The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty and family are at AVindsor . Tho Princesses Helena and Louise visited the Hay market Theatre on Tuesday , the Prince Louis of Hesse visiting the Adelphi on the same evening . The Prince of Wales has been on a visit to the Marquis of Ailesbury at Sevenoaks Forest , where he has been enjoying the pleasures of the field . Tho Prince has been presented with the freedom of the Fishmongers' Company . His

Royal Highness , in acknowledging the compliment paid him , referred to his future , consort as one who " hoped to prove herself a comfort to the Queen in her affliction . " Tho committee of the Corporation charged with the task of providing for the reception of the Prince ancl Princess in the City , on the 7 th of March , are busily engaged in their duties . It is proposed that seats shall be erected inside tlie railings of St . Paul ' s Cathedral for the accommodation of 2000 of the citizens and their wives .

The public buildings will be illuminated in the evening . The Lord Lieutenant of Kent has reconsidered his singular decision , declining to accept the offer of a battalion of volunteers to act as a guard of honour to the Princess Alexandra on her arrival at Gravesend . The ground of refusal was that there was a rule which prevented volunteers from doing such duty ; but it is now announced that his Lordship has intimated that " there would

he no objection to the attendance of the battalion on the occasion . " It is further announced that during the progress of the Princess through the metropolis , the volunteers will be drawn up under arms in Hyde Park , and at various points within the precincts of the city . We hear with regret that a telegram from Naples on Tuesday night states that Prince Alfred is suffering from fever . AVe trust that news will speedily arrive that the illness is not at all of a serious chavact er .

IUPERIJIL PARLIAMENT . —In tlie HOUSE OF LORDS on Thursday , February 12 th , Lord Ravensivorth strongly urged tlie erection of harbours of refuge , especially on the north-east coast ; but tho Duke of Somerset pointed out the difficulties attending the scheme proposed by the Royal Commission which had inquired into this subject . It had been suggested that the cost of erecting harbours of refuge at given points of the coast should be defrayed partly hy a system of passing tolls , and partly by loans raised by the local authorities . But when the matter came to be inquired

into , it was found that the localities for which this boon had been asked refused to bear a share of the expense , while many shipowners , holding that casualties at sea chiefly bef ' el old ill-found vessels , declared tbey would dispense with harbours of refuge rather than pay passing tolls , which , in their opinion , would be a tax imposed upon them for the benefit of those who sent thenships to sea in an unsafe condition . Under any circumstances , howeverthe noble Duke wished to see the \ A orks at Alderney

, , Portland , and other places completed before embarking in any fresh enterprise of this kind . —In repiy to thi . Duke of Marlborough , the Colonial Secretary stated that Redpath , the plunderer of the Great Northern Railway Company , had obtained a ticket of leave , on account of his good conduct : but , as he had been transported for life , he would not be permitted to return to England . He added that this magnificent ( criminal was

nowliving in a house of his own , in AVestern Australia , on an allowance of £ 200 a year from his wife . On Friday , no business of importance was transacted . On Monday , the sitting of the House occupied only twenty-five minutes , ancl Lord Derby complained that their lordships were obliged to come down to the House when there was really nothing whatever to do . The noble Earl , however , demanded the speedy appearance of the

papers relating to the Brazilian imbroglio , and expressed a hope that Lord Russell ( who was not in his place ) , would be able to disprove tlie " charges of arbitrary and unjust conduct in this matter which now appeared to be onlytoo well founded . '" On Tuesday Lord Russell , in reply to the remarks made by Lord Derby , entered into a defence of the proceedings of the Government with reference to the Brazilian dispute . The noble Earl contended that , considering the nature of the outrages

complained of , it was impossible to have acted otherwise with a tine regard to the interests of this country . It was alleged that the Government had acted with undue haste , but he submitted that it was not until diplomacy had exhausted every means of obtaining redress that extreme measures were resorted to . Lord Derby followed the noble Earl , and expressed himself as not entirely satisfied with the foreign Secretary ' s explanation . The Lord Chanceller then read a message from the Queen , announcing the approaching marriage of the Prince of

