committee of the House of Commons reported in 1855, "That all restrictions upon the natural and convenient flow of traffic, such, for example, as tolls on the roads and bridges in the Metropolitan districts, should, as a general rule, be removed." The rule applies with peculiar force to a bridge between a district inhabited by a large proportion of the humbler class and a park specially designed' for the use of that class.

A telegraphic despatch from Leghorn, dated Monday, reports a fearful calamity " The scenery of the Theatre Del Acquidotti caught fire last night, during the representation of a piece called The Capture of the Malakoff.' The thimesepread rapidly, and great confusion ensued. Two hundred persons were killed or wounded. The Grand Duke, on hearing of this unfortunate event, came here this morning, and caused the wounded to be placed in the hospitals."

Advices from Konigsberg [date that the new Russian tariff has been approved by the Emperor, and will be published without loss of time.

MONEY MARKET.

STOCK EICRA_NOE, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

Consols opened on Monday at 94e t; and, after a rather heavy market, suddenly became (after regular hours) buyers at 94f : at which price they remained up to yesterday, when a further improvement of k took place. The business of the week has been extremely slack ; Ascot, as usual, drawing a great number of the dealers from the market. The unfavourable exchanges from China, and uneasiness with regard to the Indian Army, at first created a dull feeling; against which the late arrivals of gold seem to have had little or no effect. About 400,000/. out of the whole quantity has been taken to the Bank ; the rest has been purchased for the Continent. Money has been in active but not excessive demand ; althongh applications for accommodation continue numerous, there is little sign of pressure either in or out of the House. The English Market opened this morning firm. Consols, 94 1 ex div. ; closing heavy at that price. At one time there were strong buyers at 93 3-16. Apprehensions with regard to the movements of the Bank of France, notwithstanding the very favourable return published in this morning's papers, are the chief cause of the heaviness this afternoon. A very trifling business has been done all day. Reduced leaves off at 94 3; New Three per Cents, 92f 93; Bank Stock, 212 214; India, 220 223. There has been a moderate business doing all the week in the Foreign Stock Market. Quotations are all slightly better. Mexican closes at 24 3; Buenos Ayres, 8.5 87 ex div. Turkish Six per Cent has improved 31. per cent-953 3; Ditto New Guaranteed Four per Cent, 101% f. Russian Stook is also quoted 1/. per cent higher, and leaves off at 104 104. Portuguese Three per Cent, 46 47; Spanish Three per Cent, 42 43; Ditto Deferred, 24 I. There is a decidedly firmer tone at the close this afternoon. The market for Railway Shares has been exceedingly quiet and inactive; there being a marked absence of dealers every day, I luctuation13 have not exceeded upon the average Sc. per share. Caledonian have shown more firmness yesterday and today ; but with that exception prices are but slightly altered from those of last week. Midland, 83f f ' • Great Western, 641 3; London and North-Western, 1033 3; Great Northern Shares, ; Caledonian, 361; 37k; Aberdeen, 24f 25; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 4311; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 100+ t. The Foreign Railway Market has been equally inanimate ; and the same dulness has existed on the Paris Bourse all the week. Quotations present soareely any alteration whatever. The following are a few of the last nominal—Paris and Lyons, 671 83; Central of France, 24f 3; Northern of France, 34 f. SATURDAY, TWELVE o'ciecsi.

English Securities are a shade firmer this morning; Consols opened 94 1 ; and are now 93 3-16, buyers. Foreign Stocks and Railway Shares are good at yesterday's prices. An increase of 258,247/. is shown in this week's Bank return of the stock of bullion.

SATURDAY, ONE O'CLOCK.

There have been but few operations today in the Funds; the Market is dull and heavy at a fraction lower—Consols sellers at 93 3-16. Railway Shares are all good at about # per cent improvement ; dealers are preparing for the settling next Tuesday. Foreign Stocks are without alteration. The last transactions in Railway and Miscellaneous Shares are as follows— Bristol and Exeter, 90; Caledonian, 74; Great Northern 973; Great

Western, 611; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1001 ; London, Northern, and South Coast, ill; London and North-Western, 104+; London and South

V estern, 1003; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 44 ; Midland,

' • Ditto York, 693; South-Eastern, 731; Bombay, Baroda, and Centre India, 93; East Indian, 109; Grand Trunk of Canada, A Issue, 61; Great Western of Canada, 233; Paris and Lyons' 681 ; Joint Stock BanksAuetnilasia, 893; Ottoman Bank, 15; Union of Australia, 56f ; Union of London, 24. Miscellaneous—Crystal Palace, 2; Electric Telegraph, 913; Peninsular and Oriental Steam, 693. At a meeting of the proprietors of the Bank of Australasia, on Monday, a dividend and bonus at the rate of 20 per cent per annum were declamd. This was the first meeting under a new charter, the provisions of which are likely to improve the prospects of the bank by increasing the facilities for business. 'I 'he Directors, however, advise the proprietors not to reckon on the continuance of such a very high rate of dividend as that now received, as there is much competition in banking business ill Australia. The assets of the bank on the 13th October last were &,089,839L; of which 1,468,560/. consisted. of epeeie and cash at bankers. The old-established bank of Messrs. Goteh and Sons, at Kettering, denied payment on Tuesday. It was in difficulties in 1826, but recovered. The last Gazette return gave 87921. as the amount of notes in circulation ; and. the other liabilities of the firm are supposed to be not very largo.

The Committee of Shareholders of the North of Europe Steam Company have issued their report. This company paid dividends of 10 per cent per annum at a time when a large part of the capital had been dissipated: of the capital of 500,0001., the Committee state that a positive money loss of 74,3824 has taken place ; and if to this be added depreciation in value of , the fleet, bad debts, &c., the total deficit amounts to 136,043/. The Committee believe that with economical and vigilant managenient the Company can be carried on so as to obtain a satisfactory return on the rememing capital. The losses of the Company arose from the gross negligence and carelessness of the Directors, who left everything in the hands of Captain Andrews, the Managing Director, and placed implicit reliance on his figures and statements, though his remuneration depended on the amount of dividend declared. The personal integrity and tho motives of the Directors are not impugned. At a meeting of the Australian Royal Mail Steam Company, on Wednesday, the general feeling of' the proprietors-was expressed in favour of the Directors proceeding with a definite winding-up of the company'; and two gentlemen connected with the shipping interest were associated with the Board to afford advice and assistance in the temporary employment of the. fleet of the company till it can be sold.

CRYSTAL l'ALAon.—Ileturn of admissions for six days ending Friday June 12th, including season-ticket-holders, $5,749.