THE WEEK AT HOME.

THE week has been even more flat than its predecessors, both out of and in Parliament, and little note-worthy, except in the striking fea- ture of another fatal accident, in which, we grieve to say, it emulates its predecessors only too well. In the political region it has rested for its principal interest on the appearance of those exciting totals of expected departmental expenditure whith gauge to some extent the dimensions of our next year's taxation.

POLITICAL.-On Monday last Mr. P. A. Taylor was elected Mem- ber for Leicester without a contest. He belongs to the extreme section of independent Liberals, but to that section of it which fraternizes with the ultra-Liberals of the Continent, especially with the Mazzinian party in Italy. He will, no doubt, follow the able lead of Mr. James Stansfeld, M.P. for Halifax.

The Admiralty have put forward their estimates for the com- ing year, which show a decrease on the previous estimates of 481,9451., aud if the. extra naval expenditure (564,3381.) caused by the Canadian preparations for war of this winter be added to the naval expenditure of this year, the estimated expenditure of next year will be less by 846,2831. than the actual expenditure of this. The details are divided into 17 votes, of which we have analyzed some of the more important into their severalitems :

New Estimates,

186.2-63.

Current year's Estimates, 1861.62. Increase, 1862-63.

Decrease.

1861-62.

t

1. Wages to seamen and marines 3,078,121 3,122,580

44,459 2. Victuals for ditto 1,362,093 1,328,259 33,834

3. Admiralty Office 170,832 161,157 9,675

4. {Coast Guard Service Royal Naval Coast Volunteers

143,602 29,000 145,142 28,280 720 1,540 Royal Naval Reserve 123,000 80,000 45,000

5. Scientific Branch 68,045 63,851

4,194

6. Naval Establishments at home 176,624 172,947 3,677

7. Ditto abroad 33,610 - 33,640

30 8. Wages to artificers on establish- ments at home 1,147,678 1,112,126 35,552

9. Ditto- abroad 66,801 67,828

1,027 (1. Naval stores for building, j repairs, and outfit of flee 1,744,184 2,135,945

391,761 ' 1 2. Steam machinery and ship

i built by contract

1,453,561 1,603,532

149,971

11. New works, improvements, re- pairs in yards, &c.

464,170 466,610

2,440 12. Medicines and medical stores 66,090 66,000

13. Miscellaneous services 98,708 90,510 8,198

Total for effective service 10,228,029 10,678,407 139,310 589,688 14. Half-pay, &c.

15. Military pensions 1,377,626 1,350,843 32,177 5,394 16. Civil pensions

Total for Naval Service 11,603,655 1'2,029,250 171,487 595,082 17. Army Department.-Convey ante of troops 188,650 247,000

58,350

11,794,305 12,276,250 171,487 6.53,432

Estimated excess of Naval ex- penditure for Canadian expedi-

Deduct

tion

-1

364,338 Decrease. 171,487

12,640,588

Net Dec.

481,945

It will be seen by this account that the great saving has been made on vote (10) for naval stores, for building, and steam machinery, in which vote we have saved altogether more than half a million sterling (541,7321.), the greater part of it on naval stores, but a considerable sum also on steam machinery. The only remarkable increases are on the Naval Reserve, an increase which will not be grudged, of 45,0001., an increase in wages to the artisans employed in our navy yards of 35,5521. and an increase in victuals for seamen and marines of 33,834/. A. return has also been issued showing the details of the expendi- ture of the year before last, or more exactly the financial year, 1860-61, on building, repairing, and converting ships. This is, in fact, the expenditure on the heads comprised in the votes (8, 9, 10) given above, the previous votes (6 and 7) for the establish- ments being votes of fixed salaries to regular officers which are not liable to any considerable variation from year to year. In the finan- cial year, which ended last March, then, we spent on the great variable heads (8, 9, 10) 4,017,7801., while we propose to spend in the coming year on the same votes, 4,412,224/. The expenditure, therefore, under these large heads, though expected next year to be much less than in the current year (when it was estimated at 4,919,4311.), will yet be considerably larger than in the financial year ending with last March.

