Summary Of News For April.

SUMMARY OF NEWS FOR APRIL .

THE COUBT . The Queen held her first drawing-room for the season on the 10 th . It was very numerously attended , and the Princess Royal made her debut upon the occasion . On the 15 th Her Majesty held a levee . The Queen and Prince Albert visited the Crimean heroes in hospital at Chatham , on the 16 th , and on the 18 th proceeded to the camp at Aldershott , where they remained for the ' night . The militia in camp were reviewed on the 19 th , and presented a most soldierly appearance . Her Majesty and the Royal Family were present at a grand naval review at Spithead , on the 23 rd . Owing to the breaking down of a train on the South Western Railway , and other bungles , the members of the Houses of Lords and Commons did not arrive until the review was half over , and did not get back to town until 4 in the morning .

THE PEACE . The booming of the Park and Tower guns late on the evening of the 30 th March announced to the London public the conclusion of peace , which was officially published in the Gazette on the following day . Though the terms have not officially transpired , it is understood the Black Sea is to be neutralised , the navigation of the Danube thrown

open , and the frontiers of the Principalities , which Austria is immediately to evacuate , re-arranged . The Conference , notwithstanding the conclusion of peace , continued its sittings up to the 16 th , and it is stated that some rather angry discussions took place relative to the affairs of Italy . There are to be fireworks in the various parks , and other rejoicings , so soon as the news of the ratification having been exchanged is received .

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . The House of Lords met for the first time after the recess on the 1 st ; but beyond the announcement of the Marquis of Lansdowne , that peace had been concluded , as already published in the Gazette , and the postponement of one or two motions , nothing was done . On the 3 rd , on the motion of the Earl of Albemarle , returns were ordered relative to the infliction of torture to raise revenue in India . On the 4 th , the Agricultural Statistics Bill passed through committee . On the 7 th , after a discussion on the Bank Charter Act , which led to nothing , a few unimportant bills were advanced

a stage . On the 8 th , the Agricultural Statistics Bill was read a third time and passed . On the 9 th , in a discussion relative to the annexation of Oude , it was stated every information would he given on the return of Earl Dalhousie to this country . On the 11 th , the Royal Assent was given to several Bills , the principal one being to enable parties charged with offences to remove their trials from one place to another . The Matrimonial and Divorce Bill was read a second time . On the 14 th , resolutions were again passed denouncing the tortures in India . The Lords sat on

the 15 th , but no business was transacted . On the 17 th Lord Panmure stated it was proposed to send troops to North America , to replace those withdrawn at the commencement of the war . On the 18 th , returns were ordered relative to the ticket of leave system . On the 21 st , the Church Discipline Bill was lost by a majority of 41 to 33 . On the 24 th , Lord Ly rid hurst gave notice that he proposed on an early day to call attention to the affairs of Italy . The Bill for legalising marriages with the sisters of deceased wives , was lost by 43 to 24 on the 25 th .

In the House of Commons on the 1 st , Lord Palmerston announced the conclusion of peace , and stated that four weeks were allowed for the exchange of ratification p . Several votes were taken in supply , and a compulsory Vaccination Bill read a second time . On . the 1 st , a motion of Mr . Roebuck , for increasing the salaries of County Court Judges to . # 1 , 500 a year , was , after sonic opposition , withdrawn . Mr . Bouverie obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the amendment of the poor law as regards the removal of paupers ; and Sir George Grey brought in his Bill for the Reform of the Corporation of . London . By this measure the common councilmcri arc to he reduced from 230 to < Jf > , and the aldermen from 2 ( 5 to 10 ; the latter to be elected for six years VOL . II . 3 . 1 *