The Week.

well in the Artillery , Engineers , and Marines , it AA-as undesirable to extend it to the Avhole army . The hon . and gallant member admitted that in opposing the motion he AA'as opposing popular feeling , but he believed that the dislike of the purchase system was a popular prejudice , and that to adopt the motion would seriously injure the army . The result AA'ould be that AA-e should have an overplus of old officers . He denied that the present system favoured the aristocracy , and quoted the names of seA'eral distinguished British generals in support of his

views . The amendment was seconded by Colonel Dickson , AA-IIO , Avhile admitting that the long peace had led to much abuse and extraA-agance in the army , denied that the blame should be attributed to the purchase system . The gallant member believed that if this system were abolished the plan IIOAV adopted in the Indian service AA-OUICI be adopted , and concluded by an attack on the competitive system . The motion was supported by Mr . O'Brien , and opposed by Sir F . Smith , AAIIO said that he would gladly see the purchase system extended to the scientific corps .

Mr . Sidney Herbert also opposed the motion , and said that if the purchase system were abolished , it Avould not , in his opinion , make any difterence iu the class of men AA-IIO officered the army . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The threatening aspect of the opposition on the question of annexing Savoy to France lias occasioned three meetings of tho Cabinet this AA-CCIC , AA-hich have been fully attended . The publie health continues to deteriorate ; the Aveather having become much colder , the deaths haA-e largely increased ; the births this week are in

advance of the same period last year . At a meeting of the London Volunteer Rifle Brigade , on AVednesday , Lieutenant Hopkinson , as one of the committee of the London Corn Exchange , presented a donation of fifty guineas from that body as evidence of their warm sympathy AA'ith the brigade . The NeAA'castle Foreign Affairs Association haA-ing addressed a letter to Sir Robert Peel , thanking him for his recent speech on the rifle corps movement , Sir Robert has AA-ritten a letter to the Secretary of the Association reiterating his inion that the

moveop ment is an "insane" one , only to be met AA'ith derision ; and declaring it to be his intention "to check this parade of armed force . " An important meeting of the Great Ship Company ivas held on Tuesday . A motion to increase the capital of the company by £ 100 , 000 AA-as moved by Mr . Baker , AA'I IO entered at some length into the question of the

condition of tho great ship and the prospects of the company . After an animated and interesting discussion , the motion AA-as adopted . The Ballot Society , at their last meeting , passed resolutions expressing their regret at the omission of the ballot from Lord John Russell ' s reform bill ; and also expressing their conviction that the proposed extension of the franchise AA'ould render the ballot still more necessary . On Friday afternoon a terrific and most calamitous explosion took place at a coal pit at Burradon , near KillingAvortk , a few miles from Newcastle .

UpAvavds of seventy persons haA'e perished , including the Secretary of the Miners' Provident Association . A subscription has been opened for the relief of the families of the sufferers , and it is hoped that the public generally will respond to the appeal . Nearly the Avhole of the bodies have been recovered , and most of them were buried on Monday last . On the same day an inquest was held , but the jury Avere unable to determine IIOAV the explosion originated , The adjourned examination of the Rev . E . F . T . Ribbaus and Robert Moore Sievier , on the charge of

conspiracy to defraud the guardians of the Leek union , by leaving a child to become chargeable to the common fund , AA'as proceeded with on Saturday last , before John Cruse , ¦ M . Gaunt , John Russell , and James Alsop , Esqs . On the completion of the evidence the magistrates retired , and on returning into court , Mr . Cruse said they Avere of opinion there could be no conviction for conspiracy . It was a most disgraceful business , and the parties , of course , had their oivn consciences to punish them ; and the evidence entirely broke doAvu as to the conspiracy . Another dreadful shipAvreck has just been added to the long list of catastrophos of a similar kind Avith AA'hich the English public have been

appalled during the last few months . The Hungarian , one of the great Canadian steam-ships , is this time the ill-fated vessel . She struck on the coast of Nova Scotia , on the morning of the 20 th ult ., aud it would appear that all on board have perished . The information respecting the lamentable occurrence is as yet very scanty . Another crisis has taken place in the affairs of St . George's-in-the-East . At the Thames Policecourt , a number of persons applied for summonses against the ReA-. Bryan Kingthe Rev . T . Doveand othersfor assaulting them in the

, , , church on the piwious afternoon . The applicants had seated themselves in a peAV , Avaiting for tho eA-ening service , when the rector required them to leave , and as they refused to do so , force Avas employed . The magistrate expressed some doubt as to Avhether lie liarl the poiver to adjudicate in these case ' s , as a question of right on the part of the rector to exercise authority in the church was invoh-ed . He , hoAA-eA-er , granted summonses . The greatest excitement prevails in the parish , and the unhappy

disputes which have given so much notoriety to the district appear to be no nearer their termination than eA-er . The Secretary to the Council of the London Rifle Brigade , Mr . H . F . Richardson , AA'as on Tuesday brought before Sir R . AV . Carden , at the Mansion-house , on a charge of embezzlement of nearly £ 500 . The defence set up by the prisoner , was that money was due to him . He was remanded , and heavy bail was required for his re-appearance . FOREIGN NEWS . —The projected annexation of Savoy to Franco is the principal topic of interest to foreigners as Avell as to ourselves just IIOAA ' . The emperor Louis Napoleon has , there can be little doubt , made up his mind that Austria cannot and England will not interfere . The ae-

