THE WEEK AT HOME.

Porirriese.—An important and influential deputation went up to Lord Palmerston and Sir Charles Wood on Friday week, which has

been reported since our last issue. The object was to press upon the Government the abolition of the duties on the import of cotton goods and yarn into India, which press so heavily at the present crisis on the Lancashire manufacturing interest. We have so re- cently explained the unanswerable arguments used by the manufac- turers to condemn these duties that it is quite needless to repeat the substance of the memorial, which was that adopted at the recent Man- chester meeting. It was signed by 500 manufacturers, bankers, and merchants ; and the Mayors of Manchester, Blackburn, and Bolton, attended by a long list of northern members of Parliament, com- posed the deputation. The line taken was to press on the Govern- ment the great advantages winch already favour the Indian manu-

facturer without also protecting him by a high import duty from the

competition of the English manufacturers. First, he has his cotton on the spot, while the English manufacturer has to import and re- export it, and pay all charges of commission, insurance, &e. ; next,

Indian labour is worth about 6d. a day against an average of Is. 8d. a day for English labour in Lancashire. Altogether the deputation

regarded the natural disadvantages of the English competitor as amounting to 33 per cent., without reckoning any customs duty. It was stated by Mr. Ferguson that since the duties were raised by Mr. Wilson, the "indents" or orders homeward for cotton

goods from the native and European houses in India had pro- gressively declined, and that they did. not now amount to one-fifth of what they were before 1859. This, the most legitimate part of the trade, that of bond fide orders, as distinguished from the speculative

supply, had therefore fallen off 80 per cent. Not one in ten of the Indian natives, said Mr. Ferguson, wore cotton garments manufactured in England In answer, Lord Palmerston elicited the set-off that the Indian manufacturers pay very much more highly for their fuel than we do in England : and Sir Charles Wood explained that the duty had not yet had the practical effect of diminishing the quantity of cotton

goods seal to India, whether or no it has diminished the quantity bona' fide ordered from England by merchants there. For example, he said, 9000 bales of cotton yarns were sent in January, 1862, to India, as

against 6000-in the same mouth of 1861. In other descriptions of cotton goods there had been a similar advance in the quantities actually sent. Nevertheless, neither he nor Lord Palmerston disputed at all the urgent desirability of abolishing the duties as soon as possible, —but not before the revenue of India would admit of it. The Govern- ment reminded the deputation that these duties were not imposed till a 4 per cent, income tax had been imposed and found insufficient. One of the deputation, remarking that if the force in India were re- duced to 50,000 men (instead of 75,000, which is the numerical force estimated for next year), the expense of Government could easily be defrayed without these duties, Sir Charles Wood replied that the number of troops kept in India was determined by the local Govern- ment of India, and that it would be a very bad bargain if the Home Government became responsible for the military expenditure in India in return for the cancelling of the obnoxious duties. The deputation were, in fact, silenced, if not convinced, by this reply, for the latent assumption throughout has been that a larger army was retained in India than the Indian Government really wished to keep, solely to relieve the military expenditure of time 'Lome Government. If this be really untrue, as Lord Palmerston and Sir C. Wood imply, there is little more to be said. If it be true, the deputation went away without pressing home its principal weapon. On Saturday last a breakfast was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, to celebrate the birthday of Washington. It was, of course, made the occasion for a Union meeting. Mr. Adams, the United States Minister, in a moderate and sensible speech, drew from the history of Washington's military and political difficulties, and the steady pur-

pose with which he surmounted them, a lesson of encouragement for the Federal Government at the present moment. Mr. George Thomp- son made one of those efforts of oratory with which we are so familiar, likening the Federal Government to (hat "tall cliff" of which it is told that

"Though round its breast the gathering clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

Mr. Lincoln, who is, we suppose, alluded to as "the head" in ques- tion, does not as yet appear to be aware of the aureole, or to be

dazzled by its brilliance. Perhaps, as in the case of the saints, it is visible only to anointed eyes. Mr. Morse, the United States Consul in London, who was on the Congress Committee of last session to consider the grievances of the South, bore striking testi- mony to the fact that the Southern representatives never once put forward the tariff question as one of their grievances. It was not

mentioned by South Carolina in the declaration which preceded her secession; it was not put forward by Mr. Breckenridge in the Presi- dential contest ; it was not insisted on by the Southern representa- tives when considering the guarantees for which the South ought to ask. Slavery was the one and only theme of the Southern seces- sionists. Other and less important addresses were delivered, couched in the same tone of sentiment. The whole spirit of the meeting was against all compromise with slavery.

