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The second came off at Lords , and terminated after a most exciting finish in a victory for the Gentlemen , by one wicket . The Players made 192 and 148 , the Gentlemen 198 and 143 , with one wicket to fall . When the Gentlemen

had lost nine wickets for 97 runs , there seemed a fair prospect of the Players winning , but Messrs . G . F . Grace and Patterson succeeded in putting on the requisite number of runs , the former making 24 , the latter 23 . The match now in progress is being played at Prince ' s .

Mi * . Gladstone presided on Saturday at the opening of the Caxton Memorial Exhibition , which is held in the

western galleries of the old Exhibition building . Mrs . Gladstone accompanied the right honourable gentleman , who was received by Sir Charles Reed , Mr . Blades , and other gentlemen . After a short statement by Sir Charles Reed , as to the nature ancl purpose of the Exhibition ,

Mr . Gladstone declared it open , and a royal salute was fired to mark the event . The company then adjourned to an elegant dejeuner , at which the ex-Premier presided , the Emperor of Brazil , during the short time he was enabled to stay , occupying a seat to the left of the chair . Lord

Alfred Churchill , Lord Cbarles Bruce , and the Archbishop of York wore among those present . The principal toasts were those of the Emperor and Empress of Brazil , and the memory of William Caxton , in proposing * tbe latter of which Mr . Gladstone spoke at great length aud most eloquently .

We regret to bear that tbe health of Mr . Ward Hunt was such a few days since as to cause a considerable feeling of uneasiness among his numerous circle of friends . The right honourable gentleman is now at Homburg , whither

he was ordered to proceed , and tbe latest reports speak of a very decided improvement . We trust this may be continued , and that in a short time he may be able to resume his official duties at the Admiralty .

The Rose Show at the Alexandra Palace , on Saturday last , was a great success , and drew together a large number of visitors . Some of the best known nurserymen contributed to the display , which was in the highest degree effective , while the exhibits of the amateurs were also

worthy of the occasion . Later in the day the concourse of people was largely increased by those who had come specially to witness the grand display of fireworks . There has also been an exhibition of cut roses at St . James ' s Hall ,

held under the auspices of the National Rose Society . No less than seven tables , affording upwards ot a thousand feet of length , were set out , the number of blooms exhibited being about 10 , 000 .

As we expected , the news from the theatre of war which has arrived during tbe week is most important , but not exactly of the character anticipated , and which a small clique of Russian sympathisers hoped tor . The passage of the Danube is un fait accompli , bat the Czar ' s army has

not advanced far into Bulgaria . Moreover , the passage , which was attempted at several places , was successfully achieved at one only , and since then the bridge of pontoons which had been thrown over the river has been broken , the Russians say by a storm , the Turks by the fire of their

monitors . It does not matter much as to the how , but the destruction—which , however , will probably be made good shortly—is a fact which nobody can deny . The Russians are advancing in the Dobrndscba , which is nob to be wondered at , as there is nobody to oppose them , but in

Bulgaria little has been attempted , and that little turns ont to be a failure . An attack on a body of Turkish troops strongly entrenched at Biela has been repulsed , once certainly , if not twice . The town—not the fortifications—of Rustchuk and Nicopolis , have been almost entirely

destroyed—of course , in the interests of humaaity . The Czar has issued a proclamation , and has announced hix intention of providing d , la Basse for his new subjects , that is , if Europe be fool enough to let him take them , but there is a marked disagreement between the general tenonr of

this important statement and previous imperial utterances . These discrepancies may be expected , and will probably be multiplied as the war proceeds , on the assumption , ol course , that the Turks are as well beaten as the Czar expects they will be . However , the troops of the Saltan

have a knack of their own of fighting most desparately They have been goaded into war , and they are determined to give all they can . In Asia the Russians have fared even worse . They started well , and inflicted one or two defeats on the Turks , but the latter seem to have

Sailed themselves together wonderfully ; have assumed ie offensive , and driven their enemies back , with heavy

Our Weekly Budget

loss . The siege of Kars is said to have been raised , and the military promenade in Armenia is progressing backwards towards the Caucasus . At Baton rn , also , the Turks have inflicted another defeat on their assailants , and Bayazid , it is rumoured , is closely beleaguered , if not taken .

