The Week.

aud military preparations , and he then gives extracts in proof of his statement ; while , on tho part of Austria , no means are neglected to prove that the rough schooling to which she has been subjected , has not been lost upon her . Rifled camion are to be cast , new muskets are to be supplied to the troops , but tho most notable fact is , that the fortifications at Mantua and Verona , are undergoing continual repairs . GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The Registrar General ' s return for last week

again exhibits a satisfactory state of the public health . The deaths were 910 , being about 200 less than the estimated average for the season . The number of births was 1 , 700 . There was an extraordinary fall iu the temperature during the week ; the thermometer iu the shade stood at CI degrees on the Sunday , and on the Saturday fell to 2 S degrees , or 4 below freezing point . On the 4 th of October the mean temperature was 66 degrees . It is authoritatively stated by the Irish papers that Mr . Cardwell , chief secretary , has informed their lordships the bishops

of his inability to reply to their " resolutions" of August last . The subject , it appears , is to be made a cabinet question . Meanwhile , ho ivever , the . prelates have taken their measures , and are determined , by energetic action , to prove that they are resolved to carry into effect their educational scheme entire . A board of directors has been appointed , and an address adopted for the management and future government of the Catholic University . At the Middlesex sessions , three persons cf respectable appearancesistersnamed JuliaAnnand Kate

, , , , Nash , were indicted for several robberies . They Avere young women who had been practising for some time the trade of shoplifting , and being dressed in a fashionable manner , and not creating any suspicion , they were very successful in their operations . It was stated that they were the daughters of a highly respectable person , IIOAV dead , Avho had ' given them the education of ladies , and they were very accomlished ; they AA - CI - C not pressed by wantbut it seemed that thoy had a

p , penchant for thieving . They had been previously tried and had suffered twelve months' imprisonment . They ivere IIOAV found guilty , and tho Assistant Judge commented hi a severe manner on the conduct of the prisoners , and then sentenced them each to three years' penal serviturc . At the Central Criminal Court , Leonard Duckworth Barloiv surrendered to take his trial for wounding Hannah Edn-ards AA-ith intent to do her grievous bodily harm , and , notwithstanding a very able

defence by Jlr . Sleigh , he was found guilty of wilfully wounding , and sentenced to tiA-clve months' hard labour . On AVednesday last , Jlr . Tallent , a bookseller , of Paternoster- row , who AA-as summoned before tho magistrate , at Guildhall , for refusing to ' pay a church rate in the parish of St . Faith the Virgin , grounded his objection on the Popish practices in the church . The churchwarden , iu ansiver , stated that the service w-as intoned , and that ivas tho worst feature in it . Ultimately the summons was dismissed for want of jurisdiction , the prosecutors

being left to seek their remedy in the ecclesiastical courts . ' -An explosion of fire-damp took place on Saturday morning , at Washington Colliery , near New-castle , hy which three men aud a boy lost thoir lives . The bodies ofthe unfortunate miners have been recovered , and an inquest AA'as opened ou Jlonday evening to ascertain the cause of the catastrophe . At the Court of Bankruptcy John Lockhart Morton , merchant , of Finchlane , Cornhill , passed his final examination . His case has already acquired so much notoriety that it is scarcely necessary to remind our

readers of his conviction sonic time since , and sentence of four years ' penal servitude , in consequence of the extensive forgeries ( exceeding £ 20 , 000 ) he had committed on several discount banks . The accounts shoAV liabilities to the extent of £ 125 , 000 , but of these it is not expected that more than £ 70 , 000 or £ 80 , 000 will eventually be proved against the estate . It is said that the assets will realize £ -10 , 000 , but the official assignee has hitherto received only £ 9 , 553 , and this amount wi 11 shortly be made applicable to a dividend of about 3 s . or -is . in the pound on the claims at present established . Benjamin ChoAvder has been examined at Jlarlborough-street Police Court relative to a charge of fraud and

perjury in the disposal of a quantity of household furniture to a lady . The question of perjury arose from a declaration made to the effect that there was no encumbrance , whereas it was asserted that a bill of sale bad been executed on the property . Mr . Bingham remanded the case , and admitted the accused to bail . ¦ A woman named Susannah Brooks , in w-hom the passion for drink had overcome every natural affection , was sentenced to six months imprisonment , by the magistrate at Worship-street Police-court , for neglecting ,

starving , and cruelly ill-treating her children . It was stated that the prisoner had not been sober for the last two years ; but the prospect of six months' total abstinence appears to act like a charm , restoring her to perfect consciousness . The Earl of Jersey , who only succeeded to the title on the 3 rd inst ., is now lying dead himself , liaving expired ou Jlonday last . He is succeeded by his son , a boy of fourteen . The Lord Chief Baron has granted an application for the postponement of the trial of Sarah Jane Wiggins , for the murder of a child , to next the session .

