NEWS OF THE WEEK.

NOTWITHSTANDING the interruption caused by the adjournment of two days, both Houses of Parliament have again got through a very considerable amount of business ; and although the subjects brought forward have challenged earnest and careful debate, the House of Commons has more particularly bent itself to forward business. Anything like vigorous debating on the merits has taken place in the Upper House.

The Army Estimates were brought before the House of Commons, and went through that introductory stage in a manner which implies that they are disposed of for the session ; the House indorsing the propositions of Government exactly as it did in reference to the Navy Estimates. In essentials, the character of the two branches of expenditure is the same. As compared with last year, there is a decrease of 8,000,000/. in the Army expenditure : but the true comparison is not with a year in which there were extraordinary expenses on account of the war ; it lies with the last year of peace, 1853'4; and whereas the Army Estimates of that year somewhat exceeded 7,400,0001., this year they exceed 9,000,0001. ; an increase of 1,600,000/. Lord Palmerston expressed on the part of Government a strong sense of "the duty to combine a due regard to economy with a proper degree of efficiency." He " hoped that the Committee would vote the amount proposed." "It will be our duty next year," he said, " to see what portions of the charge will cease altogether." The major part of his speech, however, consisted of reasons to justify the increase. It has been found necessary to go beyond our old regimental system, and to create an establishment at Aldershott for the collected exercise of troops. The increase of men over the peace establishment-6000--arises from retaining a portion of the men as supernumeraries, the augmentation of the artillery, the creation of a field

train and hospital staff. It has been necessary to furnish the Army with the rifle ; to provide libraries of education ; to erect barracks, in order to relieve the civil population from the billeting nuisance ; to construct better land-defences at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and. Dover. And although some of these charges may be brought to a conclusion next year, the greater part of the increase appears to be of a permanent cha

racter. In a military point of view, something even beyond this is required. Government, for instance, stands pledged to bring forward a plan for a Staff School. But in a financial point of -view, these promises of further improvement constitute reasons for a continued increase of outlay. Nor are the estimates for the China expedition included in the naval and military statements as yet made. In the short session before the dissolution, the Chancellor of the Exchequer allowed a comparatively small margin for the current year ; his surplus being only 891,000/. over the expenditure of 65,474,0001. Although there might be some error in Mr. Gladstone's figures by which he made out the deficit for next year, this margin certainly gives scarcely enough to cover the outlay for China and Persia ; and while Lord Palmerston offers the most specific reasons for justifying an increase of outlay, the hopes which he expresses of controlling it are -vague, and evidently fathered by the wish more than by any positive expectation.

This comparatively weak control over the outlay is growing to be a political fact ; and it explains the conduct alike of the Opposition and of those Members who sit on the Ministerial side but scarcely belong to the Ministerial party. Mr. Gladstone has

[LsTusi DIMON.]

explained his own silence by the significant words, "I wait." Lord John Russell looks forward to a coming in of 4,500,0004 less from the taxes ; and he trusted that next year, "when everything is to be done rightly and properly," "Government will be prepared with considerable reductions both in the Army and Navy Estimates." Lord John, therefore, also waits.

Sir Charles Napier made an attack upon the Admiralty for its organization and the absence of efficiency and unity in its administrative action. He gave instances of the manner in which our naval warfare is conducted under a "Civil Lord." The succession of different Ministers leads to constant change of view, to incessant alterations, as in shipbuilding, and so to uncontrollable expense. And the want of unity in the command leads to contradictory orders, even in action,—as he had found in the Baltic. Sir Charles asked for a Select Committee ; suggesting a few changes of organization, by which the principal naval authorities would become virtually a "Council "of Admiralty. The official answer, by the mouth of Mr. Osborne, consisted of testimonials from past naval authorities to the excellence of the Admiralty administration; of the remark that a " Council " would be no better than a " Board "; and of taunts at Sir Charles for attempting to put off upon others the consequences of his own faulty command in the Baltic.

The dowry of the Princess Royal did not pass entirely without question. On the bringing up of the report, Mr. Coninghanr took exception to the precedent, and moved to reduce the annuity from 80001. to 6000/. Lord Palmerston expressed "regret that a question should be raised," and deprecated any debate upon a vote of the House, in a manner little consistent with the acknowledged privilege of the House at least to discuss grants made to the Crown. Some few Members took courage and sided with Mr. Coningham ; but in two divisions, the minorities did not exceed more than 14 and 18. The House of Commons is scarcely inclined to discuss any Ministerial or Royal proposition in this year 1857.

