NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE French Sultan has flung out his Vizier's head as a peace offering to his capital. By a decree issued on 24th June M. de Persigny is removed, and the whole Ministry re- modelled on the following plan :—

Labat. Labat.

The three gentlemen italicized are new. M. Paul Bowlet was an Orleanist, and as member of the Council of State signed the protest against the coup d'etat, but is almost un- known in politics. M. Behie was traffic-manager of the Messageries Imperiales, and is equally unknown; and M. Duruy is a third-class historian. All these three were selected by the Emperor, and were, it is said, appointed by post, His Majesty concealing his intention from them as well as his former Miuisters.

The same decree announces also a serious constitutional change. The Ministers without portfolio are abolished. The Emperor does not grant Ministerial responsibility, but in " order to organize more solidly the representation of the Governmental idea before the Chambers," he entrusts the representation of the Cabinet to two of its own members, MM. Rouher and Billault. The change is a serious one, and is regarded in Paris as a step towards the introduction of some form of Ministerial responsibility. It is more certain that it is intended as a concession, and that the Emperor perceives that the time has arrived for increasing the influence and faci- litating the action of the representative body. The dismissal of M. de Persigny tends also to enfranchise the Press, which lie has persecuted with a severity which has roused the resent- ment of the whole literary class of France, and altogether the movement is towards a freer political life.

The long-talked-of case of the alleged Confederate cruiser Alexandra came on before Chief Baron Pollock on Monday. An elaborate information of ninety-eight counts demanded the forfeiture of the vessel, as having been fitted out with intent to violate the Foreign Enlistment Act. Messrs. Fawcett 'and Preston, a Liverpool firm of engineers, who had protested against the seizure, and claimed the ship as their property' were the defendants. Evidence was adduced for the Crown to prove the warlike character of her build, and the fact that instructions as to her construction were constantly given by notorious Confederate agents ; but the principal witness was a Confederate deserter, formerly paymaster of the Alabama, and whose general character suffered considerably in cross- examination. Sir Hugh Cairns dwelt much on the inexpe- diency of putting in force the Act under which the information was laid, passed in 1819, for the first time, for political objects, characterized the principal Crown witnesses as "five dis- charged workmen, two crimps, and a spy," but mainly rested on the ground that there was not sufficient proof of warlike equipment at the time of the seizure. The Chief Baron pro- pounded the doctrine (analyzed in another column) that actual armament at the time of seizure alone justified forfeiture, and that the Act had, consequently, not been violated. The jury returned a verdict for the defendants, upon which the Attor- ney-General immediately tendered a bill of exceptions, so that the questions of law will come before a full Court of Error.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has been sitting during the last week on the appeals of Mr. Wilson and Dr. Williams, but the reports of the arguments are so exceedingly brief and obscure that it is almost impossible to follow their course. Both the appellants are pleading in person instead of by professional advocates, and the general impression seems to be that the judgment of the higher court will further widen the breach in the dogmatic restrictions imposed on the clergy which the deci- sion in the Court of Arches had made. Mr. Wil- son's argument on the meaning of the Sixth Article, which declares that "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation ; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man," and on the definition of the word "canonical" which it contains, seems to have been one of some ability. He argued that the learned judge, in his strict interpretation of " what is necessary to salva- tion," in this article, bad, in fact, contravened the eighteenth, which states that "Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ whereby men must be saved," and that "had it not been a privileged statement, the Dean of the Court of Arches would be liable to be articled for it," which was bold ground. He maintained that the Sixth Article means by Holy Scripture "as necessary to salvation," the doctrine of Scripture, and not the Book itself. He has also argued against the literal interpretation fixed by Dr. Lushington on metaphorical words like the penal "fire," and in defence of his own quasi-universalisuL Dr. Williams's argument has been still worse reported than Mr. Wilson's, and the Queen's Advocate's more briefly than either.

