Our Weekly Budget.

various sledging expeditions that wero undertaken . Sir Rutherford Alcock , tho President , occupied the chair , and , at the conclusion of the addresses , the Prince of Wales

proposed a vote of thanks . He was eloquently supported by a former President of the Society , Sir Henry Rawlinson , and , at the suggestion of the Chairman , the vote was passed with three enthusiastic cheers .

On Friday last , what was designated as a Conference , was held at St . James ' s Hall , for the purpose of denouncing sympathy with the Turks . The Duke of Westminster took the chair at the commencement of the proceedings at twelve o ' clock . A variety of speakers having expressed

their views on the subject , a brief adjournment took place . On reassembling at 4 p . m ., the Earl of Shaftesbury took the chair , and the discussion of the pre-arranged topics was continued , among the speakers being Mr . Gladstone , who delivered one of his impassioned addresses to an

excited and sympathetic audience . Whether these appeals of his are better calculated to secure peace than the calm judicial action of our Foreign Secretary is a matter which may fairly be questioned . Our readers will , of course ,

decide this for themselves . For our own part we begin to think these so-called conferences and meetings are a public nuisance ; and , for this reason , we shall be thankful when Parliament meets , about the usual time in February .

A large and influential meeting was held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , on Tuesday—the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair—for the purpose of considering the hest means of promoting a memorial to the late Mr . George Moore . Lord Hampton , Sir Sydney

Waterlow , Bishop Claughton , the Rev . Dr . Stoughton , Alderman Lawrence , and others were present . Letters expressing regret at being unable to attend , and approval of the objects of the meeting , were read from the Duke of Westminster , Lord Muncaster , Earl Russell , Lord

Shaftesbury , the Bishops of London and Carlisle , & c , & c . The Archbishop of Canterbury having briefly addressed those present , a series of resolutions , to the effect that a memorial should be established , that subscriptions to that end be raised , and that a Committee be appointed to carry

out the scheme , were duly proposed , seconded , and unanimously agreed to . A cordial vote of thanks to the Chair brought the proceedings to a close . Last Saturday saw the end of the Smithfield Club Cattle Show , and the dispersion of the animals which had

been exhibited . Many of them , of course , have already found their way into the market , while others , again , have been sent to try their fortune at other Agricultural Shows . On Wednesday , the Birmingham fat Cattle Show , which ordinarily precedes that held at the Agricultural Hall , was

opened , and remains open till Monday . This , next to our London Show , is one of the most important in the country , and we are not surprised to learn that it has proved a great success botli in the quality and number of the entries , the latter , as compared with last year , being

in cattle , 204 to 119 ; in sheep , 105 to 72 ; and in pigs , 6 & to 41 . Most of our best breeders were represented . Mr . Joseph Stratton won the first prize for shorthorn heifers , and also a special prize of £ 100 . Mr . Kidner , whose Devon ox took the Champion Plate as the best beast in the

Smithfield Club Show , was here , also , best in Devons , and likewise took the Elkington Challenge Shield , his exhibit being pronounced the best in the Show . Lords Lonsdale , Walsingham , and Chesham were among the principal

winners of sheep prizes . The show of _ pigs was excellent , and there was a very numerous exhibition of poultry and pigeons , the poultry exhibits being a little over 2 , 000 , and the pigeons 670 .

A further series of experiments with the 80-ton gun is being conducted afc Shoeburyness , and the artillerists who are watching them appear to express themselves satisfied with the results . If not as monstrous as the < nvns built

for tho Italian Government by Sir William Armstrong , these Woolwich infants seem to be as formidable an engine of war as we are likely to need . A bolt that weighs three quarters of a ton , with a charge of 370 lbs , ought to be enough to break through any defences which could be

raised against ifc , nor does it much matter if a ship is sunk or well smashed by a 100-tonner or an 80-tonner . However , it seems to be generally conceded that as Italy 1 ms

bought a bigger gun from one of our manufacturers than we have got for our own use , we must not remain as we are , but set to work manufacturing 160-tonner .- ; . mid if need be , 200-tonners . When , however , we have got so far , it will be necessary to design larger and heavier

Our Weekly Budget.

metalled ships , till at length the limit of gun-making and ship-building will be reached , we presume , at last . Early on Tuesday morning a terrible collision occurred between two barques , of Boston and Liverpool respectively , some eighteen miles off the Start Point , Devon , whereby

fifteen lives have been lost . The Liverpool barque , named tho Hnddersfield , sank in a few minutes ; two of her crew , however , contrived to get aboard the Robert Kelly , of Boston , the remaining fifteen being ] ost Shortly after , the Robert Kelly was found to be in a sinking condition , and

had to be abandoned , those on board , to the number of nineteen , and including tho captain ' s wife , taking to an open boat . Fortunately , after tossing about for some two hours , they were picked up by the brigantiue Avoka ,

though , the sea beiug so rough afc the time , each person had to fasten a rope round him , and be dragged on board . The rescued people were landed at Portland on Wednesday , aud were received at the Sailors' Home , Weymouth , where they met with every attention from the officials .

