Our Weekly Budget.

ment assembled round the familiar hospitable board at Greenwich , when each congratulated the other on the labours they had achieved , and the near prospect of a brief respite from work . We admire the wisdom of the premier in restoring this annual custom to

all its pristine dignity . None can point the finger of scorn at him and his colleagues , as many , perhaps , may have done at the late Government , exclaiming , perhaps , sotto voce : — What a beggarly lot of rulers we have got , they cannot even dine !

The O'Connell celebration in Dublin . did not end as well as it began . There were some rather serious differences of opinion in connection with one of the banquets , a considerable number being anxious that Mr . Butt should have spoken the praises of the Liberator and not Sir C . G .

Duffy , whom the Lord Mayor had chosen for this task of honour . This led to a rather boisterous explosion , and neither the Lord Mayor nor Mr . Butt was able to allay it . A rather serious matter has been brought under the notice of the Duke of Richmond , as President of the

Council . On Saturday last , a deputation , representing the foreign importers of live stock—introduced by Mr . Twells , one of the Members for the City—had an interview with his Grace , and gave him to understand that unless the very severe restrictions imposed on the importation of cattle

were somewhat relaxed , they would be compelled to close the supply altogether . Everybody , of course , has an interest in the question of meat supply , and the exclusion from our markets of the German and Dutch cattle would probably cause the price of meat to rise to famine prices .

The deputation asked that they should be put on the same footing as the importers of Irish stock , or , in other words , that while every diseased animal should be rigidly condemned , cattle and sheep ascertained to be perfectly sound should go free into the market . The Duke promised

inquiry intothematter aspromptly as possible , but sincethen two cases have occurred , in one of which 700 or 800 Dutch sheep , in the other 1 , 500 sheep and lambs , were ordered to be transhipped to Deptford for slaughter because , in each , one sheep was found to be suffering from foot-and-mouth

disease . This involved a loss to the importers of os per head . Now anything that can be done to prevent such losses should be done , but it must not be overlooked that one of such black sheep will most probably infect a whole herd- It is impossible for the most skilful

veterinary inspector to discover the disease in its early stages of germination . Thus these animals that are certified to be sound may , nevertheless , have in them the germs of tbe disease , and thus might be the means of innoculating our own herds . It is , perhaps , the lesser of

the two evils to bear with a short supply than to run the risk of having our home produce infected . If the cargoes were landed direct at Deptford , and there examined , instead of being sent up to London , the additional cost of reconveyance to Deptford would be saved .

In the sporting world Yachting for the moment is in the ascendant . The Regatta of the Royal Victoria Club commenced on Tuesday , and Avill close to-day . That of the Royal Albert Club -will be held next week . In Cricket there have been several return matches played between the

leading counties , such as Sussex and Surrey , & c , those between Middlesex and Notts , and Gloucestershire and Yorkshire being still in progress . We note also the meeting of the International Gun and Polo Club at Spa . The principal race meetings this week have been those of Egham and Windsor .

Our foreign notes arc few . The attempt to overwhelm Carlism has not yet proved successful , and the insurrection in the Herzegovina seems from all accounts to be extending , and becoming more formidable from day to clay . If

the revolt is strictly localised , wc do not anticipate there will be any serious difficulty on the part of Turkey in suppressing it . But if Bosnian and Montenegrin interference is permitted or connived at , tho Turks have a tough piece of work before them for the summer . We trust

the Great Powers will signify unmistakably to these petty , if rude buccaneers , that they have no intention of allowing the peace of Europe to be broken on their account .

Once the insurgents find that Europe means peace , they ancl their adherents from other quarters will very soon come to terms and the rights of Turkey will no longer be imperilled .

A marriage will shortl y take place between His Imperial Highness Prince Demetrius , G . M . and Sovereign Grand

Our Weekly Budget.

