NEWS OF THE WEEK.

CLAssirieD arrangement of the subjects which have occupied the attention of Parliament this week is impracticable—they are so various, dissimilar, and unconnected with each other. Neither does the week's business offer scope t'or commentary or discussion. Our summary must be limited to a narrative of things done, with only an occasional remark RS it proceeds.

For three nights, the House of Commons has been chiefly employed in talking about the Navy ; but the really important question, whether the existing force is sufficient for the present exigencies of the country, received little attention. Members pre- ferred to wrangle about the comparative merits and demerits of Tory and Whig administration of naval affitirs, with personal epi- sodes on the value of a pamphlet which some relative or friend had written, or of an opinion which 'some other great person had de- livered. The Tories maintain that they had always a force at sea or ready for service, equal to "exigencies ;" but that the Whigs have crippled the naval power of England. The Whigs retort that they found the Navy exhausted and crippled, and have restored its vigour and efficiency. It matters little which party has the best of the dispute ; but it is of importance to the country that the ves- sels of war should be well provided with necessary equipments, fully manned, and sound all over. The number of vessels, we sus- pect, is of considerably less importance than their condition. Go on board of an American frigate, mid you see men in the prime of life—perhaps not a single boy—swarming in every part : when mustered on deck, you wonder where so many could have hidden themselves. A vessel manned in this superior style must be an overmatch for British ships of the present day ; in width, Sir ED- WARD CODRINGTON states, there are two men fewer to each gun than in Lord HOWE'S time.

Incidentally, the same subject was brought before the House of Lords ; and the Duke of WELLINGTON took the opportunity of expressing his conviction that petty discussions about masts and sails were wide of the real question which Parliament ought to con- sider. He maintained that England is at war—in America and the East Indies; and yet there is only a peace establishment, which the Government's necessities have foiced it to "starve." To bring the country out of these wars with safety and credit, it is abso- lutely necessary, says the Duke, that there should be war establish- ments. Nearly two years ago he had warned Ministers that this necessity would come upon them, but they had not provided for it. Hence, they had no ships ready to send to the Gulf of Mexico, and were forced to employ volunteers instead of regular troops in Canada. He urged the Government to augment all the establish- ments. This authoritative recommendation was delivered in the absence of the Premier ; and the Marquis of LAN SDOWNE, appa- rently unprepared, could not venture to say much : he, however, promised that his Grace's advice should be most respectfully con- sidered.

With all due deference to the Duke of Wstralsovost's opinion on this class of subjects, we nevertheless bear in mind that he is naturally biassed in favour of grand establishments, and that he is liable to party prejudices, like other men. Tories—far more than any others—would profit at the public expense by an in- crease in the Army and the Navy. Not, therefore, upon the Duke's emphatic dictum, would the House of Commons be justi- fied in voting war estimates. The evil of increased taxation is certain ; the benefit to be derived from an augmentation of the Army and Navy, more than dubious.

The Irish " howl" is again heard in Parliament, and the noise is not small ; but it proceeds almost exclusively from Irish lungs. English Members silently suffer the infliction. Increase of crime in Ireland, and the encouragement of criminals by the Government, which should hang and banish them—the old story—is the pre- tence for renewing this outcry. In one respect both parties are fairly matched : the Orangemen demonstrate from official returns

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that offences of various kinds are grievously prevalent in Ireland; whilst Lord MORPETH and the Ministerial Members are successful in proving that, at any time during the last half century, an equal or greater amount of crime was forthcoming. " The Government are to blame," says Mr. SHAW; " they encourage agitation." "I lay crime to the account of the landlords," replies Lord MORPETH; " they drive the peasantry from their miserable huts, and provoke them to acts of savage revenge." Then O'CONNELL comes forward, and protests that his beautiful country is freer from crime than England or Scotland ; as papers he moves tbr will prove. This is quite fair : let the returns be given, and O'CON- NELL make out his case if he can. In the meanwhile, the weary and worn topic: may be dropped.

The Canada Bill will not be introduced till after Easter. How long after ? and whether will it bind the Colonies to us by the firm tics of justice and mutual interest, or sever them for ever front the sway of Britain ?

Lerd JOHN RUSSELL has not decided to introduce a measure respecting Church-rates ; and he is unable to say what course Ministers will take on that troublesome question. The question, however, is not new, and the Government ought to have been pre- pared to state their intention on the first day of the session.

The resolution of the Committee of Supply, authorizing the issue of two minions and a half of Exchequer Bills for the construction

of a Railway in Ireland, has not yet been "reported," and the Home Secretary shrinks from naming a day when an opportunity will be given to rescind or affirm it.

The phrase "Much ado about nothing," aptly describes a long talk in the House of Commons respecting Lord ASHLEY'S com- plaint against Mr. STUART, the Factory Inspector. Lord ASHLEY

showed soreness, but failed to prove that in representing him in the light of an unscrupulous partisan on the Factory question, Mr.

STUART had committed any impropriety. Mr. O'CONNELL, with praiseworthy candour, allowed Mr. Srumtes right to justify himself front a charge of neglect,—for such in effect was the de- claration of Lord ASHLEY and Mr. O'Cossner., that in Scotland the Factory Act had not been enforced. Lord JOHN RUSSELL de- fended Mr. STUART With becoming spirit ; and the discomfited Lord ASHLEY was glad to escape without a motion.

In addition to these subjects, notice of the following will be found in our epitome of Parliamentary proceedings.

Lord EBRINCTON on the Irish Church. His Lordship has in a very slight degree qualified the expression which angered the Tories.

Controverted Elections. Sir ROBERT PEEL has introduced his Bill. Sale of Beer. Mr. PAKINGTON and the Squires cannot let the

beer-drinkers, who unhappily are politicians also, drink their cheap beverage without molestation. Highways. it is proposed to take the management of parish- highways out of the control of landlords and farmers, and transfer it to the Poor-law Guardians. A large majority sup- ports this measure. What sinister influence is at work ? Petty authority is never relinquished, if profitable. Turnpike Trusts. Alas for the bondholders !—Mr. Fox MAinus assures their advocate, Mr. MAcaixxos, that he can do nothing to save their eight millions from destruction.

Illicit Marriages. Under the new Marriage Act, a man has taken his grandmother to wife ; whereat the Bishop of Losmos is scandalized. But the horror of the deed is diminished by the fact, that the bridegroom is illegitimate, (which is held to make a difference,) and the bride, a young woman, widow of his grand- father, not the mother of either of his own parents. Neither is it fair to impute the irregularity of the marriage to the new Act, as before that law existed, according to Lord Chancellor COT•• TENHAM, such connexions were more frequent than now.