KILITARY.—The Army Estimates for the coming financial year have been published this week, and show au increase of 600 in the number of the staff, awl a decrease of 1194 in the numbers of the regi- mental laud forces. Our total number of English land forces, after deducting the Indian army, ie now computed at 145,450 men. The

estimates also show an apparent increase on the whole cost of the army for next year as compared with the estimates for that now nearly expiring, of 56,7101. As compared with the actual expen- diture for this year, which includes a large part of the supple- mentary cost of the Canadian expedition, the estimated expense for next year would of course not show an increase but a considerable diminution. Really, however, there is a large and even striking de- crease, for India owes us 985,5001. for her Indian troops, so that, in fact, there is a diminution of at least 928,7901. Nearly the whole apparent increase of cost is accounted for by the increased cost of the volunteer corps alone, which is for next year estimated at 211,6671., while last year it was only 163,276/.-a difference of 48,3911. The following is an analysis of the numbers estimated for the Queen's forces in the English and Indian army for next year :

English Army. Cavalry (including Horse Artillery) 14 066 Infantry (including Royal Artillery and Engineers. 129,562 Staff 1 822 145,450 Indian Army. Cavalry (including Horse Artillery) . 10,062 (2000 of them not yet raised.) Infantry (including Artillery) . . . 65,837 (6000 of them not yet raised.) 75,899 English DepOts for Indian Regiments. 7,624 83,523

making the total of the estimated number for the two armies 228,973. The details of the expenditure are as follow:

1862-68. Increase on 1861-62. Decrease on 1861-62.

EFFECTIVE SERVICE. X X X Land Forces-pay allowances 5,355,596 575,596 - Miscellaneous charges 706,892 58,796 - Volunteer Corps 211,667 48,391 - War Departments 209,901 8,068 - Mannfacturins establishments, engineers, civil establishments, &c. 334,151 - 64,544 Wages of artificers, labourers, &c 766,091 - 94,356 Clothing and necessaries 597,264 71,848 - Provisions, forage, fuel, light, &c 1,634,817 177,488 - Warlike stores 2,060,276 - 140,305 Fortifications 163,491 5,036 - Civil buildings 158,128 - 21,279 Barracks 677,955 - 12,204 Educational and scientific branches 296,283 35,269 - Total effective service 13,172,012 980,757 332,688 Deduct Decrease - 332,688

Net Increase on effective service. - 648,069

NON-EFFECTIVE.

24,860 60 - Rewards for military service 'ay of general officers 77,600 - 1,000

'ay of reduced and retired officers

479,722 - 10,947 Vidows' pensions, &c 179,876 - 1,487 'ensions to wounded officers ........ 35,633 - 7,320 n-pension 38,928 1,514 - )ot-pension 1,156,380 32,017 - loperannnation 143,364 5,213 - Total non-effective service 2,130,858 88,804 20,754 Deduct Decrease - 20,754

Net Increase on non - effective service -

18,050 Total effective and non-effective service

15,802,870 Net Increase on effective and non-effective service . . . £666,119 Of which, however, 609,409/ belongs to the supplementary estimate of Canadian expedition ; deducting which . . 609,409 56,710

we have 56,7101. as the excess of the present over the previous estimates. If both the 985,500/. owed us by India, and the 609,409/. for the Canadian expedition be taken into account, the diminution would be 1,538,199/. on the estimates of last year.

Comm -Her Majesty has written two letters to the Committee of the Albert Memorial Fund, the one explaining her views as to the mode of expending that fund, the other intimating her own wish to contribute to it, not as the Prince's wife, but as a Queen who loves to share in the aims and gratitude of her people towards a common benefactor. As to the mode of applying the fund, she expresses her wish that it should be devoted to erecting "an obelisk on a scale of sufficient grandeur" to the Prince, on or near the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851, which he was instrumental in founding. Her Majesty has requested the aid and advice of Lord Derby, Lord Cla- rendon, Sir Charles Eastlake, and the Lord Mayor, in deciding on the special mode of carrying out this programme. H. R. H. Prince Alfred has arrived safely in England, and pro- ceeded immediately to Osborne.

