Our Weekly Budget.

that proper steps might be taken for providing a suitable residence in Ireland for Her Majesty . The debate that followed was , in all respects , satisfactory , save in this , that Dr . Kenealy ' s speech was , as might be imagined , in singularly bad taste . The amendment was

withdrawn . A motion , concerning the Opium Trade , was then proposed by Mr . M . Stewart , seconded by Mr . Pease . Several members took part in the debate , but Lord G . Hamilton , on the part of the Government , resisted the proposition , and it was defeated by 94 to 57 . The House then

went into Committee of Supply , and several votes were agreed to . The second reading of the Employers and Workmen Bill occupied the early part of Monday ' s sitting . Nearly all the speakers , among whom were Mr . Lowe , Lord Elcho , Mi \ Macdonald , Mr . Forster , and Mr . Burt

congratulated the Home Secretary on the character of this measure , Lord R . Montagu being almost the only dissentient . Mr . Cross gratefully recognised the compliments which had been paid him by both sides of the House , and the Bill was read a second time . The National Debt

( Sinking Fund ) Bill passed its ihzrd reading , soon after which the House went into Committee on the Land Titles and Transfer Bill . An amendment to clause 41 was resisted by the Attorney-General , and , on division , the Government carried their point by 86 to 46 . Progress was

then reported , the House resumed , and soon afterwards adjourned . There was a morning sitting on Tuesday . On the motion that the House resolve itself into Committee of Supply , Mr . Lowe interposed , in order to call attention to the position of Civilians in India , but he did not press his

motion . Lord Elcho then asked a question of the Secretary for War as to the Army Reserve and the approaching Autumn Manoeuvres . Mr . Hardy having replied , the House set to work , and passed several votes . At the evenin g sitting , Mr . Holmes having risen to make a motion on the

subject of Army and Navy Expenditure Audit , a count out followed . On Wednesday , Mr . Butt took the sense of the House on the second reading of the County Boards ( Ireland ) Bill , but he failed to cany his measure at this stage by 182 to 125 . On Thursday , Physical Education-occupied

the first portion of the sitting ; the subject being introduced by Mr . Butler-Johnstone . After a short discussion on Governor Eyre ' s pension , the House went into Committee , when Lord Sandon moved the Education Vote for England

and Wales . The speech was a long and able one , and drew encomiums from several members . The Vote was agreed to , as also was the vote for the Science and Art Department . On the House resuming , Mr . Sclater-Booth moved the second reading of the Poor Law Amendment Bill , but

the debate was adjourned . Hurlingham offered one of the most brilliant scenes of the season on Saturday , the attraction being a contest at Polo , between the Horse Guards Blue and the 12 th Lancers , for a cup , presented by the Prince of Wales . Besides

their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , with their two sons , the Princes Albert Victor and George , and the Duke of Cambridge , there were present the elite of the fashionable world . The contest was exciting . Only an hour-and-a-quarter were allowed to determine which of

the gallant regiments should prove the victor , and it was only after a tremendous contest , in which Fortune seemed to divide her favours with a pretty even hand , that , at last , by a supreme effort , the Blues secured a goal . Time did not admit of any further play , so the cup was awarded to

the gallant representatives of the Household Regiment , and was handed to the Hon . C . Fitzwilliam by the Princess . On this occasion the weather was all that could be desired , but on Thursday , wheu the Prince was to have given a garden party at Chiswick , nothing worse could be well

imagined , reminding us of the old Fete days in the Chiswick gardens , when a gleam of sunshine at intervals during the pouring rain was generally looked upon as quite a godsend . In consequence of this over jpouriny obstacle to al fresco enjoyment , the party is postponed till Monday . The

Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh embarked , at Woolwich , on board the " Osborne , " for a visit to Russia . They will spend a few days at Copenhagen , en route , and then go on to St . Petersburgh , where their visit will extend over several weeks .

