Summary Of News For May.

MISCELLANEOUS . On the 1 st there was a lunar eclipse , when for a short time nothing but a this rict of the moon could be observed—the eclipse being very nearly total . The National Provincial Bank of England have declared a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent , per annum . On the 15 th the Paris Industrial Exhibition was opened by the Emperor . It U

not likely to be completed , however , for a month or six weeks to come . At the Annual Meeting of the National Bank of Ireland , the usual dividend al 4 per cent , was declared , together with a bonus of £ 1 on every £ 100 share , and Se . on each £ 10 share . During the month there has been an eruption of Vesuvius , which though it ks , E done great damage to the surrounding property , appears to have been regarded by the inhabitants of the neihbourhood as a grand gala got up for their amusement .

g The National Bank of Ireland at their Annual Meeting adopted a report recGisimending the continuance of the dividend at the rate of 6 per cent , per annum ., anifi hopes were held out of a speedy increase . The Crimean Medals were distributed to the officers , soldiers , sailors , and mariue ^ by Her Majesty in St . James's Park on the 17 th . There was a large concourse e £ lookers-on , who appeared deeply interested in the scene .

AMUSEMENTS OF THE MONTH

At the Royal Italian Opera Verdi ' s II Trovatore has been produced with complete success , and Mario anel Grisi have returned to the scene of their former triump hs ^ and received a welcome which their popularity could not fail to secure them . The Managers of the Royal Opera at Drury Lane failing to make it remunerative ,, Mr . Smith has taken it into his own hands , and by low prices is nightly filling tha house . Henry the Eiyhth has been produced at the Princesses with immense splendour aa < £

historical accuracy , and Mrs . Kean , after an absence of 18 months from illness , having returned to the stage , the house is nightly crowded . : " Still Waters run deep , " a new Comedietta , has been produced at the Olympic and promises to hold its place in the bills for some time to come . Opera supported by Sims Reeves , his cara sposa , Mr . and Mrs . AVeiss , & c , has proved highly successful at the Haymarket ; and on the 28 th , Miss Faucit made her first appearance for the season in the Lady of Lyons .

The Lyceum opened for a series of farewell performances by Madame Anna Thillon ,, but the lady was very indifferently supported and the house is now closed , Cremorne , the Surrey Zoological Gardens , and other places of amusement , put forth attractive bills of fare for Whitsuntide , but the weather was not so propitious ss could have been desired .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

The season of Freemasonry , at least so far as London is concerned , maybe said ts have closed with the past month—a circumstance which in some measure accounts fee the crowded state of our pages , and compels us to offer our apologies to many of ova valued correspondents for the omission of their communications , and to our readers for once more being compelled to postpone the continuation of " Brotherly Love , " which we hope to conclude in one or two more numbers . AVe are sure the importance of the news of the past month will be a sufficient justification for the space we have allotted to it—wid to do justice to whichwe have enlarged our usual by 8

, space pagec Our Brethren in Ireland and Scotland are earnestly entreated to favour us earijwith the Masonic doings in their various districts . A . P . says , " Will you inform me what step is to be taken in obtaining an admission into the Girls' School of an orphan girt of a Freemason . The Lodge held in the town of BraifarS . does not subscribe . Is this child ineligible on that account ?" A form of amdkalion ts £ & s