The Week.

state of « reat trepidation at the meeting m Trafalgar-square ou the evening of the 27 th ult ., and the proposed meeting in AVhitehall-gardens on the 2 nd inst . He wished to know whether the meeting of the 2 nd inst . could not be prevented . Sir George Grey said he knew nothing of the meeting , but there was a law which prohibitid meetings io petition Parliament within a mile of the Houses of Parliament . He would look into the matter .

. Then the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that he had received a communication from the Earl of Derby asking that the House might be adjourned . It seemed , however , that it was necessary the committee on the Helston petition should be sworn , and in order that that might be done the House would have to meet . Mr . Bernal Osborne took occasion on this

announcement to denounce the conduct of tbe Government in resigning , and to proclaim that he should not for this session offer any factitious opposition to the Government which the Earl of Derby might form . Major Knox followed Mr . Osborne , in a state of wild alarm at the meetings of the people in London . Mr . Newdegate laughed these fears to scorn , and paid a compliment

to Mr . Gladstone for the manner in which he had stated the determination of Ministers . Sir G . Grey said a few reassuring words to Major Knox , and then the Chancellor of the Exchequer replied to Mr . Osborne . Some formal business was transacted , and the House adjourned . Iu the House of Lords on the 22 th ult ., Earl Russell moved the adjournment to the 5 th inst . to

give time for the Earl of Derby to make his Ministerial arrangements . Subsequently , after a debate , the bill of the Gas Light and Coke Company for making huge works near to Victoria Park was thrown out by 27 votes to 26 . In the House of Commons the names of the Helston Election Committee were reported , and the House adjourned . The House of Commons

met on the 2 nd inst . m order that the Helston Election Committee might be sworn . That being done , on the adjournment being moved , Mr . AA atkin called attention to the maintenance of the Bank rate of discount at 10 per cent . He thought the House ought to meet earlier than the 5 th inst ., in order that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might give some explanation on on tbe matter . Mr . Guilders deprecated raising a discussion

on the matter . Then Mr . D . Griffith wanted to know if steps had been taken to prevent the peace being broken by the meeting in Trafalgar-square that evening . Sir George Grey replied that they had ; and the House adjourned . GENEEAI , HOME NEWS . — The Registrar-General's weekly return , dated June 30 , shows an increase in the number of

deaths , as compared with the week before , of 205 . The number is still considerably above the average of the corresponding week of the ten previous years . The annual rates of mortality per 1 , 000 were as follows : —Birmingham , 18 ; Edinburgh and Dublin , 20 ; Salford , 22 ; London and Sheffield , 24 ; Newcastleon-Tyne , 26 ; Hull , 27 ; Leeds , Bristol , and Glasgow , 28 ;

Manchester , 29 ; and Liverpool , 35 . Six deaths from cholera were registered iu the week ; and , for the first time for months past , none from carriage accidents in the streets . Ministerial rumours are still flying about . There was a meeting of the Conservative party at Lord Derby ' s on the 28 th ult . There was a very numerous attendance , and the conference

lasted for an hour . Subsequently the Earl of Derby went to Windsor and had an audience of the Queen . It is said that there are unexpected difficulties in the way of forming a Tory administration . On tbe one hand it is said the Tory leaders are not satisfied as to the proposed distribution of offices . Another report says that the Adullamites for the most part -refuse to join Earl Derby , and that his lordship does not feel able to make a Ministry without their assistance . In the

Upper House of Convocation a memorial from the Generaj Convention of Bishops in the United States was read . The right reverend prelates expressed their admiration of the conduct of Bishop Gray , of Cape Town , in endeavouring to subject Bishop Colenso to the discipline of the Church . The Bishop of Oxford thought that the memorial should be taken into consideration , but the Bishop of London ,

while thinking that it should be received with respect , objected to the proposed discussion . In the Lower House the report on Ritualism was adopted with an important rider . The 28 th was also speech day at Harrow . Earl Russell was present . The proceedings were of a most interesting character . The Prince and Princess of AA ales paid a visit to the

Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum at Snaresbrook . Their royal highnesses met with a hearty reception . Several thousands of persons were present , and the weather was delightful . There was a dejeuner , and afterwards the Prince and Princess conjointly laid the foundation stone of a new dining hall , which is required to meet the increasing demands of [ the

institution . It is gratifying to know that , with the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen and repeated visits of royalty , the institution is growing in popular favour , and affording educa tion to a yearly increasing number of the orphan children of merchant seamen . A distinguished party visited the Great Eastern to inspect the Atlantic telegraph cable and tbe

arrangements made for laying it . At a banquet afterwards the most confident hopes of the success of the enterprise were expressed . There is no definite news as to the progress made with tbe formation of a new Ministry . The Earl of Derby is supposed to be hard at work ; but there is strong reason to believe that he meets with great difficulties . One story is that he wants the co-operation of the Earl of

Clarendon and Earl Granville . This is scarcely likely to be true . Moreover , if it be true , he is scarcely likely to get what he wants . : London was visited by very heavy thunderstorms on the afternoon and evening of the 30 th ult . Unfortunately the storm had a fatal result . At a pigeon shooting match , near AA ' oruiholt Scrubbs , a young man was killed and three others injured . The Great Eastern has left her moorings in the

Medway , and is now on her voyage round to Valentia . In about a week or ten days she will , it is expected , be ready to start from that place on her business of laying the Atlantic telegraph cable . Dr . Lushington has given judgment in the celebrated Banda and- Kirwee booty case . The judgment , which has been published in a Blue-book , is an elaborate

examination of the claims of the various parties . Dr . Lushington awards a share to the representatives of Lord Clyde , who commanded in chief , and gives all the rest to the force under the command of General AVhitlock . The claims of " constructive captors" are wholly set aside . The meeting iu Trafalgar-square on the 2 nd inst . was of giant proportions . At

the very lowest computation , from 30 , 000 to 50 , 000 persons were present . Notwithstanding what has been said , no attempt was made to interfere with the meeting . The only policemen in sight were those on ordinary duty , and they interfered in no wise with the proceedings . The natural result followed The people left to themselves were most orderly . They were ,

however , none the less in earnest , and they spoke out plainly what are their feelings in respect to Reform . Mr . Edmond Beales presided , and briefly described the position of affairs . The meeting was altogether a remarkable demonstration . It is probably only the forerunner of others , still more numerously attended , which may be expected to be held in the same or other suitable places . The Helston Election Committee met