3.-Generals Lee and Longstreet, having united their forces, quit their entrenchments at Mine Run, and march towards Fredericksburg. Two days afterwards they encountered General Grant at Wilderness, where a severe engagement took place, but without any decisive result. Victory was claimed by both combatants. Lee retired upon Spottsylvania, where he was again encountered by Grant on the 10th, and a series of desperate encounters took place between the armies. A Federal general writing to Washington says, "Everybody is fighting, and has been for eight days." The Federal loss was stated to be 40,000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners. General Lee made good the position he had taken up.

6.-Intimation given in both Houses of Parliament that an agreement had been come to in the Conference between the Danish and German representatives that there should be a suspension of hostilities for one month from the 12th instant. This was further extended during the proceedings of the Conference in London.

11. In the discussion on Mr. Baines' Bill for lowering the borough franchise, the Chancellor of the Exchequer alarmed his colleagues by a declaration in favour of a very wide extension. "We are told,' he said, "that the working classes do not agitate; but is it desirable that we should wait till they do agitate? In my opinion, agitation by the working classes upon any political subject whatever, is a thing not to be waited for, not to be made a condition previous to any parliamentary movement, but on the contrary is to be deprecated, and, if possible, prevented by wise and provident measures. An agitation by the working classes is not like an agitation by the classes above them having leisure. The agitation of the classes having leisure is easily conducted. Every hour of their time has not a money value; their wives and children are not dependent on the application of those hours of labour. But when a working-man finds himself in such a condition that he must abandon that daily labour on which he is strictly dependent for his daily bread, it is only because then, in railway language, the danger signal is turned on, and because he feels a strong necessity for action, and a distrust in the rulers who have driven him to that necessity. The present state of things, rejoice to say, does not indicate that distrust; but if we admit that, we must not allege the absence of agitation on the part of the working classes as a reason why the Parliament of England, and the public mind of England, should be indisposed to entertain the discussion of this question.' Mr. Baines' motion was defeated by 272 against 216.

15. After reviewing the events which had happened in the Duchies, Herr von Bismarck writes:-"The Government of the King cannot consider itself in any way longer bound by the obligations it contracted on the 8th of May,

1852, under other circumstances. Prussia concluded this treaty with Denmark and not with the other Powers; the ratifications were only exchanged between Copenhagen and Berlin, not between Berlin and London or St. Petersburg. Even if-which we do not admit-the London Treaty had been intended to create obligations between us and the neutral Powers, these would become void, together with the treaty, as soon as the latter lapsed through non-fulfilment of its preliminary conditions.'

15. Mr. Moens, a British subject, seized by Italian brigands and only released, after a confinement of over three months, by payment of a ransom of 5,000/.

16. In the French Corps Legislatif M. Laboulie proposes to refund to the family of M. Lesurques, who was wrongfully executed in 1796 for the robbery of the Lyons mail, the sum of 54,585fr. 75c. which had been taken from him as the proceeds of the supposed robbery. The vote was carried by a majority of one, but afterwards cancelled.

18. The seventy-first anniversary of the Royal Literary Fund celebrated by a banquet in St. James's Hall, presided over by the Prince of Wales. The meeting was, in a pecuniary point of view, the most successful ever held; 2,000l. having been collected, including 100 guineas from the Queen, and a similar amount from the Prince of Wales.

19.-Died, aged 59, Nathaniel Hawthorne, American novelist.

20. Died in the Lunatic Asylum, Northampton, aged 71, John Clare, the "Northamp ton poet.

22.-Died, aged 70, Marshal Pélissier, Duke of Malakhoff, and Governor-General of Algeria.

24. The anniversary of the Queen's birthday celebrated with the customary rejoicings, for the first time since the death of the Prince Consort.

25.-Epsom races; the Derby won by Blair Athol. On the 27th, the Oaks by Fille de l'Air.

27. The tercentenary of the death of Calvin celebrated in Edinburgh.

28.-Volunteer review in Hyde-park; 21,743 men under arms.

The Emperor Maximilian and Empress land at Vera Cruz. A proclamation was at once issued:-"With the blessing of God, progress and liberty will not fail us if all parties, guided by a strong and loyal government, and preserving that religious sentiment which has distinguished our country from the most remote periods, unite to obtain the ends I have pointed out. The civilizing flag of France to which you are indebted for the return of peace and order, represents the same principles. It is what was told you some months back in sincere and disinterested language by the Commander-in-Chief when he announced to you a new era of prosperity. . . . Mexicans!

the future of our fine country depends upon you. I shall ever be actuated by the purest intentions and a firm determination to respect your laws and make them respected.

