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very varied in character , consisting of bouts at single stick , and with the gloves , sabre v . bayonet , fencing , Indian club exercise , in which one of the performers handled 40 lb clubs with singular ease , Cumberland

wrestling , feats of swordsmanship , such as cutting an apple in two on a man ' s hand , cleaving a bar of lead , & c , & c . The attendance was considerable , and the success of the meeting undoubted .

At Versailles , t ' no third reading of the Electoral Bill makes somewhat slow progress . However , the principle of the Bill has been accepted , and , in a short time , no doubt , it will become the law of the land . M . Paul de Cassagnac , on Tuesday evening , addressed a private

meeting of Buonapartists , who were present to the number of three thousand , at—of all quarters of Paris—Belleville . The meeting , according to all accounts , appears to have been very successful , and M . Paul de Cassagnac was very happy in some of the blows he delivered at the Republican

party . There is a Press Bill to be discussed in the Legislative Assembly , and this , no doubt , will give rise to many exciting debates . From Vienna we hear that Cardinal Rauscher , Prince Archbishop of that See , died on Wednesday . The news from Spain resembles much the news

received for some weeks past . The final campaign against the Carlists is about to be undertaken , and , of course , Carlism is on the point of being annihilated . But the event that inspires pretty general distrust throughout Europe is the critical state of things in Turkey . The

insurgents in the Herzegovina appear to have gained one or two pretty substantial successes over the Turks . We hear rumours of Servia preparing for war in the coming spring , and of the assembling of six thousand Montenegrins , with a view , no doubt , of having a

finger in the present troubles . No doubt the Great Powers are earnest in their endeavours to maintain the peace , and the Sultan may possibly be induced to grant the desired refonus , provided , of course , there is no appearance of external pressure having been brought to bear on

His Majesty . If concerted action is taken , we may anticipate that peace will be preserved ; but the present aspect of things is , to say the least , ticklish . The situation of affairs at Perak , in the Malayan Peninsula , has not materially altered . The Malays , it is true , have been driven out of one

or more stockades , but the murder of the British Resident , Mr . Birch , is very far from being avenged . However , troops are being sent to the seat of disturbance , and no doubt we shall soon hear that a just retribution has overtaken the offenders . Another of those notabilities , who have played

no despicable part m the world ' s history , has passed away . The ex-Duke of Modena , who was expelled his Duchy by the events that followed the war of 1859 , died last Saturday . Up to the very last moment of his life the Duke looked forward to being restored to power , but this was

not to be . He was possessed of great wealth , and it is said he supplied a great part of the money which has enabled the Carlists and the French Legitimists to play so

considerable a part during the last few years . There is a talk , by the way , of the Ex-Queen of Spain returning to Madrid , but we imagine this will hardly strengthen the throne of her son , King Alphonso .

The regular meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held on Thursday , the 25 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , Bro . Lieutenant Colonel Creaton , V . P ., in the Chair . Bro . Robert Wentworth Little , Secretary , read the minutes of

the various special reports of the several Committees , and of the General Quarterly Court , which were confirmed . Bro . Benjamin Head proposed that the special report of the House Committee bo adopted , which was carried . Four petitions were accepted for children to be

placed on the list of candidates , while one was deferred . A sum of £ 10 was collected to give Miss Giller for her outfit . The meeting was then adjourned . There were present

Bros . Hyde Pullen , A . H . Tattershall , B . Head , Griffith Smith , R , B . Webster , W . Wellsmau , II . Massey , W . Paas , F . Massa , L . Ruf , Dr . Ramsey Kenyon , W . Joii ^ s , H . A . Dubois , H . Diaper , H . M . Lew .

Bro . J . L . Toole , on his return from America , has , at the Gaiety Theatre , been received iJ-htly with a perfect ovation . His success in America is .. ell known ; there he has ' icon received with tokens of esteem , from our American friends , and also by the President of the United States .

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The highest officials in Canada have also accorded him the right hand of fellowship , with expressions of personal regard as a friend and talented actor . A Canadian contemporary has the following passage , " Mr . Toole , who has won such fame on both sides of the Atlantic , by his

performances , has been the delight of thousands of the best classes of our citizens . Accomplished artists like Mr . Toole are not like blackberries , found in every hedge , and with this conviction , only too . forcibly impressed on us , we cannot but lament the eavly departure of this brilliant and accomplished comedian . "

We are gratified in being ab ' e to report the initiation of Capt . Matthew Webb , in the Neptune Lodge , No . 22 , at Guildhall Tavern , on Thursdav .