In the course of the case Lord Westbury indulged in a curious obiter dictum concerning the origin of St. Matthew's Gospel. He stopped Mr. Wilson to say that to regard St. Matthew's Gospel as a translation is not admissible, as it contains the translation of a Hebrew word, "And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted God with us." We confess we do not see the force. of the remark either in a critical or legal sense. For Mr. Wilson's purpose, in arguing against the possibility of verbal inspira- tion, he merely wished to put it as a tenable hypothesis held by a great number of scholars. Lord Westbury could scarcely have meant to decide ex cathedra that no scholar has any right to hold such a view. Critically the remark is still more obscure. How could a translator better translate such a proper name than by giving it doubly, both in its Hebrew sound and its equivalent Greek meaning ? In anetaher part of the trial Lord Westbury apparently wished to render the " many mansions" reserved for Christ's disciples by "different degrees of happiness," which is an interpretation worthy of the faded rationalizing school which always substitutes a bleached abstract term for a word of any force or significance. The sudden death of Sir Joshua Jebb leaves a vacancy of which we trust the Government will take advantage to obtain the aid of Sir Walter Crofton.

Mr. Hennessy's motion on Poland and Mr. Forster's amend- ment, which were fixed for Monday, were stopped by a vote of the House. Early on that day it was known that England, France, and Austria had really forwarded to St. Petersburg six specific demands, and on the motion that the order of the day should be postponed to admit the debate, the House voted by 165 to 110 that it should not. Several reasons were assigned, but the real one was a determination to receive the Russian reply before talking any more, a plausible, but only plausible resolve. If the Czar has refused to yield, the discussion could do no harm ; if ho has yielded, it would have shown him a new reason for concession ; if he has done neither one nor the other, it would have proved to him how completely Parliament agrees with the sympathy of the Powers for the Poles. After the vote, a sharp discus- sion arose as to its propriety, during which Lord Palmerston announced the six points it had been agreed to demand. They are, 1st, an amnesty ; 2nd, representative government ; 3rd, Poles only to hold office in Poland ; 4th, liberty of conscience ; 5th, the use of the Polish language ; 6th, a fair conscription.

The Commander-in-Chief has consented to try Colonel Crawley in England. Many of the witnesses are in England, and the remainder will be ordered home. It is, therefore, nearly certain that the affair will be sifted to the bottom, and whatever the result of the Court-Martial the relatives of Serjeant-Major Lilley may, if they please, prosecute Colonel Crawley before a criminal court.

The second session of the Austrian Reichsrath has been opened by a message read by the Archduke Charles. The Hungarian members were not present, or the Venetian, and the Czechs almost immediately seceded. The speech, however, was hopeful, the Emperor congratulating his advisers on the maintenance of peace, on the development of the Power of Austria, and on an increase in the finances which will prevent the expected deficit of 1,200,000/. A promise was given that the draught of a new code of laws should be laid before the Reichsrath, with provisions for new criminal courts, oral pro- ceedings, reports, and, wherever feasible, trial by jury. The excessive delays, moreover, which now make a trial almost equivalent to a sentence are to be done away with, and, in short, the German subjects of the House of Hapsburg are to be as well cared for as donee obedient children always are. The only thing now required is some small guarantee that the Emperor, in a nervous fit, or a bilious fit, or a fit of temper, may not take away all the liberties he has granted.

The application of France to our Government to join it in offering mediation to the United States has either, it is said, been already renewed, or is on the point of renewal. Messrs. Roebuck and Lindsay have been with the Emperor at Fon- tainebleau, and it is said that they have power to state in Parliament his wish to join England in offering his good offices to the United States, his only motive being to stop the horrible and useless carnage. If this be the Emperor's inten- tion, Mr. Roebuck would do well to withdraw his motion for an immediate recognition of the Confederate States, since to carry it would be to cut us off completely from any chance of amicable intervention. Mr. Roebuck boasts of his abilities as an English watch-dog, to which he seems recently to have added an equally noisy zeal for Austria and the young slave Power ; but a watch-dog is not exactly the creature whose "kind offices" would be welcome to the robber, and Mr. Roebuck makes it painfully evident that he regards the legi- timate Government of the United States in that capacity. If he could be silent a little, France might avail herself, with less trembling, of the diplomatic accomplishments of Mr. Lindsay.