AVales , anel expressing a hone that their Lordships would concur in measures for making proper provision for the royal pair . It was , of course , at once agreed to present an address to the Queen , stating that their lordships would comply with Her Majesty's wishes . Lord Normanby made his promised speech on Italy . It consisted mainly of an attack on the new kingdom , and a denunciation cf the Italian policy of Her Majesty . ? Government . Lord Russellin replyexpresed his high

admir-, , ation of the new order of things in Italy , and contended that the Papa ] government was so bad that it was hopeless to attempt to reconcile the Romans to it , or endeavour to assimilate it to the free state which hems it on every side . Lord Ellenborough expressed similar opinions , and after a few words from "Lord Normanby in reply , the House adjourned . —•—In the HOUSE OE COMMONS on Thursday , 12 th inst ., a

conversation took place on the subject of tbe enormous fees paid by the promoters of private bills , and Mr . Milner Gibson promised to bring in a bill with ft view of reducing these charges . —In reply to Mr . Bentinck , the President of the Board ' of Trade said that during the past year , railway accidents had shown a decrease , and it was not his intention to bring in a bill this session on the subject of railway management . —Mr . VilHers moved for leave to bring in a bill to continue for another

year the Union Relief Aid Act of last session . In his opinion , it was impossible to devise a measure more happily suited to meet the case of the cotton manufacturing districts , and he believed that , so far , its provisions had given general satisfaction . —Colonel Wilson Patten was in favour of continuing the act , but lie thought the President of the Poor-law Board was labouring under a misapprehension in supposing that the measure hail

given entire satisfaction . —After some remarks from the Lord Mayor and Mr . Hibbert , Lord Stanley suggested that the act should be continued for six instead of twelve months , in order to afford Parliament an opportunity of re-considering the question before the close of the session . —Mr . Cobcien concurred in this suggestion , ancl expressed his fear that , if the American war was not brought to a close , the condition of the suffering districts would become much worse than it had hitherto been . The hon . gentleman , while acknowledging the great liberality of the general public , quoted figures to show

how nobly Lancashire herself had acted in this crisis , and how great were the sacrifices which the millowners had made , and were still making , in behalf of the unemployed operatives . After some further discussion , leave was given to bring in the bill . On Friday , the first division of the session took place , and ominously enough the Government was defeated by a considerable majority . —Mr . Peacocks moved an address to the Queen , praying , that Her Majesty would give directions

that no sales to facilitate inclosures be made of Crown lands , _ fcc . within 15 miles of London . The motion was opposed by Government , but on a division it was carried by 113 votes against 73 . —3 , IT . W . E . Fovstev , -who so stoutly opposed the Night Poaching Bill , last session , gave notice of his intention to move , on the 3 rd of March , for a Select Committee , to inquire into the operation of the game laws . —Sir Robert Feel , in reply to a question from Mr . Maguiresaidthe

Gov-, , ernment had no intention of introducing a measure on the Irish tenure of land question , in point of fact , he thought the question was already settled . —Mr . Gladstone obtained leave to bring in a bill for amending tbe law relating to the Post-office and other Savings Banks , and also a measure for the reduction of the Customs duties on tobacco . He proposes to reduce the duty on foreign cigars from 9 s 5 i < d . to 5 s . per

pound ; and on snuff from 9 s . 5 ic .. to 3 s . fid . per pound ; while other manufactured tobacco imported into the country is to pay 4 s . It is not intended to propose any drawback on stocks , bub the right hon . gentleman stated that the Government were prepared carefully to consider any suggestion which might be made in Committee . He hoped to be able to carry the bill throuh in about a forniht .

g g On Monday , Mr . Layard , in reply to Colonel Sykes , said that reports had reached the Government to the effect that the Russian diplomatic authorities in China had entered into arrangements with the Tartar government to aid . in taking the cities of Nankin , Soochow , and Hangcbow , on condition of having ceded to the Russian government Chusan and the adjacent islands in the mouth of the Yang-tse-Kiang ; that the Toutai ot

Ningpo had issued a proclamation announcing that barracks were to be prepared for 2000 Russian troops at that place ; that the French were appropriating hind at Ningpo , and raising " body of Chinese troops under French officers ; and that the