Our Weekly Budget.

commenced . In the House of Lords , the Earls of Aberdeen and Ellesmere respectively moved and seconded the Address , in reply to Her Majesty ' s most gracious speech . The leader of the Opposition , Earl Granville , as a matter of course , offered a series of criticisms on its subject

matter , to which the Earl of Derby , as most of tbe subjects touched upon related to foreign politics , replied . In the House of Commons , Messrs . Ridley and Mulholland performed the same functions as the Earls of Aberdeen and Ellesmere in tho Lords , the duty of critic resting with the

Marquis of Hartington ; while the Premier , Mr . Disraeli , defended the conduct of the Government with his usual eloquence , the only other speaker of note being the ex-Premior , Mr . Gladstone , whoso support of Ministers in reference to tho Eastern Question was very hearty .

It comes not within our province to discuss political questions , but we note with pleasure the announcement of a Government measure for the better regulation of our Mercantile Marine . Mr . Plimsoll has again entered himself for the same stakes ( to use a sporting phrase ) , and

doubtless , between the Government , who are evidently in earnest in their desire to settle this important question , and the member for Derby , whose advocacy of the sailors' cause is most disinterested , and most creditable to his philanthropy , we shall have a measure passed this Session , which will satisfy both sailors and shipowners .

In the Masonic world the event of the week has been the

anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , full particulars of which will be found in another page . The week ' s history , however , would certainly be incomplete without a brief reference to it here . We announce , therefore , with infinite pleasure , that the advocacy

of Bro . Terry , and the hearty efforts of the two hundred Stewards , resulted in an addition to the funds of the Charity of the unprecedented sum of over £ 9 , 000 . Lord Skelmersdale , our respected D . G . M ., presided on the occasion , and it must be in the highest degree gratifying to his

Lordship that so magnificent a success should have attended his maiden presidency at one of our Charitable Institutions . This success almost excites the hope that none of the candidates for election this year will be disappointed . We are not much given to trumpet our own praises , but it is a

satisfaction to note that the £ 2 , 000 in excess of last year ' s subscriptions , which we expressed a hope would be realised as nearly as possible , represents the difference between the amounts subscribed in 1875 ( in round figures £ 7 , L' 00 ) , and in 1876 ( over £ 9 , 000 ) . We shall begin to nutter ourselves

that we are more than ordinarily skilled in the art of divination . But grand as is the success , on which wo most heartily congratulate the genial Bro . Terry , he must nofc be content till he has gone a long way ahead in double figures , as regards the" thousands . " The one other noteworthy

Masonic incident of the week is the advancement , on Monday , at the Hall of the Supreme Council of A . and A . Rite , in Golden-square , of H . R . H . Prince Leopold , tn the 30 th degree . The Earl of Carnarvon presidi'd , and there were

present , among others , the Kail oF Shrewsbury and Talbot , Lard Skermersdale , the Earl of Limerick , Major-General Brownrigg , C . B ., Colonel Burdett , Bros . Parkinson , Sir W . Drake , J . B . Monckton , S . Ilawson , and others . Bro . Willing presided at the organ .

I here are several vacancies in Parliament , the number having been increased by the recent death of Viscount Galhvey , M . P . for North Notts . The contest which excites the most attention is that for Manchestei-, consequent upon the death of our lamented Bro . Cullender . This will be determined next week . Anion " other deaths of distinguished

persons must be mentioned that of Earl Howe , who is succeeded in his title and estates by his brother . Dr . Kenealy went , a part of the way at least , to take his seat in the House of Commons on the opening day , in state , if the attendance of a miserable rabble can be so described .

The Times had an article on the subject , and very properly described it as in " impudent" rivalry with the royal cortege . The raggamuffins , howevc , as disreputable in appearance as the wretched company with which old Jack Falstaff refused to marcli through Coventry , and who only boasted

a shirt and a half amongst them , and the half was a kind of dish-clout—were very properly sent to the right-about by the police in Parliament-street , and even the cab containing the precious memorial of the Magna Chartists was

ignnminiously sent back a little further on , so that Dr . Kenealy went down to Westminster alone in his glory , NoscUur a snails . VVc judge of Di : Kenealy by those with whom he finds , most favour . We need Bay no more .

