Our Weekly Budget

Athens . The Osbomo was expected to reach Corinth on Tuesday . The Duchess of Edinburgh left Malta on Monday morning , for Villafranca , on board H . M . S . Sultan , Captain the Duke of Edinburgh . Her Royal Highness ' s suite wore on board the Antelope , which accompanied her husband's ship .

It is stated that Her Majesty ' s birthday , which falls ou the 24 th May , will be publicly celebrated on the 2 nd June instead of on the 26 th May , as originally announced .

During the whole of last week the Agricultural Hall was thronged with spectators eager to watch the progress of the great match between "Weston and O'Leary for stakes amounting to £ 1 , 000 . It is stated there were no less than

35 , 000 present on Saturday . We gave some particulars of the earlier days' performances . By the end of the third day O'Leary had walked 294 miles to Weston ' s 275 . The advantage the former had gained thus far was maintained without material variation till the end , and O'Leary , in tho

course of Saturday afternoon , was proclaimed winner , as soon as Weston ' s backer , Sir John Ashtey , saw that no amount of exertion on the part of his protege could by any possibility destroy the advantage which O'Leary had gained . The latter covered 520 miles , with several hours to spare , and it

is stated , with some show of reason , that had he been pnshed he might have accomplished another ten miles . Weston walked 510 miles , or ten miles short of his opponent , and the pluck he exhibited in continuing his journey hours after the victory of his opponent had been conceded , elicited the warmest and most enthusiastic cheers of the

multitude . Suffice it to say that both men exhibited astonishing powers of endurance , no such feat having , as far as we know , been previously accomplished . Weston was none the worse on Sunday for his exertions , but O'Leary had a sore place on one of his feet , and was obliged ,

therefore , to rest on a sofa . The difference in the styles of walking in the two men was very marked . O'Leary walked in a soldierly manner , while Weston ' s was careless ,

not to say ungraceful . Further exhibitions of speed and endurance are likely to follow , as Grassland , a well-known long distance walker , has challenged all the world to walk him for a stake of £ 1 , 000 a side .

Mr . Eoebuck , the veteran M . P . for Sheffield , is a common-sensible speaker . On Monday evening , he " assisted " at the opening of the first cocoa and coffee-house esta - blished in Sheffield . The Mayor , Mr . Alderman Barrett , presided , and among the principal persons present were Sir

Harcourt Johnstone and Mr . Mundella . Mr . Roebuck , in the course of his address , pointed out how desirable it was that people should live temperately . At the same time he ridiculed the idea that men would not get drunk if they wished ifc . Intemperance would not be put down by

intemperate means , and by endeavouring to force the principle of teetotalism down people ' s throats . He therefore explained why it was so many working men were driven to the public-house and gin palace , and showed that if the

men had home comforts and respectable institutions like the new coffee-house , they would very soon forsake the former . The new institution has been erected through tbe generosity of Mr . F . T . Mappin , and has likewise been furnished throughout by the same gentleman .

We regret to announce the death of Mr . Andrew Halliday who was so long connected with literature and the drama . Mr . Halliday , whose full name was Andrew Halliday Duff , was born in 1830 . He was educated at

Marischal College and University , Aberdeen . He came to London at an early age , and soon found occupation as a journalist on the Morning Chronicle . He also contributed to tbe Leader , and . subsequentl y to the Gornliill Magazine and All ihe Year lunutcl . His skill in dramatic literature

as an adaptor ot plays was acknowledged on all hands , ancl many were the successes he achieved in burlesque , comedy , farce , nnd melodrama . He will , however , be best remembered by his Essays contributed to the Gornliill ancl All the Year Bound . Mr . Halliday had , for months past ,

been in failing health , but though it was generally anticipated thafcjhis days were numbered , his death , which took placc on Tuesday , was a painful surprise to his large circle of friends . He leaves a widow to lament his early loss , but no children .

