Our Weekly Budget.

promotes the growth of ruffianism . The Oaks was run yesterday , and the ladies' day was as well favoured in respect of weather as its more important companion of Wednesday . It had the advantage of being , however , quieter and more enjoyable .

A very unusual robbery was committed towards the end of last week . A well-known picture , by Gainsborough , of Georgiana , Duchess of Devonshire , was recently bought at Messrs . Christie and Hanson ' s auction-rooms , for 10 , 000 guineas , Messrs . Agnew of Manchester and London being

the purchasers . It was removed to the Art Gallery , 39 Bond-street , and there exhibited , the public being charged a shilling each for admission . On Friday morning tho picture non est . The attendant , on entering the Exhibition-room , found the frame , but the Duchess of

Devonshire had eloped , and left no trace behind . The mystery was soon solved . A clever thief had stolen the valuable canvas , and made off with it , in spite of our guardians of public property , tho care of special watchmen ,

and the precautions of attendants . A reward of £ 1 , 000 is offered for the recovery of the painting . One matter there is for congratulation . Whoever has it will find some difficulty in disposing of it either here or abroad . There is greater likelihood , therefore , of its being recovered .

The fireworks at the Alexandra Palace , on Saturday last , were spoiled by the unfortunate weather , but on Thursday thero was a special display in honour of the Derby , and nothing could have been more enjoyable . Yesterday there was a ballad and instrumental concert , at which the

celebrated violinist , Wieniawski , quite enchanted the audience by his marvellous execution and artistic feeling . To-day , Mr . Sims Reeves , having recovered from his recent illness , is announced to appear as Edgardo in the last act of Lucia di Lammermoor , and as Tom Tug in the Waterman , with

Signor Foli and Mdlle . Ida Corani among the other artistes . Next week , provision is being made on a grand scale for the Whitsun Holiday folk . Whit Monday being one of the Bank Holidays , a very large attendance may be anticipated . Last year , we believe , there were over

94 , 000 visitors to the Palace , and if the weather be as deli ghtful as it is now , the numbers may show equally as well , perhaps . There will be no lack of entertainment for those who visit it , be they seventy or ninety thousand . A grand ballad and instrumental concert , with Mdme .

Lemmens-Sherrington , Mr . Vernon Rigby and Signor Foli among the vocalists ; a grand entertainment in the theatre with the Payne Family , Mr . G . Conquest and Company , the . Great Mackney , and M . and Mdme . Espinosa in a ballet Divertissement , Broekmann ' s Circus , eight

military bands , and the Colleen Bawn , with balloon ascent , trotting races , and other out-door amusementsthese are on the programme for Monday , so that those who go to Muswell Hill ought to have enough pleasure , at least for one clay . Let us hope the railway people may

be equal to the demands which will be made on their resources . At tho Sydenham Palace , will be held to-day , and till Wednesday of next week , the annual clog show , for which there are over 1300 entries ; while Monday will have a special series of entertainments , including a grand vocal

and instrumental concert , and a balloon ascent . At the Agricultural Hall there will be the annual horse show , which opens to-day , and will form one of the principal attractions for the greater part of next week . The Royal Westminster Aquarium offers a tempting programme to

those who are not already pledged to go elsewhere ; the Railway Companies have made all needful preparations to take any number of excursionists to convenient sea-side

and inland country resorts , so that every inducement is being held out to the weary Londoner to make the most of his Whitsun Holidays . May he enjoy them ! may his shadow never grow less !