Matters do not appear to be running smoothly in connection with the Presidential election . It is said the canvassing boards have declared the election in South Carolina and Florida to have resulted in a victory for the Republican candidate , Hayes . On the other hand , it is urged

that these two States are admittedly Democratic , and that , if the returning officers have done their duty fairly as between the rival parties , there is no doubt the election has gone in favour of Tilden , the Democrat . We know not what may happen , but it is evident there is a rapidly

growing excitement about the issue throughout the whole of the United States , and the conduct of the President , of the military , and others , is being fiercely canvassed . We trust the man who is returned will be the man who has really received the majority of votes .

The news from Constantinople appears to be of a far more reassuring character than any we have received for somo time past , and the belief is gaining ground that after all there may bo no conflict between Turkey and Russia , and therefore no danger of this local being converted into

a general European war . A number of preliminary meetings of the plenipotentiaries are being held , with , a view , no doubt , to define strictly the questions which will have to be formally decided by the Conference . Some feeling is said to have been expressed in Turkish circles at the

non-participation of the Turkish plenipotentiaries in these preliminary conferences , but this will not , we hope , bo productive of very serious results . Wo trust these bright hopes may be realised ; but unless we know the real value

of the reports that reach this country , we should not like to pin our faith to newspaper telegrams . While there is peace , there is always hope it may continue , and this we sincerely trust may be borne out in the present case .

Old Warrants.

Old Warrants .

I \ o . 47 . No . 207 , " Aucieuta ; " No . 259 at tho " Union of 1813 , " No . 184 from A . D . 1832 , and No . 158 from A . D . 1863 . ATHOL GRAND MASTER .

R . DAW S . G . W . W . DICKEY D . G . M . PETER SHATWKLL , lato G . W ., for GEORGE STEWART J . G . W . To ALL v , i : ( .:, [ IT HAY CONCERN . —WE the GRAND LODGE of tho Moat AiH'ienl : nul Honourable Fraternity of Freo and Accepted Masons ( aecoidii . r ; - to the old Constitutions granted by His Royal Hij * hne . s . s IVICJ EDWIN , at York , Anno Domini Nino Hundred

Twenty ; : m ! S : ' . ; . " . u ! in the Year of Masonry , Fonr Thousand Nine Hundred Tv , ¦ . i - : ;; . d Six ) in ample Form assembled , viz . THE RIGHT WoKSH . 'i't ¦( - ( . " : - . •! d . '¦>¦;! Noble Princo JOHN ( the 3 rd ) , Duke , Marqnis ami Earl nf TuUi ' iiu'dino ; Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle ; Viscount ol' Iial < iitid ' . 'i- , Hi ii , Jr-ioud and Glenlyon ; Lord Murray , Belveny and

Gtisk : ][¦ -. ¦! : 1 ) 1 " (' .. ptain and Constable of tho Castle and Conslabulavy oil Ki ' . 'l iven ; Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Falkland : and i-i i Vu ; part of Great Britain called England , & c . LiH . soTiienl . 'I'lriy-iction therewith belonging GRAND MASTER on M .-i . w . vs .- The ! . 'ir ; ht Worshipful William Dickey , DEFUTI GRAND MAS'ITU : The Ili- 'ht Worshipful Robert Davy , Esq ., SENIOR GRAND

WARDEN , and V . v-i Right Worshipful George Stewart , Esq ., JUNIOR GKAXD WARDEN ( with the approbation and consent of the Warranted Lodge : ) field within the Cities and Suburbs of London and Westminster ) Do hereby authorise and impower onr Trusty and Well beloved Brethreu , viz ., Tho Worshipful JOHN HAURALU one of our MASTER MASONS , The Worshipful George Allen his SENIOR WARDEN , and Tho Worshipful Jonathan West , his JUNIOR WAK . > - , to Form