Francisco Guimaraes , a Portuguese seaman , was indicted for the wilful murder of Philip Barker , master of the barque Margaret , on the high seas . Several witnesses having been examined for the prosecution , the counsel for tho defence said the oiilj r answer that could be given was , that the prisoner AA-as not in a state of mind at the timo that could render him accountable for his actions . The jury , however , found him guilty of wilful murder , and the learned judge ( Jlr . Justice AA'illiams ) passed sentence of death upon him in the usual form . Harriet Haslett , charged ivith the manslaughter of Richard Haslett , her infaut child , by exposure and neglect , was declared not guilty , and discharged ,

Tho storm of Tuesday , which continued and increased on Wednesday liiorning ' to almost a hurricane , as experienced also in the inetropolis , ] has . told with fearful effect on the shipping ou all parts of the coast . Iu fche channel especially the devastation was great ; and it is to be feared that the reported lvreck of nearly ono hundred vessels , with a proportionate loss of life , will prove to come far short of tho full extent of life lost and property destroyed . -The funds yesterday were not very animated ,

but they showed greater strength in the later hours , and consols for money were last quoted 95 J to £ , and for the account 95 J to 96 . Foreign securities were heavy , and in seme eases a decline was quoted ; but railivay shares exhibited firmness , most descriptions partially recovering from their former dulness . There were no bullion operations at the bank ; the rate for discount AA'as fairly supported at about 2 . ^ per cent . ; and upwards of 150 , 000 sovereigns were advised by the Maid of Judah from Sydney .

INDIA AND COLONIES . —The Bombay mail brings news of considerable interest . Central Iudia is still in au unsettled state ; a large number of tho rebels are sheltered in the scattered to AVUS and villages . Iu Jhansi tho fugitive sepoys are still troublesome . Feroze Shab is at the head of a large number of rebels . In Northern India the frontier districts of Nepaul are still occupied by the Nana , AA-ith some 12 , 000 adherents ; so that ifc is not suprising that the Bombay Gazette , ivhich records these facts , should add that the campaign must be resumed very soon , and

that the preparations for it have already commenced . The discharged men of the artillery and other European corps arc UOAV on their way to the presidencies . The difficulty is not quite over yet . The captains of some of tho ships very naturally object to convey tho released corps without an adequate quota of royal regiment soldiers to strengthen the hands of discipline , and although the China disaster at Pciho looks so ugly , requiring prompt and vigorous retribution , the government docs not appear to bo inclinedso far as we can learn

, , to em j > loy the homeward-hound men on this service , even if they should be willing to cancel or postpone their discharge Jlauy of the men , especially the really good soldiers , ivould gladly reconsider their resolve to throAV up a ivell-paid service ; but mauvai-ic honle prevents their signifying a change of mind in the matter without some colourable pretext for so doing . If the government offered them fair terms , put before them in a proper way , to wipe off the disgrace , and the British blood which has boon spilt in China , AVC feel confident that many would have

given in . A meeting of the inhabitants had taken place at Calcutta , on Sept . 23 rd , to protest against tho Licensing Bill , and to petition Parliament to establish local representative councils in India . Government securities were unaltered , ivitU a downivard tendency . The mail packet Norman has arrived at Plymouth , with the Capo Mails . She left Table Bay ou the 20 th ult . There is no political IICAVS ; the Parliament stands prorogued to tho 16 th November . Tho severe drought which had prevailed had ceased ; trade ivas good , and tho prospects of the colony flourishing .

COMMERCIAL ; AND PUBLIC COMPANIES . —The weekly revicAvs of tho state of trade slioiv that business is gradually assuming a more healthy appearance , though no further important rise has taken place in prices . In Birmingham the home and foreign orders are increasing , the transactions forward stimulating activity . At Halifax , Bradford , aud Huddersfield , a fair seasonable demand exists , and it is presumed that the year ivill terminate in a satisfactory manner . The operations at Manchester have been on an enlarged scale for general businessbut tho department

, connected AA-ith India had been less buoyant the last feAV days . In the neighbourhood of Leeds and Leicester the manufacturers are better employed , the inquiry for winter goods having augmented . From Nottingham the report is that trade is steady , though the approaching season will , it is thought , be satisfactory . At Sheffield a good business has been transacted in steel for America , but general mercantile affairs have only been partially active . The Irish linen trade is firm aud improving .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

' ' A Piiov . J . G . AAV—Your suggestion shall bo taken into consideration . "J . J . "—The election ofthe Grand JIaster takes place in JIarch . "BELT .. "—Inadmissible . ' 'THE CHARITIES . " —Om-correspondent's letter shall be returned to " Frater . '

' ¦ 'P . JI . "—The P . Ms , have no power to overrule the decisions of the Lodge . "A YOUNG JIASOX . "—AVe prefer a P . JI . for Secretary ; but there is no law on the subject . SCOTLAND . —The account of tho p . oceelings at the inauguration of the Zetland Lodge , Grangemouth , arrived too late for our present impression .