- aiintllanteito.

Gruevarecrs.—To the approach of the day for the opening of Parlia- ment we owe the revival of letters in the Times under various sig- natures—" Civilian," "F. R. C. S.," "Cosmopolitan "—complaining of the things left undone in the organization of Army-administration. One writer-reminds us that Lord Palmerston promised a reform in the Medical Department, new chiefs, and a new system ; that Dr. Andrew Smith announced that if the department were remodelled he must retire ; that Dr. Andrew Smith remains 'Director-General; and that no step has been taken to reform the Department. The latter fact is unreservedly attributed to Dr. Andrew Smith. Another writer asks these questions, —" How is it that Dr. Smith is still at the head of the Medical Depart- merit; Dr. Menzies, of Scutari notoriety, the principal Medical Officer at Shorneliffe ; and-Dr. nembreck, of Balatrlav.a incompetence, one of the new Medical Board in London ? " A third -writer reminds us that there are still two heads of the Army, the War Minister and the Commander- in-chief,—the civilian immediately responsible to Parliament; the Mili- tary chief strong in the feeling of his profession, partly because he is a distinguished soldier, and partly because he is the instrument through 'whom the wishes or congratulations of the Queen reach the Army ; and

that these two functionaries are in perpetual rivalry. It is suggested that the independent authority of the Commander-in-chief should cease, and that there should be concentrated authority and undivided responsi- bility at the head of our Army-administration. In spite of improve- ments, it is alleged "that there has been and still is going on a most profligate and wasteful expenditure ; that our military system has not been brought to that pitch of excellence which ought to belong to the es- tablishments of this country ; in a word, that vast resources are being lavished without anything like commensurate results." A " Taxpayer " states that Staff-jobbing is about to recommence. The rule is that no officer shall be taken from his regiment and appointed on the Staff until he has served two years in his regiment "Taxpayer" quotes an instance of the recent violation of this rule- " Lieutenant G. H. Grey, Second Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, is ap- pointed to act as Aide-de-camp to Brigadier-General Laurence, C.B., com- manding the Second Brigade, Second. Division, with the usual pay and allowances, from the 1st January 1856. Lieutenant Grey has very good in- terest. He is the son of Sir George Grey, Secretary of State, and the nephew of Earl Grey and of the Honourable General Grey, attached to his Royal Highness Prince Albert. He had been in the service, on the let January 1866, twelve months and twenty-four days, according to Hart's Army List."

Tire LATE Six WILLIAM MOLESWORTH.—The tenantry of the late Sir William Molesworth, in Cornwall, recently addressed a letter of con- dolence to Lady Molesworth : in her Ladyship's letter of acknowledg- ment the following passage occurs, interesting for the testimony Lord Pahnerston bears to the character of his departed colleague.

"Be assured," Lady Molesworth writes to the tenantry, "that if any- thing can alleviate the affliction of a bereaved wife, it will be found in such a tribute to the memory of her husband. My feeble pen can but inade- quately express all I feel—all that is due to him who is taken from us. But another, who from his great talents and noble nature, is no mean judge, has borne testimony to his sterling worth : Lord Palmerston, in the letter he addremed to me on the occasion of the sad blow befalling me, made me of the following words—' For singleness of mind, honesty of purpose, clearness of judgment, faithfulness of conduct, courage in difficulties, and equanimity in succeas, he never was surpassed ; and deeply must any nation lament the premature loss of such a man ; for voids so created are not easily replaced.' Such words from such a man prove how justly the kind friends I address have formed their opinion."

THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY DISPUTE.—Mr. Waddington has issued a "final" answer to the allegations of the Committee of Investi- gation. He makes a stout fight for the soundness of his policy and the pro- priety of his conduct "it is high time indeed," he says, "to stop pro- ceedings which have already lowered the value" of the property of the Company "to the extent of nearly two millions sterling." Mr. Wad- dington "answers" an array of seven "new allegations," put forward by the Committee of Investigation in their " Observations " on his reply in a strain of great triumph he points out no fewer than twelve charges against himself which he considers the Committee have abandoned ; and he sets forth an array of nine charges against the Committee. Finally, he asks for a renewal of the confidence of the shareholders.

Areonerwea-ra.—Mr. Spencer Horatio Walpole has accepted the office of Archbishop's Church Estates Commissioner, vacated by the death of Mr. Goulburn. The income attached to the office is 1000/. a year. Mr. Pashley has been definitively appointed Assistant-Judge of the Mid- dlesex Sessions. Mr. Pashley was eighteen years a member of thallorthern Circuit. He has published two books, one "Travels in Crete," the other on the Poor-law.

The Queen has been pleased to constitute the colony of Western Aus- tralia to be a Bishop's see and diocese, to be called the Bishopric of Perth; and to appoint the Venerable Matthew B. Hale Archdeacon of Adelaide, to be ordained and consecrated Bishop of the said see.—Londen Gazette, Jan. 22.

Deem fie Srn THOMAS Mrrenefr..—Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor-Ge- neral of New South Wales, died on the 4th October, at Ancona, his seat in that colony, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. Sir Thomas had served on the Staff of the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War, and received a medal and five clasps for services in the battle-teld. As a tribute of respect to his memory, the sitting of the Legislative Council at Sydney was adjourn- ed from Friday the 5th of October until the following Tuesday.

