The FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS was roundly abused for having spent L3,250 on tapestry for Hampton Court Palace. But when it turned out that the panel in question was the long-missing number of a set belonging to Cardinal WOLSEY, and that its recovery was largely due to the enterprise and munificence of the right hon. gentleman himself, the House agreed that his completion of "Seven Deadly Sins" was a venial offence. [Illustration: THE HULLABALLOONIST. LIEUT.-COMMANDER KENWORTHY.] Other Estimates evoked more healthy criticism. Sir FREDERICK BANBURY was eloquent upon what he called a "hotel for gardeners" at Kew. Mr. HOGGE was for rooting up the Royal Botanical Gardens, since they were hardly ever visited by Scotsmen, and Captain STANLEY WILSON inveighed against the extravagance with which the British delegates were housed in Paris. Sir ALFRED MOND admitted that they "did themselves very well," but pleaded that they could hardly be expected to go to Montmartre--at least not collectively--and pointed out that some of the criticisms should be addressed to other Departments. He was not responsible, for example, for "clothes of typists." _Wednesday, March 3rd._--Among the things that they do better in France, according to Lord SUDELEY, is the popularisation of picture-galleries and museums. He instanced the pictures on French match-boxes. But were they always confined to reproductions of Louvre masterpieces? My recollection is that at one time they took a wider range and were distinctly more striking than the matches. One was reminded of PRAED'S lines-- "Hume, no doubt, will be taking the sense Of the House on a question of thirteen-pence"-- when the Government very nearly came to grief to-night over a question of five pounds for the Inland Revenue offices in Manchester. In vain Mr. BALDWIN pointed out the desirability of giving proper accommodation to the gentlemen who pick our pockets in the interest of the State. The House was still obstinate, until Mr. BONAR LAW declared that the Government would resign if they did not get their "fiver." As he undertook, however, not to spend it without further leave, the vote at last went through. _Thursday, March 4th._--Lord BUCKMASTER'S scheme for preventing the bankruptcy of the State is to make everybody invest a portion of his capital in Government securities and to withhold the interest until such time as the State should find it convenient to pay. This, he explained to his own satisfaction, was quite different from that dangerous expedient, a levy on capital. Lord PEEL took a more cheerful view of the situation, and indicated that it was quite unnecessary for noble lords to get the wind up, since the Government would have no difficulty in raising it.