Review Of The Week.

prosecution , Mr . Staveley Hill for the prisoner , -who pleaded not guilty . The trial resulted in a verdict of Not Guilty , on hearing which the applause of the audience was very enthusiastic . Mr . Timms and his young wife on issuing

from the court were most cordially greeted , a manifestation at which we cannot say we are surprised after the very strong feelings evinced by the young lady ' s relatives , who would have done a very graceful act had they abstained from such a prosecution .

At the meeting on Thursday evening of the London Institution , Finsbury Circus , Mr . Clements Markham , the secretary of the Royal Geographical Society , delivered a very interesting address , the subject being the forthcoming Arctic Expedition . There was a numerous audience

assembled , among them being Admiral Sherard Osborn , Commander Markham , R . N ., who will be second in command of the expedition , and several other gentlemen

interested in Arctic discovery . In the course of his address , which was listened to with the interest it deserved , Mr . Markham congratulated the Government on having undertaken to send out vessels . He also traced the course

of arctic discovery and pointed out the many advantages , geographical and otherwise , which were sure to result from the further prosecution of the task . Two large charts were suspended , for the purpose of enabling those present to follow the lecturer in his address , which ended with a

slight sketch of the programme of the present expedition , and the expression of a hope that , by the summer of 1877 , We should be in a position to congratulate ourselves on the successful completion of an undertaking which had been commenced by Englishmen generations since so auspiciously and to which they had contributed so largely .

Yesterday ' s news hold out some hope that the end of the South Wales strike and lock out may not be after all so far removed . Lord Aberdare , who has always been regarded by the miners as a sort of mediator , has appeared prominently on the scene of action , his Lordship having

first been at the pains of writing to a number of coal owners on the subject of actual prices and percentages of reduction . The result of these inquiries is , that taking the figures submitted together , it is shown that , while the price of coal has been reduced at least 2 s a ton , the effects

on the 10 per cent , reduction in wages is to reduce the cost of raising the coal by 9 d per ton . Thus , the coal owners are losers to the extent of Is 3 d per ton on the present average , as compared with August last , while , in some cases , the loss is still heavier . Lord Aberdare , on these

grounds , ventures to indulge the hope that , now the matter is placed before them thus clearly , the miners will feel they are no longer justified in prolonging the contest . We sincerely trust his lordship ' s efforts may be successful .

Already the tale of misery and suffering are becoming more terrible every day , the families , and especially the Very young , being , as a matter of course , the greatest sufferers .

Irom abroad there are just a few items of intelligence which may interest our readers . The stirring debates about the Senate Bill are for the moment succeeded by a Ministerial crisis , the settlement of which , however , still hangs fire . M . Buffet is the likeliest man for the premiership ,

with M . le Due Decazes as foreign minister . From Spain we hear of further fighting , this time in the neighbourhood of Bilbao . The accounts are , of course , conflicting , both sides claiming the victoiy , so that the end of the struggle seems as remote as ever . In Prussia an

important step has been taken in the dispute with the Papal power . The Minister for Public Worship has introduced a Bill withdrawing the endowments granted by the State to the catholic bishops and clergy and determining the conditions on which they may be restored . Grants for

clergymen attached to public institutions are exempted from the Act . Tho second , third and fourth clauses provided that these grants shall be restored , as soon as the bishops bind themselves to the Government in written documents to obey the law . The eleventh clause , orders that any ono

withdrawing or acting in violation of his written obli gation , will be tried before the Courts of law , and removed from office . Thus the general provisions of the Papal Bull de Salute Animarum , are annulled by this Bill . From America we hear that the House of Representatives have passed the

bill for the admission of Colorado as a State ; that for admitting Mexico was , however , thrown out . This will be among the last of the Acts of the present House , which will by this time have been dissolved . Its successor does not assemble until the end of the year .

Review Of The Week.

At the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , Bro . Constable ' s motion in reference to the Lifeboat Endowment Fund was veiy fully discussed . Notwithstanding that the mover received very considerable and unexpected support from a large body of the brethren , the motion was lost , on

a division , by a small majority . We regret that our enthusiastic brother was not successful , but we are assured that he will not be discouraged . We are quite satisfied with the degree of support which was given to an idea which originated in our columns , and if the Fraternity is

really interested in the matter , we are certain that the Endowment Fund will ultimately be an assured fact . The brethren who supported the motion in Grand Lodge will now , we trust , ventilate the matter in their respective Lodges . It will , perhaps , be necessary to form a

Committee for the purpose of directing the movement . We need not add that our columns will always be open for the expression of opinion on the subject , and that we ourselves will do all in our power to further the cause . We shall probably havo occasion to return to the subject at an early date .

The demand for seaworthy seamen , as well as seaworthy ships , is spreading rapidly . In this country the movement , which has had the advantage of the patronage of the Duke of Edinburgh , is in a fair way of success , and funds are flowing into the hands of those gentlemen who are

anxious to establish a training ship in every seaport . The Germans , we learn , are , like ourselves , concerned at the falling off in the numbers of skilled seamen , and the Nautical Society of Bremen are about to take steps for remedying the evil . They , however , have determined

that only lads of irreproachable character shall be admitted to their training ships . These lads must come forward voluntarily , and with the consent of their parents . There will thus be no risk of lowering the tone of the merchant service , but , on the contrary , there will be every chance of its being elevated by the advent of this training system .

The Oratorio of St . John the Baptist , composed by Mr . Macfarren , was played at the gathering of the Sacred Harmonic Society , at Exeter Hall , on Friday evening , the 26 th February . The chef d'Orchesta on the occasion was

Bro . Sir Michael Costa , who was ably supported by Madame Patey , Madame Lemmens-Sherrington , Mr . Santley and Mr . E . Lloyd , while the band and chorusses were all that the most fastidious could wish for . The Dead March in Saul was played , as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Sir Sterndale Bennett .

Ihe Easter Monday Volunteer Review Day may now be considered a thing of the past . On Saturday last , at a meeting of Metropolitan Volunteer commanding officers , it was resolved that , in consequence of the impracticability

of obtaining railway accommodation , the usual Easter Monday field-day be reluctantly abandoned . At the same time , it was considered desirable that divisional or brigade field-days be held at such places as might be arranged .

Ihe London and Scottish " Review is a new publication , the contents of which bid fair to be generally interesting to all classes of readers . The programme reads extremely

well , and if the promises are fulfilled to the extent of only one-half , the prospects of a very successful career are evidently before it . The new claimant to public favours will appear monthly .

The talented cantatrice , Miss Rose Hersee , a daughtei of Bro . Henry Hersee , was married , on 23 rd February last , to Arthur Howell , Esq ., of Gloucester Crescent , Regent ' s Park . It is to be hoped that the musical public will not be deprived of the pleasure of hearing this favourite singer , who has so firmly established her reputation both here and in America .

The Globe tells us that the process of dividing the proceeds of ^ the French indemnity amongst the various German States is not yet completed . A lump sum is handed and apportioned , according to the joint wishes of the different executive governments and the Landtags . Of the £ 700 , 000 received b y Mecklenburg-Schwerip , so nrach is