The Week.

Lord Palmerston moved , as an amendment , that the subject of the present system of promotion and retirement be referred to a Select Committee . The noble lord objected to naval officers forming themselves into " deliberate assemblies , with the view of forcing upon the Government changes for their own benefit and advantage . " Such proceedings would be fatal to proper discipline . Their pay and chances of promotion might not be all that they could desire , but similar complaints might be heard

from the members of every other profession . If the proposal of Sir John Hay were agreed to , tlie army would next have its claims to prefer , and the result would be increased expenditure and increased taxation . After a long discussion , Sir John Hay ao-reed not to press his resolution to a division , and the amendment of Lord Palmerston was adopted . —Sir George Grey -obtained leave to bring in a bill making provision for bills falling due in London on the day of the Princess Alexandra's

entry , which it is proposed to observe as a holiday in the metropolis . —Mr . Aclderley also introduced a measure for the more effectual suppression of crimes of violence . —The Prince and Princess of Wales Annuities Bill passed through Committee . The House did not meet on Wednesday , in consequence of tbe levee . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —From the Registrar ' s weekly return ¦ of the health of tbe metropolis it appears that the mortality is

on the increase . The deaths last week were 1377 , which is the highest number that has taken place since the third week in January . The mortality is still , however , 87 below the average of the last ten years , which when corrected by the increase of the population , would amount to 1464 . The births during the week were 1938 , which is 122 below the average . According to present arrangements Lord Palmerston will deliver his

installation address to the students of Glasgow on the 30 th of March , and in the evening his lordship will attend a banquet at the city hall . On the following night tbe working classes of Glasgow propose to give a " reception" to the veteran statesman . Among the rumours current with respect to the forthcoming budget , is one to the effect that Mr . Gladstone proposes an equalisation of the duties on chicory and coffee . It is estimated that , by increasing the charge on the former article from 12 s . to 28 s . per cwt . tlie public revenue would gain about

£ 70 , 000 a year . Some time ago , tbe Central Executive Relief Committee received from tbe agents of certain of our colonies , offers to facilitate the emigration of unemployed cotton operatives . The subject was referred to the various local committees , and the result is thus stated in a report read at the meeting of the central body : — "The extent to which these offers have been accepted has appeared to justify the committee in consenting to become tbe medium of these communications . The committee

do not , however , consider themselves at liberty to apply any part of tho public contributions placed at their disposal towards the promotion of emigration . " In consequence of the complaints which have reached England from Sydney , it has been decided that the whole of the New South Wales grant be merged in the general fund for the relief of physical distress ; and that both past and future special appropriations for setting those relieved to work , or sending youths and children to school , be charged to

the general fund . Mr . Farnall reports a further decrease in the number of persons receiving relief in the distressed districts , making the total decrease since the 6 th of December , 53 , 617 . The clerks to the Boards of Guardians of Stockport , Northwich , Clitberoe , Garstang , Lancaster , Leigh , Liverpool , Oldham , Preseot , Prestwich , Rochdale , West Derby and Toxteth Park , Warrington , Altrincham , Runcorn , Cborlton , Macclesfield , Great BoughtonBarton-upon-Irwelland Chorleyheld a meeting in

, , , Manchester , on Saturday , for the purpose of taking steps to oppose certain of the provisions of Mr . Villiors ' s bill for the continuance ofthe Union Relief Aid Act of last session . A very strong opinion was expressed against confining the rate in aid to the counties in which the overburdened unions are situated . It was argued that the present calamity was a national one , and that the area of the rate in aid should , therefore , be widely extended

