Our Weekly Budget.

acting as sponsor for the Empress of Russia , the other sponsors being H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , H . R . H . the Duchess of Saxe-Ooburg and Gotha ( represented by H . R . H . Princess Christian ) , H . I . H . the Cesarewitch ( represented by the Russian Ambassador ) , and H . R . H .

the Duke of Connaught , for whom Prince Leopold stood proxy . The infant Princess was christened Marie Alexandra Victoria . The ceremony was strictly private , following , as it did , immediately on the sad anniversary of the day previous . On the evening of the same dav H . R . H .

the Princess of Wales , with her children , left Marlborough House , en route for Copenhagen , where she will spend Christmas , remaining there till about the time when hei husband may be expected from India . The Duke of

Connaught has gone on a visit to our Minister in Morocco , Sir J . Drummond Hay , in order to enjoy some boar hunting , with spears , in the interior of the country . He is expected to remain for a few days .

H R . H . the Prince of Wales has at length reached Madras . After visiting Madura , where he was received with the usual demonstrations of enthusiasm , His Royal Highness set out for Trichinopoly , which he left for Madras on the 12 th , reaching the latter city the following

morning . His reception was brilliant , the Governor , Commander-in-Chief , the Chief Justice , and the native Chiefs being in attendance , awaiting his arrival at the railway station . There was also a large assembly of Europeans and natives . His Royal Highness having replied to the

address presented to him , set out for Government House , where quarters had been provided for him , passing through two dense lines of natives , who lined the route the whole distance , and who exhibited every mark of cordiality and respect . A levee was held at 1 p . m ., and the Prince ' s

bearing toward the Rajahs who were present is said to have produce d a most favourable impression on their minds . A banquet followed in the evening , followed by fireworks ,

the whole town being brilliantly illuminated . The day following , being the anniversary of his father ' s death , His Royal Highness remained in the strictest seclusion . Today he sails for Calcutta .

The Court of Queen ' s Bench has lately been the scene of a somewhat important trial , at which the Lord Chief Justice presided , and in which a Mr . Stacpoole , lately an officer in the 78 th Highlanders , sought to recover damages from Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie , who commands that

distinguished regiment , for having , by unfair treatment , driven him from the regiment . Evidence having been heard on both sides , and Counsel having severally addressed the jury , a verdict for the defendant was given , after only a few minutes' deliberation .

The Dog Show at the Alexandra Palace has proved a magnificent success . There were as many as 1 , 039 entries , including some 1 , 500 dogs , of well nigh every size and breed . There were 10 bloodhounds , in two classes , eightysix mastiffs , in five classes—two champion , and three others ,

including one for puppies—some magnificent specimens of the St . Bernard , "both rough and smooth-coated , Newfoundlands , Deerhounds , and Greyhounds . Then followed a tremendous array of Pointers ( large , medium , and small size ) , Setters ( English , black and tan , and Irish ) ,

Retrievers ( black , and others than black ) , Water Spaniels , and other varieties of Spaniel , together with a few Otter Hounds . Then followed Pox Terriers , Sheep Dogs , both rough-coated and smooth , Dalmatians , Bull Dogs , large and small , Bull-terriers , large and small , with other

varieties of Terrier , and also a numerous entry of fancy dogs , Pomeranians , Pugs , Maltese , King Charles ' s Spaniels , Blenheims , and Toy Terriers , besides nearly forty entries of puppies in two classes , sportingand non-sporting . The work of judging went on all Tuesday , and the decisions of the

judges appear to have give general satisfaction , though not a few of the exhibitors imagined they ought to have received a commended , while others , no doubt , quarrelled with tho places assigned them . Tho show was a grand

one , and included among the finest specimens of almost every variety of breed . A Black Newfoundland was marked dangerous , and people properly gave him a very wide birth . Among the exhibitors were both the Prince and Princess of Wales .