Commander of the Supreme Grand Council , 33 rd degree , for Scotland , & c , and eldest son of His Imperial Highness Prince Rhodocanakis , and Kathleen , eldest daughter of Capt . Geo . Newcomen R . N ., of 33 Queen ' s Gate , South Kensington , and Feltwell Lodge , Norfolk .

We learn from Le Monde Maconnique that M . Emile Littre , member of the French Academy , representative of the people , and author of a French Dictionary , as well as of numerous scientific works , was initiated on the 8 th ult ., in the Lodge "LaClemente Aniitie . " Fr . Charles Cousin ,

vice President of tho Council of the Order , presided , and there was present a large attendance of brethren . M . Littre has already attained the ripe age . of 74 ; his joining the Order , observes our worthy French contemporary , is no act of youthful phantasy or misplaced enthusiasm , but a

deliberate act , and the result evidently of a well-matured conviction of the immense value of Freemasonry . The same authority , in speaking of the Lodge banquets , which occur ordinarily at the season of the summer solstice , anticipates that the collections made for the relief of the sufferers by

the recent inundations will pi'ove considerable , having regard , of course , to the number and position of those present . The Lodge La Clemente Amitie has voted two hundred francs towards the subscription being raised by the

Grand Orient , while , at the meeting held for the initiation of M . Littre , six hundred francs were collected , one-half of which will go to the Masonic Orphanage , and the other to the relief of the sufferers .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution For Aged Freemasons And Widows Of Freemasons.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND WIDOWS OF FREEMASONS .

THE Committee met at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , 11 th August . Present — Bros . Major Creatou , chairman , H . G . Warren , R . Spencer , J . A . Farnfield , J . G . Stevens , A . H . Tattershall , L . Stean , W . Stevens , James Brett , S . Rawson , Griffiths Smith , I . Newton , Thomas Cubitt , W . Hilton . Prof . Erasmus Wilson and

Jabez Hogg . The miimtes of last meeting were read and confirmed . The Wardens' Report stated that tho Entertainment kindly voted at tho last meeting was held on the 30 th ultimo , aud gave great pleasnro to the inmates assembled . The death of two annuitants -was

reported . 1 lie Chairman was authorised to sign cheques for payment of annuities clue 1 st September . One candidate was placed on tho list for election in May next , and permission was granted to an annuitant to reside iu the Asylnm at Croydon . Votes of thanks were accorded to Bro . Griffiths Smith , for drawing up agreement , and to the Chairman .

Prorogation Of Parliament.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT .

FRIDAY EVENING . PARLIAMENT was this day prorogued by Commission The following is THE QUEEN'S SPEECH .

My Lords and Gentlemen , I am happy to bo enabled to release you from your attendance in Parliament . Tho relations between myself and all Foreign Powers continue to be cordial , and I look forward with hope and confidence to the uninterrupted maintenance of European peace .

The visit paid to this country , on the invitation of my Government , by the ruler of Zanzibar , has led to tho conclusion of a supplementary convention , which , I trust , may be efficacious for the more complete suppression of the East African slave trade . I have learnt with deep regret that tho expedition dispatched by my Indian Government from Bnrmah , with a view to open

communications with the Western Provinces of China , has been treacherously attacked by an armed force while on Chinese territory . This outrage , unhappily involving tho death of a young and promising member of my Consular service , is the subject of careful inquiry ; and no effort shall bo spared to secure the punishment of those by whom it was

instigated and committed . Tho condition of my colonial empire is generally prosperous . Progress has been made in the settlement of questions affecting the constitution and government of Natal ; and I confidently look for important and valuable results from the proposal for a conference of the South African colonies and states .

Gentlemen of the House of Commons , I thank yon for the liberal supplies which you have voted for the public service . My Lords and Gentlemen , It is gratifying to me to find that the lengthened consideration you

have given to the various statutes which have , from timo to time , been passed for the preservation of peace in Ireland has resulted in a measure which , while relaxing the stringency of former enactments , is calculated to maintain tiie tranquillity of that country . I have , with pleasure , given my assent to an act for facilitating