The Week.

complishment of his nefarious schemes is only a matter of time . In this he may yet be disappointed ; Belgium and Prussia may begin to think how long it AA'ill be before their turn may come to give up a slice of territory ; Russia , though not averse to " annexation " hersel f , may not care to see the only military power she fears becoming too pov .-erf ul ; and last but not least the British Parliament may not prove so utterly debased as to give the preference to mere commercial advantages overall other considerations . The French papers are instructed to Avrite their

best in favour of their autocrat ' s policy-, and since the fulfilment of bis behests once again AA-ould flatter the national vanity , they have the less difficulty in obeying his commands . The Journal des Debals publishes a long article on the imperial speech at the Louvre . The Avriter is M . St . Marc Girardin , a distinguished member of the French Academy , aud au Orleanist . It is a remarkable illustration of the ncAA ' -born subserviency of the Orleanist press that the Journal des Dubats is now come fonvard as the chief defender of the new policy for the setlement of the Italian

question . The Coustitutionnd publishes an article signed by its chief editor , M . Grandguillot , explaining the French policy in Italy . In mentioning the solution proposed in the message of M . Thouvenel , M . Grandguillot says : — " If it is not a Sardinian solution , it is au Italian one . Sardinia Avill possess in Tuscany an ally Ai'ho will aid her to overcome the opposition of Naples and Rome , in order to constitute an Italian nation , Avith the concurrence of all its nationalities , and not an Italian kingdom , absorbing everything Avithout considering the essentia !

differences , the opposing interests , and the distrust of Europe . " The Monitcur says : — " Some German papers announce that the French artillery has been increased by the creation of three UCAA- regiments . The fact is , the number of batteries has been reduced . " In tho Paris papers sueh paragraphs as the following make their appearance . If the nciA-s came from an Italian source , it Avould , perhaps , bear a different complexion . "At Nice on Sunday ( say the French accounts of the matter ) , on . the occasion of the anniversary of the promulgation of the Sardinian constitution manifestations were made by the Piedmontese party in the Italian Theatre . A ery few persons Avere present , and those in the boxes remained silent . A demonstration also took place in the French

Theatre , AA'here the population of Nice demanded the " Ode Napolienne " and the " Heine Hortense , " Avhich AA-ere performed amidst enthusiastic applause and shouts of "Viva l'lmjieratore , " " A iva l'annezzione . " The situation of the country is \ -ery critical . It is stated that as soou as the principles of the annexation of Savoy shall be settled betAA'een France and Savoy , tho great poAvers will bo invited to a conference iu order to examine the reasons brought foriA-ard by Franco in favour of the annexation . It is said that Count Arese , who has returned to Turin , has been

entrusted by the emperor with the mission to bring about a speedy settlement betAA'een France and Piedmont of the question of Savoy . A Alenna telegram states that on inquiries made in that capital by the representatives of some foreign powers , the Austrian Government has replied that its interests not being directly affected by the annexation of Savoy to France , it Avould observe on this question the same passive conduet Avhick , the great powers exhibited at the time of the last AA-ar in Lombardy , and that Austria AA-ould not protest against the annexation .

The Papal Government has prohibited commerce by transit betAA-een Ancona and the Romagna , to which measure the merchants have replied by a protest . _ Agitation prevails in the Marches , and thousands of citizens are signing addresses to the great powers in favour of the annexation . The students of the university at Rome have demanded the re-admission of the eight students Avho had been expelled , and General Goyon , as the representative of the Imperial Guardian of order , has sent a detachment of troops to the university to prevent disturbance .

any The Spanish General Echague has commenced a fonvard movement from Serallo , but it is not knoAvn in Avhat direction . Marshal O'Donnell has sent to Madrid the camion taken at Tetuan . The Duke de Montpensicr has left for England . The Fco de Tetuan . asserts that an engagement has taken place betivecri two Kabyle tribes in the neighbourhood of Tetuan . The tribe faA-ourable to the Spaniards AA-ere victorious . The Journal des Debats publishes the conditions of coollproposed bSpain to

peace y y Morocco , and AA-hich have been indignantly rejected . They comprise—The cession to Spain of all the territory betweeu the sea and Tetuan , the town of Tetuan and the adjacent territory , for eA-er . The Emperor of Morocco to pay , within four years , au indemnity to Spain for the expenses of the Avar , amounting to £ ' 2 , 000 , 000 .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

' ¦ ' P . G . O . "—Construct . "D . M . T . "—As first written . . "J . AA . "—It is sung both ways . The minntes of a Lodgo cannot be confirmed at AA'hat is called a Masters' Lodge , as all brethren have aright to bo present at the confirmation of minutes . "T . "—The parent Lodge has the right of veto upon thc by-laws of a

Lodge of Instruction . " J . B . "—Never . " OSCAK . "— -There is no such povyer vested in any but the Board of General Purposes .