Our Weekly Budget.

Orton , Mrs . Jury , and Mrs . Tredgett , stating that Arthur Orton is not their brother . —I am , Sir , your obedient servant , A . F . 0 . Liddle . To Anthony Biddulph , Esq ., J . P .

Our interest in foreign news is chiefly directed to the Eastern question . As we have already stated , Count Andrassy's note to the Porte will be presented with the concurrence of all the Great Powers . The presentation will take place early next month , and its acceptance by the Porte is considered certain . The three Northern Powers

will present identical notes , not a collective one , as had been expected in some quarters . As to the insurrection which has given rise to the present disturbed state of affairs , if we are to accept the reports which have reached this country , the insurgents have inflicted some rather

serious losses on the Turks . In Servia , things look ugly for Prince Milan , who is said to be anxious to retire ancl live on his wife's estates in Bessarabia . Anything for a quiet life . Prince Milan will enjoy himself more in seclusion than in his capital of Belgrade , He has no money , ancl half the officers

in the army are said to be disaffected . From Bucharest we hear of a dastardly attempt having been made to assassinate the Roumanian Prime Minister , who was slightly wounded in the lower part of his face . The perpetrator , who appears to have been dismissed the Government Service for

embezzlement , has been arrested . The Chamber of Deputies , on hearing of the attempt , at once passed a vote of sympathy with the President , and of regret that the attack on him should have been made . The elections to the Spanish Cortes have resulted in an overwhelming majority for the

Government of King Alphonso . It is believed the opposition will be very inconsiderable in point of numbers , there being only three Republicans , three Radicals , about from 35 to 40 Constitutionalists , from 15 to 20 Neo-Catholic Moderados , and some 35 to 40 others , who will give a

general support to the Government , but not on the questman of religion . As to the war , there has been a considerable amount of fighting , ancl the Royal Troops are said to have gained some successes , but as to the nature ancl extent of such successes , we have , as yet , no means of

forming any opinion . Tho Carlist General Elio is reported to be dead . In France the election of Senatorial Delegates has gone in favour of the Conservatives . Arrangements are being made by the railway companies for the conveyance of these elected Delegates to the chief

towns of the departments , where they are to elect members of the Senate . We shall then be in a position to judge whether the above rumour about the recent victory of the Conservatives is true or not . There is news of more fighting in Perak , with the usual result ; the Malays were

put to flight , but the chief offenders , those who are believed to have instigated the murder of Mr . Birch , have not yet fallen into our hands . Altogether there has been much to excite the public mind on the Continent , nor can we say matters look quite as satisfactory as we could wish .

The Quarterly Convocation of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons will be held at Freemasons ' Hall , on Wednesday , 2 nd February , at 7 p . m .

A Grano Council of Kmghts , Iv . H . o 0 ° , will be held at the Masonic Hall , Golden-square , on Thursday , 10 th February , at 4 . 45 p . m .

We have been much gratified by the inspection of the very ornate summons , banquet ticket , menu card , ancl programme of Music issued by the Lodge of Prudent Brethren , No . 145 , on the occasion of their 101 st installation meeting and centenary festival , the proceedings of

which are chronicled elsewhere in our pages . The designs do infinite credit to the Lodge , and , we trust , herald a revival of artistic taste in these particulars . The Summons , in gold ancl colours , is headed by a charmingly grouped shield of Masonic emblems , somewhat resembling

those designed by Hogarth lor the old P . M . jewel of the Grand Stewards' Lodge . The banquet ticket exhibits , in gold , scarlet , ancl purple , the arms of the Ancient Masons , in use before the Union , with a crest in silver . The menu

and toast card is bordered with a classical design upon light blue , and the programme , similarly bordered , is so arranged as to fold in half over this , lozenge wise , to represent the flap , whilst the former resembles the body of a Masonic apron . Hitherto , the Lodges in some cities

of the United States have been far before us in England , as regards the elegance of these accessories to our festivals , which confer an additional grace upon tho

proceedings , and are preserved as worthy and delightful mementos of pleasant hours , when the hard facts of life in the outside world have been lost sight of in " tho feast of reason and tho flow of soul . "

The New Cross Lodge , No . 1559 , will meet at 5 o ' clock this clay , Saturday , at the New Cross Hall , Lowisham Road , for the purpose of consecration ancl installation of

the W . M . Bro . Jas . Terry , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , is the consecrating officer , and he will be assisted by Bro . the Rev . G . P . P . Colles , P . P . G . C . Oxon , as Chaplain , ancl Bro . W . Kipps as Organist .

