Jiliortllontots.

The report of the Select Committee of Privileges appointed to inquire into the "calumnious reflections on the Irish Members," contained in the Times "article" of the 6th February last, has appeared. The foundation for the inquiry was laid by Mr. Christopher Kelly and Dr. Gray, at a public dinner at Tuam, which took place in January. These gentlemen in the course of their after-dinner speeches made general charges of corruption against a section of the Irish Members as regarded the disposal of patronage ; and par- ticular instances were given. Upon the allegations so made the article in the Times was a commentary. Mr. Kelly and Dr. Gray were asked by the Committee to make good their statements : they did their best to produce proof and to tell where it could bo got. The inquiry extended : witnesses, who could not advance a step beyond mere rumour, mentioned persons who knew all about the foul play ; these in their turn came to be examined, with the like fruitless results. The Committee state that they gave every facility to the accusers to support their eharges, and "extended their inquiries to a latitude which has not unfrequently involved them in the reception of idle gossip and the investigation of groundless calumnies." Mr. Kelly's state i - ment involved Mr. Patrick Somers, the late Member for Sligo, n a dis- creditable transaction connected with the sale of a stipendiary magis- tracy: the Committee's decision is, that "Mr. Kelly has failed in sub- stantiating the charge." Dr. Gray's endeavour to maintain the truth of his assertion on the subject of an attempted purchase of a paid guardianship, is found to rest upon the statement of an appren- tice to a solicitor, to the effect that in 1848 he had been in negotiation with the Dublin agent of Mr. Patrick Somers for the pur- chase of such an office. Other persons mentioned by Dr. Gray as possessed of information which would bear out his allegations of corruption were examined ; and the Committee state that the result "has not sustained the expectation of Dr. Gray." With regard to Mr. Somers, the Committee state that no proof has been made to implicate him in any improper or corrupt transaction." Mr. Burke Roche and Mr. Daniel O'Connell were im- plicated by Mr. Lucas, upon the strength of "rumours ": the Committee, after bearing what Mr. Lucas had to say, find " that both these gentlemen have just reason to complain that they have been made the subject of false and injurious reports and imputations." Mr. Lucas had taken Mr. Keogh severely to task in the Tablet, charging him with "corrupt conduct" and other offences : but on examination, he disclaimed any intention of imputing to Mr. Keogh that "he had been connected with the sale of places for money," or that he had heard such a practice alleged, or that he had given votes cor- ruptly to obtain patronage. The distinct charge against Mr. Keogh of having obtained bill accommodation in return for an appointment in the Excise, is pronounced by the Committee to be "false and unfounded." The general finding of the Committee is, that "the persons who have pre- ferred against a section of the Irish Members the charges which have led to this inquiry, have failed to support them "; and it is added—" Your Com- mittee are of opinion, that those who gave to the public these statements ought to have been prepared to support them ; and they cannot but regard it as matter both of regret and animadversion, that even the excitement of political passion should have induced gentlemen to place before the public allegations so vitally affecting the honour of one class of Irish Representatives, allegations which, when they had the opportunity of sustaining them, they failed to substantiate by any reliable proof." One circumstance is obviously puzzling to the Committee—the existence for several years of a general belief in Ireland that corrupt practices of the kind in question have prevailed in so far as "three or four Members" are concerned, and yet the inability of the Committee "to trace it to any ground more satisfactory than rumours and suspicions." The Committee, however, throw out the suggestion pretty broadly, that had their powers been more extensive, and had they been able to examine upon oath, the grounds for the existence of the general belief spoken of might have been discovered.

Speaking of the Times newspaper, the Committee say—" With reference th me paragraph in the Times of the 6th February last, your Committee feel bound to report to the House their conviction that there existed no founda- tion for the charges as they were therein preferred, and to state their opin- ion that the language in which they were clothed was unjustifiable and ca- illaljdous."