Mu. J. Climes:Tem.—Mr. J. Clementson, who for fifty years held the office of Deputy. Sergeant at Arms in the House of Commons, died on Sun- day, at his residence, Fcicourt Lodge, Torquay. Mx. Joszen Hasnx.—The learned compiler of the Dictionary of Date" did not long enjoy the meagre pension recently granted to him by thetio- vernment. Those who only two weeks ago were reading comments on -the matter, will learn with some interest that death relieved Mr. Haydn of his sufferings on the 17th instant. THE PUBLIC HEALTH.—Eleven hundred and twenty-one deaths were re- &tered in London in the week that ended on Saturday, January 19th. The average number of deaths, corrected for increase of population, is 1332 in the third week of January, which is the coldest week of the year, in the ordinary course of the seasons. The deaths were 211 below the average. 496 of the dead were children and young persons ; 156 were .of the age 20-40; 211 of the age 40-60.; 217 of the age 60-80; and so few attain ripe old age in the present imperfect state of the public health that 42 only were of the age of 80 and upwards.—Regiat ear-Genera s Report.

Result of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis fur the week ending on Saturday last.

Zymotic Diseases Dropsy, (Miner, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses Diseases of the Heart and Blood-v.0M,

Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration

Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion

Diseases of the Kidneys, dm

Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, ge Rheumatism, diseases of the Bona, Joints, ike. Disesres of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, ge Malformations Premature Birth Atrophy Age Sudden Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance Total (including unspecified causes) 1211.4 112/

Sir George Grey has quite recovered from the effects of his recent accident.

Ten Weeks Week of 11344-'36. 'of 1834.

239.1 244 49.7 37 110.1 .... 177 131.8 ..... 137

48 .... dB 269.4 47.1 12.9 119

8.9 2.5 33.2

44.1 93 64.1

7.0 23.7

Lord Panmure was sufficiently recovered to be present at a Cabinet Coun- cil on Wednesday,

Mr. John Ferguson of Cairnbrock, near Irvine, who died recently, has left landed anctfunded Property valued at 1,250,000/. Mr. Ferguson COMO into possession of the greater part of his immenie property asheirto two nut- ternsi. uncles, merchants iniondon and New York. Though not a miser, he lived in a very inexpensive style, and swelled hie inherited wealth by prudent speculations. ills will has given great.satisfaction : after making Ids relatives comfortable or affluent by legacies amounting to 681,0001., Le has left great sums for religious or charitable purposes.

The - Director-General has issued a warrant increasing the pay of all Acting Assistant-Surgeons in the Army from 108, to lie. 6d. per diem. The order that the sum of 44:11. shall be given to each at the end of two years'

service is cancelled. -

A. company of the Royal Sappers and Miners is to be raised to act as drivers for that corps when in the field, BO that the body will be independent of any other in the conveyance of the peculiar stores they require—as pon- toon:bridges and intrencliing-tools.

Notice is given in the Gazette of Tuesday that Dr. Rae has claimed the 10,0001. reward offered for "ascertaining the fate" of the crews of the Ere- bus and Terror : any person having a counter-claim must appear to substan- tiate it within three months.

On the outer voyage to Australia of the Ben Nevis, Captain Heron, in latitude 44.41 South, and in the same longitude as the Crozets, came unex- pectedly upon land. Supposing it was the Crozets, he steered 120 miles South, and was astonished to find himself at the Crozets. He describes the hew island as the highest he had ever seen, for the mountain ridge on it seemed to be as high as the Andes. The Crozets are in a line with Prince Edward Island, Marian, and Kerguelen's Lsland.—Limpool Post.

The Sultan has signed a firman granting the right to make a canal from the Danube to the Black Sea to a company formed of capitalists of London, Paris, Vienna, and Constantinople.

The Turkish Government propose to form telegraphic lines from Constan- tinople to Belgrade, with branches to Salonica and Cattaro. The merchants of Genoa,_ who traded largely to the 13Iaek Sea, feared that the war would ruin them ; but while hostilities destroyed one branch of their commerce they so largely increased others that the general trade of Genoa has nothing to complain Of.

In consequence of a protest of the Russian Minister at Berlin, the pro- duction of a piece at a minor theatre, called "Merely a Soul," and turning on the fortunes of certain Russian serfs, has been prohibited.

Varying reports of the condition of Rachel have crossed the Atlantic : at one time she was at death's door, at another quite recovered ; now one rumour tells us that she will be compelled to pass a long recess at the Havanna to recover her shattered health, while another represents her health as improved. We may rely on two facts—that Rachel has been very ill in the United States, and that she has arrived at the Havanna.

Strict Salibatarian views now prevail at Rome. The Cardinal Vicar has issued an edict for the observance of Sundays and holidays ; and workmen who have followed their occupations on Sunday have been arrested and fined, while gentlemen have been searched in the streets to ascertain if they have been making purchases.

It is said that Sir John Dean Paul works as a tailor in prison, while Mr. Strahan is a chairmaker.