between the pensions and allowances to which they
might be entitled, and the price of the commission
which had been held by their deceased relatives. In
the prospect of such a scheme being carried out, he
trusted that the subject would be left in the hands
of the government.—Mr. HEADLAM consented to
accept the arrangement proposed by the prime minister,
and the motion was then by leave withdrawn.

On Wednesday, June 20, at the noon sitting, the
Marriage Law Amendment Bill was considered in
committee. On clause 1 an amendment was moved by
Sir F. THESIGER, with the object of annulling the
retrospective operation of the measure. Since 1835 all
marriages with a deceased wife's sister had been
absolutely illegal; and he objected to the provision by
which unions so contracted, in defiance of the statute,
were now to be declared lawful and valid.—Mr.
HEYWOOD opposed this restriction in the effect of the
bill, and, after some considerable discussion, a division
was taken, in which the amendment was negatived by
a majority of 130 to 83—47. This clause and some
others being afterwards agreed to, the further progress
of the bill was adjourned to the 10th of July.

The house having resumed, the motion for going into
committee on the Bill of Exchange and Promissory
Notes Bill; which was brought forward by Mr.
KEATING, was opposed by Sir F. THESIGER and other
members. Mr. VANCE moved that the committal of
the bill should be postponed until that day week.
On a division, this amendment was negatived by 146
votes against 25—121. The opposition to the bill was,
however, continued, and the debate was still proceeding
at a quarter to 6, when it was suspended according to
the rules of the house, and the motion became a
"dropped order."

On Thursday, June 21, the order for resuming the
debate upon Administrative Reform, having been read,
the resolution of Sir B. Lytton was agreed to without
discussion, and with only a solitary dissentient voice.

On Friday, June 22, Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that,
on the 3rd of July he would move a resolution to the
effect that the house deeply laments the Sufferings of
the Army in the Crimea, and, coinciding in the report
of the committee as to the conduct of the war, it feels
that sincere reprehension attaches to every member of
that government which counselled proceedings which
have led to such lamentable results.

In answer to General Harcourt, Admiral BERKELEY
said no official despatches had been received respecting
the Fate of the Boat's Crew at Hango, except those which
had already been published. He went on to complain
of an attack which had been made upon himself in the
Daily News, as if he were the author of the deaths of
those men.

Mr. STAFFORD complained that many of the soldiers
who had returned from the Crimea, had Received no
Pay since August last, and were now in great distress.
He warned the house that this state of things was doing
great injury to the recruiting service through the
country.—Mr. PEEL said the reason was that they had
not received from the Crimea the papers to show to
what the men were entitled. It was intended to pay
the men a portion of their claims at once.

Mr. LINDSAY called attention to the Transport Service,
and defended himself from the attacks made upon
him by Mr. Drummond and Admiral Berkeley in a
previous debate, and denied that in his recent speech at
Drury-lane Theatre he had promulgated virulent
untruths. He recapitulated many of the statements then
brought forward, and adduced much confirmatory
evidence and several new details gathered, in some
degree, from the official returns.—Sir C. WOOD
remarked upon the unfairness of making charges
against ministers in a place where they had no
opportunity for defence or explanation. He proceeded
to notice in detail several of the instances cited by Mr.
Lindsay, and stated circumstances tending to exonerate
the Admiralty department from blame. Sir C. Wood
then related some anecdotes to show that Mr. Lindsay's
own business was sometimes mismanaged. Further
comments and explanations were presented by different
hon. members, until at length the subject dropped.

The house then went into committee, and resumed
the discussion on the clauses of the Education ( Scotland)
Bill. Several clauses of the measure were agreed to,
after a discussion prolonged till past midnight.