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the Empress is confided the enviable task of consecrating to the country all the noble sentiments of a Christian and all the affection of a tender mother."

28. In the London Conference, Earl Russell submits the following among other resolutions : -"In order to prevent a future contest and to satisfy Germany, it would be necessary, in our opinion, entirely to separate Holstein, Lauenburg, and the southern part of Schleswig from the Danish monarchy. To justify so vast a sacrifice on the part of Denmark, and to maintain the independence of the Danish monarchy, it is desirable, in our opinion, that the line of the frontier should not be drawn more to the north than the mouth of the Schlei and the line of the Dannewerke." Denmark consented in principle to this proposal, but insisted that she should only be asked to cede Lauenburg on special conditions. Austria and Prussia declined to accede to the proposed boundary line, and adhered to the one first traced by themselves from Apenrade to Tondern.

30.-Marriage of Louis Philippe Albert D'Orléans, Comte de Paris, eldest grandson of King Louis Philippe, with the Princess Marie Isabelle d'Orléans, eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess de Montpensier, solemnized in the Roman Catholic Chapel at Kingston.

31.-Debate on Mr. Cobden's motion asking the House to agree to a resolution declaring that the policy of non-intervention by force of arms in the internal affairs of foreign countries, which we proposed to observe in our relations with the States of Europe and America, should be observed in our intercourse with China. The resolution was ultimately withdrawn.

Settlement of the Hutchinson Will case, affecting the competency of the testator, a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, and a member of the Brompton Oratory, to dispose of his property by will. The plaintiff, the Rev. Thomas Francis Knox, propounded the will and codicil of the Rev. William Hutchinson deceased. The defendants, Dr. Alfred Smee and Mrs. Smee, pleaded that the will was not according to the requirements of the statute; that the testator was of unsound mind, and was unduly influenced by the plaintiff and others. The will was dated 7th July, 1860, and the codicil 7th August, 1860. The testator died on the 12th July, 1863. Alfred Smee, one of the defendants, married Elizabeth, the testator's sister, who was the other defendant. The testator,

son of George Hutchinson, a cashier in the Bank of England, was born in 1822, and his sister in 1818. After their father's death, the testator, who inherited considerable property, and his sister, were brought up by William Smee with his own children, and, as already mentioned, Alfred Smee married the testator's sister, who was amply provided for under her

father's will. The testator entered Cambridge University in 1843, and in 1845 went to Italy, and made the acquaintance of Dr. Faber, a member of Oxford University. The testator had previously expressed his intention to become a Catholic. This was violently but unsuccessfully opposed by Alfred Smee, who, in a letter dated 17th September, 1845, said such resolution arose not from reason but from a mind diseased, and that he was lending himself to the mummery of a relentless body, who would rob him of every farthing. On the 21st of the same month the testator was received into the Roman Catholic Church at Birmingham, and subsequently became a member of the Oratory at Brompton. For three weeks before his death he was under the professional care of the defendant Alfred Smee, medical practitioner. The value of his property at his death did not exceed 5,000!. After hearing evidence, the Judge-Ordinary (Wilde) said he thought the testimony in favour of the validity of the will was overwhelming, and condemned Mr. Smee in the costs of the proceedings.

June 1.-Died at Edinburgh, aged 74, Sir John Watson Gordon, President of the Royal Scottish Academy.

The Ionian Islands ceded to Greece by Great Britain and the other protecting Powers. 2.-The Prince and Princess of Wales visit Cambridge, and are received with great ceremony by the Master of Trinity and the dignitaries of the various colleges.

4.-Died, aged 73, Nassau W. Senior, Esq., political economist.

6. In the Upper House; grant of 20,000/ to Sir Rowland Hill, in acknowledgment of his services in the Post Office, and in pursuance of a message from the Queen.

7.-Collision at Egham with a train of excursionists to Ascot races. Four persons were killed and twenty-five injured.

8.-The National Convention of the Republican party in America assembled at Baltimore vote the candidature of President Lincoln for the ensuing election. The Chicago Convention, or Democratic party, nominated General M'Clellan.

Mr. Lawson's Intoxicating Liquor Bill, providing that a majority of two-thirds of the qualified voters of any parish might prevent the sale of such liquors within their boundary, thrown out on a second reading by 292 to 35 votes.

13.-General Grant crosses the James River, and marches against Petersburg, Virginia, where he was repulsed in two assaults.

14.-Experiment at Shoeburyness with Captain Palliser's chilled shot. In every case it went through the 44-inch armour plate, and deep into the backing beyond. Another peculiarity observed was, that after penetrating the plate, the shot broke up into minute fragments of from four to eight ounces weight, so that

the projectile carried in itself almost the penetrative powers of steel shot, and the explosive fragments of the most powerful shell.

