The Week.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE of LORDS on Monday Lord Lyndhurst defended himself from certain attacks made on him by Bright relative to his great speech on the defences of the nation . Ho denied that anything he had stated could legitimately give offence to the Emperor of the French . Lord Brougham called their lordships ' attention to the subject of national education , and entered into an elaborate review of the system of instruction which now prevailed iu this

country . He advocated the extension of the government examinations to middle class schools . The Bishoji of Lincoln aud Earl Granville also offered some remarks on the subject . —On Tuesday the Public Health Bill was read a third time and passed . The Bishop of Loudon called attention to a petition from tbe London Diocesan Church-building Society , complaining of the spiritual destitution existing in the mann' factoring towns of the kingdom , and more particularly in the metropolis , and expressing alarm lest the report of a select committee appointed b

y tlieir lordships should be followed by no result . After some observations from the Earl of Chichester , Lord Ebury , and other peers , the petition ivas laid on the table , and their lordships soon after adjourned . In the HOUSE of . COMMOXS , on Monday , Mr . Adderley called the attention of the house to the military defences of the colonies . He contended that we not only supplied men for the defence of our colonies , but also undertook the greater portion of the expense occasioned by that force . The colonies only bore one tenth of the cost of defending their

own coasts , ivhicli Avas a most inadequate proportion for them to defray . Sir George Evans then moved the following resolution : — " That iu the opinion of this house , taking into consideration the relations existing between some of the great military powers of the Continent , ifc is advisable that a commission be appointed , consisting of civilians and , military and naval officers , to inquire into and collect information concerning the present condition of our national defences ; to ascertain what improvements be made therein in order to insure tlie utmost efficiency

may combined with economy ; and to report thereon to her Majesty ' s Government . " Mr . Danby Seymour called attention to tho undefended state of the coast between AYeymoutli and Southampton . Mr . S . Herbert offered some explanations as to the arrangements entered into with various of our colonies , iu order to show that au immediate settlement of such a matter should not lie expected , but saicl that the utmost attention ivould bo ( b ' reoted to the subject . In reply to Mr . Danby Seymour he said ifc would be impossible to defend every landing-place in

the kingdom . In reply to the motion of Sir George Evans he said he could not agree to it . In substance , however , the gallant general ' s motion would be adopted , and a mixed commission ivould be appointed . Mr . Halliburton said the colony of Canada in ivhich he had lived hacl hitherto protected itself , and ivould do so again ; but the knowledge that , if needful , this country ivould lend its . aid was iu itself a protection . If , however , they withdrew their troops and left them to depend upon themselves , they should give them their independence .

Lord Palmerston said ho hoped Sir George . Evans would be satisfied with the course proposed by the secretary at w ; n : It ivas impossible to lay down any arbitrary rule as to the number of troops or ships to be sent to any colony , as that must always depend upon circumstances arising out of the terms on which wo stood with other nations . General Evans's motion was negatived . On Tuesday , Sir J . Trelawny having moved that the speaker should leave the chair , for tho purpose of going into committee ou the Church Rates Abolition Bill , Mr . Xewdcgato

moved as an aiiiendineiifc that tho house rmofau itself into a committee to consider the propriety of establishing in lieu of church rates , thenceforth to be abolished , a charge on all hereditaments , in respect of the occupancy of which church rates have been paid within the last seven years . His object was to accept the decision of tho house thafc church rates should lie abolished where they had not been paid for tho last seven years . Thus in the great towns they might be abolished , but thafc ivas no reason for abolishing fchem in those cases where they

Avere not opposed , being at least SO per cent , ol" the whole . The house divided , and the amendment of Mr . Now dogate . Avas negatived by a majority of 191 to 09 . The house then went into committee . On Wednesday , on the order of the day lor the committal of tho High Sheriffs' Expenses Bill , Mr . AVise moved , that the bill should be committed that day tliree months ; and after some discussion the house divided , and the amendment Avas carried by a majority of 115 to 112 .

Sir C . Napier moved that an humble address be presented to her Majesty praying that she will be graciously pleased to appoint a commission to inquire into the management of Greenwich Hospital . Mr . AVhitbread objected to the motion . Mr . Roebuck said that Greenwich Hospital was known as a nest of corruption , and ho ivould not trust any government with the inquiry . The house divided , and Sir C . Napier ' s motion was defeated by a majority of 112 to S 2 . The house then went into committee of supply , and tho discussion of the civil service estimates ancl civil contingencies occupied the remainder of the day .

COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC COMI -AXIES . —The business ofthe port of London during the past week has been moderately active . The number of vessels announced inwards at the customs as having arrived from foreign ports ASMS 20 S . There were four from Ireland , and ISO colliers . The entries outwards amounted to 116 , and those cleared to 9 S , besides 22 in ballast . The particulars of the bonds drawn of the Turkish six per cent , loan of £ 3 , 000 , 000 , of 1 S 51 , have been published , and the only noticeable point in connection therewith is the decease of the two original contractors , via ., Baron Goldsmid and Mr , J . H . Palmer ,

The Week.