Russia , of course , is immensely powerful , and the loss of tea or twenty thousand will make no great difference to her numerically , but the loss of prestige is more serio is , especially in Asia , where we may hear of the insurrection in the Caucasus assuming more serious proportions . On

the whole , the news , up to the moment of writing , is certainly favourable to Turkey . Meantime , there is a talk of Servia proclaiming her independence . If she act wisely , she will not do so . As to Montenegro , the little principality has been almost overrun by the Turks ( and so we hear

little of Prince Nikita and his nose-slitting vagabonds ) . Austria has prohibited the export of horses , and the British fleet is in Besika Bay , within twenty-four hours' sail of

Constantinople . These are precautionary measures , which it is just for the two countries most directly interested in the Eastern struggle to take . We hope that nothing further may be necessary .

The Directors of the Crystal Palace District Gas Company , always solicitous for the comfort of those in their employ , this year selected the ever popular Rosherville Gardens for the Annual Excursion of their workmen , accompanied by their wives . Accordingly , on Monday last , the first

contingent , numbering about 200 , were conveyed in a special train from Sydenham to London , and thence on , by special boat , to Rosherville . There dinner was provided , and ample justice done to a capital repast . Au adjournment afterwards took place to the grounds , where every

amusement for the enjoyment of the party was to be found . The company re-assembled at 5 o ' clock , for tea , after which they returned on board , and commenced the homeward journey . Mr . Charles Gandon , the Engineer , and Bro .

Magnus Ohren , the Secretaiy , were present ,. and under their superintendence a most enjoyable day was spent . On Monday next , the second contingent will visit Rosherville , and we sincerely hope this party will spend as pleasant a day as that enjoyed by their fellows on Monday .

The District Grand Lodge Of Bombay.

THE DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BOMBAY .

THE half-yearly communication of the District Grand Lod e of B imbay was held , according to the Masonic Record of Western India , on the 7 th April , at the Freemasons' Hall , Byoulla . R . W . Bro . the Hon . J . Gibbs , Dist . G . M ., presided , and there were present Bros . M . Balfour , Dep . D . G . M ., A . King as Sen . D . G . W ., J . N . Dady

J . D . G . W ., Rev . Chas . Gilder D . G . Chap ., H . W . Barrow D . G . Treas ., Dr . I . B . Lyon D . G . Registrar , C . E . Mitchell D . G . Secretary , and several other D . Grand and P . D . Grand Officers , together with several representatives of Lodges . The D . G . Lodge having been opened , and the minutes taken

as read and confirmed . The Dist . G . M . delivered a long and admirable address , in which he noted the principal events of the half-year , laying particular stress on the various alterations proposed to be made in the bye-laws , which were subsquently approved . The accounts of the

Treasurer and the Report of the Auditors having been presented and accepted , and the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee of General Purposes having been adopted , Bro . Sorabjee N . Cooper was sleeted D . G . Treasurer , aud Bro . Seager re-elected as D . G . Tyler . The D . G . M . then

proceeded to appoint and invest his Officers for the ensuing year , among whioh were Bros . Tyrrell Leith Dep . D . G . M ,, L B . Lyon and W . C . Rowe D . Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively , Sorabjee N . Cooper D . G . Treas ., A . McKenzie D . G . Registrar , C . E . Mitchell D . G . Secretary , 0 . Tomlinson and T . Counsell D . Senior and Junior Graud

Deacons , C . Tudball D G . S . of Wks ., P . M .. Jeejeebhoy D . G . D . of C , H . Thorpe D . G . Sw . B ., and J . E . Treasury Walla D . Q . Pars . Three brethren wore then appointed by the Deputy Grand Master , and three elected by the Deputy iiraud Lodge , as members of the Committee of General Purposes . After tbe remaining business had been transacted , the District Grand Lodge was closed .