colonies altering the sums allotted for the sustentation of
public worship, be omitted.

On the second reading of the Metropolitan Interments
Bill (introduced on the 15th), it was agreed
that it should not be committed till Friday the 10th
May.

Col. SIBTHORP was amusing on the Official Salaries
Bill.—On Lord John RUSSELL naming the select
committee, the Colonel said, that instead of appointing
this "select" committee, the noble lord at the head of
the Government had better have said candidly—"I
mean to take care of myself and of my own salary. I
shall look after my friends, and I will stand by them as
long as they stand by me; ubi mel, ibi apes [where
the honey, there the bees]. Let them support me,
and they shall have plenty of turtle and venison!" He
then called the committee a "packed" one; with what
justice will be seen: it was agreed to consist of the
following members:—Lord J. Russell, Mr. W. Patten,
Mr. Bright, Sir J. Y. Buller, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Beckett,
Mr. Napier, Mr. Home Drummond, Mr. W. Evans, Sir
W. Molesworth, Mr. Henley, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Ricardo,
Mr. Walter, and Mr. Deedes.

Mr. LABOUCHERE brought in the Mercantile Marine
Bill in its altered state, and it was read a first time.

Mr. HEYWOOD, on the 23rd, moved for an address
praying for a Royal Commission to inquire into the
State of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and
Dublin, with a view to their adaptation to the requirements
of modern times. Many things, he said, demanded
reforms, which the Universities could not make for
themselves. Sir R. INGLIS denied the right of the House to
ask the Crown to interfere unless a prima facie case
were made out against these institutions. They were
reforming themselves, and the University of Oxford
since 1800 was a great reforming body.—Lord John
RUSSELL could not agree to a motion which might be
characterised as a bill of indictment against the Universities,
not considering that they were objects of accusation
by the great majority of the country. Considerable
improvements had been made by the Universities
themselves, but these improvements might be rendered more
complete; and he proposed to advise the Crown to issue
a Royal Commission for Oxford and Cambridge.—Mr.
HEYWOOD withdrew his motion; and Mr. Roundell
PALMER, on the ground that so important a matter
required consideration, moved an adjournment of the
debate, which was carried by 273 to 31.

Mr. MILNES moved the second reading of Juvenile
Offenders' Bill on Wednesday 24th, in a speech in
which he stated that the £545, 454 which youthful
criminals had cost the country during the last six years,
had not produced a single reformatory result. That
sum had therefore been utterly wasted.—Sir G. STRICKLAND
moved that the bill be read that day six months,
which was carried without a division.

The Affirmation Bill was next discussed, on Mr.
Page WOOD moving it into committee. The object of
the measure was to legalise a simple affirmation by all
persons who have conscientious scruples against taking
an oath—a privilege now only enjoyed by Quakers and
Moravians. After a short conversation the motion was
negatived by a majority of 148 to 129.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of Lords.—April 12th. Convicts' Prison Bill read third
time and passed.

15th.—Brick Duties Bill passed through committee.

16th.—Exchequer Bills and Brick Duties Bills read third time
and passed.

18th.—Pirates' Head-money Bill read second time.

22nd.—Smoke Prohibition and School District Contribution
Bills, passed through Committee.—Select Committee to inquire
into Evasions of 11 & 12 Victoria, cap. 106.—Foreign Cattle
Importations Act.

23rd.—Regulation of Pleadings Bill read second time.—School
Districts Contributions Bill read third time and passed.

House of Commons.—April 8. Stamp Duties Bill read second
time, "pro forma."—Public Health (Ireland) and Parochial
Assessments Bills read first time.

9th.—Security for Advances on Irish Land Bill, read first
time.—Vote of £2,434,417 taken for Ordnance Estimates.—Brick
Duties Bill and Small Charitable Trusts Bill passed.

10th.—County Courts Extension Bill, Public Library and
Museums Bill, and Parish Constables Bill, read second time.—
Exchequer Bills (£9,200,000) read third time and passed.

