Our Weekly Budget.

tion accorded them . Since the banquet to the men given on Thursday last , by the town of Portsmouth , they have been entertained at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor . The gallant fellows thoroughly enjoyed themselves , while his Lordship proved a thoroughly genial host , entering

into the spirit of the somewhat novel entertainment with a heartiness which did him infinite credit . Indeed , the Lords of the Admiralty are so pleased with this exhibition of his Lordship ' s hospitality , they have directed a most cordial letter of thanks to be sent to him , expressing their

deep sense of his very great kindness . The great attraction of the week has been the Smithfield Club Cattle Show at the Agricultural Hall , Islington . In quality and numbers , but especially in the former , the entries this year are greatly in excess of last , the numbers

being 456 against 395 , thus distributed : —Cattle 242 against 186 ; sheep 153 against 162 ; and pigs 61 against 46 . It will be seen there is a slight falling off in sheep , but the quality is exceptionally good , and the lambs are so great a success , that we may reckon , perhaps , on their

becoming a permanent feature of the Show . The Champion Plate of £ 100 for the finest beast in all the classes was awarded to a splendid Devon ox , exhibited by Mr . S . Kidner , of Bickley Farm , Milverton . This animal had already carried off the first prize in its class , as well as the

silver breed cup of £ 40 , and the £ 50 silver cup for the best steer or ox of any breed . The other silver breed cups were awarded as follow : Hereford , to Mr . T . Fenn ; shorthorn , to Mr . J . Stratton j Sussex , Captain W . Taylor j Scotch , to Mr . W . McCombie ; Cross-bred or other than

the above breeds , to Mr . J . Reid . Mr . J . Stratton also secured the silver cup for the best heifer or cow of any breed . Lord Walsingham was awarded the Champion Plate for the best pen of three in the sheep classes , his pen having previously secured for him the breed cup in the

Southdowns , and the first prize in its class . Messrs . J . T . Homer , C . M'Niven , and T . C . Baker were severally adjudged the breed cups in the different breeds of pigs . Among the other prize-winners were the Queen and the Prince of Wales . There was a large and excellent

display of all kinds of agricultural implements . The Show was open to the public on Monday at 1 p . m ., and as it was known that His Royal Highness , who is president of the club would come up specially from Sandringham to inspect the show and preside at the Board meeting , the throng of

visitors was considerably above the average . The Prince was greeted on his arrival , punctually , at 3 . 30 p . m ., in the Hall , and at his departure , with the greatest enthusiasm . In his capacity of President he presented Mr . Brandreth Gibbs , who has held the post of honorary Secretary for

over three-and-thirty years , with a very handsome testimonial on vellum , enclosed in a richly mounted box of Coromandel-wood , in token of " the valuable and efficient services " he had rendered to the Club for so many years . Mr . Gibbs having suitably acknowledged the gift , the Prince

and the distinguished guests who had accompanied him left the Hall . The show closed yesterday , and , according to all accounts , the attendance of visitors has been in every respect satisfactory , though it must be confessed the weather has not been the most attractive .

Lord Salisbury has reached Constantinople , "where he was received , on landing , by our ambassador , Sir Henry Elliott . He has had interviews with the Grand Vizier , the Turkish Foreign Minister , and the various ambassadors . It is expected that the Conference will hold its first

sitting to-day . As regards the general aspect of affairs , there is little additional to record of any special interest , save that Prince Bismarck has delivered a speech in the German Reichstag , in which he pointed out the course that Germany would follow . His remarks have been

commented upon freely , some critics regarding them favourably , as tending to promote the interests of peace , while others consider he has merely given additional encouragement to Russia to persist in her designs . But

Prince Bismarck is not a statesman born only yesterday . There are few men so capable as he of concealing his real intentions under a mass of verbiage , which sounds well , but yet may be interpreted differently by different people . He can be oracular or confidential , as the whim of the

moment or circumstances incline him . "We must wait some time yet ere it will be possible , either to indulge any reasonable hope of a peaceful issue from the present complication , or resign ourselves , as best we may , to contemplate the horrors of a local , and the dangers of a general , European war . We can but hope and believe , in the mean-

Our Weekly Budget.

time , that Lord Salisbury ' s efforts will be so backed up by the representatives of the other Powers that the outcome of all these diplomatic conferences and pourparlers will be an honourable and enduring peace .

