Our Weekly Budget.

plenty of work to bo had . On Wednesday , one Edward Simpson , a stonemason , was charged at the Worship-street Police Court with running away and leaving his wife and four children chargeable to the Parish of Shoreditch . The prisoner urged that he Avas obliged to leave his Avife in

consequence of the violence of her temper , and then that he had gone doAvn into the country in search of work , but was unable to get any . Ou the other hand , evidence was given that the man had been in receipt of strike pay , and that he conld earn good wages when in employment .

Mr . Hannay , the presiding magistrate , sentenced the man to three months' imprisonment ; and during this term the prisoner ivill , no doubt , haA'e an opportunity of reflecting on tho folly of not exercising his OAvn free will and taking Avork Avhen there is plenty to be had . It is no business of

ours to enter into those disputes between capital and labour which periodically arise , but it occurs to us that if this should be followed up by a feAV more similar sentences , Avorkmen Avill hesitate about sacrificing their free-Avill , Avhen one of the consequences may be a longer or shorter term of imprisonment .

On Saturday , in the Guildhall , the Lord Mayor distributed the prizes to the 2 nd City of London Rifles . There was a fair muster , and the regiment , under the command of Lieut .-Colonel Vickers , Avas drawn up on three sides of the hall , while the band Avas in the gallery . The report

showed a very satisfactory state of things . The enrolled strength Avas 726 , of Avhom all but forty-three were efficients . Seventeen officers and fifty sergeants Avere proficients , and there Avere tAventy-five marksmen . After Lieut .-Colonel Vickers had stated briefly how his regiment

had fared during the past year , the Lord Mayor presented the prizes , the principal winners being Colour-Sergeant Green , best shot in the regiment , Captain Hardy , Colour-Sergeant G . Millard , Private E . Reeves , and Sergeant H .

J . Brown . In acknoAvledging a hearty vote of thanks , the Lord Mayor expressed his regret that the Lady Mayoress had been prevented by illness from attending ; and Avhile congratulating them on their state of efficiency , he hoped it would be a long time before they would be called on active

. On Tuesday , there Avere tAvo Conservative demonstrations at Bournemouth , Hants . At the first , Avhich took place in the afternoon , at the ToAvn Hall , certain addresses were presented to the Chancellor of the Exchequer . Owing ,

however , to there being held the same afternoon a Cabinet Council , Sir Stafford Northcote Avas unable to attend , and the addresses were received on . his behalf by Mr . Sclater-Booth , M . P . In the evening a grand banquet was held in the "Winter garden , Bournemouth , at which Sir H . D .

Wolff , Bart ., M . P . presided , and at which Sir Stafford , who had arrived by the afternoon express from Waterloo , was present , together Avith the Earl of Malmesbury , the Earl of Eldon , Lord Colchester , and other political

personages of distinction . The Chancellor made a long speech in reply to his health , confining his remarks , hoAvever , to local conservative politics , and observing a proper reticence on the leading question of the clay .

Mount Stuart House , one of the residences of the Marquis of Bute , and situate on the Clyde about some five miles from Rothesay , Avas almost Avholly destroyed by fire on Monday . There were no engines available , or the fire , which broke out in a servant ' s bed-room on the uppei

storey , might have been extinguished at once . Great efforts were made to put out the conflagration , but these were unsuccessful ; therefore everything possible Avas clone to save the valuable pictures and furniture , but much of this has been damaged .

The crisis still continues in France , and peo ;> l : are becoming still more anxious as to Avhat will happen . The Left axe resolute in their opposition to the President , Avho has had more than one interview Avith M . Dufaure , but up to the time of Avriting all attempts at conciliation have

failed . Meanwhile , of course , the trade of the country and especially of Paris is in a state of stagnation . The Legislative Assembly continues to ignore the ministry of General Rochebouet , and there is , indeed , at the present moment a complete dead-lock , of Avhich no one is sufficiently clear sighted to foretell the issue .