17. Sir John Hay's motion censuring Government for the impolitic and disastrous expedition sent out from the Cape Coast against the King of Ashantee, defeated by the narrow majority of 7, in a House of 459.

- Died, from the effects of a railway accident in May last year, Dr. Cureton, F.R.S., an Oriental scholar of great attainments, Canon of Westminster, and Rector of St. Margaret's, aged 56 years.

18.-Died at Bangor, aged 61, William Smith O'Brien, a prominent and convicted Irish agitator.

20. The Confederate cruiser Alabama sunk by the Federal war-steamer Kearsage off Cherbourg. The Alabama left Cherbourg harbour about ten o'clock this (Sunday) morning, the Kearsage which had long been in hot pursuit being then several miles out to seaward with steam up ready for action. The log of Mr. Lancaster's yacht Deerhound furnishes the following details :-" 10. 30. Observed the Alabama steaming out of the harbour towards the Federal steamer Karsage. II. 10. The Alabama commenced firing with her starboard battery, the distance between the contending vessels being about one mile. The Kearsage immediately replied with her starboard guns; a very sharp, spirited firing was then kept up, shot sometimes being varied by shells. manoeuvring, both vessels made seven complete circles at a distance of from a quarter to half a mile. At 12 a slight intermission was observed in the firing, the Alabama making head sail and shaping her course for the land, distant about nine miles. At 12.30 observed the Alabama to be disabled and in a sinking state. We immediately made towards her, and on passing the Kearsage were requested to assist in saving the Alabama's crew.

In

At

12.50, when within a distance of 200 yards, the Alabama sank. We then lowered our two boats, and, with the assistance of the Alabama's whale boat and dingy, succeeded in saving about 40 men, including Capt. Semmes and 13 officers. AtIP. M. we steered for Southampton." With great bravery Captain Semmes kept the guns ported till the muzzles were actually under water, and the last shot was fired as the Alabama went down. When her stern was completely under water the captain gave orders for the men to save themselves as best they could, and every one jumped into the sea and swam to the boats which put off to their rescue.

21.-"Essays and Reviews" condemned in Convocation:"That this Synod having appointed Committees of the Upper and Lower House to examine and report upon the volume entitled Essays and Reviews,' and the said Committees having severally reported thereon, doth hereby synodically condemn the said volume as containing teachings contrary to

the doctrines received by the United Church of England and Ireland, in common with the whole Catholic Church of Christ." When the judgment was brought down to the Lower House, the Archdeacon of Taunton moved :"That this House respectfully and heartily tender its thanks to his Grace the President and the Bishops of the Upper House for their care and defence of the faith as manifested in the Report upon the book entitled 'Essays and Reviews' now read to the House, and that the House do thankfully accept and concur in the condemnation of the book by the Upper House." Canon Blakesley moved as an amendment :-"That whereas on the 13th of February, 1863, it was referred to the Committee of Privilege to examine the precedents for the censure of books, and report to the House thereon; and whereas that Report has not yet been presented, this House respectfully represents to his Grace the President, that in their opinion no further proceedings can be satisfactorily or safely taken by the Lower House in the matter until they have had before them the Report in question, and have had an opportunity of giving it full consideration." For the motion, 39; amendment, 19. Another amendment proposed by Canon Selwyn was to the effect that :-"This House regrets it cannot concur in the judgment proposed by their Lordships of the Upper House on the book called Essays and Reviews,' inasmuch as the judgment does not state any particular proposition contrary to the doctrine of the United Church of England and Ireland, on which the judgment is founded." This was not allowed to be put to the House. A motion that Dr. Rowland Williams, one of the essayists, be heard in terms of his petition, was also negatived.

21. In the House of Commons, Mr. H. Berkeley moved that at the next general election "it was expedient that a fair trial should be given to the vote by ballot." Lord Palmerston opposed it as inconsistent with the character of Englishmen, and the motion was rejected by 212 to 123 votes.

22.-The Conference of London meets for the last time, the belligerent Powers being unable to agree upon a boundary line satisfactory to each. On behalf of Denmark M. de Quaade said that his Government would make great sacrifices in order to obtain the restoration of peace, but there were limits beyond which they would not go, and his instructions forbade him to consent to any other line than that proposed by the English Plenipotentiaries in the sitting of the 28th May, and accepted by Denmark. This decla ration ended the debate, and the Conference broke up. Hostilities were resumed in Schleswig next day; but as Denmark saw that the neutral Powers were not likely to aid her in the struggle, she gradually withdrew her armies from the territories in dispute.

