expressed his gratification at this announcement, and
hoped that the Treasury would act upon the report at
the earliest practicable moment.—The yeoman Usher of
the Black Rod having informed the house that her
Majesty commanded their attendance in the House of
Peers, the Speaker repaired thither accompanied by all
the members present. He returned with a copy of Her
Majesty's speech, which he read, and the members
separated.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of Lords.—July 29th. Royal assent to a number of
Bills.

30th.—Address in answer to the Queen's message respecting
Marlborough House.

August 2nd.—Mercantile Marine Bill read a second time.

5th.—Royal assent to a number of Bills.—Public Libraries and
Museums Bill passed through Committee.

6th.—Parliamentaiy Voters (Ireland) Bill, as altered by the
Commons, agreed to.

8th.—Ecclesiastical Commission Bill, Commons' amendments
agreed to.—Mercantile Marine (No. 2) Bill considered in
Committee.

9th.—Prince of Wales' Provision Bill read a second time.

12th.—Medical Charities Bill read a second time and
withdrawn.—Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Bill read a third time
and passed.—Crime and Outrage (Ireland) Bill (No. 2) read a
first time.—Friendly Societies Bill read a second time.—Mercantile
Marine Bill, and Duke of Cambridge's Annuity Bill read a
third time and passed.

13th.—Breach of privilege, Messrs. Cream and Gage
committed to Newgate.—Crime and Outrage (Ireland) Bill (No 2)
carried through remaining stages and passed.—Friendly Societies
Bill passed through Committee.

14th.—Royal assent given to a number of public and private
Bills.

l5th.—Royal assent to various Bills.—Queen's speech
proroguing parliament.

House of Commons.—July 26th. Baron Rothschild claimed
his seat for London.—Poor Relief Bill read a third time and
passed.

29th.—Baron Rothschild, oaths administered, and proceedings
thereon.—Parliamentary Voters (Ireland) Bill, Lords' amendments
on the Franchise negatived by 213 to 91; on the Registry
by 179 to 109.—New writ for Lambeth.

31st.—Sunday Trading Prevention Bill thrown out.

August 1.—Australian Colonies Bill, Lords' amendments
agreed to.—Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill read a second
time.

2nd.—Crime and Outrage Act (Ireland) Bill withdrawn, and
new one brought in.—Committee of Supply.—Inspection of Coal
Mines Bill read a second time.

5th.—Baron Rothschild, Attorney-General's resolutions
carried.—Stamp Duties Bill and Customs Bill in Committee.—Duke
of Cambridge's Annuity Bill read a third time and passed.—
Public Health (Ireland) Bill withdrawn.—Customs Bill in
Committee.

6th.—Crime and Outrage Act (Ireland) Continuance Bill read
a first time.—Landlord and Tenant Bill, debate on going into
Committee.

7th.—Encumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill thrown out on second
reading—Stamp Duties Bill and Marlborough House Bill read
a third time and passed.—General Board of Health (No. 3) Bill
read a second time.—Bill to facilitate transfer of Loans for Irish
Improvements brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

8th.—Crime and Outrage Acts (Ireland) Continuance Bill read
a second time.—Landlord and Tenant (No. 2) Bill abandoned by
Mr. Hamilton.—Administration of Criminal Justice Improvement
Bill, Chief Justice Salaries Bill, and Savings' Banks Bill,
withdrawn by ministers.—Customs Bill read a third time and
passed.

9th.—Crime and Outrage Act (Ireland) Continuance Bill in
Committee.—Ionian Islands, Mr. Hume's motion for Inquiry
negatived.

12th.—Crime and Outrage (Ireland) Bill (No. 2) read a third
time and passed,—Ecclesiastical Commission Bill, Lords' amendments
considered and agreed to.—Copyright of Designs Act
Amendment Bill read a third time and passed.—Improvement
of Towns (Ireland) Bill read a second time.—Union of Liberties
with Counties Bill read a third time and passed.

15th.—Report of Sunday Post Office Committee presented.—
Prorogation of Parliament.

