Our Weekly Budget.

statesmanship ; alter which tho Prisons Bill was reconsidered in Committee as amended . Several suggestions wei'e offered , but with one exception they were rejected by overwhelming majorities . On Friday , a motion of Mr . P . Taylor ' s , to open the National Museums and Galleries

on Sundays , was summarily rejected by 222 to 87 . The Currency Laws were then discussed , and the House shortly afterwards adjourned . On Monday , on the motion for going into Committee of Supply , an amendment on the subject of Ireland and her Administration was moved by

Mr . Butt , but rejected without a division . In supply the House voted moneys in respect of the Civil Service Estimates . On Tuesday , the consideration of tho Prisons Bill was resumed in Committee . A motion by Sir G . Wilmot , calling for the revision of the laws relating to

Capital Punishment , and an amendment by Mr . Pease , proposing the abolition of Capital Punishment , were both rejected . On Wednesday , the Parliamentary Registration ( Ireland ) Bill was read a second time , while a motion of Mr . Hubbard ' s , for the second reading of his Crossed Cheques Bill , was defeated by 175 to 66 .

The Prince and Princess of Wales , on their return from the Continent , paid a visit to the Horse Show , at the Agricultural Hall , three of their children accompanying them . The same afternoon , a deputation from the Council of the Zoological Society had an interview with the Prince ,

at Marlborough House , for the purpose of presenting His Royal Highness with the gold medal of the Society . On Monday , the Prince and Princess left Marlborough House , for Easthamstead Park , near Bracknell , where they have been staying the greater part of the week—it being Ascot

week—and receiving a number of distinguished visitors . On Tuesday , and again on Thursday , the Royal Party went in the usual semi-state procession to see the races , and , as usual , experienced a very hearty reception , there being a very distinguished gathering on the Heath .

On Wednesday , too , His Royal Highness was also present , being driven over on Lord Carington ' s drag , and there were likewise there the Duke of Cambridge , Prince Christian , and the Duke of Teck . Oxford Commemoration was held on Wednesday , but

the fetes proper to the occasion were not confined to those two days , as the whole city surrenders itself to festivity during the week in which the Enccenia are held . As usual , of course , our brethren of the Apollo University distinguished themselves ., They gave a musical fete in the

Gardens of Worcester College , at Which the band of the Coldstream Guards and the Orpheus Glee Union played and sang admirably . The Sheldonian Theatre was the scene of the customary uproar on the part of the undergraduates . The usnal cheers and groans were awarded to high

dignitaries of the State , or those who had rendered themselves in any way obnoxious ; among the names which evoked the greatest amount of enthusiasm being those of the Earls of Beaconsfield and Derby , Mr . Cross , and the Marquis of Salisbury . There was a diversity of opinion as to Mr .

Gladstone , while such as Dr . Kenealy and the Rev . A . Tooth were greeted with groans . It is needless to say the names of different members of the Royal Family were received most loyally . Among those on whom the degree of D . C . L . was conferred , honoris causa , were Lord Coleridge

and Mr . Cross , the reception accorded to the latter being in the hi ghest degree complimentary . Later in the afternoon , those who had carried off the chief University prizes recited their compositions . Of the six -who did so , no less than four hailed from Balliol College , one of the remaining two being a Brazennose man , and the other from Merton .

The principal events at Ascot excited a good deal of interest in the racing world . On Tuesday , the Prince of Wales ' s Stakes were won by Glen Arthur , who ran second for the Derby . There was a field of nine started for the Ascot Stakes , which foil to Sir G . Chetwynd ' s Chypre ,

Mr . W . S . Crawfurd's Finis being second , and Mr . H . Savile ' s First Spring third . On Wednesday , twenty-two ran for the Royal Hunt Cup . Cradle won easily , by a length and a half , Mr . J . Mfnningham ' s Sutton being next , and Mr . W . S . Crawfuivi ' s Prince George a bad third .

Bel phoebe carried off the Coronation Stakes , and Lord Falmouth ' s Silvio , tho Derby winner , came in first by two lengths for the Ascot Derby . The great event of Thursday

was the Gold Cup , which fell to Petrarch , Skylark being second , and Coomassie third . In the way of cricket we have to record that Surrey has won her match with Mid dlesex b y four wickets , the skilful defence of Mr . Lucas in the second innings ( 26 not out ) , and the effective batting of

Our Weekly Budget.

