ON the 1st of August in this year slavery ceased to disgrace the British colonies. The Irish Church continued to be the principal subject of discussion in Parliament; and on the 27th of May, Mr. Ward moved that the temporalities of that church ought to be reduced; and as a majority of the cabinet had resolved so far to accede to the motion as to appoint a commission of inquiry, Mr. Stanley, Sir James Graham, the Duke of Richmond, and the Earl of Ripon resigned their offices. The other measures of the ministry with regard to Ireland were equally embarrassing in their results. The unadvised disclosures of Mr. Littleton to Mr. O’Connell, respecting the supposed intentions of the cabinet as to the Coercion Bill, led to the retirement of Earl Grey, and Viscount Melbourne became Prime Minister in his stead. The measures proposed for the relief of Dissenters were withdrawn from the opposition of Dissenters themselves; and the only act passed this session, of great public importance, was that for the amendment of the Poor Laws, which received the assent of almost all parties. Mr. Hume’s motion for a gradual repeal of the Corn Laws was negatived by 312 to 155—Sir James Graham being the principal speaker against it. In November, when the death of Earl Spencer removed Lord Althorpe to the Upper House, and so further weakened the Whigs, the King dismissed them, and called the Duke of Wellington to his councils. Sir Robert Peel was then appointed Prime Minister, and Parliament was dissolved. Three per Cents. averaged 90½. wheat, 46s. 2d. JANUARY—Mr. G. R. Robinson, M.P. for Worcester, elected chairman at Lloyds. FEBRUARY—Lord Foley made strenuous endeavours to get Worcester created a bonded port. APRIL 8—The “Athenæum,” Foregate Street, a building erected for the accommodation of the Worcester Literary and Scientific Institution, opened by an inaugural address from C. H. Hebb, Esq., the president. A dinner, of the members and supporters of the institution, afterwards took place at the Bell Inn, Broad Street, with Colonel Davies, M.P., in the chair. MAY 9—Paganini performed in Worcester. MAY 15—The first stone of the Monument on the Lickey, erected to the memory of the Earl of Plymouth, laid by Lord Lyttelton—the gentry of the neighbourhood, the Cavalry, and a large concourse of spectators being present. It was raised by public subscription. It is a simple obelisk of Anglesea marble, raised on a pedestal 17 feet high and 20 feet square; the top of the pillar is 91½ feet from the ground, and it is so situated as to be seen at a distance of many miles. MAY 16—The first anniversary of the Worcestershire Natural History Society held in the Guildhall, Edward Holland, Esq., the newly elected president, in the chair. Dr. Streeten read the report of the committee. In the evening the members dined together at the Crown Hotel, Broad Street.