Mr. Bouverie has followed the prevalent practice in with- drawing his Bill to enable colleges,—if they choose,—to elect fellows without requiring from them a promise to conform to the liturgy of our Church. It is a shortsighted and weak practice thus to shrink from the business-like discussion which precedes a defeat. The prestige of a victory such as that gained over Mr. Bouverie's fears, scarcely broken as it was by the force of a discussion felt to be unpractical, is fax greater than it would have been had the warm debate which precedes a division tested the reality and value of the Conserva- tives' fears. Mr. Gfischen made his maiden speech in the debate, and it was an exceedingly good one. Ile brought out the fact that the seventy .four fellows and tutors who had petitioned in favour of the Bill from Cambridge, contained a actual majority of the fellows of the great colleges of Tr, ity and Christ's ; and we believe it will be found that in t °- Oxford petition the number of high-honour men who are n favour of the change constitutes a much larger proportion .of. the high-honour men of the University. The Public OratDr- at Cambridge, 31r. W. a Clark, has given his valuable testi- mony to the beneficial nature of the change, and to the i* cruiting power it would give to our Church among the most." cultivated Dissenters. For example, the gentleman of whom Mr. Walpole, we think' so unfairly said that he declined to conform in order "to keep up the grievance," but who was really influenced partly by slight personal scruples and partly by his father's opinions—a very amiable scruple—would doubtless have been weaned from Dissent had he once been made a fellow without the declaration. The mass of under- graduates at both Universities are opposed to the reform ; they do not reason, and they think Dissent "ungentlemanly ;" with them side the Tories, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the more timid and the more bigoted bishops, including, we arc surprised and grieved to learn, even. "Richard Dublin."

On Monday night Captains Speke and Grant were received in such a meeting of the Geographical Society as was pro- bably never before held. The room was crowded to excess, and some of the windows stormed by assailants from outside. Captain Speke did not prove so great in oratory as in travel. ling, and Captain Grant was modest, and only said a few words. The previous accounts of the Kin.. of Uganda's enor- mous harem were qualified by a division by ten; he has about three hundred, not three thousand wives. A few character- istics were added to those we had already heard—that he prac- tised rifle-shooting for the first time at cows in his own yard ; that he had first and second-class executioners, and "men who whistle on their fingers ; " that he thought an English umbrella a formidable magic spell ; and wa otherwise misinformed on most subjects, weighty an trivial, as, for example, the existence of his own soul, which appears not to be believed in in these negro kingdoms. The main effect of the whole information as yet communicated on the subject of these semi-civilized negro kingdoms is, that they are rather more occupied with trivialties than even ordii nary barbarians,—that with them tameness does not imply progress. There is, however, no want of thoroughly barbaric. institutions. All the brothers of the King, own brothers or half-brothers (and with about three hundred stepmothers, there must, of course, be a great multitude) are executed on his accession, except two, who are reserved "in case of acci- dents." The Prince of Wales and the Comte de Paris, who heard this statement on the following night at the Royal Institution, are said to have joined heartily in the merriment it occasioned ; but perhaps the younger brothers would have felt more sym- pathy with the immolated negro princes.

The King of Dahomey is an ill-used man. Commodore Wilmot has sent home a despatch concerning him which pre- sents him in an almost amiable light. He cannot, he says, put an end at once to the practice of slaying human victims,— if he did, his own head would be cut off,—and he understands his epoch too well to challenge public opinion ; but he limits the number as much as he can ; only fourteen selected victims were doomed to be sacrificed in the celebration of the festivities witnessed by Commodore Wilmot, and of these half were spared. In short, to Commodore Wilmot he repre- sented himself as a much slandered potentate and the Commodore evidently so regards him. He found umbrellas as much valued at the Court of Dahomey as they were feared at the Court of Uganda. Variegated umbrellas appear to be the King's weakness, and his wives are one-third only in number of the wives of the King of Uganda. Ile is con- tent with one hundred. His guard of Amazons are ex- pert in cutting off heads with large razors ; and presents of rum are the accepted signs of hospitable feeling. The King calls himself, like his French brother, not the King of Dahomey, but the "King of the Blacks," and Commodore Wilmot is convinced that he is not near so black as he has been painted.