11th.—Distressed Unions (Ireland) Advances and Repayment
Bill, read second time.—Judgments (Ireland) Bill, read third
time and passed.—Legal Technical Objections Restraining Bill,
read first time.—Naval Prize Balance and Indemnity Bills read
first time.

12th.—Committee of Inquiry into Public Salaries agreed to.—
Public Health (Scotland), and Public Improvement (Scotland)
Bills, read second time.—Estates Leasing (Ireland) Bill, read
third time and passed.—Indemnity Bill read second time.

15th.—Medical Charities (Ireland) Bill read second time.—
Indemnity Bill passed through Committee.—Metropolitan
Interments, Convict Prisons, and Railway Abandonment Bills, all
read first time.

16th.—Committee to inquire into Investments for the Savings
of the Poor granted.

I8th.—Larceny Jurisdiction Bill reported as amended in
Committee.–Naval Prize Balance Bill read second time.—Indemnity
Bill read third time and passed.

19th.—Mercantile Marine Bill withdrawn for modification and
amendment.

22nd.—Metropolitan Interments, and Railway Abandonment
Bills were read each a second time.—Resolution that Naval
Prize Balances should be paid out of Consolidated Fund.—
Mercantile Marine Bill read a first time on re-introduction.

23rd.—Committee granted to Mr. Roebuck to inquire into the
defalcations of Sir Thomas Turton, Registrar of the Court of
Bengal.—Collector of Fees in Chancery Bill read first time.

24th.—New Writ for Lymington ordered, Mr. Keppel having
accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.

THERE was an aggregate meeting of the citizens of
Dublin convened in the Rotunda, to petition the
legislature against the contemplated Abolition of the
Office of Lord Lieutenant on the 8th. The Round
Room was crowded, the audience including ladies. The
chair was taken by the Lord Mayor. Resolutions
condemnatory of the intended abolition of the vice-
regal court were adopted.—At a meeting of an opposite
tendency, of the Irish Alliance, a Mr. Leyne called upon
the audience to despise the pocket patriotism that
petitions for a continuance of the Lord-Lieutenancy. "Heed
not what is called the indignant protest of outraged
national feeling. It is but the grumbling of the
discharged menials of the Castle. It is but the lament
of the official purveyors who hold diplomas from
Viceroy's Chamberlain. It is not a revolt of the people that
rages. It is a squabble in the kitchen,—an émeute of
the scullery against the drawing-room." These remarks
were received with great hilarity.

The Tenant Right Movement is increasing in some
districts, especially in Ulster, Tipperary, and Limerick;
and meetings were held at which ridiculously violent
language was used. Combined action, no frequent
expedient in Ireland, has been determined on. A congress
of delegates, to meet in Dublin, is in course of organisation.

The Repeal Association is fast expiring. At the
meeting in Conciliation Hall on Tuesday the 9th, there
was a very small attendance. Mr. John O'Connell
announced the rent for the week to be £4, and stated
that if the country did not come forward to support the
Association, it would be impossible for him to keep the
doors of Conciliation Hall open much longer.

The first of two meetings of a conference convened by
the National Reform Association was held in Crosby Hall
on the 23rd & 24th. Its objects were to receive reports
from delegates in reference to the progress of the reform
movement, to devise means of carrying out with promptitude
and vigour the objects of the Association, and to
complete the arrangements for realising the fund of
£10,000 required for the present year's operations. The
attendance was very numerous: many of the leading
Reformers were present, and there were no less than 130
delegates from different parts of the kingdom. Sir Joshua
Walmsley, President of the Association, was in the chair.
Able speeches were made by the Chairman, Colonel
Thompson, Mr. Hume, Mr. W. J. Fox, Mr. J. Kershaw,
Mr. Heyworth, and other eminent individuals; and
several resolutions wore unanimously adopted.