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likewise , is raising its own fund , and has already remitted £ 15 , 000 to Madras . Nothing farther has been learnt as to the terrible collision which occurred last week in the Channel . Only a few bodies have been recovered , and the usual inquest ia

being held , but the danger to navigation from the floating hall of the Forest , which stands np endwise some twenty feet out of the water , is very great . Several attempts have been made to get rid of this obstruction , but up to Thurs : day afternoon without effect , though H . M . S . Defence and

several torpedoes had been sent out by the Admiralty with a view to sinking it . Torpedoes and powder bags , however , made not the slightest impression . If wo cannot

destroy a wreck which cannot fire a broadside in return , how will our ships of war fare on the day of battle , when they can be fired at in return for any similar compliments they may pay their adversaries .

The theatrical profession has lost , in Mr . Henry Comp . ton , one of its most respected members , one , who if he did not stand in the very foremost rank , was one of the ablest and most natural of dry humourists . Mr . Compton , or to mention his proper name , Mr . Mackenzie , was born in 1812 ,

and was , therefore , sixty-five years of age at the time of his decease . He was best known in such characters as Touchstone , & c , & o . He retired from the stage early in the current year , and a farewell benefit , which was a brilliant success , was given him . Her Majesty had likewise sent

him privately a donation of £ 50 , but during the few months that have elapsed since then , his state of health had been gradually growing worse and worse , till last week all hope of his recovery was gone . Lovers of the drama will miss in Mr . Compton a most perfect actor , and society a most respected and respectable member .

The chief interest of the week has been directed to wai

and political news from abroad . Marshal MacMahon s tour in the Provinces of France has been brought to an end , and he has returned to Paris , very far from pleased , it is said , with the result of his journey . As in this country there is no knowing what may happen from day to day , it

were useless to think of predicting the probable course events will take , but we cannot think the Marshal President has a bed of roses to repose on . To be talked and shouted at wherever he goes must be most uncomfortable ; and then to feel that if he had only left M . Jules Simon in office , he

would have been enjoying perfect peace , and taking part in the sport to which he is known to be so partial ! However , he has no doubt acted conscientiously in all he has done , but whether he has acted wisely seems questionable . Of the Gambetta prosecution we hear nothing exciting at

present , nor are we as yet near enough to judge of the result of the approaching elections . Prince Bismarck and County Andrassy have met at Saltzburg , and no doubt discussed the difficulties of the Eastern question . Every one , of course , will be on the qui vive during the next few clays , to

learn what the result will be of this conference , whether it will have a tendency to protract or to shorten the war , whether it will lead to intervention or mediation ; in short , whether anything or nothing will be the outcome of it . From Pesth we hear of a semi-official announcement that

neither Germany nor Austro-Hungary will take the initiative as regards intervention between the combatant powers , till one or other of them demands such a step . The same announcement says that the Cabinet of Vienna has reason to feel every satisfaction at the present situation arising

out of the Turkish victories . Meanwhile the greatest excitement prevails in Hungary , the people everywhere manifesting the most intense joy over the victories of the

Sultan ' s troops . It is evident from this that any attempt at intervention on the part of Austria would be fraught with extreme clanger to herself , not so much from without as from within .

The news from the seat of war in Bulgaria has been terrible during the past week . The Russians have made another supreme effort to capture Plevna . The operations commenced on the 11 th inst . in the presence of the Czar himself , his brother the Grand Duke Nicholas being in

chief command . After a four day ' s cannonade of Plevna and the Turkish redoubts that encircle it , several column ? of infantry advanced to the assault , the Grivica redoubt being the special object against which the Russo-Roumanian

forces directed their efforts . But the Turks were quite prepared , and as the Russians came within short range , poured upon them a most terrible fire , which swept the whole lines away . Again and again the attempt was made

and defeated j at length General Skobeleff in one direction ,

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and the Roumanians m another , managed to obtain possession , the latter of the Grivica , and the former of two outlying redoubts . But the Russians were not long allowed to remain in possession of the latter . Osman Pasha soon

led his troops against the captured strongholds , and at length in the sixth assault succeeded in driving the Russians out . It is announced by the Grand Duke Nicholas himself that as the result of all this terrible fighting the Russians have sustained losses to the extent of 300 officers

and 12 , 500 men , while the Roumanian loss is 60 officers and 3 , 000 men , or , together 16 , 000 killed and wounded . There are reports of other engagements in the same neighbourhood , and the Roumanians—who still hold the great Grivica redoubt—have failed in an attempt to carry another position .