The brethren of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1056 , which meets at the Portugal Hotel , Fleet Street , ancl of which Bro . J . R . Stacey P . M . is the Preceptor , will visit the brethren of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction ,

No . 1507 , at the Metropolitan Club , 2 G 9 Pentonville Road , on Friday next . Bro . Stacey will work the fifteen sections , assisted by the brethren , and a very instructive evening may be expected .

Our esteemed Bro . Adams purposes holding his Annual Private Ball at Willis ' s Rooms , King Street , St . James ' s , on Tuesday , the 1 st prox . Dancing will commence at 9 p . m ., and to judge from the programme , a copy of which has been sent to us , there will be ample scope for the

enjoyment of those who may be present . The music , which is always so important a feature at these gatherings , will be of excellent quality , as it will be Bro . Adams ' s own band to which the dancers trip " the light fantastic " on the occasion . The prices of tickets are as follow : —Double

tickets admitting lady and gentleman , or two ladies , a guinea ; single ticket ( lady ) half-a-guinea , single ditto ( gentleman ) twelve shillings . These include tea , coffee , light drinks , ancl supper . We wish Bro . Adams all the success he so fully deserves .

The St . James ' s Union Lodge will hold its 14 th annual ball on Thursday , 10 th of February , at Freemasons' Hall , in aid of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Lodge . Ladies' tickets ten shillings , ancl gentlemen ' s fifteen shillings each . Bros . Coote and Tinney ' s band will attend . The following brethren have consented to act as stewards : —

Bros . W . C . Parsons , I . P . M ., President , A . W . Staden , V . P ., G . Bubb , P . M ., Treasurer , L . B . Pillon , S . W ., Hon . Sec , E . H . Harison , E . Farwig , J . Miles , H . A . Stacey P . M ., R . Richards , I . Wood , A . Hays , H . W . Baker , H . C . Sharp , A . Aunett S . W ., W . Stollard , F . A . Hussey , I . Atkin , J . H . Stacey , A . Pinto Leite , & c .

On Wednesday next the Fifteen Sections will be worked , in the Duke of Connaught Lodge of Instruction , No . 1524 . This Lodge of Instruction meets at the Havelock Tavern , Albion Road , Dalston , under the preceptorship of Bro . Gilchrist . On this occasion Bro . Marx Gross will preside , and the attendance of brethren is solicited .

At the meeting of the Burdett Coutts Lodge , No . 1278 , held on Friday last , Bro . W . J . Crutch WM . presiding , a very interesting presentation was made to Bros . Terry ancl Verry , in acknowledgment of their services in connection with the presentation last summer to the Lodge by the

Baroness Burdett Coutts of three handsome chairs . These brethren had had entrusted to them the superintendence of the manufacture of the chairs , Bro . Terry having been the first W . M . of the Lodge , and Bro . Verry being the Secretary . This superintendence ancl the preparation necessary

for the ceremony , had entailed a considerable amount of time and labour , ancl in recognition of their services , the Lodge determined to present a splendid silver Epergue to Bro . Terry , ancl a Massive Gold P . M . ' s aud Secretary ' s Jewel to Bro . Verry . Accordingly , the regular business of

the Lodge having been disposed of , Bro . Crutch rose , and formally presented these tokens of the Lodge ' s appreciation of their labours , expressing himself highly pleased that it should have devolved upon him to be the mouth piece of the Lodge on this occasion . Bros . Terry and Verry made