On Monday, June 18, Sir C. WOOD, recapitulated the
substance of the last despatches received from Admiral
Dundas respecting the Late Outrage at Hango Head.
The admiral had communicated with the Governor of
Helsingfors, and obtained a reply in some degree
exculpating the conduct of the Russian officer in command
on that occasion, who, it was asserted, saw no flag of
truce, and acted under the impression that the crew of
the Cossack's boat had been taking soundings. The
result of the affair was that five of the seamen and the
Finnish prisoners had been killed, four Englishmen and
two Finns were wounded, three officers with four of the
crew and two Finns being taken prisoners. Sir C.
Wood denied the truth of the report that the commander
of the gunboat in the Black Sea had taken
some soundings under cover of a flag of truce while
restoring the private carriage of the Governor of Kertch.

The house in committee discussed the clauses of the
Victoria Government Bill, which was carried through
the stage, after considerable discussion, without
undergoing any modification of importance.

The New South Wales Government Bill, and the
Waste Lands (Australia) Acts Repeal Bill were also
passed through committee.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of Lords.—Monday, June 4th.—Roman Catholic
Charities Bill read a second time. Newspaper Stamp Duties
Bill committed.
5th.—Newspaper Stamps Bill read a third time and passed.
7th.—Cambridge University Bill considered in committee.
8th.—Roman Catholic Churches Bill committed. Education
of Pauper Children Bill read a second time.
11th.—The Fermoy Peerage referred to a Committee of
Privileges. Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Bill committed.
12th.—Religious Worship Bill reported. Church Patronage
Bill committed. University of Cambridge Bill reported.
Roman Catholic Charities Bill read a third time and passed.
14th.—Needlewomen's Bill referred to select committee.
Cambridge University Bill read a third time and passed.
15th.—Religious Worship Bill referred to a select committee.
Education of Poor Children Bill read a third time and passed.
18th.—Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Bill reported.
Infants Marriage Bill reported.
19th.—Friendly Societies Bill read a second time.
21st.—Measurement of Shipping Bill read a second time.
Leases and Sales Bill read a third time and passed.
Charitable Trusts Bill committed. Public Libraries (Ireland; Bill
read a second time.
22nd.—Assizes and Sessions Bill read a second time. Church
Patronage Bill reported. Stamp Duties Repeal on Matriculation
and Degrees (Oxford) Bill committed. Charitable
Trusts Bill reported.
House of Commons.—Monday, June 4th.—Youthful Offenders
Bill read a first time.
5th.—Stamp Duties Repeal on Matriculation and Degrees
(Oxford) Bill read a first time.
6th.—Public Libraries (Ireland) Bill committed.
7th.—Friendly Societies Bill read a third time and passed.
11th.—Metropolis Management Bill in committee. Validity
of Proceedings Bill read a first time. Insolvency and Bankruptcy
(Scotland) Bill read a second time. Youthful Offenders
Bill read a second time.
12th.—Validity of Proceedings Bill read a second time.
Metropolis Management Bill in committee. Decimal Coinage,
Mr. Brown's resolutions carried.
13th.—Sunday Trading Pill in committee.
14th.—Education (Scotland) Bill in committee. Victoria
Government and New South Wales Government Bills read a
second time. Waste Lands (Australia) Bill read a second time.
15th.—Administrative Reform, Mr. Layard's resolutions,
debate adjourned.
18th.—Report of Sebastopol committee brought up and
read. Administrative Reform, Mr. Layard's resolution
negatived. Spirits (Irish) Act Amendment Bill committed.
19th.—Tenants Improvements Compensation Bill in
committee.
20th.—Marriage Law Amendment Bill in committee.
21st.—Metropolis Local Management Bill in committee.
Tenants Improvements Bill in committee. Dwellings for
Labouring Classes (Ireland) Bill read a third time and passed.
Administrative Reform, Sir E. Lytton's resolution agreed to.
22nd.—Mr. Roebuck's notice of motion of censure on the
government. Education (Scotland) Bill in committee. Union
Charges Act Continuance Bill read a second time.
25th.—The Merchant Shipping Act Amendment Bill was
read a second time. The Burial Ground (Scotland) Bill and
the Administration of Oaths Abroad Bill were respectively