Our Weekly Budget.

The speech of the American Minister at the Mansion Honse , on the occasion of the Ministerial Banquet , was a capital specimen of after-dinner eloquence . Mr . Pierrepoint appears to be a thoroughly genial man , and the influence he seems likely to exert will , no doubt , bo promotive of

still friendlier relations between the country he represents and Great Britain . There is every reason why the two nations should be always on the friendliest terms , but differences between relatives are sometimes of a very bitter character . It is manifest that Mr . Pierrepoint has resolved

that , so far as in him lies , the bonds of unity shall be drawn closer . This is the best way we have heard of cele brating the Centennial of American Independence . We are , in fact , one people , though separated by the Atlantic , and should have but one mind .

Yachting is well in season , and , next week , we shall have grand Cricket doings at Canterbury . Gloucestershire has been fighting sundry battles , and in every case the victory has inclined to her side , thanks to the marvellous skill of the Graces . W . G . has been outdoing himself , and

having scored four hundred against a North Country team , has since exhibited , in a North v . South match , even better form , and made the large score of 126 out of a total from the latter of 154 . The only other player who made a long stand against the Northern bowling was Pooley , who

put together 14 , the rest of the eleven being responsible for just fourteen . The Eton and Harrow match at Lord's is , par excellence , the public school match of the season , but quite as good Cricket is often seen in other school teams . Uppingham , Cheltenham , Marlborough , Rugby , have latterly been

handling the willow , not altogether without success . A Rugbeian carried out his bat for just one hundred against a good representative eleven , and that is no small achievement . Kent , too , has had more than victory to record , thanks to the energy of Lord Harris , and the skill he

disp lays in every match he takes part in . We well remember the old days when in the cricketing world Kent could point with pride to the eloquent motto , nulli secundus . But this month will see the end of the Cricket Season .

Later matches are not looked upon as part and parcel of the legitimate proceedings of the year . This month , too , will see the prime of yachting . A short time hence , and we shall have the doings of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Victoria and Albert Clubs to chronicle .

The news from the seat of war is , of course , conflicting , but there is little doubt the Turks on the one hand , and the Montenegrins on the other , have gained a victory . The former have invaded Servia , and inflicted heavy losses on their opponents , while the latter , owing to the numerical

superiority of their force , have driven the Turks back , helter skelter , in the neighbourhood of Bilek , and captured several cannon , as well as two or three superior officers . Meanwhile , rumours are afloat as to the abdication of Sultan Murad . He is said to be in such health that his

survival for more than a few days is set down as impossible . His brother will succeed , and , it is said , will take command of the army at once . We do not think a change of rulers will make much difference as regards the present crisis , save , perhaps , that it may hasten the intervention of the

other European powers . The only other item of foreign news worth recording is the return to her native country of the ex-Queen of Spain , Isabella , after an exile of several years . It is reported she will hold herself aloof from politics . So much the better . Her reign cannot be said to have been a

very fortunate one for her people . Let ns hope she will exercise no baneful influence over the condnct of her son , who has acquitted himself thus far most creditably in his difficult position . With the restoration of peace Spain should be able to win back some of Dame Fortune ' s

favours . Her resources are immense , and there is absolutely no reason why , financially and politically , she nhould not prosper . It is noteworthy that on reach no ; Santander the ex-Queen paid a visit to the Cathedral . This is an act of gracious condescension , which cannot be

too highly extolled . Had Isabella shown as much zeal in governing as in praying , we do not think her reign would have collapsed so ignominiously . We wish we were able

to record that suca acts of prayer were indicative of greater liberality towards other religions . A sense of charity towards other creeds has never been a distinguishing feature in the sovereigns of Spain .

Petitions are in progress for a new Lodge in Newcastleon-Tyne , to be named the Hotspur ; also for one at Bedlington , both in . the Province , of Northumberland ,

Dolores.

DOLORES .

( DEDICATED TO A . C . SWINBURNE . )

The world and all restriction scorning , To thee I flew , All counsel and all friendly warning Aside I threw :

And , while thine arm remained beside me , My love was bliss , Forgetting every doubt which tried me , In thy dear kiss .

They told me that the English idol Was only gold , That English love , like iron bridle ,

Was stern and cold : And tho ' , before their whispers perished , It cost me tears , I trusted thee with all I cherished ,

And stifled fears . And when , the cup of love full filling , Our babe was born ; Its smile with sunshine filled our dwelling ,

Radiant as morn . But when joy comes , is sorrow ever , Alas ! in store ; Thou cam ' st to tell me we must sever , To meet no more !

With cold lips thy last kiss was given , And ruthless eye ; My love was paralysed and riven , Condemned to die .

Thro the gateway , to ards the river , Thou wentest forth , As , crying sad Adios ! for ever , I fell to earth .

Mary ofSonows ! thou uphold me ! Thy name most dear . 'Twas not for nought he always called me " Dolores mm . "

Thou know ' st the woe of hope departed , View my despair ! Look down to soothe the broken hearted : Teach me to bear !

Now calm , in convent desolation , Thoughts fixed on high ; Our child remains my consolation , Earth's only tie .

When , in thy Northern clime ' s December , The sunbeams shine , Bemember ! oh remember That I was thine ! 0 . T . F .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

Grand Chapter met on Wednesday last , when the following were present : —Companion Samuel Rawson P . D . G . Supfc . of China as G . Z ., Frederick Pattison P . J . as G . H ., Capt . W . Piatt P . P . Soj ., as G . J ., Lieut .-Col . Creaton as G . S . E ., Benjamin Head asG . S . N ., Hon . W . W . Vernon G . P . Soj .,

Robt . Grey and J E . Saunders as G . Asst . Sojs ., E . J . Barron G . Standard Bearer , and Comps . Parkinson , Snell , J . Smith , N . Bradford , H . Pullen , H . G . Buss , A . A . Pendlebury , J . Boyd , W . Hammond , & c . Grand Chapter was opened , and the minutes were read and confirmed . Tho other business ( as given by us iu last week ' s issue ) was regularly gone through , and Grand Chapter closed .

The members of the Tyne Lodge , No . 991 , have forwarded to Head Quarters their petition for a Royal Arch Chapter to be attached to the Tyne Lodge , and to be known by the name of the Tyne Chapter .

holding a Lodge at Hebburn , and to name it the St . Cuthbert ' e Lodge ,

The brethren of Hebburn intend to petition the Provincial Grand Master of Durham to grant a charter for