Our Weekly Budget.

ment . Her Majesty entrusted this duty to certain Loyal Commissioners , to wit the Lord Chancellor , the Duke of Kichmond aud Gordon , the Marquis of Hertford , Earl Beauchamp , and Lord Skelmersdale . With the contents of this important state address our readers are already

familiar . It will be enough , therefore , if AVO state that both Houses , after the speech had been delivered , adjourned and met again at their usual hour , when the address was duly moved and seconded in both . In the Lords the other speakers were Earl Granville , the Prime

Minister , the Duke of Argyll , and tho Marquis of Salisbury , after which the address was agreed to . In the Commons , when the real interest of the meeting was over , that is ,

when the Marquis of Hartington , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and Mr . Gladstone had spoken , an amendmend was proposed by Mr . M . Henry , which is of no interest whatever . Nevertheless it caused the debate to

be adjourned . Cabinet Councils were held on Satui'day , Monday , Tuesday , and Wednesday , a fact of sufficient significance , as showing how grave is the crisis through which we are now passing . On Monday , the Earl of Derby , who has

been confined to his house by indisposition , was absent . On Tuesday the Council Avas to have been held at the noble Earl ' s residence in St . James ' s-square , but counter-orders

were issued at the last moment , and it Avas held as usual at the Prime Minister ' s official residence in DoAvning-street . On this occasion three other members of the Cabinet wereabsent , by reason of their being at Osborne , as already stated .

During the few days that remained before Parliament Avas opened , a very considerable number of members of the Commons House addressed their constituents or Avere present at important meetings , and Avithout a single exception they severally spoke on the Eastern Question , the Liberals

in opposition to any departure from , and the Conservatives in support of , the policy of the Government , so far as such policy is knoAvn . Messrs . Bright , Muntz , and

Chamberlain at Birmingham , Messrs . Holmes and Fawcett in Hackney , Sir C . Dilke at Chelsea , and others , Avere in favour of peace . Sir C . Russell M . P ., at the annual meeting of the London and Westminster Working Men ' s

Constitutional Association , Avith Captain Pirn , M . P ., spoke at some length , and a resolution of entire confidence in the Earl of Beaconsfield Avas passed unanimously . At Manchester , at a meeting in the Town Hall , convened by the Mayor , the Bishop of the diocese and the Roman Catholic Bishop of

Salford were both present and spoke , the former moving a resolution in favour of strict neutrality , while the latter moved an amendment in favour of neutrality as far as the honour and interests of the country will permit . There was immense confusion during the Avhole of the meeting ,

but though the opposition was poAverful , the resolution was carried . On Wednesday two meetings Avere held at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , and Exeter Hall , respectively . At the former , the Hon . and Rev . W . H . Fremantle presided , the object of the gathering being to promote the free

navigation of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus , and to protest against any attempt to maintain the present conditions affecting these Straits by force of arms . Mr . Mundella presided at the latter , and Avas supported by several felloAv Liberal members of Parliament It is needless

to say the resolutions Avere carried at both meetings . There have been Home Rule meetings and a demonstration in favour of the four released Fenian prisoners in Dublin since Ave last Avrote . The latter took placein honour of the released

Fenians , Avho Avere met on landing at Kingston by a large concourse of people , and conducted in procession through the leading thoroughfares of the city to the European Hotel . The excitement of the occasion has been attended

Avith fatal results in the case of Sergeant McCarthy , Avho had been attended for heart disease Avhen in prison , and Avho expired suddenly on Tuesday morning at a Dublin hotel , Avhither he had gone in order to breakfast Avith Mr . Parnell M . P . As to the Home Rulers , there Avas a private

conference of the members composing this section of the House of Commons , to the number of about thirty . The result is that Mr . Butt remains the leader of the party , and it Avas agreed to move an amendment to the Queen ' s Speech to the effect that Irish business should have its

proper share of attention from Parliament . Ou Monday and Tuesday a conference of the Home Rule League was held in the Rotunda , Avhen a large number of delegates and M . P . ' s Avere present . The resolutions agreed to on Saturday "were accepted , and others > vere passed having reference to the policy and management of tho party .

Our Weekly Budget.

