course was unprecedented.—After a few more speeches,
the house went to a division—For Lord Palmerston's
amendment, 136; against it, 125; majority against
government, 11.—Lord John RUSSELL rose and stated,
that as the house refused him leave to bring in his own
bill, and as he could not be responsible for any other,
he relieved himself of all responsibility with respect to
the measure. "Any other person might bring in a bill
on the subject, but he would not."—This declaration was
received with loud cheers from all parts of the house.—
Lord PALMERSTON expressed extreme surprise at this
announcement; that when there was so little difference,
government should shrink from its duty, and, on account
of a small incidental failure, throw up a measure which
they ought not to have proposed unless they thought it
really essential for the welfare of the country.—Lord J.
RUSSELL replied, that he was stopped at the threshold,
and told by the division that the house had no confidence
in the government. The cheers of gentlemen affirmed
that on this serious question such was the feeling of a
majority of the house. There being no motion before
the house, he moved that the chairman and Lord
Palmerston be ordered to bring in the bill.—Sir Benjamin
HALL declared that he had voted against Lord
Palmerston's motion, as uncalled for and unprecedented,
uncourteous and unconstitutional; but after the division,
the manly and constitutional course would be for Lord
John Russell to declare that he no longer presides over
the councils of this country.—Lord John RUSSELL said,
he thought his meaning had been sufficiently plain—
"When I said I took it for granted, as the result of the
vote of the house, that the ministry had no longer the
confidence of the house, and that such being the case, I
could no longer continue"—[Loud ministerial cheers
prevented the conclusion of the sentence from being
heard; but it was inferred that Lord John said, or
meant to say, that he could no longer continue to be
the responsible adviser of the crown.]—He then withdrew
his motion, and the house adjourned.

Monday 23rd, Lord John RUSSELL announced that
Ministers had resigned, and that the Queen had sent
to the Earl of Derby, who was engaged in the formation
of a new ministry. Lord John then said, with regard
to the future, that he should feel it his duty, out of
office as well as in office, to oppose the restoration of a
duty on corn, whether for protection or revenue; that
he should support an extension of the suffrage to those
who were fitted to exercise the franchise; and that he
should always exert any influence he might possess for
the maintenance of the blessings of peace. In
conformity with a wish expressed by Lord Derby, he moved
that the house at its rising do adjourn until Friday
next. The matter was agreed to, and the house
adjourned.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of Lords.—Feb. 3.—Opening of Parliament by her
Majesty. The address.

5th.—Common Law Procedure Amendment Bill brought in
and read a first time.

9th.—The above Bill read a second time.

12th.—Ditto referred to a select committee.

13th.—County Courts Further Extension Bill read a second
time. Patent Law Amendment Bill brought in by Lord
Brougham.

17th.—Lord Clancarty not allowed to dispense with oath of
supremacy. County Courts Extension Bill amended and passed
through committee.

23rd.—Announcement of resignation of Ministers. Adjournment
of the house.

House of Commons.—Feb. 3.—The address.

4th.—Report on the address.

5th.—Committee of Supply agreed to.

6th.—Suitors in Chancery Relief Bill brought in by the
Solicitor-General. Leave to Lord Seymour and Mr. Moffatt to
bring in separate Bills for Water Supply to the Metropolis.
Ventilation of the house—Dr. Reid examined.

9th.—New Reform Bill, leave to bring it in given to Lord
John Russell.

10th.—Leave to Mr. Sharman Crawford to bring in a Bill for
Tenant Right, in Ireland.

11th.—Manchester and Salford Education Bill, second reading
postponed. Ventilation of the house; Mr Osborne's motion,
that the matter be referred to Dr. Reid, carried. Income Tax
Committee of last session renewed.

12th.—New Reform Bill brought in by Lord John Russell, and
read a first time.—Select Committee on Preserved Meats for
the Navy.—Mortmain Laws, Mr. Headlam's Committee re-
appointed.—Customs' Inquiry, Mr. Mitchell's Select Committee
re-appointed.

