NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE week has been marked by political torpor. The statesmen are enjoying the holiday which they need, whether they have deserved it or not, and the politicians are imitating the states- men. There has not been a speech uttered worth a moment's attention ; and if leading articles had stopped too, nobody would have been any the worse. A foolish attempt to convince the country that the Government had accepted Home-rule created no excitement and there has been no news from Ireland of the smallest moment. The only topic of political conversation has been the current of events in Sofia, and even that has not affected either Consols or men's minds. The majority, though indignant with General Kaulbars and his master, do not care much about diplomatic baises, and entertain—as we think, without adequate reason—the conviction that Prince Bismarck can stop war, and that while the old Emperor lives he will stop it. Perhaps the announcement most read was that the Social Democratic Federation intend to induce the unem- ployed to march in procession after the Lord Mayor's show, which means of course that there is to be a serious riot on November 9th. The police, however, are forewarned, and Sir Charles Warren is not a man to play with.