The commissioners appointed to inquire into the
Regulations respecting Sunday Labour in the Post Office
have made a report to the Treasury, in which, after
pointing out the grave inconveniences caused by the
late suspension of all Sunday deliveries, they recommend,
with regard to the London post-office, that the system
which was in force at the time of the recent order, and
has not been affected by it, should be continued; and
that, with regard to the provincial post-offices, a delivery
of letters on the Sunday should be resumed, subject to
certain restrictions calculated to diminish the amount of
Sunday labour. It is provided that there shall be only
one delivery and one collection, and that the delivery be
made at such a time as shall not interfere with the
hours of Divine Service, especially of morning service.

A parliamentary paper has been issued, containing a
statement by the commissioners for the Sale of
Encumbered Estates in Ireland, of their proceedings under the
act. It appears that they have sold more than half-a-
million's worth of property, and of that sum they hope
to distribute the entire in their court, with the exception
of £25,000, which may be transferred to the Court of
Chancery. About £100,000 has been already distributed.
The commissioners hope without any assistance from
any other court to distribute £200,000 before vacation,
and £200,000 more in the month of October; they add,
"that there is no part of their practice which gives the
public such satisfaction as the readiness with which
payments are made when the rights of parties are
correctly ascertained."

The sittings of the great Tenant Right Conference
in Dublin commenced on the 6th, in the City Assembly
House. The attendance of delegates from the various
parts of Ireland was very numerous, including many
Roman Catholic priests and Presbyterian clergymen.
Dr. M'Knight, the Editor of the Banner of Ulster, was
called to the chair. Resolutions were passed affirming
the following general principles: "That a fair valuation
of rent between landlord and tenant in Ireland is
indispensable. That the tenant should not be disturbed in
his possession, so long as he pays the rent fixed by the
proposed law. That the tenant should have a right to
sell his interest, with all its incidents, at the highest
market value. That when the rent has been fixed by
valuation, no rent beyond the valued rent shall be
recoverable by any process of law. That cases of minors,
and other exceptional cases, be considered hereafter,
on any measure to be introduced into parliament. That
an equitable valuation of land for rent should divide
between the landlord and tenant the net profits of
cultivation, in the same way as profits would be divided
between the partners in any other business, when one
of them is a dormant partner and the other the working
capitalist who takes upon him the whole risk." At the
second day's meeting, on the 7th, a long discussion took
place on the principle of a compulsory valuation. The
following resolutions were affirmed: "That the valuation,
when once made, shall be permanent. That
every seven years there may, on the demand of either
landlord or tenant, be a re-adjustment of the rent,
payable under the valuation, according to the rise or
fall of the prices of agricultural produce." The closing
meeting was held on the 8th, when it was resolved that
a Tenant League should be formed, to hold its meetings
in Dublin.

A great Synod of Roman Catholic Prelates and Clergy
has assembled at Thurles, and commenced its proceedings
on the 22nd, with a splendid ceremonial in the Roman
Catholic Cathedral of St. Patrick. In the sermon
preached by the right Rev. Dr. Blake, the objects of
the Synod were described to be, "to hold council together
for the settling of controversies, for the extirpation of
abuses, for the improvement of morals and discipline,
for devising and establishing whatever means can tend to
the greater glory of God, the better education of the
people, the peace and harmony of society, and the
salvation of souls." The next general meeting was
fixed for the 29th. the bishops and divines being
engaged in the meantime in the discussion of the subject
submitted to them, and having subdivided themselves
into committees for that purpose.

The engine-drivers and firemen employed on the
Eastern Counties Railway, have Resigned in a body;
having previously held a meeting, at which it was
resolved, before taking this step, to state their grievances
to the directors. They complained of the conduct of
Mr. Gooch, the new locomotive superintendent, as
arbitrary and unjust, and demanded his dismissal. The
directors refused compliance, and, on their resignation,
replaced them with new hands. The matter was
brought before the half yearly general meeting of
shareholders on the 22nd, when Mr. Betts the chairman