Summary Of News For March.

SUMMARY OF NEWS FOR MARCH .

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT .

During the past month very little of consequence has taken place in either of the Houses , Avhich now stand adjourned for the Easter holidays , beyond the announcement in both , on the evening of the 2 nd , that the Emperor of Russia had died the previous day . . , In the House of Lords on the 9 th Earl Granville stated , in answer to a question , that though the Government had no new plan with regard to ticket of leave convicts , they would endeavour to improve the present system . On the 19 th Lord Lucan

moved for certain returns relative to the battle of Balakiava , which Avere agreed to . On the 20 th Lord Lyndhurst called attention to the conduct of Prussia , which Lord Clarendon admitted to be vacillating , but expressed a hope that she Avould yet join in the alliance against Russia . On tho 21 st neither House met , the day being set aside for a national humiliation and fast ; but on the 22 nd Lord Stanley of Alderley promised that a Bill for regulating partnerships , with limited liability , should be brought in after Easter . On the 23 rd a message from the 0 , ueen relative to the Sardinian contingent was received , and considered the 26 th . On the following day some Bills Avere advanced a stage , and the Queen ' s reply reeeh'ed . In the House of Commons on the 1 st Lord Goderich broup-ht forward a motion

against the system of purchase m the British army as injurious to the public service , and unjust to the private soldiers , AA'hicli was negatived by a majority of 158 to 114 , On the 2 nd an attempt to make the Sebastopol Committee secret Avas unsuccessful , and a Bill for doing away with the qualification of members was negatived . On the 5 th the Reduction of Tea Duties Suspension Bill was read a second time , and in Committee of Supply a motion against the Government manufactory of small arms Avas negatived by a majority of 3 70 to 34 . On the 7 th the Judgments' Execution

Bill A-, * as defeated as defective ; the Tea Duties and Marine Mutiny Bills passed through Committee , and other bills advanced a stage . On the 8 th the House was principally occupied with a discussion brought on by Mr . Malins relative to the conduct of Sir C . Napier , Avhich resulted in nothing , and without at all adding to the reputation for discretion of the gallant admiral . On the 9 th the House lvas occupied in Committee of Supply , and , Avith the exception of a few questions put and answeredthe same business Avas continued on the 12 th . On the 13 th Mr . HeyAVCod

, obtained leaA-e to bring in a Bill to legalise marriages Avith a deceased Avife ' s sister . On the 14 th a fciv Bills were advanced a stage . On the 15 th a Bill of Mr . Locke King ' s for the better settling the real estates of intestates was negatived by a majority of 156 to 84 ; a similar fate befel a motion of Mr . AVilliams' to regulate the probate duty on real property and impropriate tithes by 84 to 61 ; and to one by Mr .

Cobbett to regulate tho hours of labour in factories by 109 to 101 . On the 16 th Sir John Pakington obtained leave to bring in a Bill for better encouragement ancl promotion of education , and Sir Benjamin Hall for the better local management of the metropolis . On the 19 th the neAvspaper stamp Bill for enabling newspaper proprietors to use their option with regard to stamping their papers , or such portion of the impression they thought fit , was brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; after which the House went into Committee of Supply . The principal discussion on

the folloAving day was on a motion of Sir Joshua AValmsley for opening the British Museum and National Gallery on Sundays , which was negatived by 235 to 48 . The Newspaper Stamp Bill was read a first time . The House did not again meet until the 23 rd , when the Lord Advocate brought in a Bill relative to education in Scotland , and the House went into Committee of Supply . The Queen ' s message was also communicated to this House . It Avas considered on the 26 th , and a reply given . The Newspaper Stamp Duties Bill Avas then taken into consideration and read a

second time by a majority of 215 to 161 . On the 27 th a motion of Colonel Reed to inquire into the system of conferring appointments in the army Avas rejected by a majority of 104 to 70 . On the 28 th the bills of exchange and promissory notes bills , by which great additional power are given to the holders , was read a second time , and referred to a select Committee .