There has been a Ministerial crisis in Paris , the result of which is not yet known ; and another in Greece , which King George has not yet succeeded in arranging . Prom the United States we hear that the Republican candidate

for the Presidency has been declared elected by the Returning Boards in South Carolina and Florida . Lastly , it is with great regret we announce that a terrible calamit y has befallen Brooklyn , tho theatre of which was burned down on Tuesday . It is estimated that between 200 and 300 persons have perished .

Old Warrants.

Old Warrants .

— : o : — No . 44 . No . 138 , " Moderns ; " No . 167 at the Union of 1813 , No . 120 from A . D .-1832 , and No . 103 from A . D . 1863 .

GEORGE G . M . / Seal \

No . 138 To all & every our Eight Worshipful Worshipful & loving brethren we Francis Eawdon Hastings Earl Moira & o . & o . & o . acting G . M . under the authority of His Eoyal Highness George Angus , tus Frederick Prince of Wales & c . & o . & o . G . M . of tho most Antient & Honorable Society of

Free & Accepted Masons send greeting Whereas it appears by the records of our Grand Lodge that on the 8 th day of March 1758 a Warrant of Constitution was granted in dno form under the seals of Masonry to several Master Masons residing in the city of Bristol for the . purpose of holding a Lodgo of this most antient & honorable Society at the Boll in Broad-street

Bristol -which was then numbered in the list of Lodges 233 but by subsequent alteration of the numbers is now become 138 That tho said Lodge was from thence removed to the sign of the One Pound One in Small-street , from thence to a house on the Quay from thence to a house in King ' s Head-conrt from thence to a house in Currant , lane from thence to the Shakespeare in Prince-street & lastly to the

Cornish Mount on the Quay Bristol & whereas it has been represented to us by onr right trusty & well beloved brethren Joshua Spinger , John Whittingham , William Davios , Walter Ellis , Thomas Cook , & Joseph Sanders & several other brethren of the said Lodge that the said constitution has been lost or destroyed owing to tho last mentioned house in which the said Lodge was held having been

consumed by fire that they are very desirous for the prosperity of the craft & therefore humbly request to be recognised or acknowledged as a regular Lodgo notwithstanding the loss of their constitution & to retain the same number order & rank on the records of the Grand Lodge as they heretofore enjoyed by virtue of the above mentioned constitution .

Now know ye that we having taken the promises into considera . tion & being satisfied of the propriety of their above mentioned request have & do hereby confirm the said brethren as a regular Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons to be now held at the Cornish Mount on the Quay Bristol aforesaid the said house being rebuilt with every right & privilege they might & conld enjoy by virtue of the above mentioned constitution . Given under onr hand & the seal of Masonry this 7 th day of May A . L . 5800 A . D . 1800 .

By the G . M . ' s command P . PAKKEK D . G . M . Witness , William White G . S . ( Warrant of Confirmation ) Tho present Title , No ., ko . aro , Tho Beaufort Lodgo , No . 103 , Freemasons' Hall , Bristol .

No . 45 . No . 23 d , " Ancients ; " No . 293 at the " Union , " No . 206 from A . D 1832 , and No . 177 from A . D . 1863 . GRAND MASTER Antrim

LAURENCE DEHHOTT D . G . M . JOHN FEAKINS S . G . W . THOMAS HAKPEK J . G . W , i—i i i i—i i r ? £ o all fohom it man conttru WE the Grand Lodge of tho most ANCIENT and HONOURABLE Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons ( according to tho old Cou » stifcutions granted by His Eoyal Highness Prince EDwijf , at York