The if§pectator, angina 13tb, 1853 THE last working week in
Parliament has been about the worst for the poor Members, who have sat day and night; and, rather than take a clear holyday even for the review of the fleet, actually assembled one hour before midnight to forward bills. The subjects of the week form a considerable proportion of the subjects of the session, but reduced to remainder fragments. From smoke nuisance to the liberty of the subject, from London sewers. to the government of India or the integrity of the Ottoman empire, the range of talk has been equal to that of a year; only brief, hasty, and valedictory. The last of the Supply votes—passed with cheers because it was the last—marked the true Englishman, whose highest ambition is to get into Parliament, his greatest impatience to get out of it again.
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The " first sod " of the Direct Portsmouth Railway was " turned " on Saturday, by Mr. Bonham Carter. This railway will commence from the South-western line at Godalming, and run thence through a district unprovided with a railway, to Portsmouth. A short branch will connect it with the South-eastern line; and thus therowill be two London termini—at Waterloo Road and London Bridge. This new line will lessen the distance between London and Portsmouth by twenty-two miles. Saturday's ceremony took place at Buriton, near PeterMield, with the usual speaking and collation. • There is a movement among the pitmen of the Wear and Tyne for an increase of pay. At a meeting held at Black Fell, in the Durham coalfield, there was .a good deal of speaking on another point --the inspection of mines, It seems that Lord Palmerston has promised to a deputation from the men that more inspectors shall be appointed. One speaker complained that a certain inspector sends two or three days' notice of an, intended visit to a colliery; which enables the owners to get everything in order for the occasion, and to provide
a suitable entertainment " for Mr. Inspector,
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