The proceedings of the Committee in connexion with their report bear re- semblance to what occurs in the Commons when a bill is severely scru- tinized clause by clause. Mr. Henley, the Chairman, submitted a report ;

but it did not leave the Committee till amendanik '4.: els!' pon it

by Mr. Bentinck, Mr. Moore, Mr. Isaac Butt, Mr.Vernon, and other Members. No fewer than eighteen divisions are recorded.

Lord Palmerston and Lord Derby had grand dinners on Saturday. Lady Palmerston held an assembly in the evening.

The Marquis of Lansdowne gave a grand concert on Monday evening. The Duchess and Princess Mary of Cambridge, a number of Oriental Princes, and many of the Corps Diplomatique, were present, with a large general circle.

The French Ambassador gave a superb entertainment to the Duchess and Princess Mary of Cambridge, on Tuesday. The Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and the Earl and Countess of Derby, were among the guests. The Countess Walewski afterwards held a reception.

Lord John Russell gave a dinner to the Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday, at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park.

Lady Ashburton gave a ball on Wednesday night to the Duchess and Princess Mary of Cambridge. Their Royal Highnesses dined with the Earl and Countess of Derby on the following evening.

Mrs. Giffard, the wife of the unfortunate Captain of the Tiger, landed at Odessa under safeguard of a flag of truce, accompanied by Captain Powell, and remained there twenty-four hours, collecting the particulars of her hus- band's death, and visiting his tomb. The Russians gave her a lock of her husband's hair. Subsequently she proceeded in the Fury to Constantinople, and thence to Malta and Southampton in the Himalaya.

Abbas Pasha's son, El Ilamee Pasha, is shortly to leave Egypt on a visit to England. He will perform the voyage in the Viceroy's steam-yacht Faid Gehaad.

By an Imperial decree, the Hospital of the Blind, called the Quinze Vingts, is placed under the high patronage of the Empress of the French, and the appointment of the inmates is confided to her. The Ilospital of the Quinze Vingts was founded by St. Louis, on his return from the Holy Land, and has been ever since placed under the special protection of the Kings of France.

Mademoiselle Rachel's histrionic displays have recently been interrupted by the death of her sister Rebecca, a pretty and pleasing actress. The funeral, at Paris, was attended by a great concourse of persons connected with art and literature, as well as 'by many celebrities of fashion.

" Anti-Humbug " complains bitterly to the Times of "Sunday in Scot- land." He arrived at Glasgow on a Sunday to visit a bachelor friend, who had not expected him, and had not provided a dinner. "We sallied forth at five o'clock in quest of a tavern or restaurant where we could obtain a mo- derate repast. Conceive our surprise and annoyance to find all such places closed for the day. Feeling acutely, however, that a dinner somewhere NM indispensably necessary, we proceeded to one of the largest hotels in this city ; but, to our astonishment, although the door was open, we found no one in the coffeeroom—no one in the commercial room—no one in the bar; and we could not find even a waiter in the way. Not caring to disturb the solemn stillness that prevailed, we next went to another equally respectable hotel ; and, being this time fortunate enough to find some lucky individuals discussing their dinners in the coffeeroom, we rang the bell and ordered ours. The waiter looked at us with astonishment on receiving our order, and as- sured us that it was not in his power to comply with our request, for that his master would be liable to a heavy fine were he to do so, as we were not stay- ing at the hotel. My friend happened to know the landlord, as he frequent- ly used the house, and went to remonstrate with him. It was all in vain, however; he declared that under the recent act he would be liable to a heavy fine if he were to supply us with a dinner. We told him that we had heara that he could not sell us wine or spirits, but that he might at least give us something to eat. The landlord assured us that the supply of eat- ables was equally contraband; and cited an instance of a small eating-house- keeper, who, a few days since, was fined 11. for having sold some eatables with- out any drink, and that if he had sold drink the penalty would have been 71. ! After much entreaty, however, (for we were nearly famished,) he suggested that we should take beds in the house, even if we should not use them, and then that he might venture to give us a dinner. To this we gladly assented ; and, having engaged beds as a matter of form, we were permitted to get our dinner. So that, by this evasion of the law, and by this expedient only, could we in this good city of Glasgow procure a meal on the Sabbath."