Our Weekly Budget.

It is announced that H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh will shortly assume command of H . M . ironclad the Sultan , one of the Channel Fleet , recently ordered to Plymouth , in

consequence of an outbreak , among the crew , of scarlatina . The Sultan will shortly go to Portsmouth , to be paid-off and refit , after which the Duke will join her , and proceed on a special cruise .

The so-called International walking match between Weston , an American , and Perkins , the English champion , came off at the Agricultural Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday . The two were entered to walk one hundred and fifteen miles in twenty-four hours , but neither accomplished

the feat . The Englishman was obliged to give up after walking about sixty-six miles , in something less than fourteen hours , owing to his feet failing him . Weston walked on the whole time , and covered close on one hundred and nine miles—a marvellous performance , if we bear in mind

that this represents an average of four and half miles per hour , and there were , of necessity , rests during the term of the struggle . It is just possible that had Perkins been shod in stout shoes and walked on gravel instead of boards ,

he might have done better . As ifc was , he stuck manfully to his work , and only gave in when his feet were bleeding , so that his stockings had to be cut off . Our readers are aware , perhaps , thafc the Englishman has walked eight miles within the hour .

The event of the week in the theatrical world has been

the production , at the Haymarket , of a new five-act drama , by Mr . Tom Taylor . The subject is that of the unfortunate Anne Boleyn , and , from the accounts we have read , tho talented author appears to have treated the subject with his usual ability . Ifc is suggested , however , that

considerable curtailment of the play is desirable . The principal characters were enacted by Messrs . C . Harcourt as King Henry , Arthur Cecil as the Ambassador Chapuiz , and Howe as the Earl of Surrey ; while Miss Neilson took the rule of the Queen . Sundry of the pantomimes are coming

to an end . That at the Crystal Palace ceases this week , and Friday next is announced as the last performance of the Yellow Dwarf at the Alexandra Palace . The latter has had a grand run of success , and may safely be pronounced one of the best pantomimes that have been seen

for the last few years . Not tho least interesting feature m it is the Shadow Pantomime . The whole performance , in fact , is worthy of the highest praise , and if there are any of our readers who may not have seen it , we strongly advise them to turn one of the remaining few days , during which it will run , to account .

It is always a pleasure to record any act of beneficence , and the gift of £ 5 , 000 to the Commissioners of St . Stephen ' s Green , in order to enable them to pay off their debts and convert the Green into a public garden is a benefaction of which Ireland generally , and Dublin in particular , may well be proud .

An atfcoinpt at stealing a truck was neatly foiled a fewdays since by one of Pickford's van drivers . The van with its driver , John Shirley , was standing in Fore Street , when some men placed a sack on a truck which was outside the premises of a Mr . Eldred . Some loitering vagabonds took

the opportunity , when , as they supposed , no one was looking , to make off with the truck , but John Shirley promptly pursued them , and encountering a policeman made known to him the circumstances . The men finding they were discovered made off , leaving tho truck behind

them , but one of them was captured and committed for three months , with hard labour , by the presiding magistrate , Alderman Figgins . Shirley the van-driver was rewarded for his honesty with a sovereign , and Mr . Eldred

was very properly censured for putting temptation in the way of thieves . We should like to see careless people more frequently censured , and then perhaps we should hear of fewer i-obberies .

For the moment , the severe weather is said to be an obstacle to further military operations in Spain , but if the telegrams from Madrid aro to be relied on , and there seems to be no reason why they should not bo trustworthy , the Alp honsisfc armies have been making considerable progress .

As we have more than once said , it , matters little to us which of the rival claimants to the Spanish throne is succe ^ iul , so loiiiT as Spain obtains the priceless boon of peace .

Hence ifc is we hail with pleasure the recent Alphonsist victories , nofc from any preference fur Alphonsism , but simply because they seem to ns to foreshadow an early termination of the struggle . The elections in France are not yet over , and among the candidates still before the electors