Mr . G . Strachan ( 32 ) contributing mainl y to the result . In the match between Gloucestershire and Sussex , the former , thanks to the very admirable bowling of Mr . W . G . Grace ( who took seven of tho wickets for 49 overs , of which 21

were maidens , aud 46 runs ) , secured the victory , by 84 runs . Ou Thursday Middlesex commenced playing Oxford University at Lord ' s , and Surrey the sister University team at the Oval . Both these matches are still in progress at the time of writing .

Yesterday was the day fixed for the presentation to General Grant , Ex-President of the United States , of the freedom of the City of London . The ceremony was to take place in the library , which was closed to the public for this purpose during the latter half of the week , after

which a grand banquet was to be held in the Guildhall itself . We may add that on Friday next , there will be a special performance at tho Royal Italian Opera , Covent Garden , in honour of the illustrious visitor . We hail with satisfaction this display of courteous hospitality towards

one of the greatest men in the United States . It will bring England and America still closer together . No doubt when General Grant returns to his own country he will bo able to tell his countrymen of the affection we bear them .

In these days , when brutal despotism is allowed to work out its evil ends almost with impunity , it is something that the two greatest free countries in the world are being drawn into a more intimate union of feeling .

The sixty-second anniversary of the Royal Caledonian Asylum , was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on "Wednesday , under the presidency of the Duke of Buccleugh . There were among the guests present the Earl of Galloway , Lord Abinger , Lord Gordon , the Chinese Ambassador and snite ,

Sir J . H . Mead well , Sir 0 . Macgregor and Sir G . Montgomery . The Chairman , in proposing the toast of the evening , made a stirring appeal on behalf of the Asylum , and subsequently there was announced by the Secretary a subscription list amounting to between £ 1 , 600 and

£ 1 , 700 . Our readers may remember that one of the most successful Mayoralties was that of Aldei'man Cotton , who distinguished himself by his princely hospitality during his occupancy of the Civic throne . On Wednesday afternoon , the citizens of the Ward of Lime-street , of which Mr . Cotton

is Alderman , met together for the purpose of presenting the worthy alderman with a testimonial in recognition of his services to tho City during his Mayoralty , and to tne Ward over which he so ably presided as Alderman . As the

testimonial consisted of a handsome suite of oak diningroom furniture , the actual presentation was impossible , but Mr . White read out an inscription on an engraved plate , which will be affixed to the sideboard . Mr . Alderman

Cotton duly acknowledged the testimonial . Monday was speech day at Merchant Taylors' School , and in the evening the usual banquet was held in honour of the occasion . Among tho more distinguished guests were the Marquis of Salisbury , the Earl of Derby , Midhat

Pacha , ex-Grand Vizier of Turkey , Sir C . Adderley , Viscount Sandon , Lord G . Hamilton , the Bishops of London and Ely , Lord Justice Baggallay , and Justice Manisty . The Marquis of Salisbury replied for the honorary members of the Company , and the Earl of Derby for the House of Lords .

Both these speeches were listened to with the greatest attention , and the noble speakers were at intervals applauded with great enthusiasm . In France the political situation remains unchanged . At the two seats of war there have not been any very serious

engagements , if we except the case of Montenegro , ofti which a series of battles have been fought , and the Blaclr Mountaineers so severely handled , that Prince Nikita has been obliged to retire his head quarters to Ostrog . On the Danube there has been a good deal of artillery practice ,

especially on the part of the Turks , who do not allow the Russians and Roumanians to havo much peace . Off the Sulina mouth of the Danube , an attempt to blow up the Turkish ironclads there , by means of torpedoes , has signally failed . Hobarfc Pacha is reported to have issued certain

instructions to his subordinates , not only to be extra vigilant , bufc to have the ships furnished with a spbcial gear , which will prevent the too near approach of these destructive engines of war . At all events , whether he has done so or

not , the lurks were not caught napping on this occasion , but destroyed some of the boat party which attacked them , and made prisoners of six , among whom were an American and an Englishman . Servia seems determined to rush into the struggle , She was severely handled , last year , and can-