The Lord Chancellor's Divorce Bill has been subjected to a little more critical handling ; the amendments which were accepted, however, tending rather to restrict the bill than to enlarge it. For instance, the House _adopted the Bishop of Oxford's amendment forbidding a person who has been divorced to marry the adulterer. But Lord St. Leonards's proposal, to grant separation on one year's desertion, was postponed after a longish debate ; and Lord Lyndhurst's amendment, rendering a five-years desertion sufficient ground for dissolution of marriage, was negatived by an overwhelming majority.. The most trenchant amendment was the total abolition of the suit for "criminal conversation," and the substitution of a prosecution for "misdemeanour." Lord Westmeath's moving of a clause to dissolve marriage in the case of separation lasting for twenty years, only formed an episode in the debate, in order to enable that peculiar Peer to deliver a speech in answer to a pamphlet privately circulated by his wife : but the episode was cut short by an appeal to the forms of the House. Foreign affairs have at last been brought before the new Parliament; Mr. Roebuck beginning on Thursday night, by moving

for a Select Committee to consider our relations with Brazil, and to inquire into the expediency of repealing Lord Aberdeen's Act of 1845. It is under the authority of this-act that our ciiiuk:rs are empowered to seize slave-ships belonging to Brazil even on the very coast of that country, and carry them away for adjudication elsewhere. Mr. Roebuck's statement of the case shows that Brazil has honestly cooperated in combating the slave-trade; has declared the trade to be piracy—has, in fact, entirely put it down ; and is prepared to act cordially with this couni ty.

Brazil is the fourth nation upon the list of our customers—an nually taking twelve millions of goods from England : both :he Government and country are strongly inclined to an Einlish alliance ; they only object to the humiliating form of the Fro

eeedings under the act of 1645, and require it to be rer,d. The obstinate refusal of our Government has led to a ,in pieta suspension of treaty relations with Brazil, and the A Incricans are inviting that country to an "entangling alliance," which might carry away an important trade f: us and lead to great complications. This is the ea-. on that side. The official reply consists in presenting a totally different ease. The net of 1845 is not in operation, for its action is perfectly suspended. Brazil, which has an interest in importing slaves, 'continued to cover an. immense traffic. The course taken towards this country is only the same that was successful in compelling Portugal to abandon the slavetrade. And Lord Palmerston interprets the working of Providence, to show that from the time when Great Britain emancipated herself from the degrading crime of the slave-trade we may date a start of prosperity which we never enjoyed before. That is the offithalstatement on authority, and in response to the motion. Lord Palmerston pointed out that to grant the inquiry would have an appearance of giving encouragement to the slave-trade, which the dealers would well know how to emp]oy. The general impression of the House was against Mr. Roebuck and in favour of maintaining anti-slavery action ; on the same side was the voice of Lord John Russell, who wished to know how the continuance of the slave-trade with Cuba could be prevented ; and Mr. Disraeli also opposed the motion, because he looked forward to the renewal of diplomatic negotiations if the two Governments were left alone. Mr. Disraeli is sanguine. It is to be remarked that the debate was carried on in disregard of anything that has happened actually within Brazil itself. Perhaps if the extension of freedom and of commerce, and the extinction of domestic slave-trade, had been fully stated, the knowledge might have had some effect upon the result of the debate,—if, indeed, during the present session, in any question, the consideration of the merits can affect the result of a debate.

Although considerable sameness continues to characterize the terms in which the foreign news is told, the world is moving, and not very slowly in some parts.

In Hungary, the nobles are petitioning for a restoration of their language, institutions, and representation ; only two families, distinguished by diamonds and horse-racing of a very cosmopolitan kind, withholding their signature to this new draft charter. The answer of the Austrian King John is not stated.

The Neuchatel question is at last really settled ; the King of Prussia surrendering his sovereignty, but retaining the title of "Prince" ; for he declines, says report, a modicum of cash originally stipulated.

In Italy, the Pope is making a progress under favour of Austrian congratulations ; preferring residence at Bologna in order to show that he does not need French protection. At the same time, new disclosures establish a state of the prisons in Rome as hideous as in Naples. Piedmont has been receiving the Empress of Russia with a most significant cordiality.

If international anger smoulders in Europe, the reports from the West are not all reassuring. New Granada is said to contemplate a concession to the United States : but in Washington there is some irritation at the absolute failure of the Dallas-Clarendon treaty ; while reports are put in circulation, that Great Britain intends to renew her position in Ruatan on a stronger footing.

• The most incomprehensible report we find in the Morning Post —that the British Colonial Government has sent troops to support the Hudson's Bay Company in resisting an unexplained enoroaehment. The writer rather anticipates a squabble, placing the Canadians in opposition to the British Government ; a political blunder that might have lamentable consequences throughout the whole of the American continent.