The Week.

railway from Halifax to Quebec until the colonists were prepared to comply with the conditions laid down by the Government . — Mr . Cardwell , in answer to a question from Mr . Dunlop , said the subject of creating sees in the colonies by letters patent was under the consideration ofthe Government , and , until some decision was arrived at , no new patents would be issued . In reply to the same hon . and learned member , the

Attorney-General briefly described the state of confusion into which the Colonial Church had been thrown by the judgment of the Privy Council . —The motion for the second reading of Mr . Villiers' Bill substituting union for parish rating was opposed by Sir R . Knightley , who moved as an amendment that it was inexpedient to legislate on the subject during the present

session . After a long discussion , the Bill was read a second time by a majority of 203 to 131 . —Mr . Darby Griffith moved for a Select Committee to inquire whether any legal enactment , or the interests of the public service required , that the office of the Postmaster-General should be exclusively held by a peer . The motion was opposed by Mr .

F . Peel , and , without further discussion , was withdrawn . —Mr-. Dillwyn then moved his resolution , affirming that the position of the Irish Church Establishment " is unsatisfactory , and calls for the early attention of Her Majesty's Government . " The O'Donoghue seconded the resolution , which was opposed by Sir George Grey , who said that tho Government were not prepared

to submit to Parliament a measure for carrying out what was the real object of the members for Swansea and Tralee—the entire abolition of the Irish Establishment . In the abstract , a national church which represented only a minority of the people was indefensible , but the Irish Church was an institution resting on the unbroken prescription of centuries , and the effect of its dismemberment would entail upon the country " all

the horrors of a revolution . " Mr . Hardy having spoken against the motion . Mr . Gladstone entered into the whole question of the Irish Church . He admitted the first of Mr . Dilhvyn ' s propositions—that the state of tho Irish Establishment is " unsatisfactory ; " but , having regard to the difficulties which stand in the way of the removal of the anomalies , which he could not help recognising , he was not prepared to

give his assent to the declaration that the question " calls for tiie early attention" of tbe Government . Several other members having spoken , the debate was adjourned until the 2 nd of May . On AA ednesday Sir F . Heygate moved the second reading of the Sheep , & c , Protection ( Ireland ) Bill . The enormous number of dogs in Ireland seriously

interfered with the breeding of sheep by worrying them , The Bill proposed that every owner of a clog should pay a registration fee of 2 s , Gd . Sir R . Peel created some amusement by pointing out the duties which would be thrown on the constabulary by the Bill . He would endeavour to bring in a measure better suited to meet the evil .

After . some further discussion , Sir P . Heygate expressed his willingness to postpone the measure to give time to the Government to bring in one on the subject . AVith that understanding ib was read a second time . —Mr . Fenwick moved the second reading of the Sheep and Cattle Bill , which was to provide against injuries to sheep and cattle by dogs . After

some remarks from Sir C . O'Loghlen , the Bill was read a second time . —Sir F . Kelly moved the second reading of the Chemists and Druggists Bill . It proposed that no one should carry on the business who was not registered , and that previous to registration he should pass an examination by the Pharmaceutical Society . Sir J . Shelley , who had a Bill on the same subject , bub mainly relating to tho sale of poisons , ancl vesting the power of examination in the United Chemists' Society ,

would vote for this Bill if both were sent to a select committee . After some further discussion , both Bills were read a second time and referred to a select committee . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The health returns of last week show that the deaths in ten towns amounted to 29 per cent ., being one higher than tbe average of last week . Liverpool maintains

its bad eminence as the most unhealthy town in the list . London is rather below the average . The deaths iu all the towns were 3 , 001 ; tho births , 3 , 930 . Of these 2 , 101 children were born in London , while the deaths were 1 , 634 , which is 1 C 3 above the estimated rate of London mortality . AA e have to announce another considerable decrease in the pauperism of the cotton

manufacturing districts . The Poor-Law Board return for the third week of the present month shows a net diminution of 2 , 020 paupers ; during the last three weeks upwards of 7 , 300 persons went off the union relief lists . Among the unions most conspicuous last week for improvement we note Blackburn , which had 160 fewer paupers ; Bolton , 150 ; Burnley , 100 ; Bury ,

290 ; Chorlton , 490 ; Manchester , 310 ; Oldham , 130 ; and Preston , S 30 . At the same time , a total diminution in the adult able-bodied class was 1 , 065 . The sum expended by the guardians in outdoor relief was £ 5 , 738 , or £ 171 less than in the week immediately preceding the last . The whole number of persons now upon the poor rates throughout the district , is

about 45 , 000 in excess of the number we have in times of full work . The Gazette contains the appointment of Dr . Livingstone to be her Majesty ' s consul in the territories of all African kings ancl chiefs in the interior of Africa that are not subject to the authority of the King of Portugal , the King of Abyssinia , or the Viceroy of Egypt . The Gazette also contains the list of the New G . C . B . 's and K . C . B . ' s . There are thirteen of the former class , none of whom are lower than vice-admirals

or 'lieutenant-generals ; and twenty-seven of the latter , including one or two rear-admirals and colonels , besides the heads of the medical ancl commissariat departments . Sir Frederick Bruce , our new ambassador to the United States , sailed on Saturday in the China from Liverpool for New York . The iron-clad ship the Agincourt—one of the Minotaur class—was launched yesterday morning from the yard of Messrs . Laird , at

Birkenhead . Saturday was a great day at Edinburgh . Two statues of eminent citb . en _ were added to the many that already adorn that beautiful city . One , a bronze effigy of Professor Wilson—the " Christopher North " of Blaclcmood—was subscribed for by the friends ancl admirers of that distinguished author ; the other , a marble statue of Allan Ramsay , the author

of " The Gentle Shepherd , " and several songs still constantly in the mouths of the Scottish peasantry , was the bequest of the late Lord Murray , who was descended from a daughter of the poet . The South London Industrial Exhibition , which was opened at the Lambeth Baths , New-cut , on the 1 st of February last , was closed on the 23 rd ult . It was expected that Mr . Gladstone

would have been present at the closing scene , but he was unexpectedly detained , and in his absence the Earl of Shaftesbury presided . The meeting was addressed by his lordship , by Mr . Layard , the Hon . Mr . Broclerick , the Archdeacon of Surrey , the Rev . Newman Hall , and others . The exhibition has been a highly successful one . In spite of the severe weather of the

last two months the exhibition was attended by upwards of 123 , 000 persons , and tho receipts amounted to £ 1 , 270 , which will suffice not only to defray the expenses , but will leave a handsome surplus , which the committee propose to expend in prizes . The affairs of Messrs . Spooner ancl Attwood ' s bank were discussed in the Birmingham Court of Bankruptcy on Tuesday . After a large amount of debts had been proved , the meeting was resolved into one of creditors ,