At the meeting of the Australian Mining Company , it ivas agreed that the final dissolution shall be postponed until the expiration of the lease in 1 S 61 . In the meanii'hilo all the mining operations have been stopped , and the directors announce that it is their intention to make the most of the laud . A balance in favour of this account , to the extent of £ -1806 , is exhibited . A statement has been just published concerning tho Albert Life Assurance and Guarantee Company ( originally

established as the Freemasons' ) ivhich must be considered satisfactory , as ifc indicates the extent of business , with the steady progress in the sei-eral departments . The life and guarantee returns are of the most encouraging character , the testimony of Professor De Morgan being adduced to prove the correctness of the statistics . On the 31 st of December , 1 S 58 , the total income of the company was upwards of £ 117 , 000 a year , and the number of life policies in force exceeded 13 , 000 , covering assurances to the amount of £ 3 , 204 , 819 .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ROVAL ITALIAX OI'E RA .. — -On Tuesday night M . Meyerbeer ' s new opera , " jDinorah , or II Pellegrinaggio di Ploermel" ivas produced with a completeness and splendour unsurpassed by . any previous essay at the Royal Italian Opera . The characters in the opera ivere sustained by Madame Miolan Carvalho ( from the Theatre Lyrique in Paris ) , Madame Nantier Didiee , Mademoiselle Marai , Signers Gardoni , Neri Baralcli , Tagliafieo , and Graziani . Nothing coidd exceed the enthusiasm of the audience . The house was overflowing and presented a scene of

excitement rarely witnessed . The excitement began from the overture , a composition remarkable , not only for its beauty , but its entire originality of construction , and which ivas loudly encored . The applause showered upon Madame Miolan was incessant and often rapturous ; and it was abundantly bestowed on the other performers . The illustrious composer himself was loudly called for afc the end of every act ; and when he came forward , with an air of great quietness and modesty , led on by Mr . Costa , he was greeted with reiterated acclamations . In short , this new masterpiece of the great dramatic composer of the age is certainly as beautiful , and promises to bo a . s successful , as any work ho has over Avritten .

DUUUV . LAXE TJIISAI ' .- —Another remarkable novelty , in tho shape of Signer Verdi ' s grand serious opera , "I Vespri Sicilian ! , " Avas produced ou Wednesday ni g ht , for the first time in this country , ivith incontestible success . Mademoiselle Tietjens , by her splendid dramatic energy and brilliant execution in the part of Helena , proved that Signer Verdi might have clone worse than select ; her for his prima donna . Her performance was remarkable throughout , and Signer Mongiui won fresh laurels as Henri Ari-i Helena ' s loverand the victim of Giovanni di

go , , Procida , ( Signor A'ialetti ) , the Sicilian patriot ; Signor Fagotti exhibited his accustomed talent as De Montfort . The ballet , divertissement , les Quatre saisons , was perfectly executed by Mademoiselle Boschetti and her companions , and the misc en , scene was complete and splendid throughout . The general execution of the opera Avas creditable to all concerned . Signor Arcliti presided in the orchestra .

XEAV ADELI'UI TiiEA' 1 'ni ' . —Mr . Byron has produced at the Adelphi , a " novelty , " called " The Babes in the AVood , " which is as ivell entitled to the " now and original" of the bills as many a two or three act drama . Onr author has had no need to stray from the nursery legend ; but he has used ifc , simple as he found ifc , as the backbone for a set of travesties upon scenes in Shakspeare in which tho talents of the performers we havo named , of course immensely assisted the plans- of the author . The Babes , Tommy and Sally , are personated by Mr . J . L . Toole and Miss K . tho ivicked uncle

Kelly ; , Sir Rowland Macassar , by Mrs . Alfred Mellon ; Mr . Paul Bedford and Mr . C . J . Smith are Smith and Drown , a pair of unmitigated melodramatic ruffians , who first undertake to perform their brutal office of chicken butchers , at the bidding of the wicked knight and his Lady Macbeth of a spouse , Lady Macassar ( Mrs . Billington ) , and then , in due course , after a heinous parody on that famous scene from "King John , " between Arthur and Hubert , fall out like true knaves , and leave the innocents to the mercy ol the cock-robins , who do their spiriting according to the fitness of such things . The burlesque Avas entirely successful .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

i : O . P . Q . "—As a Prov . Grand Lodge only consists of Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers , Past Masters and Masters of Lodges , and actual AA ' ardcnu of Lodges Avithin the province , no others have the ri"ht to vote on the appointment of Prov , G , Treasurer . " S . H . " - —The S . AV . should only wear the jc wol of his own office when ruling the Lodge in the absence of the AV . M ,, and ivhen no P ,. Af . is present to take the chair .