On Monday there was a grand field clay at Aldershot . some 20 , 000 men being inspected in the Long Valley bv H . R . H . the Commander-in-Chief and the Prince of Wales . There were present on the ground tho Empress Eugenie , the Princess of Wales , the Duke and Duchess of Teck , the Sultan of Zanzibar , Mr . G . Hardy , the Secretary of State

Our Weekly Budget.

for War , and many of the nobility and gentry . The force was divided into two army corps , under the command of Major-General Sir H . De Bathe and Major-General Sir John Douglas respectively . The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge , on reaching the centre of the line , were

received with a Royal salute , the bands playing the National Anthem , and the effect being very imposing . The force then marched past , the Horse Artillery of the first corps leading , followed by the Cavalry , then Artillery , and lastly the Infantry , and then Sir J . Douglas ' s corps in

the same order . A few simple movements , the nature of which were easily comprehended , even by civilians , were then executed , after which the whole line advanced and . gave a Royal salute . The Royal party afterwards made a move to the Queen ' s Pavilion , and having lunched , returned

to town by 5 p . m . The Prince Imperial was on duty with Colonel Warde-Ashton ' s Battery of 16-pounders , to which he is attached , and H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught was employed on staff duties as Brigade-Major . The military attache of the French Embassy , and a German Officer of Hussars were on the ground in full uniform .

The same day one of the most attractive matches in the cricketing season was commenced at Lord's . Oxford and Cambridge met to test their relative strength in this national game , and after one of the toughest contests on record , the former secured the victoiy by six runs only .

The weather , the first day , was anything but favourable , but the ground , about the wickets , had been protected by tarpaulin , thus securing a tolerably firm foothold for the batsmen , but not so for the unfortunate bowlers . Play was not commenced till two o ' clock , when there may have been

some 5 , 000 spectators assembled . Oxford won the toss , and elected to go in , the result of their performance , till stumps were drawn , being 188 , for the loss of only seven wickets . Of these , A . J . Webbe made 55 , T . W . Lang 45 , A . W . Ridley 21 , W . W . Pulman , not out , 19 , and F . M .

Buckland 22 . On Tuesday , play was resumed shortly after 11 , and the Oxford innings closed for 200 . Cambridge then took its turn , and put together 163 , or 37 less than their opponents . To this total , F . G . Greenfield contributed 12 , A . F . Lucas 19 , G . H . Longman 40 , W . Blacker 19 , Hon . E .

Lyttleton 23 , and W . S . Patterson 12 . Oxford were less successful in their second attempt , being all out for 137 . Of these , Webbe made 21 , Pulman 30 , Briggs 12 , Boole 21 , and W . H . Game 22 , H . G . Tylccott , not out , 12 , and W . Ford-Kelcey 11 . This left Cambridge 174 to win ,

towards which , before stumps were drawn for the day , 4 were made . On Wednesday , of course , the excitement , was very great , and as the innings of Cambridge progressed the chances seemed strongly in their favour , 1 G 8 of tho required number having been obtained , with two wickets

yet to fall . But fate had ordained it otherwise ; the score was not increased , aud thus Oxford proved victors by the small number of six . In the second innings of Cambr ; . lge , F . G . Greenfield 18 runs , Longman 23 , Hon . E . Lyttleton 20 , Sims 39 , W . S . Patterson 18 , C . M . Sharpe 29 , and H . A .

Hamilton 11 , were the double figures . Thus Oxford has carried off , this year , nearly all the honours , having beat her rival on the river , at athletics , and at Lord ' s . Next week there will be another grand attraction at Lord ' s . Eton and Harrow play their annual match on Friday and

Saturday next , and lovers of excitement will find ample to satisfy their craving if they visit the renowned headquarters of the M . C . C . on either or both of these days . Those , however , who prefer scientific cricket should visit

Lord s on Monday or Tuesday , when the Gentlemen and Players meet for the second time this year . Let us hope the weather will be more auspicious than it was on Thursday , the opening day of the same match at the Oval .

Of other noteworthy events during the past week , wo have to record the visit to Dublin of the Lord Mayor aud Lady Mayoress , accompanied by Mr . Alderman and Sheriff

Ellis and Mrs . Ellis . Tho Lord and Lady Mayoress of York had previously crossed the Irish Channel . It ia almost needless to add , that the civic dignitaries of London and York received a heartv welcome from the Lord

Mayor of Dublin . Ihe good people of Dublin , also , wero very enthusiastic at the arrival in their city of these important functionaries , who were cheered to tho echo as they passed in state through some of the leading streets of the

Irish capital . We may add , also , that the American team of riflemen , who came over from the United States a shoit time since for a friendly trial of skill with an Irish riflo team , have proved victorious in the struggle by 38 points . The conditions wore 15 shots at each of the three ranges ,