Law.-In the Court of Arches the Articles against the Rev. H. B. Wilson have been partially argued, Dr. Deane and Mr. Fitzjames Stephen being for the defendant, and Dr. Phillimore and Dr. Swabey for the promoter. At present, counsel on both sides have been heard, but Dr. Deane has not spoken in reply. The course of the argument is very similar to that in the case of Dr. Williams, the difference being, that while Dr. Williams's assumed heresies are represented as being a mere exposition of the views of Bunsen, Mr.Wil- son's are advisedly put forth rather as what a clergyman is at liberty to• hold than as what lie, the defendant, does hold. Thus, while the articles of the promoter assert that Mr. Wilson makes Christ a "mere" man, and preacher of a divine morality, the defendant's counsel maintains that the word " mere " is purely inferential ; and that while Mr. Wilson did ascribe to him the promulgation of a new and higher ethical system, he did not deny that he was more than this. One knotty point of the argument also turns on the sense in which the Bible is to be accounted the "Word of God," and whether this applies to the whole Bible, or, if not, how far any clergyman is at liberty to judge for himself what are the Divine and what the human portions. The argument is adjourned till Monday.

On Monday, Mr. Justice Wiles, in the Northern Circuit at Car- lisle, tried William Charlton, engine-driver, for the wilful murder of Jane Emmerson, at Darren Hill, on the 91st November. The mur- dered woman lived near a gate across the railway, and it was her duty to open and shut these gates according to the time of the trains, and to exhibit the proper safety signals at night to the passing trains. The motive of the murder seems to have been to rob the old woman of her savings, and the evidence against the prisoner was strong, hut wholly circumstantial. The worst element in the case was an attempt on the part of the prisoner falsely to put off the guilt on his brother-iplaw, Thomas Robinson. The jury found him guilty, but strangely enough, notwithstanding this heinous element in the case, recommended him to mercy on account of his previous character. The judge, in passing sentence, gave no hope that this recommendation would be complied with.

The Head Mastership of Eton has been conferred on the Rev. E. Balaton, Fellow of Eton College, and one of the Assistant Masters in the school. Mr. Balston was Davies's University Scholar in 1839, and Browne's Medallist in 1838-9.

COMXERCIAL.-Money has been in little demand this week, but as the "fourth of the month" approaches, when a heavy amount of bills fall due, the inquiry will increase and the rate of discount become firmer. At present it is 2+, 2f per cent. About 160,0001. of gold has been taken from the Bank, for shipment to the Continent, for the week ended Wednesday last, but since then American supplies have sufficed to meet the demand without further encroaching upon the stock of bullion. Tenders were opened at the Bank -to-day (Friday) for 4,000,000 rupees (or 400,0001.) of bills upon the Indian Presidencies. The Italian loan of 1,330,000/., in a Five per Cent. Stock at 74, has been all taken up, but the scrip, which came out at * to 1 prem., has fallen to dis. to par. A new French loan, of from 8,000,000/. to 12,000,000/., is spoken of as likely. Messrs. Charles Bevaux and Co., of London, are reported to have obtained the contract for a new Turkish loan of 10,000,000/. A new Russian loan is spoken of as not unlikely to come upon the market. The Sultan of Turkey has given fresh assurances that his Government will strictly carry out all engagements with reference to the pay- ment of interest on the loan of 1858, especially with reference to the transmission monthly of the funds necessary for paying the interest and sinking fund. The market for the English Funds has been firmer this week, and prices have improved in consequence of stock being rather short. Business, however, is dull. Consols are now up to 93* to f ; Reduced and New Three per Cents, 93f to f; Exchequer Bills, 19s. to 22s. prem. ; Bank Stock, 242 to 244; India Stock 224 to 226; the New Stock, 106f to 107*; the Five per Cent. Rupee paper, 102f to 102f ; the Five-and-a-Half per Cents, 107* to 108; and the Bonds, 27s. to 30s. prem. Business in the Foreign Market has been pretty active. Turkish Bonds are better, at 85+ to +; and 75+ to f ; Mexicans are 34f to f ; Spanish heavy, at 53 to *; the De- ferred, 43*; the Passives 19f, f ; the Certificates 6*, 7*. These securities are fiat, in consequence of the refusal of the Spanish Govern- ment to do justice to the claims of the bondholders. Peruvian have advanced to 100, 101; Russian 102, 103. Railway shares have improved in value, and there is more doing in them. North Western are at 90f, 91/ ex div.; Great Northern 114, 115 ex div. ; Great Western 70, ex div. ; Brighton 120, 122; Midland 1291, f ex div.; South Eastern 84*, 85+.