Our Weekly Budget.

the Queen persevered , in spite of this discomfort , and having returned to the saluting base , the march past began and was continued during a heavy rain . The subsequent manoeuvres were dispensed with under the circumstances The troops consisted of two batteries Royal Horse Artillery ,

three regiments Cavalry , six batteries Royal Artillery , and ten battalions Infantry , with Engineers , Army Service Corps , & c , & c . The review over , the Royal Party returned to Farnborongh Station , and thence by train to Windsor , which was readied shortl y before 7 p . m . The Prince of Wales ' s visit to Madrid forms a bright

episode in his journey . His reception by King Alfonso and his people was very cordial , and the Prince and his brother ¦ were taken to inspect all the principal attractions within easy reach of the Spanish Capital . A day -was spent at Toledo , where they visited the manufactory of arms , the

Cathedral , and the Infantry Schools , returning to Madrid in time to witness the performance of Verdi ' s Aula , the scene in the house being a very brilliant one . After the opera , the Royal party attended the ball given by the Duke

Fernan Nunez . On Friday , the Escurial was visited , after which H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught left by mail train for Bayonne . On Saturday , the Prince visited the Duke of Serrano , and subsequently the Cortes , where he spent some time in liste insr to the debate on one of the articles of the

new Constitution . Afterwards H . R . Hi ghness attended the theatre Alfonso , and then a ball given in his honour by the Duke of Baylen . On Sunday , the Prince left Madrid for Lisbon , being accompanied to the railway

station by the King aud a numerous suite . On Monday he reached Lisbon , and was received by King Lonis , King Ferdinand , sundry of the Ministers , the British Consul and Admirals , and others . His reception as he drove through the streets to the Palace of Belem was cordial in the

extreme . Here , too , banquets , receptions , and a visit to the opera have formed the principal items in the programme . Yesterday the Prince , in company with the King was to visit Cintra and subsequently witness a review of troops in the Pedro Square . Tlie Serapis will leave Lisbon on

Sunday , and is timed to reach Portsmouth on Thursday next in the forenoon . Preparations for His Royal High ness ' s visit to the Cit y are rapidly progressing , and no doubt the banquet and ball will be equal to any given by the Corporation on previous occasions .

On Iridiiy Inst , at St . James ' s Palace , a levee was held by H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh , on behalf of her Majesty , presentations at this court being considered as equivalent to presentations to the Queen . The Duke of Cambridge and

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein were present , and the diplomatic and general circles were strongly attended . A considerable number of presentations were made , the names having been previously left at the Lord Chamberlain ' s office , ai . d submitted for Her Majesty ' s approval .

The banquet of the Royal Academy , on Saturday last , was brilliant as usual . The President , Sir Francis Grant presided , and among the more distinguished guests were the Duke of Cambridge , Prince Christian , Prince Edward of Saxo Weimar , the Duke of Teck , Count Gleichen , the

Lord Chancellor , Mr . Disraeli , the Archbishops of Canterbury and York , the Maharajah Duleep Sing , Mr . Cross , the Marquis of Salisbury , Lord Selborne , Earl Granville , the Marquis of Harrington , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Lord Mayor , and the gallant young African Explorer , Lieutenant

Cameron R . N . The Archbishop of York , as Chaplain to the R . A ., said grace . The toasts were of the usual character , the Duke of Cambridge replying for the Army and Reserve Forces ; Mr . Ward Hunt for the Navy , and

Mr . Disraeli for the toast of Her Majesty ' s Ministers . As to the Exhibition itself , which has been open all this week to the public , the general opinion appears to be , that it is a goul average display . Many of the pictures being very fiiie specimens of our English artistic talent .

inc season at Her Alajo .-ty ' s , Drnry Lane , commenced on Saturday , with Gounod ' s Faust , the part of Margherita being rendered by Madame Christine Nilsson . Signor Rota , in tlie absence of M . Fan re , taking that of Mefistofele , Signor Del Pacnte that of Valentino , and Madame