As to the rumoured defeat of the Russians along the whole line , there does not appear to be any truth in it . For the Shipka pass there has been more fighting . For a short time Suleiman Pasha held Fort St . Nicholas , but tbe Russians

were reinforced , and he was compelled to retire . Mehemet Ali is slowly advancing , and a great battle in the neighbourhood is expected shortly . From Asia , little or nothing ; and so ends our tale for the week .

The annual gathering of the Provincial Grand Lodge for North and East Yorkshire has , we understand , been fixed to take place at Richmond , under the banner of the Lennox Lodge , No . 123 , on Wednesday , the 3 rd proximo . Efforts are being made to provide special train accommodation for the brethren who attend .

A meeting of the Prov . Priory ( K . T . ) of West Yorkshire , was held yesterday , at the Freemasons' Hall , Sheffield , under the banner of the De Furnival Preceptory . A report will appear in our next .

From New Zealand we have a few items of interest to record : — There was an unusually large meeting of Companions of the Royal Arch Chapter , No . 348 , 1 . C ., and visitors on Tuesday evening , 17 th July , ab the Masonic Hall , Princes-street , Auckland , the business being the installation of officers . Ten representatives of the Hauraki

R . A . C . from tbe Thames were in attendance . Comp . E . T . Wildman P . K ., of the Thames , assisted by Comps . XV . Climo P . K ., and R . M . Mitchell P . K ., also of the Thames , officiated as installing officers . Comp . VV . Lodder was placed in tho chair of first Principal , Comp . XV . R . Robinson in the second chair , and Comp . A . Brock in the third chair ; Comp . J . H . Burns was invested as C . H . and M . E ., Comp . H .

G . Wade as Registrar and Treasurer , Comp . the Rev . C . M . Nelson as R . A . C ., Comps . Dawson , Niccol , and Dyer severally as C . V . ' s , and Porter Janitor . The Chapter was beautifully decorated , and tho ceremonies were very successfully conducted by the P . K . ' s and Principals of the Hauraki ( Thames ) Chapter , No . 45-1 , 1 . C . Masons will understand the unusual character of the gathering , when we say that

no fewer than twelve principals took part in tho installation . Tho attendance of so many members from tho Thames tended materially to the success of the proceedings . After the installation , a recherche banquet was provided by host Hood , of the Masonic Hotel , in tho large dining-room . It was evident from the quality aud quantity of tho viands that host Hood had determined that the reputation of the hotel

should not sufler in his hands . About thirty sat down at table , and ample justice was done to the good things provided . While the ban . quet was in progress , the Chapter-room was cleared , and dessert spread in it . The Chapter and visitors adjourned upstairs , and a very agreeable evening was passed , with toasts , songs , & c . When onr advices were penned ( 1 st August 1877 ) , the Auckland

brethren English Constitution were feeling very jubilant at the news received by telegraph that the Auckland District had been formed , and that Bro . G . S . Graham had received the appointment of District Grand Master . In reference to the inauguration of a Provincial Grand Lodge for Auckland , under the Scottish Constitution , Bro . T . L . Murray , R . W . M . of the Lodge Sir Walter Scott , Thames , has

received a communication from Bro . D . Murray Lyon , the new Grand Secretary , informing him that the Grand Lodge had , at thoir Qnarterly Communicatioa , held on 7 th May , unanimously appointed Bro . h \ Whitaker to the office of Prov . Grand Master of the North Island of New Zealand , and that his commission would be forwarded without

delay . A plan was on foot for having the installations of the two District Grand Masters held on the same day , and having a Grand Masonic gathering . There is further talk of the building of a Masonic Hall in Auckland , and this time there seems a probability of the idea being carried out , in spite of the hard times in which the colony seems to be plunged .

HOLLOWAY ' S 0 : NTHENT AND PILLS . —Rheumatism and gout . These purifying and soothing remedies demand the earnest attention of all persons liable to rheumatism , gout , sciatica , or other painful affections of the muscles , nerves , or joints . The Ointment should lie applied after the affected parts have been Kitienily fomented with warm water , when the unguent should be diligently

rubbed upon tho adjacent skin , unless the friction should cause pain . Holloway's Pills should be simultaneously taken to reduce inflammation and to purify the blood . This treatment abates the violence , and lessens the frequency of ? out , rheumatism , and all spasmodic diseases which spring from hereditary predispo ; i , ion , or from any accidental weakness of constitution . The Ointment ) checks the local malady ; the Pills preserve the vital power ,