Mr. James R. Allan, brother to the emigration agent at 0 tago, has replied to Miss Rye's• statements about the arrangements for emigrants there. He declares that the bar- racks are not dirty, that the constabulary do not smoke or drink among the women, and that the matron and sub- matron are always present,—statements diametrically opposed to those of Miss Rye. As to the story that the upper floor of the building is the resort of loose women, that "is entirely an imagination of Miss Rye's own." Young girls are never, moreover, placed in situations without most careful inquiry. The agent finally charges Miss Rye with undue eagerness for authority, and with readiness to make the most "reckless charges" as to the characters of female emigrauts,—charges based principally upon gossip. The agent, it must be re- marked, makes most of these statements upon the authority of his subordinates, and we imagine the truth is that Miss Rye is a little too impulsive, a little too solicitous about dirt, and a little too "proper," and that Mr. Allan, like most 'officials, is pretty habitually deceived.

Mr. H. Vivian on Thursday drew from the Marquis of Hartington a statement as to the opinion of Government with respect to the small arms in use. It is evidently this. The Government no longer believes the Enfield rifle the best in the world, but it is the best as yet issued to any army, and, consequently, they are disinclined to incur the expense of changing it. As to abstract merit, the palm lies between the Whitworth and Westley-Richards, and 2,000 of the latter hare been distributed to men in all climates, in order to secure, if possible, conclusive evidence.

The second session of the International Association for the Promotion of Social Science is to be held at Ghent, in the third week in September, between Monday, 14th, and Satur- day, 19th, inclusive. Ghent is already preparing a series of files, "which promise to surpass in historical exhibitions any- thing hitherto attempted of the sort." Among the questions to be discussed by the members of the International Associa- tion there are many on which the comparison of the Conti- nental with the English view will be peculiarly interesting, as, for example, "How can imprisonment pending trial be best preserved from abuse ?" "Ought the State to preserve to itself certain monopolies, like the telegraph, railways, &c., and work them as a source of revenue ?" W'thin what limits

should the rights of visit, capture, and ble in time of war be restricted, in order to reconcile the interests of bellige- rents with those of neutrals ?" On such questions as these,— and there are many such,—foreigners may be of far more use to Englishmen than Englishmen to each other. And the discussion, therefore, in Ghent in September will, it may be hoped, greatly widen the field and deepen the interest of the English Social Science Association's discussions to be held in Edinburgh between the 7th and 14th of the following month, October.

The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women is to hold its annual meeting at Willis's Rooms on Friday next (July 3rd), at three o'clock, Lord Shaftesbury in the chair. Mr. Monckton Milnes, Dr. Lankester, Mr. Hastings, and Mr. Kinnaird are expected to speak, and the many recent inci- dents which have given a painful practical interest to the question will probably render the meeting an important one.

The Eton boys have re-established a magazine, called Etonensia, and their first number is a very creditable perform- ance. There is an essay on Arthur Hallam, very nicely written, and one on words set to music, which shows humour and literary skill. The grandeur of the youthful editors is rather amusing. Of one essay which they decline, they say, "of this effusion they will say no more than that its want of the poetic element disqualified it at once from appearance in our pages." The editors are classical, but, as Mr. Peck- sniff puts it, "pagan, we regret to say." They announce for Judy the appearance of certain papers, not "D. V.," nor even " Deo volente," but "Diis volentibus." We trust the Divini- ties invoked may prove propitious, as the lads really show a good share of literary capacity.

The parish of St. James, Westminster, has taken up the case of Mary Anne Walkley, the dressmaker worked to death, and Dr. Lankester has visited her employers' premises. He found the sleeping room better, the work-room worse, than was expected. The former contained two beds, in which four youngwomen slept, and allowed 340 cubic feetof air to each, and there were two wiudows, which could be opened. In the work-rooms, however, sixty girls had only 3,630 cubic feet of air, or sixty feet each, the allowance necessary to secure perfect health being 700 feet. As a matter of fact, the absurd objection to fresh air felt in all cold countries makes windows almost useless as modes of ventilation, and in large work-rooms all employers should be compelled to allow at least iirison space. Builders can secure it by height if they cannot by length and breadth.