On Thursday afteruoon H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh laid the first stone of the new National Opera House , to be erected on the Victoria Embankment , A marquee had been erected for the accommodation of those invited to be present , being somewhere about 1500 in number , and the bands of the Coldstreams and the Honourable Artillery

Our Weekly Budget.

Company , with a guard of honour , were in attendance . The Duke , on his arrival , was received by Sir James Hogg , Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works , Mr . F .

FoAvler , the architect , and Mr . J . H . Mapleson , the director of the National Opera . An address to His Royal Highness having been read and responded to , the stone was laid with the usual forms and amid the cheers of those assembled .

A luncheon was afterwards given at the St . Stephen s Club , the Duke of Edinburgh proposing the toast of the occasion , namely , "Prosperity to the Grand National Opera House . " Another lunch also came off in honour of the event at Willis's Rooms . Bro . Mapleson presided , and there were

present the majority of the members of the Board of Works , with a number of ladies and other guests . This , too , passed off very successfully . Bro . Mapleson certainly has our best wishes for the success of his project . The Duke of Richmond , President of the Council , made

a long speech on Wednesday , at the annual dinner of the West Sussex and Chichester Agricultural Society . In the course of his remarks his Grace defended the policy of the Government in restricting the traffic of cattle , pointing out that it was in the power of the English local

authorities to stop all movements of cattle , when necessary in consequence of any outbreak of disease ; that in Ireland , the Orders of Council were differentl y carried out , there

being in that portion of the Kingdom but one central authority , acting under the direction of the Irish Executive . The Ministry had not thought it wise to impose more severe restrictions on the movements of cattle . His

Grace illustrated his case by quoting his own experience as one of the largest stock owners in the County of Sussex . On Wednesday was a kind of full dress rehearsal of the annual play at Westminster . The selection this year is the Andria of Terence , and , according to the accounts

published in the daily papers , the performance passed off very successfully for a first night . The dormitory where the play is acted was crowded , a considerable number of the spectators being ladies . On Thursday , the winter speeches and prize distribution came off at St . Paul ' s School . There

were present a large number of the friends of the boys , together with a pretty strong muster of old Paulines . The speeches comprised the usual selection from the Greek , Latin , French , and English Drama , with other pieces specially adapted for recitation .

Another dreadful catastrophe has lately happened at Bremerhaven , a considerable number of people having been killed and injured by an explosion of dynamite on board the Mosel ; but this is now ascertained , not to have been an accident , but a deliberate act on the part of a man named

Thompson , who has since died , but who , previous to death , confessed that he had deliberately planned the destruction of the vessel . There has also occurred a terrible colliery explosion in Belgium , by which over a hundred lives have been sacrificed . Over 120 dead bodies have been recovered

from the Swaithe Colliery . There appears to have been neglect somewhere in connection with the wreck of the Deutschland off the Kentish Coast . Though in the neighbourhood of two lightships , which signalled in the usual manner with rockets , and though it was known at Harwich

that assistance was required , none was rendered till many hours after the vessel struck the rock , and consequently more lives were lost than would have been the case had

assistance come more promptly . The loss of this vessel gave rise to a brief debate in the German Parliament , when one or two of the speakers expressed themselves somewhat bitterly .

There is news from Africa of the safe arrival , at Loind . i , of the Livingstone East Coast Expedition , under the command of Lieutenant Cameron , R . N . From a telegram frmn that officer , to Sir H . Rawlinson , President of the Royal

Geographical Society , it appears that the expedition was compelled , by adverse circumstances , to abandon the Congo route , but it followed the waterbeds lying between that river and the Zambesi .

Arrangements have been made by the Admiralty , by which Mr . Allen Young , the Arctic traveller , will communicate with Smith's Sound in the summer of 1876 , in the hope of obtaining some news of the proceedings of the Arctic Expedition under Captain Nares .

At a meeting of the Common Council held on Thursday , the question of widening London Bridge came tinder discussion . The Bridge House Estates Committee brought up their report , in which they recommended that the bridge be widened in accordance with the plan of Bro . Horace Jones , the City Architect . A long discussion followed , the result