The latest news from the scat of Avar in Europe is unfavourable to the Russians , Avho have been obstinately endeavouring to force some of the more important passes of the Balkans , in the direction of Sophia . They began bv carrying several positions , the chief of Avhich Avas Etrepol , for on its capture the evacuation , pj ; Orcb , ai > io appears to

Our Weekly Budget.

have become a necessity . However , this seems to havo been the limit of their success . Subsequent attacks on the Turkish positions held by Mehemet Ali Pasha at Kamarli have been again and again repulsed , and the latter is believed to be advancing , in order , in his turn , to attack

General Ghourko . The Russian losses are reported to havo been very heavy . Nor is this all that has befallen the invaders . Suleiman Pasha , who has hitherto been feeling the enemy ' s positions near the Danube , has this week attacked the Russian , right , and after a prolonged contest has forced

it to yield up Elena , and retire still further in the direction of Tirnova , a very important position , Avhich , it seems , it is the Turkish Commander-in-Chief ' s intention to endeavour to capture . The Russian loss in this engagement was heavy , and consisted of eleven guns , some hundreds of

prisoners , and about 8 , 000 men killed and Avounded . It is impossible to say if Suleiman will be in a position to achieve the still greater triumph of recovering Tirnova ; but his resolute assault on the Russian lines will have a great effect in deranging the plans of 4 the Grand Duke Nicholas .

Meanwhile , Osman Pasha still holds out at Plevna , and noAV Ave hear that he is likely to do so for another fortnight or three Aveeks , having an ample supply of provisions to last that time . We shall not be at all surprised to learn at the end

of that time that his supplies are sufficient for a further term of equal duration . There is little news from Asia , save that Erzeroum has been bombarded , and that heavy snow has fallen . The Roumanian Chambers have met , and the Turkish Parliament will assemble on the 13 th inst .

Servia is sending troops fonvard in the direction of her frontiers , and it is believed there will shortly be issued by Prince Milan a declaration of war against Turkey . This , it is rumoured , will be folloAved up on the part of the Porte by the publication of an edict of deposition against him .

Considering how generously Turkey treated her vanquished enemy of last year , the deprivation of his rank is about the least punishment Prince Milan must anticipate from his offended Suzerain . Our Consul-General is said to have remonstrated with the Servian chief at his contemplated

attack on Turkey , to have pointed out the disloyalty of such conduct , and to have declared that Great Britain will withdraAV its guarantee of Servian autonomy . "We rejoice at this ; it is high time that some of these very astute personages should be taught the meaning of the words

"honour" and "honesty . " Last year , Avhen the little principality Avas entirely at the mercy of the Porte , Ave pleaded for generous terms , and they Avere granted . It is said , and we hope the report is true , that our remonstrances have had some effect on the Prince .

The Family Of The Late Bro. Goddin.

THE FAMILY OF THE LATE BRO . GODDIN .

WE have pleasure in acknowledging the following amounts received since our last issue : — £ s d Tredegar Lodge 1625 - * - - - « 2 2 0 Bro . J . J . Berry P . M . 554 0 5 0

Per Bro . Steeclrnan P . M . 754 : — The Urban Lodge 1196 - - - . 110 Stuart Lodge 1632 . . . . 14 6 High Cross Lodge 754 - . - - 2 4 0 Carvarvon Lodge •- - - 1 1 0

A generation ago one of the most thorough sportsmen England ever knew , wishing to dilate on the joys of hunting in Leicestershire , burst into verse in the following lines : — All who in winter seek out the fam'd shire , To which ev ' ry hunting man ' s wishes aspire , Will acknowledge that four things his senses surprise :

The foxes , the fox-hounds , the horses , and pies . Tho first travel fast , but the second go faster , When urged on to speed by the voice of the master . The fences are stiff as the farmers can make them , But a Leicestershire horse is e'er ready to take them , And though 'tis hard work to keep in the first flight , A pork pie at luncheon will make you all right .

As then so now , the " Leicester pork pies are indeed dainties to set before a king , or as no kings have been seen in Leicestershire recently , we should rather tay before an Empress , as Her Imperial Majesty of Austria—who always rides straight to hounds , is one of the most enthusiastic : admirers of the delicious pasties manufactured

by Messrs . Keens , Collyer and Danmoro , of Leicester , and known throughout the county , and indeed throughout the kingdom , under their registered title of the " Leicester Pork Pie , " and , by the way , it would be difficult to select a moro acceptable present , ao tho corning festive season , than one of these pies , which are familiarly known as tUQ , i L , P , P , "