I hough the Eastern Question is fraught with the most serious difficulties , and though every one is aware that if war breaks out , there is no knowing how long the rest of Europe may he able to stand aloof , wo believe there is hardly an Englishman who is not utterly weary of hearing the subject discussed . Those whoso duty it is to watch the

Our Weekly Budget

ever-varying phases of this momentous struggle must be well nigh worn out with anxiety when they find that no sooner is one obstacle to a peaceful solution removed , than another , and even a greater perhaps , is conjured up . If we look the difficulty fully and fairly in the face , there appears

no valid reason why it should not be arranged speedily . Europe is anxious to bo free , for a season at least , from threats of war . Turkey expresses her readiness to improve her inteimal administration , but very properly resents interference with her domestic government . Her

sovereign is not tho only ruler who has entrusted to him the destinies of people of different races ancl creeds . The Turk is not naturally cruel . When his blood is up , and he feels that he has been wrongfully dealt with , he lashes out viciously , and woe betide those who cross his path . Bat his

wrath is never cold-blooded . It must be the extreme of indignity and persecution which drives him to turn at bay and retaliate fiercely to the best of his ability . It has been tho fashion in England for many months to speak harsh untruths of a people who have acted , on the whole , fairly and

squarely towards others . The Turk has no idea of government according to our Western ideas . But he is courteous , affable to strangers , and , above all things , most hospitable . He may be wasteful and extravagant . He may incline to fanaticism in religious matters . He has , in short , his good

qualities as well as his bad . His neighbour , the Russian , is hardly so enlightened or so polished ; while , in the matter of common honesty , we prefer the Turk to the Russian a thousand times over . In fact , as we have said more than once , the disturbances which have at length

brought about the present grave conjuncture of affairs are due to Russian agency . It was Russian , or , at all events , Panslavist agents who excited the insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina . Servia would never have rushed voluntarily to her own doom , had she not been almost

forced to do so by Russian intrigues . It is well known that the Prince of Montenegro is merely a protege of the Czar , and will declare war or make peace exactly as he is bidden . And now the Protocol has been signed by all the Great Powers , conditionally by two , unconditionally by the

others , when Russia can withdraw from her position , de . mobilise her armies , and boast of a diplomatic triumph , she is said to be acting towards Turkey more peremptorily than ever . She declares it is impossible for her to support the present uncertainty any longer , but if she is acting

sincerely , she has the power of determining the uncertainty instanter . Turkey will be only too glad to be left alone , in order that she may set her house in order , dismiss her troops to their quarters , and enter upon a policy of retrenchment . In saying this much , we are indulging in no

predilections for this or that political power . We are , indeed , but repeating what nearly the whole of the English Press has been saying for months past . We have no sympathy for the individuals who committed such barbarities in Bulgaria during the summer of last year , but

the Sultan is no more responsible for their foul acts than is our Queen for the atrocious outrages perpertrated by English ruffians . Those who goad a man into anger , which is a passing madness , must not blame him , but themselves , for the excesses which may follow .

At the General Committee Meeting of the Boys' School on Saturday last , at Freemason ' s Hall , after the report of the House Committee on the enlargement of the Institution had been discussed , it was reported by Bro . Dr . Morris that of the twenty-eight boys who had submitted themselves

for examination afc the recent Cambridge local examination , twenty-six had passed the ordeal . Of these fourteen took honours and twelve obtained certificates . Several applicants wero placed on the list of candidates for the October

election . Bro . Benjamin Head took the chair , and there were present Bros . Captain Phillips , Hyde Pullen , G . Snow , Browse , Paas , C . F . Matier , J . Constable , H . Massey , and a numerous attendance of those entitled to be present .

The Freemasons Repository announces the re-election , at the Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Rhode Island on the 13 th nit ., of Comp . Wm . T . C . Wardell as

Grand High Priest . The Grand Chapter dinner was excellent , as usual , and was " well appreciated by the large company gathered around the inviting tables . " We learn from the same source that a Special Communication of the