Attention has been drawn this week to Mr. Digby Seymour's vin- dication of his character, in a recent meeting of his constituents at Southampton. It seems that from seven to ten years ago he was chairman of some commercial company in London, and that his con duct in that position was impugned. Recently the imputations were brought before the benchers of his inn, who, in fifteen different sittings, considered the charges against him. As the judges present were different on every occasion, Mr. Seymour complains that he was in fact tried, and privately tried, before fifteen different tribunals, and his own defence never made public. He was finally acquitted of any conduct that the benehers thought it within their province to con- demn. And he asserts, with justice, that the trial ought to have been public, as the imputations on him have in fact affected his public character. Every right-thinking man will admit the claim to pub- licity in such a case. The following interesting statistics concerning the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland have appeared in the public press this week: Archbishops Bishops Parish priests Curates Regular Roman Catholic population . . . Roman Catholic places of worship . 4 29 1,036 1,491t 5203 4,490,583 2,339 3017 As Maynooth has room for 520 students, and the course of study is eight years, about 60 are turned out yearly, or about 2 per cent. on he total priesthood, about enough, we suppose, to supply the va- .

cancies by death. The annual dinner of the Associated Chambers of Commerce took place on Wednesday, at the Westminster Hotel, Mr. Norwood, of Hull, presiding. Mr. Roebuck lectured the Chambers of Commerce on not advising Parliament more minutely in matters of commercial policy. He was particularly severe because they had not used their influence to amend the French Treaty. The Chambers of Commerce appear to think that they have got rather more than their best hopes, and are a little puzzled at Mr. Roebuck's acrimonious reproof for not teaching him how to upbraid Mr. Cobden with better and sharper effect.

SOCIAL.—Since we last wrote, the report of a meeting held at Cambridge to promote a University memorial to the Prince Consort has been reported. It was held on Thursday week (13th instant), and was chiefly remarkable for a speech of Professor Sedgwick's, distinguished by more of direct and personal testimony to the Prince Consort's virtues than many of the speakers at these meet- ings have had it in their power to give. He spoke of the profound esteem in which the Prince was held at the University of Bonn, before the treaty of marriage was concluded, and especially of the eloquent testimony of the most eminent of the Bonn Professors- Schlegel—to the Prince's strong character and ability. He had attended to geology, says Professor Sedgwick, so far as to acquire a real grasp of the subject; and when the Prince brought the Queen to the University Museum, "he pounced at once" on the real curiosities with a discrimination that showed his thorough knowledge. Professor Sedgwick quoted a saying of the Prince with reference to our English jurisprudence : "You are deficient in these studies in England," he said; "you are not systematic. Now, I want to know something more of your jurisprudence ; but, instead of great prin- ciples, I am referrea to precedent, and for a general student to go through all manner of precedents is utterly impossible,—life does not suffice for it. I want some leading principles to guide me to substantial truths. But you, Englishmen, do not go on refining as much as they do in German academic bodies, but by some practical skill or instinct you always do hit what is right and expe- dient, instead of dreaming, perhaps too much, among the philosophic elements." If this be an accurate report of the Prince's early com- ments on English jurisprudence, it is fair testimony, not only to his practical sagacity, but to the prudence with which he mingled bitter and sweet in criticizing our institutions to our own most eminent men. Professor Sedgwick added that the Prince composed music of

his own, showing skill and feeling and had a sound knowledge of Art. It was decided at the meeting that the memorial of their late Chancellor should consist of a statue, the size of life, to be erected in some conspicuous place in the University. Liberal subscriptions were at once commenced.

The International Exhibition has already received the earliest in- stalments of its wares. Liberia was the first to send, and the speci- mens sent were boxes of palm-oil and other oils, dye-woods, &c.—a not very fascinating beginning. Russia, Norway, Belgium, Austria, and some of our home exhibitors have since delivered packages for exhibition. Madagascar has applied for space. By the 10th of March the rooms for the works of art will be dry and ready to re- ceive their decorations. The English and French refreshment con- tractors are vying with each other in the magnitude of their prepara- tions. The English contractors have ordered 35,000 wine-glasses alone, which implies, we suppose, an. expectation of at least some 25,000 simultaneous wine-drinkers in the press of the season. They have provided comfortable table room for about 3000 serious diners —diners who will sit down to dine.