13th.—International Copyright Bill brought in by Mr.
Labouchere.—New Reform Bills for Scotland and Ireland
brought in by the Lord Advocate and Sir W. Somerville.

16th.—Militia Acts considered in committee—Lord John
Russell's proposed measure.—Scotch Universities Tests
Abolition Bill to be brought in.

17th.—Duty on Carriages, Sir De Lacy Evans' motion,
negatived.—Stamp Receipts, Mr. Headlam's motion, negatived.—
Parliamentary Representation Bills (Irish and Scotch), brought
in and read a first time.

18th.—County Rates Bill (Mr. Freshfield's), read a second
time.—Public Houses (Scotland) Bill read a second time.—
County Rates Expenditure Bill (Mr. Gibson's] thrown out on
second reading.—Copyright Amendment (Mr. Lewes's) Bill.

19th.—Lord Naas' motion of censure on Lord Clarendon
negatived.

20th.—Militia Acts, report brought up. Lord Palmerston's
amendment to leave out the word "local" carried against
ministers by 136 to 125.—Resignation of Ministers intimated by
Lord John Russell.—Church Affairs in the Colonies considered
in Committee.—Charitable Trusts, in Committee.—Personal
Intestate Estates, leave given to Mr. Cornewall Lewis to bring
in a bill.

23rd.—Resignation of Ministers announced by Lord John
Russell.—House adjourned.

The two Houses of Convocation of the Province of
Canterbury assembled at the Jerusalem Chamber,
Westminster Abbey, on the 4th inst. In the Upper
House, besides the Archbishop of Canterbury, there
were the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Winchester,
the Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of Exeter, the Bishop
of Chichester, the Bishop of Lichfield, and the Bishop of
St. Asaph; in the Lower House, Archdeacon Denison,
the Archdeacon of Bath, the Archdeacon of Barnstaple,
the Archdeacon of Bristol, the Archdeacon of Maidstone,
the Reverends J. Slaney, Dr. Moore, Dr. Spry, Dr. Mill,
G. E. Gillett, H. E. Majendie, R. W. Huntley, E.
Goddard, J. Yardley, T. Mills, H. A. Woodgate, T.
Randolph, J. Harding. The solemn initiatory services
having been gone through, an entrance upon actual
business was made. In the Upper House, the Bishop
of London presented seven petitions from several
dioceses, praying that Convocation might sit for
despatch of business. The Bishop of Exeter presented
five petitions, the Bishop of Chichester eight, the Bishop
of Llandaff one, the Bishop of Oxford four, and the
Bishop of St. Asaph one, all of the same tenor as those
presented by the Bishop of London. An animated
discussion arose, in which the Bishops of London,
Exeter, Chichester, Winchester, St. Asaph, Oxford, and
Lichfield, took part, on the proposition to address the
Queen for her license to meet for despatch of business.
The debate had gone on for about an hour, when the
Archbishop appealed to his brethren to forbear pressing
the subject at the present moment. "However much
(he said) Synodical action might be desired, he did not
think that any good would accrue from petitioning her
Majesty; for he felt quite certain that, in the present
state of the Church and its multitudinous divisions,
their prayer would not be granted." At the same time
in the Lower House, about thirty petitions had been
received, and a very earnest discussion on the same
topic had gone on. The Lower House carried an
address on the subject, and sent it to the Upper House
with a request that they would take the subject into
consideration. There was some demur to receiving this
address, on the ground of form; but it was received, and
"best attention" was promised for it. The Prolocutor
of the Lower House, and the members who accompanied
him, were returning to their own chamber, to enter on
further business, when the Archbishop's Apparitor
summoned them back; and on their arrival the Queen's
Proctor, Mr. F. Hart Dyke, read the formal prorogation
of the Convocation to Thursday, the 19th of August.
At the reading of this document great surprise was
expressed, and many of the members said the proceeding
was illegal; but there was no appeal.

On the same day the Convocation of the Province of
York assembled at the Chapter-house of that city. But
when the clergy appeared, several of them with petitions,
numerously signed, in their hands, they found the doors