Summary Of News For March.

An inaugural meeting of a . new Assurance Company , entitled the British Nation , combining all the late improvements of the young offices , was held on the 28 th , Mr . Edward Bay lis presiding , Avhen its objects Avere lucidly explained . A library and reading room is to . be attached to the office for the gratuitous use of the proprietors and assurers .

MISCELLANEOUS

A public dinner has been given to Mr . Jacob Bell to console him for his defeat , apd another to Lord Ebrington , to congratulate Mm upon his success at the late Mary- , lebone election . Tlie Freedom of Edinburgh was presented to Br . Major Nasmyth , the hero of Silistria , on the 2 nd March . Don Carlos , of Spain , died on the 10 th . At the meeting of the South Eastern Railway Company on the 15 th , the Board of

Directors was remodelled . The great highway bridge at Bristol has been destroyed by a steamer coming into collision with it . A subscription has been commenced to raise a memorial to the memory of our much lamented Br ., the late Lord Dudley Stuart , M . P . Henry Garrett , who was concerned in the late extensive bank robbery in Australia , has been arrested in London , having in his possession a considerable portion of the booty .

Obituary.

OBITUARY .

BR . BENJAMIN CHURCHILL . —We regret to announce the almost sudden death of this AA'orthy Br ., the W . M . elect of the Salopian Lodge , Shrewsbury , the melancho [ y event having taken place on the morning of the day upon Avhich he Avas to have been installed into the Master ' s Chair . Bn . THE R . EV . Ttios . G AVVNNE . —Lately , at the Alcarage , St . Ishmael , Carmarthen , aged 58 , the Rev . Thos . Gwynne , M . A . Oxon , formerly Chaplain to the P . G . L ., and a Magistrate for the County . His death Avas by no means expected , as he had performed the clerical duty at his church about three hours before he departed this life .

BR . PHILIP GRIFFITH JONES . —This worthy brother , many vears a member of Saint Peter ' s Lodge , No . 699 , Carmarthen , and W . M . for the year 1848 . Br . Jones was very highly respected by the Lodge ; he has left a Avidow ancl four daughters ; his son succeeds to his professional affairs as a solicitor , at Carmarthen . BR . HENRY VERSTON . —The brethren of the Lodge of St . Matthew , No . 786 , Walsall ,

neard with , teelmgs ol the deepest regret , on the 22 nd ot February , a rumour ot tlie unexpected death of Brother Henry A ernon , J . D . of the Lodge , which melancholy intelligence was confirmed by a letter from his uncle , Col . Vernon , li . W . P . G . M . to the AV . M . At a meeting of emergency , the same evening , a wish Avas generally expressed that , as a mark of the respect and esteem in Avhich he was held by the Lodge , a deputation should proceed to Hilton Park to ascertain if there Avould be any objection ou ihe part of his family , to some of the members paying the final sad tribute of respect to departed meritby accompanying his remains to their last home . Brs . AVood ,

, W . M . ; Thos . James , P . M . ; and the Rev . Jas . Downes , Chaplain , accordingly waited on the R . W . P . G . M ., byAvhom they . Avere most graciously and courteously received ; but he requested them to assure the brethren of 786 that , though he felt sincerely such a mark of their attention , his brother ' s wish to have the funeral conducted as privately as possible , would preclude their intention being carried into effect . At the suggestion of Br . Downes , Chaplain , the AV . M . convened a special meeting of the Lodge . ^ at which an ancient and appropriate solemn ceremony Avas conducted , and an oration

delivered by the reverend brother , which , at the unanimous request of the members present on the occasion , has been printed . The death of this estimable young brother is not only a loss to the Lodge 786 , to every member of which he had endeared himself by his amiable and noble disposition , but to the Craft in Staffordshire in general , as , during his shovt career as a Mason he evinced so much zeal , that , no doubt he Avould , in due time , have emulated the example of his revered parent and uncle , whose services to Masonry are so universally known . The late Brother Henry A ' ernon was initiated in the Lodge of St . Matthew , February 1 st , 1854 .