24.-The Archbishops of Canterbury, York,

Armagh, and Dublin, issue an address to the Church on the subject of foreign missions:-"We earnestly and affectionately entreat you to make a new and great effort for a large increase of our present missionary funds. . . . We are convinced that in no other way can the work be done than by every parish, or part of its separate parochial existence, raising its own contributions for the work; and we therefore beseech our brethren of the clergy to preach one sermon annually, and make a collection for Church of England Missions; and we pray our brethren of the laity to help them, not only by their contributions to this annual collection, but by becoming regular subscribers, if they are not such at present, or if they are, by increasing on a new scale of Christian liberality their aid to the funds of the societies they support, and by forming themselves into associations for more completely effecting this great work of God."

26.-The Empress of Mexico invested with the dignity of Regent in the event of the death of her husband.

27. Came on for hearing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the petition of Bishop Colenso, praying that her Majesty would be pleased to declare the petitioner to be entitled to hold his see until the letters patent granted to him should be cancelled by due process of law for some sufficient cause of forfeiture, and to declare that the letters patent granted to the Bishop of Capetown, in so far as they purported to create a court of criminal justice within the colony, and to give to the Archbishop of Canterbury an appellate jurisdiction, had been unduly obtained from her Majesty, and did not affect the petitioner's rights. The petitioner also prayed that the pretended trial and sentence were void and of no effect, and that an inhibition, as was usual in ecclesiastical cases, should issue against the proceedings under the sentence pending the appeal. The petition was ordered to stand over till the Michaelmas sittings of the Judicial Committee.

M. Vambéry attends at the Geographical Society, and details his travels in the character of a dervish through Central Asia.

29.-The Prussians bombard and capture the Island of Alsen, with 2,400 men serving in the batteries.

July 1. Mr. 'Dodson's bill, designed to abolish the tests required on taking degrees at Oxford, read a third time by the casting vote of the Speaker. On the formal motion that the bill do pass, it was thrown out by 173 to 171.

4.-Commencement of Mr. Disraeli's noconfidence motion :-" To thank her Majesty for having directed the correspondence on Denmark and Germany, and the protocol of the Conference recently held in London, to be laid before Parliament; to assure her Majesty that we have heard with deep concern that the

sittings of the Conference have been brought to a close without accomplishing the important purpose for which it was convened; and to express to her Majesty our great regret that, while the course pursued by her Majesty's Government has failed to maintain their avowed policy of upholding the integrity and independence of Denmark, it has lowered the just influence of this country in the capitals of Europe, and thereby diminished the securities for peace." As an amendment to the last sentence of the resolution, Mr. Kinglake proposed to substitute the words :-"To express the satisfaction with which we have learned that at this conjuncture her Majesty has been advised to abstain from armed interference in the war now going on between Denmark and the German Powers." "It is not for us," said Mr. Disraeli, "it is not for any man in this House to indicate to the Ministers what should be the foreign policy of the country. The most we can do, is to tell the noble lord what is not our policy. We will not threaten and then refuse to act. We will not lead on our allies with expectations we do not intend to fulfil. And, Sir, if it ever be the lot of myself and of those with whom I act, to carry on important negotiations of this country, as the noble lord and his colleagues have done, I trust we shall not, at least, carry them on in such a manner as that it will be our duty to come to Parliament and announce that we have no ally, and then to declare that England can never act alone. Sir, these are words that ought never to have escaped the lips of any British Minister. They are sentiments which ought never to have entered his heart. I repudiate them and reject them. I remember that there was a time when England had not a tithe of our resources, when, inspired by a patriotic cause, she triumphantly encountered a world in arms. And, Sir, I believe, now, if the occasion were fitting, and our independence and our honour were attacked and assailed, if our empire were endangered, I believe that England would arise in the magnificence of her might, and struggle triumphantly for those objects for which men live and nations flourish. But, Sir, I for one will never consent to go to war to extricate British ministers from the consequences of their own indiscretion; and it is in this spirit that I have drawn up this address to the Crown. I have drawn it up in the spirit in which the Royal Speech was delivered at the commencement of this session. I am ready to vindicate the honour of this country when it is necessary, but I have drawn it up in the interests of peace." Mr. Gladstone at once replied :-"This is the very first occasion that the British House of Commons has been called upon, for the sake of displacing a Government, to record the degradation of its country. Why cannot the right hon. gentleman speak plainly in his motion? Why does he not adopt the language of our forefathers, who, when they were dissatisfied with a Government, addressed the Crown, and prayed

