The Week.

for military correspondence to the secretary of state for war . On Wednesday , at the London Tavern , a dinner was given to Mr . C . Davis , the huntsman of tho Queen ' s staghounds . About tiA'o hundred and fifty gentlemen were present in hunting costume . AVilliam Vansittart , M . P . for Windsor , occupied the chair . Air . Commissioner Phillips expired this day AA-eek , at the age of seventy-tivo . On Monday he sat in the Insolvent Court , and was seized with a fit o £ apoplexy on that day . He died without recognising tho members ol his famil Charles

y . Phillips will be known by bis "Recollections of Curran , " a work on which he bestowed much labour . His " Visitation Thoughts on the Abolition of Capital Punishment , " has been very successful , having gone through several editions . The address in both houses of parliament , in answer to tbe speech from the throne , was carried without opposition . In the House of Lords , on Thursday , Earl Granville observed on the absence in tho speech of any indication of the policy ministers intended to pursue as to the Ionian Islands . Lord Brougham spoke at

some length on the state of the continent . The Earl of Derby ably and eloquently defended the iioliey of his government , ivhich is one of neutrality as far as concerns Italy . On Monday , the Lord Chancellor introduced an instalment of the government measure for effecting an alteration in the law of debtor and creditor . It is proposed to abolish the present distinction between insolvency and bankruptcy ; and other important alterations are intended , to ivhich Lords Brougham and Campbell gave a general but not unreserved approvalIn the

. House of Commons , on Thursday , Mr . Disraeli said that the government measure of reform ivould be brought forward after the disposal of other important questions , particularly the state of the national defences . He affirmed his belief iu the wish ol the emperor of the French to preserve peace , if possible . Lord Palmerston approved the foreign policy of the government . On Friday , there Avas an interesting debate on India , and its capabilities of supplying tbe demand for cotton in this country . Lord Stanley said that notwithstanding the deficient revenue of the

Indian empire , the povernment ivere determined to continue the construction of railways and other works of public utility . On Monday , Air . Disraeli announced the intention of government to bring forward their reform bill before Easter . Jfr , AA alpole said that government would not be justified in remitting any part of the sentence on Strachan and Paul , the fraudulent bankers . Mr . Bright moved for a return of various statistics illustrative of the representation . Mr . Walpole explained that it was not proposed to alter the Prayer-book , but only the occasional services appended to it .

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS . AVE do not hear any further report of Mr . E . T . Smith opening Her Majesty ' s Theatre ; on the contrary we are noiv told that it is definitely settled that his Italian opera will be given at Drury Lane . It is said that Aldlle . Titjeus has been engaged for his company . At Covent Garden we hear of the American opera "Rip Van AVinkle " being in active rehearsal ; the music is said to bo agreeable and original . Air . Gye resumes operations at this theatre ou the 19 th of March with a magnificent

Italian company , and the finest band in Europe . At the Princess ' s , "LouisXI " and "Midsummer Night ' s Dream " have been the latest revivals . The management of the theatre passes , as has been stated , to Mr . Augustus Harris , on the approaching termination of Air . Kean ' s tenancy . The new lessee has already made somo engagements of importance , among which are those of the favourite actress Mrs . Charles Young and Air . AValter Alontgomery , an actor from Manchester . Mr . Tom Taylor ' s comedy "An Unequal Match" has been reproduced at the

Hay-, market ; tho pretty spectacle , " Undine , " continues to attract . A neiv three-act comedy , by Air . Stirling Coyne , is understood to be in course of preparation , and ivill be produced early in March . To make up for what wo fear must be considered the failure of "The Borgia Ring , " Mr . Webster has j _ . it forth some attractive announcements . Air . Wright will make his first appearance since his illness , on Monday , and Mi-, ' and Airs . Wigan are engaged , PlancWs delightful