A telegram of the 7th May has been received from Shanghai, I with late but rather obscure news from Japan. The Charge ! d'Affaires appears to have allowed the Government fifteen extra days for reply to his ultinittteina ; but little hope remained of peace. It is stated that the Japanese are purchasing arms of Americans, and the European residents are going on board the ships. If the Japanese reply by a massacre, as they very probably will, we shall have another war on our hands four- • teen thousand miles away.

Mr. Milward, of Redditch, a magistrate for the county of Worcester, seems to have an eccentric idea of justice. He was walking in Redditch, when he saw before him a Mr. Baylis, a manufacturer of the place, as he thought, drunk. Mr. Baylis was perfectly quiet, but the magistrate followed him, and said, in the street, "You are drunk, Sir ; I fine you five shillings." He then issued the summons, which the defendant resisted, and the case was referred to the petty sessions. Here only two magistrates were present, a clergy- man and Mr. Milward himself, and the Court agreed to leave the defendant the "benefit of the doubt" whether a magis- trate had a right to fine on view So Mr. Baylis was let off amidst great popular cheering. The principle that no man can be sentenced until he has been heard in his own defence does not appear to have reached Worcestershire.

The King of the Belgians has, it is said, given his decision in the dispute between Brazil and Great Britain. The point submitted to him was the right to redress for the arrest of the naval officers by a sentry, and his decision is in favour of Brazil. The arrest, " notwithstanding certain irregularities, - did not constitute an insult to the British navy," and, conse- quently, no case arose for national action. The British Government must, of course, abide by this award, and we trust the opportunity will be taken to "make friends" again with Brazil. The pretension of these little Powers to do wrong with impunity because they are weak is, of course, absurd ; but their weakness at least enables the strong to make con- cessions without dishonour.

Mr. Stansfeld, the new Lord of the Admiralty, has repre- sented the Government in two debates this week. He has very speedily caught the official manner, both in its good and

in its objectionable tone. In the first instance, Mr. Liddell "wanted to know" whether Government meant to carry out the reform of Greenwich Hospital advised by the Royal Com- mission of 1860. Mr. Stansfeld, in reply, praised the report of that Commission, but the Admiralty were not prepared to carry out all its ideas ; they must distinguish and reform by degrees ; they had "received suggestions, and returned them annotated ;" and, in short, all they could do at once was to. ask leave to bring in a bill to increase some of the allowances. granted to married pensioners and widows. In the second instance, Mr. Stansfeld made a really admirable business statement. He had to describe the new system to be adopted on 1st October of keeping the Admiralty accounts, and he made a most perplexing subject intelligible to every man in the House. Next year the public under this system will be enabled to see the cost at each stage of each ship, and so com- pare dockyard with dockyard, builder with builder, ships built to order with ships completed by contract.

Mr. Maguire, member for Dungarvon, brought the condition of Ireland on Wednesday before the House by moving a Royal Commission to inquire into tenant-right. His speech called up Sir It. Peel, Mr. Roebuck, and the Premier. Sir R. Peel affirmed that under Roman law a tenant had a claim to remove his improvements, provided he paid his rent, but resisted the motion, as not tending to improve the relation between the tillers and owners of the soil. Mr. Roebuck suggested that a law might be pasecl granting compensation for improvements where n) writtea agreement existed, and Lord Palmerston stoutly maintained the absolute right of the landlord.

Consols are 91/ 911 for money, and 911 92 for the account. The Indian 5 per Cent. Loan remains at 108 1081; and the 5 per- Cent. Enlaced Paper is at 1071. Turkish 6 per Cents., 1862, are 70 701- ditto, Consolid6s, 49i 49/. Greek, 341 34/ ; ditto, Coupons, 15/ 161. Mexican, 33f 36i. Spanish Passive, 334- 33. Italian, 724. 72. A new company has been started called the Staffordshire Rolling Stock (limited), intended "to con- struct, purchase, maintain, and lease, carriages and waggons, to railway companies, collieries, and comny,rcial firms. It will begin by purchasing the business of a local company, which, with a capital of 10,000, has divided 7i- per cent. The Northern Rail- way of Buenos Ayres is issuing deferred preference shares, interest on which, for three years, at the rate of 7 per cent., is guaranteed by the "Metropolitan and Provincial Bank."