MISCELLANEOIrS.—The two coroners' inquests on the victims of the distressing Waterloo-road accident and the Hackney houses accidents have been held, and the juries have delivered their verdicts. In the case of the Waterloo-road downfal, they simply describe the cause of death, adding a censure on the landlord who was the - occasion of it by improperly distraining for rent, and so attracting a crowd to the spot to witness the struggle between the bailiff and the tenants. In the case of the Hackney accident, the jury ascribe it directly to the "inferior quality" of the materials used in the building, the incompleteness of the roof, and the "undue haste" used in the construction—a verdict which reflects direct censure on Messrs. Amos.

On Wednesday, at noon, a frightful explosion occurred in Cething coal-pit, Merthyr-Tydvil, by which 50 lives were lost on the spot.

COMEERCILL.—The demand for discount this week has been moderate, and the rate in the open market has fallen to 2* to f per cent. On the Stock Exchange the supply of capital is very abun- dant, the India Office having lent a portion of their funds in hand, and the terms for loans are nominally 1 per cent. Notice has been given in this evening's Gazette, that the interest on the March Ex- chequer bills will in future be at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum in lien of 2d. per day. A new Italian Five per Cent. loan of

1,338,0001. is announced. The price of subscription is fixed at 74, and the sum raised is to be employed in completing the Maremma railway. The Agents' General for the Crown Colonies have successfully placed the unissued bonds of 145,000/. for the Cape of Good Hope. rile tenders were considerably in excess of the sum required,and the whole of the debentures have been taken at rates varying from 107/. us. 6d. to 109/. 15s. The official minimum was 106/. The funds have been very quiet throughout the week, the business done having been remarkably small. To-day, however, there has been rather more animation. Consols closed this evening at 93f to for money, and 931 for the account, showing an advance of fully *. The market was firm at the close. Other Government secu- rities have also shown a heavy tendency, except Indian rupee paper, in which a further advance has taken place. India five per Cents have improved to 106* to 107*. Foreign stocks have been in less demand, and in some cases show a relapse. Mexican has chiefly fluctuated, closing at a fall of about 1 per cent. Russian and Peruvian stocks are firm. The new Italian Loan is nominally * to 1 prem. The principal feature in railway shares has been a rise in Eastern Counties, on the announcement of the dividend for the past half-year at the rate of 3 per cent, per annum. Other descriptions are also firm. In Colonial stocks there has been a general advance in Cana- dian descriptions, which has been fairly maintained. The chief altera- tion in Foreign Railway securities has been an improvement in Great Luxembourg. Brazilian shares have been in less demand. In Mis- cellaneous shares, Joint-Stock banks continue in request, with an up- ward tendency. Crystal Palace stock is also higher. The imports of specie this week include 11,1271. in Australian gold by the over- land mail, and some silver from the Continent. On the other hand, about 200,0001. in gold has been sent chiefly to Belgium, and 126,397/. to India and China. About 35,000/. in gold was taken from the Bank to-day.

931 931 931

131

per Cent Consols Ditto for Account 3 per Cents Reduced New 3 per Cents Annuities 1880 Annuities 1885 Bank Stock, 5 per Cent India Stock, 101 per Cent Exchequer Bills, 2d. per diem Exchequer Bonds, 5001 India Bonds, 4 per Cent Friday — pm — pm die FOREIGN FUNDS.

(Last Official Quotation during the Week ending Friday Evening.

Austrian 5 p. Ct.

Belgian 41 Ditto 21 — Brazilian. 5 — Buenos Ayres 6 — Chilian 6 — Danish 5 — Ditto 3 — Dutch (Ex. 12 Guilders) — 21 —

Ditto 4 — French 3 — 25f. 70c.

French Mexican Peruvian.

Portuguese 1858 Russian Sardinian Spanish Ditto New Deferred Ditto Passive Turkish Venezuela 41 p. Ct 3 —

41

3 —

a

5 3 3 6

3

—

—f. —c.

344 461 — 201 841 251