Bro . Sheriff Breffit has been elected on the Court of Assistants of the Coopers' Company .

Bro . Henry Gabb P . M . New Concord Lodge , 813 , of the Rosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton , Past Governor of the Incorporated Society of Licensed Victuallers , and Past Chairman of the Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society , has been elected as Chairman for the ensuing year of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum .

Bro . Geo . Abbott , Past Master of the Lion and Lamb Lodge , has been presented with a veiy valuable gold watch and chain , and a very elegantly emblazoned testimonial , on vellum , by the members of the Railway Guards' Universal Friendly Society , as a token of respect , and also for his ability in discharging his duties as chairman for five years .

New Freemasons' Hall For Stockton.

NEW FREEMASONS' HALL FOR STOCKTON .

THE usual ceremony of laying tho foundation-stono of a Freemasons' Hall , iu Wellington-street , almost immediately opposite tho Hall at present used hy that body , was conducted with Masonic honours . Not having been pnblicly annouueed , there was not a large assembly ; but , nevertheless , a goodly companj " , of which the fair sex formed the larger portion , and they were accommodated with a

platform overlooking the proceedings . The duty of laying tho stone devolved upon tho Worshipful Master , Bro . James Usher , assisted by the Wardens and Brethren of the Lodge of Philanthropy , No . 940 ; Bro . C . E . Naish W . M ., and brethren of the Tees Lodge , No . 509 ; Bro . li . S . Hopper W . M ., and brethren of tho Lodge of Fraternity No . 1118 ; and other brethren from Lodges in tho Provinces of Durham

and Yorkshire . The ai-chitects arc Bros . Wetherall and Moses ; the builders , Bros . J . F . Craggs and Mr . Benson ; the director of ceremonies , Bro . A . S . Fowler P . M . P . S . G . D . ; Scerotary , Bro . I . H . Hart . The procession having arrived at a proper distance from the site , it halted , the brethren opening out right and left , leaving room for tho Master to pass up the centre , Preceded by the Inner Guard and

brethren following m succession from the rear , thus inverting tho order of procession . On the Worshipful Master arriving at tho stone tho upper portion was raised , whereupon the Chaplain ( the Itev . Bro . Trotter , of Haverton Hill ) , repeated a prayer . The Mayor of Stockton ( Bro . John liunton ) , Treasurer of the Lodge , then deposited in the cavity of the stone a phial , containing various

coins oi her Majesty the Queen Victoria s reign , copies of the newspapers of the day , and a parchment scroll containing a record of tho ceremony . After making a few remarks on the necessity for the new building , tho trowel was then handed to tho Worshipful Master by Bro . A . C . Knowles P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., and the former then spread the cement on the lower stone , when the upper one was immediately

put down upon it . The stone was then adjusted by Bro . A . S . Fowler with the plumb rule , Bro . T . Bradley using the level , and Bro . Smith tho square . The Worshipful Master having given the three taps with the mallet , poured the wine and oil and strewed the corn over tho atone , the Chaplain repeating a prayer . The implements were next delivered by the Worshipful Master to the builder for his use , and the plan and elevation of the building being presented to the Worshipful Master

for his inspection , after approving of the same , delivered them to the architect ( Bro . Moses ) for his guidance . —Bro . J . Usher W . M ., then addressed the assembly , and three cheers were given , on the call of the Worshipful Master , for " The Queen , " " The Grand Master of England , " " Bro . John Fawcett , Provincial Grand Master , " " Th ; Ladies , " & c . A collection , according to ancient custom , having bee * . made for the workmen , tho procession re-formed and returned to the Freemasons' Hall , and sat down to a baucraet .

CtxJB HOUSE PLATI ^ G AUDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , 14 a per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per rack , lis per dozen packs . If by post 1-Jd per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , Beziijuo , Ecarte , & c , Mogul Quality lOd per pack . As per dozen packs . —London : W . W . Altrarnn , ' 67 ; Barbican , E . C ,