Our Weekly Budget.

proi'ogued to tho 17 th January next , when we presume it will meet for the despatch of business in the event of an earl ier meeting than usual being necessary . News reached Lloyd ' s on Friday last that tho Union Company ' s mail steamer European was lost off Ushant on

tho Wednesday previous . She was a fine vessel , of 2272 tons gross register , and 1400 horse power . Fortunately , the passongers , crew , and mails were all saved . Another mail steamer , the City of Berlin , which left New York on

the 24 th ult ., and was due off Ireland on the 2 nd instant , broke her shaft when six days out , and in consequence did not reach her destination till the 9 th instant , in tow of the City of New York . Thus the auxiety which had been aroused respecting her safety was dissipated .

The Mansion House Indian Famine Relief Fund had , according to the last account , reached the sum of £ 487 , 000 , including the £ 6 , 000 now under transmission from Sydney . Of this £ 470 , 000 has already been remitted

to India . Reports from the affiicted districts , while they show the terrible loss of life which has taken place , speak of the signs of improvement which are everywhere visible among the population .

A singular case was brought before the Worship-street Police Court on Friday last , when a Miss Lena Chester was charged with an attempt to bribe John Partridge , gaoler of the Mansion House Police Court , by offering him £ 500 to procure the release from the prison van of Fred . Dimsdale ,

a person charged with felony at that Court . Partridge ' s evidence and that of a police officer , whom he had called in and secreted under the table while the lady was conversing

with him , having been given , the woman was remanded , Mr . Bnshby the magistrate consenting to take bail in two sureties of £ 100 each , and the accused in double that amount during the remand .

It seems the health of the Pope , who has attained an almost patriarchal age , is in a very critical state . His Holiness is confined to his bed by a wound or wounds in

his leg , but he is able at times to receive visitors . The rumours are very contradictory , some being to the effect that he is recovering strength , while others represent him as enduring great sufferings .

The political state of France is becoming more and more critical every day . The attempt by M . Dufaure to form a Ministry entirely failed , and now an attempt to form a Ministry of Combat is being made , but it remains to be seen what success will attend the efforts of M . Batbie

who is charged with the business . There is no doubt that the protracted struggle between the Marshal and the Left is exercising a very depressing effect on the trade of France and especially of the capital , and more than one Deputation

has waited upon the President urging him to put an end to tho present grave uncertainty . Whether he will invite the Senate to grant a second dissolution of the present Chamber , or what will be done is unknown . There have been

rumours that the President contemplated resigning his office , but this would probably make matters worse . However , we shall no doubt shortly learn the course which events are likely to take , and we trust , whatever may happen , that it will be for the good of France .

The news of the week from the seat of war is the most important we have yet received . Plevna has fallen . On Sunday morning Osman Pasha made a desperate effort to break through the Russian lines . He succeeded in forcing his way into the enemy ' s entrenchments , but fresh obstacles met him at every step , and after five hours' hard

fighting , he turned to re-enter Plevna , but found the enemy had already anticipated such a movement . At length , with his men being shot clown in all directions , and himself wounded , he surrendered unconditionally to the Emperor of Russia , with his whole army , which is

variously estimated at from 30 , 000 to 40 , 000 , including 10 , 000 killed and wounded . Thus , after holding the Russians at bay for five months round a fortress which he himself had created , the gallant Turk has had to succumb after a supreme effort to break out , and then only when

his men were reduced to their last scrap of food—barel y a few ears of corn daily . Such a magnificent defence as this will place Osman Pasha among the most distinguished warriors of the day , and even his enemies have been struck with admiration at the superb valour ho has

shown . And well , indeed , may they do so , for it is probable tho loss he has inflicted on them far exceeds the total number of troops which have been under his command from first to last ; and had the other Turkish Generals followed his example , tho Russians might have

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been driven back over the Danube . It is said tho Czar , when Osman surrendered his sword to him , magnanimously restored it , and placed his own carriage and escort at tho disposal of tho beaten chief . Tho Russians and Roumanians entered Plevna the same afternoon , and the

Grand Duke Nicholas and Prince Charles slept in tho town , the inhabitants of which were found to be in terrible want of food . We have not yet heard of the Russian losses , but they must have been very heavy , if it be true that three whole regiments were nearly cut to pieces .

The capture of this stronghold will place 100 , 000 at the disposal of the Grand Duko for further operations . If the weather clears up , we shall , no doubt , hear of the Russians attempting to cany the war south of the Balkans ,

and advancing on Adrianople . Mehemet AU Pasha has been recalled to Constantinople , and the position of the force lately under his command will be seriously jeopardised . Suleiman Pacha has been unablo to make further

progress against the Czarewitch , though there is a rumour of more fighting on the Lorn . Prom Asia , the news is very meagre , bub the anxiety of tho moment is as to the political rather than the military aspect of things , and of this we shall know more anon .

Since the above was written intelligence has been received from Paris of the failure of all attempts on the part of M . Batbie to form a Ministry , and M . Dufaure was again summoned by the Marshal . This time he has

succeeded , and tho list of the new cabinet has been already announced . One other item of news has arrived . The Turkish Parliament has been again opened , by the Sultan in person , the Imperial address being read by one of the high Turkish dignitaries .

We have great pleasure in announcing that the pupils of Bro . Westfield , of Leyton College , Essex , will give their winter entertainment on Thursday next . Several brethren have placed their sons under Bro . Westfield's charge , and

he always extends a most cordial welcome to all who visit his establishment on these occasions . We do not doubt we shall have tbe pleasure of chronicling , in our next issue , another successful gathering .

According to the Freemasoyis' Repository , the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick held its tenth annual Communication in the City of St . John , on the 26 th and 27 th October , when Bro . Robt . T . Clench was elected Grand Master , Bro . Edwin J . Westmore Dep . G . Master , Henry Driffell

Sen . G . Warden , James Boone Jun . G . Warden , James McNichol jun . G . Treasurer , and William F . Bunting G . Secretary . The receipts for the year were reported as 1 , 66096 dollars , and the total membership 2 , 236 . Action

is already being taken to rebuild and reform another library in place of that destroyed by the great fire , and the reprint of the Proceedings will soon be commenced , so that it is hoped and expected that another year will almost obliterate the effects of the misfortunes which have befallen

the Grand Lodge . The following resolution as to visitors was adopted : — " That any brother hailing from a Lodge beyond the jurisdiction of New Brunswick , desiring to be received as a visitor in any Lodge within the province ,

and who cannot be vouched for , shall , previous to undergoing an examination , be required to produce a certificate from the Grand Lodge to which he belongs ; and if he cannot produce a certificate , no examination shall take place , and he shall be refused admission .

Prom a notice of the installation meeting of the Princo of Wales Lodge , No . 1653 , Sydney , which appears in the Australian Freemason for the month of October , we learn that the following are the Officers for the present year , namely , Bros . Thomas James Bovvyer M . A . W . M ., Hugh

Kennedy I . P . M ., Dr . W . T . G . Bedford S . W ., Rev . Dr . White J . W ., W . Clark Treasurer , W . B . Stevens Secretary , T . Moser S . D ., F . J . Armstrong J . D ., G . F . Stephen I . G . Bro . Bowyer subsequently presented a very handsome

gold Past Master ' s jewel which had been voted by the Lodge in token of its sense of the services he had rendered during his year of office . We notice also with pleasure that there is a Lodge of Instruction in Sydney , which meets every month , and is doing very admirable service ,