The grief that is felt throughout Italy at the death of King Victor Emmanuel is most intense , all parties expressing their sympathy with the Royal Family , aud vieiug Avith each other in their praise of the deceased monarch , the

first Avho reigned over a re-united country , in Avhich patriotic Avork he , as became a gallant Sovereign , Avas always the central figure . Tho funeral Avas fixed for Thursday , but the account of this last sacred office that can bo rendered

him Avill necessarily be reserved for our next issue . The lying-in-state Avas Avitnessed by thousands , and the number of societies which had requested to be present in the Pantheon on the day of the funeral is said to be little short of 2800 . Nor are the regrets for the premature death of the King of

Italy confined to that party . The other States m Europe havo expressed their sorrow and sympathy , and most of them sent representatives—Germany its Crown Prince , Austria-Hungary , the Archduke Regnier , France , Marshal Canrobert , and Her Majesty , tbe Earl of Roden .

In consequence of the sad event just referred to , the marriage of the King of Spain with his cousin , the Infanta Mercedes , daughter of the Duke de Montpesier , has been postponed till the 2 nd February . Tho bride designate has

already won the hearty goodwill of the Spaniards by her disinterestedness in having it declared in the Cortes , in her name , that she Avould not accept the usual allowance to which she will be entitled as Queen .

The crisis in the East is daily assuming more gigantic proportions , and it is difficult to say Avhat Avill be the upshot of the present involved state of affairs . There seems no reason to doubt that Russia means to do her utmost to " smash "

her adversary , for notAvithstanding the Sultan has sent commissioners to arrange an armistice , and the terms of a durable peace , the Russian generals continue to advance their troops nearer to Adrianople , their object evidently being to be in a position to exact the

severest terms possible . This was someAvhat different from the moderation Avhich the Czar displayed in his conversation Avith Lord Loftus at Yalta , as reported by the latter . Then there was no idea of territorial aggrandizement , DOAV it is difficult to know what

Turkey Avill have left . So much for the negotiations . The fighting continues , and the Turks have lost Nish to tho Servians and Antivari to the Montenegrins . There haa also been a battle on a large scale near Philippopolis , Suleiman Pacha being in command of the Turks . In Asia the latter have been defeated near Baiburt . The

only set off against these serious disasters is the destruction , to a greater or less extent , of houses and property , and the loss of lifo caused by the bombardment of Eupatoria , Theodosia , and Yalta . As to the state of the Roumalians the IICAVS is of the most horrible character ,

thousands and thousands of families flying , foodless and shelterless , in the direction of Constantinople . So Avrites Mr . Layard to the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , and the same story comes from other sources . Numbers of these poor

people die by the way . So it is Avith the poor prisoners who are being sent to their several destinations and are dying like flies . Yet this war is being waged in the cause of Christianity and humanity .

At the Stated Communication of the M . W . Grand Lodge of Ireland , held at Dublin , on St . John ' s Day , the 27 th day of December A . D . 1877 , A . L . 5877 , the following brethren Avere proclaimed and saluted as Grand Officers for the year 1878 : —

His Grace Tho Duke of Abercorn , K . G . as Grand Master . Eobert William Shekleton , Q . C . a 3 Deputy Grand Master . The Marquess of ITeadfot'fc , D . L . as Senior Grand Warden . Lord Dunboyne , D . L . as Junior Grand Warden . Robert Warren , D . L . as Grand Treasurer .

Tho Earl of Baiulon , as Grand Secretary . Rev . John J . Macaorloy " i as Grand Rt . JIou . and Most Rev . Lord Plankct , Bishop of Meath j Chaplains . Alderman Joseph Manning , J . P . as Senior Grand Deacon . Theophilus E . St . George as Junior Grand Deacon .

George A . Stephenson , J . P . aa Grand Superintendent of Works . Georgo Movers , Lii . D , J . P . as Grand Director of Ceremonies , tlarrv Hodges , as Grand Steward .

Humphrey Minchiu , M . B . as Grand Sword Bearer , Charles 0 . Graudison , as Graud Organist . James Creed Meredith , LL . D . aa Grand Inner Guard . Samuel B , Oldham , as Deputy Grand Secretary aud Treasurer ,