that the Government might be dismissed? They said boldly that the conduct of the Government was open to such and such charges, and they prayed that other men might be put in their places. But the right hon. gentleman was afraid to raise that issue. He has, indeed, plucked up courage to propose this motion; but why has he not done it in the proper constitutional form in which votes of want of confidence have hitherto been drawn? Never before, as far as I know, has party spirit led gentlemen in this country to frame a motion which places on record that which must be regarded as dishonourable to the nation. I go back to the time of Sir R. Walpole, of Lord North and Mr. Fox, but nowhere do we find such a sterile and jejune affair as this resolution. Those charges were written in legible and plain terms; but the right hon. gentleman substitutes language which might, indeed, be sufficient for the purpose of rendering it impossible for the Government to continue in office, but which cannot transfix them without its sting first passing through the honour of England. For the reasons I have stated, I look forward with cheerfulness to the issue which has been raised with regard to our conduct. Nay, more, I feel the most confident anticipation, that both the House and the country will approve of the course taken in this difficult negotiation by her Majesty's Government, and that they will reject a motion which both prudence and patriotism must alike emphatically condemn." In the course of the last night's debate in the Commons, considerable amusement was created by Mr. Bernal Osborne's brilliant sallies against the Government :-"Let us see how this Ministry is constituted. There is the noble lord the First Minister. I wish to speak of him with every respect, because a more active and able man in the performance of his duty has seldom existed in this House. I may say of him that 'panting time toils after him in vain !' He is certainly facile princeps, and is the liveliest, if not the youngest man on the Treasury Bench. He deserves credit for his admirable management of affairs during a long course of years. He has acted with all sorts of men, and agreed with all sorts of opinions. Why, Sir, he has contrived a most extraordinary feat; he has conciliated both the Low Church and the High Tory party. The Record acknowledges his inspiration, and the hon. member for North Warwickshire bows to his influence. These are great feats. But what is his policy? In his domestic policy he is paternal but stationary. His foreign policy up to this day has been pugnacious and progressive. But now he is about to achieve the most wonderful feat of his life, for he is about to go to the country as the apostle and minister of peace, and will be supported by the member for Birmingham (Mr. Bright). That is the most extraordinary feat of the whole. do not think I have been unfair to the noble lord. Well, coming to the Cabinet, it is a museum of curiosities. There are some birds

I

of rare and noble plumage, both alive and stuffed. But, Sir, unfortunately there is a difficulty in keeping up the breed, and it was found necessary to cross it with the famous Peelites. I will do them the justice to say that they have a very great and able minister amongst them in the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and it is to his measures alone that they owe the little popularity and the little support they get from this Liberal party. But it cannot be said by their enemies or friends that they have been prolific in measures since they have been in office. Then there is my right hon. friend who is not connected with the Whigs by family (Mr. Gibson). He is like some fly in amber,' and the wonder is how the devil he got there. The hon. member for Rochdale (Mr. Cobden) and the hon. member for Birmingham must have been disappointed, I think, in this 'young man from the country.' When he married into the family we expected some liberal measures from him; but the right hon. gentleman has become insolent and almost quarrelsome under the guidance of the noble lord. Well, what are we to expect? We know by the traditions of the great Whig party that they will cling to the vessel, if not like shipwrecked sailors, at least like those testaceous marine fish which adhere to the bottom, thereby clogging the engines and impeding the progress. Should a vote of this House displace the Administration, what are the Liberal party to do? If I might advise the Liberal party, I should say they may be perfectly happy as to the issue of this great duel. They are somewhat in the position of Iago when he exclaims, "If Cassio kill Roderigo, or Roderigo kill Cassio, or each do kill the other, every way makes my gain.' Even should this Parliament decide on terminating its own and their existence, they will find consolation that the funeral oration will be pronounced by the hon. member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Newdegate), and that some friendly hand will inscribe on their mausoleum, Rest and be thankful.'" Ministers having arranged to accept a division on Mr. Kinglake's amendment, after a discussion extending over three nights, the numbers were found to be :-For Mr. Disraeli's motion, 295; for amendment, 313. Majority for Ministers, 18. A motion, similar in terms to Mr. Disraeli's, was carried in the House of Lords against Ministers by a majority of 9.

7. The Savoy Chapel destroyed by a fire originating in the carelessness of certain workmen making repairs in the gas-pipes below the organ. The fire was discovered soon after two o'clock P.M., when no person was in the building. The doors at the time were locked, and before they could be got opened the interior was one mass of flame, which burst out of the north window, and caught the back of the houses in the Strand. The structure was erected in 1505, and had been the scene of many events of historical importance. The