Trebelli-Bettini that of Siebt-1 . Bro . Sir Michael Costa resumed his wonted place in the orchestra , whose playing was beyond all praise . On Monday , the opera was La Sonnambula . On Tuesday , Mdlle . Titicns made her first

appearance since her return from America , in Semiramidf , and to-night she is to appear as Lucrczia Borgia , while Madame Nilsson , at her second appearance , played Violetta in La Traviata . Bro . Mapleson has our hearty good

wishes for a prosperous season . The performances during the week at the Royal Italian , Covent Garden , have been Riiyoletto on Mondav , La Figlia del Reggimento on Tuesday , La Traviata on Wednesday , Elisir d'Amore on Thursday , and yester eveaing Don , Giovanni , the leading artistes

being Mdlles Albani , Rosavella , Zare Thalherg and D'Angeri . Tbe opera for this evening is to be Wagner ' s Tannhanser . The series of Floral Hall Concerts also

commenced on Saturday , wheu a numerous audience attended , most of tho principal artistes of the Royal Italian taking part in it . The second concert is announced for this day fortnight .

On Monday , at the Alexandra Palace , the drawing for the Palace Art Union Prizes took place , and as there were some fourteen thousand season ticket holders , the number of prizes to be won was proportionately large , so that tho process occupied some hours . The Grand Easter Spectacle ,

which has proved a great success , has completed its career . Yesterday and to-day were fixed for the first grand flower show of the season , when the Coldstream Guards , under the direction of Mr . Fred . Godfrey " will assist . " To-day is the grand opening day of the season , and at a

quarterpast three p . m . will be g iven a Grand Ballad Concert , the principal vocalists being Mesdames Lemmens-Sherrington and Patey , Mr . E . Lloyd , and Signor Foli . The Grenadier Guards Band nnder Bro . Dan . Godfrey will also be present , and perform a fine selection of music . At eight o ' clock ,

the first Grand Firework display is fixed to come off . On Monday next , as we announce elsewhere , Bro . H . Distin ' s benefit will be held . There will be present and take part in it no less than ten military bands , including that of the Coklstreams . At the Crystal Palace , the Easter Burlesque

has been performed for the last time . Yesterday , the Second Annual Goat Show commenced , and will remain open till Monday . To-day , will be held the First Summer Concert , with Madame Edith Wynne , Mrs . Osgood , Mr .

Vernon Rigby , and Signor Garcia , among the chief vocalists . To-night , at the Royal Albert Hall , the Fifth Concert of the season will be held , under Royal and distinguished patronage , in aid of the funds of the German Hospital .

The chief news from Franco relates to the Amnesty question , which is somewhat agitating the public mind , the ministry appearing to exhibit , in the opinion of competent judges , too great indifference to a question of much importance , not unlikely to create some hubbub . The Eastern

question is still to tho fore . As regards the rival powers m tho disaffected Turkish provinces , the Turks are reportad to have inflicted a series of heavy defeats on the insurgents . Monkhtar Pacha , it seems , left Gatzko on the 27 th ult ., dispersed 8 . 000 insurgents , after five hours' hard fighting ,

victualled Nicksich , and then started on his return . At Presjeka , 14 , 000 of the enemy attacked him , but were repulsed , after a combat lasting eight hours . But the rebels having received reinforcements , bringing their numbers up to 16 , 000 , and having entrenched themselves on some

heights and in the forests , the Pacha took the offensive , and after a long and severe engagement , dislodged the enemy from their positions , and then continued his march without further interruption to Gatzko . There is a talk of an occupation , by Russia and Austria , of the disturbed districts ,

but this , at least , is only a rumour . From Rome we hear of a grand ball , given by the English Ambassador , Sir Augustus Paget , at which the Crown Prince Humbert and his wife , with the elite of the Roman world of fashion , were

present ; and from Washington we hear that the Grand Jury of the District of Columbia have found a true bill against Mr . Belknap for accepting bribes . For the rest , there is little , pleasant or unpleasant , to record .

It will interest not a , few among our readers to know that onr esteemed I 3 ro . Terry , the zealous Secretary of the R . M . B I ., is the fortunate possessor of a , specimen piece of the Algnm or Almug tree , of which part of the Temple at Jerusalem was made . To those botanically given it will

be familiar under the more formidable name of Fterocarpus Sanfaliiiiis , a , genus of the natural order of Legnminosrr . and this on the authority of the German Naturalist , Wildenovv . Iu 1 Kiny ' s x . 11-12 , the trees aro called "Almue . "

the word , according to CasseWs Illustrated Bible Dictionary , being rendered by the Septuagint translator " unhewn wood . " In 2 Chronicles ii . 8 , aridi . v . 10-11 they are called Algum , and translated i > ineicood . The old Latin version of the last passage renders the word " thyinp wood , " citron