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absence , after which they will rejoin , and the ships will be paid off . Thus ends the latest Arctic Expedition , which returns safe and sound , having lost only four of its hands after an absence of close on eighteen months . This early return has taken every one by surprise , as no one

expected the ships would arrive before the summer of 1877 . We are thankful , however , they have got back , weather beaten , of course , but safe and sound , and with so little loss of life . The main purpose of the expedition , namely , the discovery of the North Pole , remains unaccomplished ,

but a sledge party made a higher latitude ( 83 . 20 N . ) than has ever before been reached , the Alert having wintered off an exposed coast in 82 . 27 , while the Discovery lay in a well-sheltered harbour , north of Lady Franklin

Sound in 81 . 44 N . Ifc is said that greater results have been obtained from this than from any previous expedition . Officers and men appear to havo dono their duty nobly , after the manner of true British seamen . The labour was

terribly severe , sledging over the ice being carried on afc the rate of only a mile or a mile and a quarter per day . Further progress under these circumstances was found to be impracticable , as over 400 miles had still to be traversed ere the Pole was reached . An immense sea of ice , varying in

thickness from 150 to 200 feet , barred all further progess northward , and the roughness of its surface made further sledging impossible . Captain Nares , therefore , wisely determined upon returning this year , and was fortunately able to escape from the ice in time to fulfil his

purpose . The men suffered greatly from frost-bite , which caused the four deaths already mentioned , while prolonged abstinence from fresh meat had induced a severe outbreak of scurvy . All tho men and officers speak in the highest terms of their commanding officer , who

appears to have done all in his power to make them happy and comfortable . The sun was absent for a period of 142 clays , and for a fortnight the mean temperature was 59 degrees below zero—the lowest temperature recorded being

72 degrees below that point , or 104 degrees below freezing point . Por forty-seven days during the winter the mercury was frozen . It is impossible for us who live at home , comparatively at ease , to imagine anything in the way of cold like this . Of course when it was known that the

Arctic Expedition had arrived in Qneenstown Harbour , the greatest excitement prevailed among the worthy people of Cork and Qneenstown , and as the day advanced the vessels were thronged with visitors . On reaching Valentia , Captain Nares , with three of his officers , set off for London immediately .

Commander Cameron has been visiting Oxford and Cambridge , in each of which he gave a lecture , descriptive of his journey across Africa . The attendance of University men was very great at each lecture , and the reception accorded the geographer very enthusiastic .

The performances of our 81-ton Woolwich infanfc appears to have been surpassed by the 100-ton of Sir William Armstrong at Spezzia . Four of these latter , as our readers are aware , were recently made for the Italian Government , and the first series has been productive of the most

astonishing results , the shot striking the target with a force exceeding 30 , 000 foot tons . The Italian Government already have two ironclads afloat , ready to be armed with these enormous guns , so the ono thing , it seems , our Government must now set about doing is to construct still

more formidable guns . It will certainly not do for the greatest naval country in the world to be behind a secondrate power like Italy , either in the strength of her ironclads or the force of her guns . What an English engineer can make to order for Italy ho can doubtless exceed for his

own country . The question to bs considered , however , is where will this rivalry end ? We may draw this consolation , however , from our naval experiences ot former wars . We gained all our greatest victories with ships inferior in number , carrying fewer men , and armed with guns of

less calibre than those of our enemy . Superior pluck , not superiority in men , guns or ships , won the day . The next maritime war it is our misfortune to be engaged in , we faucy we shall have to look chiefly to this same pluck to carry us through victoriously .

It is but seldom we have news to record from Holland , once our most formidable naval and commercial rival . On

Wednesday , however , the good city of Amsterdam was all excitement , for the new canal which has been cut across the isthmus of North Holland was inaugurated at Velsen ,

in the presence of the King , his Ministers , the diplomatic body , tho naval and military authorities , and a vast con-

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course of people . The ceremony wag very imposing , and , after a long speech , describing the difficulties of tho undertaking , and how they had been successfully overcome , the President of the Canal Company asked the King ' s consent to name the new harbour " The Port of Ymniden . "

His Majesty , accompanied by a number of notabilities , then made a short excursion on board a steamer up tlie canal , after which he returned to Amsterdam , and set out for his

palace at Loo . In the evening the city was illuminated , a grand banquet was held afc tho Palace of ladastry , and the whole proceedings terminated with a display of fireworks .

Though we think few Englishmen sympathise with the Government of Servia , we must all deplore the terrible sufferings of its inhabitants , who , left to themselves , would never have dreamt of attacking the Turks . Nor , indeed , do we think the Government would have

ventured upon so foolhardy a step , had it not been for the intrigues of Russian societies or Russian Government . Be this as it may , Servia has been terribly punished . The first act of the Avar closed with the repulse from Turkish soil of the Servian invader . The second act closes with what

appears to be little short of the annihilation of her armies . Fighting commenced in earnest last week . The Turks , taking the offensive , and carrying redoubt after redoubt . Djunis , described as the key of the Servian position , was afc length carried , and it is said Deligrad has been evacuated .

Alexinatz , too , has fallen , and till a few days since there was nothing to prevent the capture of Belgrade . Prince Milan , however , when he found himself hopelessly defeated , even his large contingent of Russian auxiliaries having failed to turn the tide of battle , abjectly besought the

intervention of the Czar . Thereupon General Ignatieff was ordered to present an ultimatum , demanding of the Turkish Government a six weeks' armistice , with only forty-eight hours allowed for deliberation . In the event of refusal , the General , with the whole personnel of the Embassy , to leave

Constantinople . At the moment of writing it is understood that the Turks have agreed to the armistice , and , if so , we presume the negociations for peace will be commenced forthwith . But a settled peace is by no means assured to us . Russia is a power which is incapable of acting honestly and

honourably , and she may only contemplate playing at making peace till her preparations for attacking Turkey are completed . We hope this conjecture may prove

groundless , but Russia ' s contempt for treaty rights , or , for the matter of that , for any kind of right at all , is not calculated to impress us very favourably with her present pacific intentions .

Bro . Mortlock , Preceptor to the Temple Lodge of Instruction of Mark Master Masons , has removed to the Gun Tavern , Wapping , where a Lodge of Instruction will be held fortnightly , on the 2 nd and 4 th Thursday of each

month . Next meeting will be held 9 th Nov ., when the Lodge will be glad to see any member of the Mark degree . Trains run from Liverpool-street frequently , and the distance is but a few minutes' journey from town .

The consecration of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1642 , will take place this day ( Saturday ) , at Ladbroko Hall , near to Notting-hill Station . Bros . W . M . J . Mnrlis

P . M . 1489 W . M . Designate , G . Penn S . W . Designate , S . H . Parkhouse J . W . Designate , and J . Pushman Sec , pro tarn . The ceremony will be performed by tho V . W . Bro . John Hervey G . S .

The theatrical world is always especially active at this season of the year , and wo note with pleasure that the King of Dramatists is receiviug more respect thau is ordinarily accorded to him in London . We have at this present time no less than two Shakspearian performances running

concurrently , lliehard the Third , with Mr . Barry Sullivan in the leading part , is being played at Old Dairy , while Mr . Coleman has had the courage , many will call it the foolhardiness , to oiler a carefully-revised edition of Henry V at the Queen's . The latter ,. as having boen first presented

to tho public , claims priority of . notice ou this occasion . To say that Mr . Coleman has . succeeded admirabl y in what is vulgarly described as the li upholstery" part of his business , is only to repeat what dramatic critics have already said very effectively . But this is far from being tho limit of Mr , Coleman ' s achievements , Not only lias ho