. It was further contended that the borrowing powers of the guardians should be extended ; that the repayment of loans should be spread over a period of twenty years ; ancl that the loan commissioners should be authorized to lend the amount required at a low rate of interest . Resolutions embodying these views were passed , and arrangements were made for a deputation to wait upon the President of the Poor Law Board . Another American " relief ship" —the Achilles—has arrived in the Mersey . She brings about 5000 barrels of flour , the gift of the people of Philadelphia to the operatives of the cotton

manufacturing districts . An important meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has been hold . It was tbe meeting for the society to re-elect its office bearers ; and it was anticipated that the case of Dr . Colenso , who , in virtue of his episcopal office , is a vice-president of the society , would come before the meeting . The other bishops having been appointed vice-presidents , it was proposed that the reelection of Bishop Colenso be suspended , in consequence of the

publication of his books , which lias shaken the confidence of the Church in his soundness . The motion was carried with only two dissentients , one of whom stated to tbe meeting that he was a relative of the bishop . At the Court of Common Council hist week , a discussion with closed doors took place on ¦ Some propositions submitted by Mr . Anderton , with reference to the Royal procession and marriage , the most important of which was that the Corporation should make a present to the

Princess , in memory of her visit to tbe City , the cost of which should not exceed £ 10 , 000 . The discussion lasted for two hours , and it is understood that a division was taken on the motion . In the end , however , the proposition was agreed to . When the Metropolitan Railway was first embodied the corporation of London agreed , hy way of encouragement , to take 20 , 000 shares . Tbey have since sold 18 , 000 at a profit of £ 32000 and they have resolved to dispose of the remainder

,, with all convenient speed , as it was considered to be unwise for the Corporation to mix itself up in commercial speculations . Among other matters , the proposed new street from Blackfriars Bridge to the Mansion House has been under consideration , and strong opposition was expressed to the idea of the Board of Woiks entering tbe City at all , as well as to tbe proposed plan of the new street . The matter was referred to the improvements committee . There was a large gathering at

the Whittington Club , on Wednesday night , to pay a tribute of respect to Mr . George Thompson for his lengthened services in the cause of human freedom . The proceedings assumed the form of a soiree , and included the presentation of an eloquent address , in which the public career of Mr . Thompson was reviewed . Lord Teynham occupied the chair , and after speeches by Mr . Wilks and Mr . Bazley , M . P ., his lordship presented the address in a few earnest remarks . Mr . Thompson

then replied m a speech of considerable length ; ancl after addresses by Mr . Ayrton , M . P ., Mr . Sella Martin ( who spoke as a representative of the coloured race ) , Professor Newman , and others , the proceedings terminated . Tlie allusions to Mr . Thompson ' s labours had reference more especially to the part he has taken in , the anti-slavery , free-trade , British India , and Parliamentary Reform movements . A congress of the Associated Chambers of Commerce have been

sitting in London , and several important questions have been under discussion . With reference to commercial treaties , resolutions were passed , calling upon the Government to exercise greater watchfulness in the conclusion of such treaties . A deputation was appointed to wait upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer , to press upon him the desirability of abolishing the petty import and export charges . Tbe question of belligerent rights at sea underwent a lengthy discussion . A resolution was

moved by Mr . Whitewell to the effect that a petition should be presented to Parliament expressing the opinion of the Associated Chambers , that all private property at sea , except contraband of war , should be exempt from capture , An amendment was , however , proposed to refer the subject to the ^ Chambers generally , and it was carried . Josiah Wedgwood , the renowned English potter , has been worthily honoured by a statue . This memorial , which has been erected at Stoke-upon-Trentwas on Monday

, unveiled with much pomp—Lord Harrowby acting the principal part in the ceremony . The two brothers Brooks and the young woman Lake were fully committed for trial by the magistrate at Hammersmith , on Saturday—the men for the murder of the policeman at Acton , and the woman , who was about to be married to one of the brothers , as an accessory after the fact , The prisoners appeared all through to treat the very serious charge brought against them with much levity . A German ,

apprehended at Hull on the charge of murdering the woman Halliday , while she was in charge of Kingswood Parsonagehouse , near Reigate , bas been brought up before the Ueigate magistrates , and the prisoner remanded . It may be remembered that the charge against him is , that he had stolen a pocket-book belonging to another German , and that the pocket-book was found in the room where the woman was murdered . Inquests have been held on the child of Caroline Burns , a girl of 15 , who , it was stated , had been seduced under extraordinary