Ihe revelations in the action against Mr . Albert Grant , commonly known as Baron Grant , ni'o not pleasant . It is extremely unsatisfactory to learn that sundry gentlemen have taken money of Mr . Grant as a solatium for the nonallotment to them of shares in sundry of his more nromisinf

speculations , flic old saying about Caesar ' s wife applies with equal force to members of the press . They should not onl y be unsuspected , but above suspicion . Tin acceptance of money and favourable notices in this or that

money article of Mr . Albert Grant ' s compani ^ . " look dickey , " as the saying is , though , it is quite p , ssi > le the conjunction may be quite harmless . Lord Mayor Cotton is determined not to h b nnd his predecessors in hospitality . Net long since the lights of

Our Weekly Budget.

science , English and Foreign , were entertained at tho Mansion House . The ball and banquet by the corporation to the Prince and Princess of Wales is still fresh in our memory . Next Saturday there will be given a banquet in honour of members of the Royal Academy . On tho Wednesday

following , the bench and the bar will be similarly honoured . Earl y in July tho customary banquet to the archbishops and bishops will follow , and about the same time will be given a banquet to tho leading representatives in England of trade and commerce , at which will be present the

committees of the Stock Exchange , Lloyd ' s , tho Baltic , and other similar institutions . We congratulate the Lord Mayor , on his princoly hospitality . He is clearl y the right man in the right place . The annnal ball in aid of the funds of the Yorkshire

Society was held on Monday , at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s . The patronesses included the Duchess - of Roxburgh , the Marchioness of Abergavenny , the Countess of Scarborough , the Countess of Dartmouth , & c , & c , and among the principal attractions were the two quadrilles of

the Hon . Mrs . Dnndas and the Marchioness of Abergavenny , the latter being of the period of our Edward III . during his Queen Philippa ' s regency . The ball was a great

success , and the company did not separate till a late hour . Coote and Tinney ' s band attended , and right well discharged the dut y required of them . We trust the Yorkshire Society ' s functs reaped substantial benefit from the ball .

The news from abroad is confined almost wholly to the situation in Turkey . The Sultan Abdul Aziz , he who visited this country in 1867 , has been dethroned and Sultan Mourad V . reigns in his stead . How this revolution has been effected is not clearly known as yet , but one thing

seems certain , the dethronement of the Sultan was effected quietly , and there has been happily no bloodshed . There is a new Ministry , headed by Miclhat Pacha , who is said to be a man of vigorous intellect , but what the effect will be as regards tho particular crisis , which has caused such

general excitement throughout Europe , is not yet apparent . It may smooth the way to a settlement , or it may tend to complicate matters . The change of sovereigns will put no

more money into the national purse of Turkey ; the insurgents will probably be as ready to burn villages now that Mourad is Sultan as they were a few days since , and the demands of the Berlin conference are still a menace to

the independence of the Moslem . Meantime , the British fleet in the Mediterranean is being rapidly re-inforced ; the defences of Malta and Gibraltar are being rapidly strengthened , and in all onr dockyards the greatest energy is being shown , so that we may be in a position to meet any

emergency that may arise . This is as it should be when a European crisis threatens , but is none the less creditable to the Ministry in power . We trust , however , there may be

no disturbance of the peace of Europe . One other matter has attracted some attention in this country , and that is , the Winslow Extradition Case , about which a difference has arisen between us and the United States . No doubt the

points which have caused this difference will be amicably arranged . Thursday was fixed for the Grand Templar Parade at Philadel phia , and we hope shortly to be in a position to lay before our readers a full account of the meeting .

We trust everything passed off as well as such Templar displays usually have done among onr American brethren . Wo doubt not we shall have another grand success to chronicle .

It has been decided to continue the Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement during the summer months . We earnestl y solicit the support of the Companions to this end , as we are convinced that the only opportunity for becoming conversant with this portion of onr ritual occurs to many during the warmer and gonial portion of the year .

Wo have to express our very hearty thanks to Bro . Honrv Stiles , for a very excellent photograph of the " Octorrer . aiim . " Tho portrait dies great credit to Bro . SiilcsY

artistic , ability . The pos . is easy and graceful , and the likeness , which is full face , is a very pleasant one . and taken , we should im .-ginc , in ono of the Octogenarian ' s happiestmoments . In short , it is a worth y picture of a most worthy member of onr Order .

Bro . Theodore Distin announces a Ballad Concert at the Horns Tavern , Kennington Road , on Wednesday , the 7 th