31lioullatunno.

The whole Militia of the United Kingdom, so saith the Morning ?oaf, is to be embodied forthwith. This statement has not yet been confirmed or denied.

The Board of Admiralty has issued a notification, increasing very con- siderably the allowances of food to the seamen of the Royal Navy ; offer- ing kits to boys, and clothing and mess utensils to men. We believe this course was recommended by the Royal Commission on the Manning of the Navy.

The 2d Battalion of the 4th Regiment, the 2d Battalion of the 22d Regiment, and the 100th Regiment will proceed immediately to rein- force the Mediterranean garrisons.

General Sir John Burgoyne and Sir Joshua Jebb inspected the exten- sive fortifications and other works at Portland on Thursday week, and went over the breakwater and prison. It is said that the number pf workmen and convicts will be materially increased, and that the new fortress and batteries will soon assume a formidable appearance.

General Fave Aide-de-camp to the Emperor Napoleon, arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn Street, early in the week.

The Italians resident in the United Kingdom have opened a sub- scription on behalf of the poor families of the Sardinian contingent. The Marquis d'Azeglio, Baron Marochetti, and Count Corti, have subscribed to the fund.

There is much promise in the programme of the Crystal Palace ar- rangements for the year: more Flower Shows for dahlias, hollyhocks, autumn flowers, and crysanthemums, Concerts by the Opera Company, by Mr. Lollies' Choir, the Vocal Association, the Metropolitan, National, and Charity Schools. The season commences on Monday with a special semi-military fete in commemoration of the Indian Rebellion. The great event, however, is to be the Handel Festival. Tho neighbours appear to be as much on the alert as a lodging-letting community usually is ; for there is scarcely a house to be let, or a lodging, or a room in the hotels, which has not been secured.

Mr. Dickens attracted his usual full audience in the Easter Holydaya, reading at St. Martin's Hall with a fervour, pathos, and humour, which no other reader of the day can approach : for the faculty which creates a Mrs. Gamp and a Mr. Weller comes to us but once a century, and when its owner possesses such natural advantages as Mr. Dickens does, of eye, voice, and dramatic action, rivalry in the use of these is almost out of the question.

Major-General Sir William Fenwick Williams, of Kars, K.C.D., is ap- pointed Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Canada. The Colonelcy of the 16th Lamers, vacant by the death of f.ieountensetufat: Gem ral Sir Joseph Thackwell, will, m all probability, be conferred

tenant-General Sir Edward Cust, who served in most of the principal en- gagements in the Peninsular. A service of plate subscribed for by a large and important body of the civil servants of the Crown for good work rendered by Sir Richard Mader Brom- ley in obtaining the recent repeal of the Civil Service Superannuation Act of the late reign, was on Saturday last presented to Sir Richard. The ad- dress on the occasion was spoken by Mr. Peter Cunningham.

Among the various new men now addressing themselves to constituencies conspicuous are several Australian colonists—some of them, however, reversing their colonial politics. Mr. Leslie_ Foster, a near relation of the present Under Secretary of State for ForeignAffairs (Mr. Fitzgerald), seeks under the auspices of the Carlton Club, the suffrages of the electors of Penryhn and Falmouth. Mr. Foster was of late the Finance Minister in the Cabinet of Mr. O'Shanassey, the Liberal Premier of Victoria. Mr. John Dunn, formerly the rery Liberal Member for Hobart Town, comes out now in the form of a supporter of Lord Derby, and asks for the approval of the good folks of Totness. At Pontefract we have Mr. Hughes Childers, an accomplished scholar and a man of more than usual ability, contesting on Liberal principles that borough. Mr. Childers was formerly Commissioner of Trade and Customs in Victoria, and as a financier and debater ranked high in the colony. Captain Clarke, Royal Engineers, lately the head of the. Land Department in the same colony, has also been mentioned for more than one constituency, but it is reported that he is about to receive another high colonial appointment.

Prince George of Saxony, who is to marry the sister of the King of Portu- gal, is expected shortly in Brussels, where he will meet the reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha on his return from London.

Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio, who came to this country on a special mis- sion from the court of Turin, has left the Sardinian Legation on his return to Piedmont.

The rumour is prevalent that Count de Persigny is to resume the functions of Ambassador at the Court of St. James's, in the room of the Duke de Malakoff.

The Courtier de Marseille mentions as a further proof of Austria being greatly in want of funds, that the Emperor Francis Joseph has caused the jewels ewels to be deposited with the heirs of the well known banker Baron Sina, as a guaranteelor a loan of thirty-two millions of florins.

It is a fact not generally known that by a recent order of the Post-office authorities book packets too late for the evening despatch to the country, and also newspapers, may be posted at the General Post-office after the box in the hall at St. Martin's-le-Grand is closed at six p. m. The regulations are as follow. Book packets and newspapers may be posted after six o'clock, p.m. on payment of one farthing, until seven p.m. ; or on payment of one halfPenny till fifteen minutes past seven p. m.; or on the payment of one penny till thirty minutes past seven.