A movement was begun in the City last week for closing business at an early hour on Saturdays : some of the great Manchester warehouses closed at one or two o'clock.

The Jewish Emigration Loan Society have issued their first report. During the past year they have sent out 130 emigrants, at a cost of 13661. Of these, 85 have gone to Australia and 45 to America. None have been assisted but persons acquainted with a trade or accustomed to domestic service ; and the advance in each case has been made by way of loan, to be repaid by periodical instalments.

Commander Frederick P. Warren has been superseded, and Commander William G. Luard has taken the command of the Star, 8-gun sloop. Per- haps some of the men who "ran" from the Star may now return, they are said to have left addresses with shipmates, and promised to return if a new captain were appointed.

According to data provided by Marshal Marmont, 120 English soldiers cost as much as 538 Russian; 120 French met as much as 350 Russian ; 130 Prussian cost as much as 240 Russian ; 120 Austrian cost as much as 212 Russian.

Two men, Forde and Duffy, have died at Ballibay under singular circum- stances. They had been to a fair at Ballibay ; when returning home at night their companions missed them. Search was made, and Forde was found dying from a wound in the abdomen—in ten minutes he expired. Duffy was discovered a short distance off—he too had been stabbed. He lived for some days, but would not say who had wounded him. It is sup- posed that the two men quarrelled, and wounded each other, probably with the same knife.

The court-martials at Bombay on officem of the Fifteenth Native Infantry have terminated. Lieutenants Cumyn and Laurie, and Ensigns Loft and Hammond, were found guilty of having given false testimony on oath at the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel Gidley, and they were sentenced to be cashiered. Lieutenant Fraser, Who made a false statement before a court of inquiry, was sentenced to be dismissed the service, but recommended to mercy : the Commander-in-chief has restored him.

The Judge of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has declared the Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional, and has declined to convict under it.

Negroes must not get drunk in the Land of Liberty : two dealers in New Orleans have been heavily fined, with the alternative of six months' im- prisonment, for selling spirits to slaves. The Nebraska Territory has an area of 500,000 square miles, sufficient to form twelve States as large as Ohio. The electrictelegraph is now open between Bombay, Calcutta, and Delhi.

The railway between Cairo and Suez has been begun ; the first section of three miles extending to the Viceroy's residence at Abbaseeyeh, which is on the road to Suez.

The exemption from navigation-duties of ships conveying grain, flour, rice, potatoes, and dry vegetables, to France, has been extended to the 31st December next.

For many months past there has been an export of potatoes from Belfast to England averaging 1000 tons a week. It will be recollected that last year the opposition of the people in some parts of Ireland to the exportation of potatoes ran to the length a rioting and forcible prevention of shipments.

A report on the French customs revenue for the first five months of this year shows a satisfactory increase in the revenue from imports compared with 1853, but a large tailing-off as compared with 18.52: for the month of May, however, the revenue this year is largely in excess over that of 1853 and 1852.

The .4 ig/e of Toulouse states that during a storm which burst over that place some days back, a man who was proceeding on horseback from Tou- louse to St. Agne was raised by a whirlwind from the ground, together with the animal which he rode, and was carried to a distance of sixty metres. Six trees were torn up by their roots close by. The man next day felt some- what sore in several parts of his body, but neither he nor the horse was other wise hurt.

A Peruvian transport, the Mercedes, has been wrecked on a rock near the mouth of Casma harbour, with a loss of 731 lives : the Mercedes was con- veying 800 troops from Camila to Callao; she went down so quickly that a Government steamer which was in company could rescue only a few of the people.