Summary Oe 2tews For 'Atjgf8t.

Eastern , 2 \ per cent . ; jfcuth . Eastern , 9 s . 6 d . per £ 30 . share ; Eastern Counties , 2 s . per share ; Midland , 4 per cent . ; Lancaster and Carlisle , 7 \ per cent . ; Great Northern , If per cent , on . the . original stock and 3 | per cent , on the B Stock ; Bristol and Exeter , A \ per cent . ; Ambergate and Nottingham , 2 s . 6 d . per per share .

On the 7 th , the London and County Bank held its meeting ; the dividend declared was 5 per cent , for the half-year , leaving a balance of 10 , 819 Z . to be carried to the next account . The Southampton Dock Company met on the 27 th , and declared a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent , per annum . The General Screw Steam Navigation Company is being wound up , and the vessels are for sale .

PBOYIDENT . We have to report this month some interesting news with respect to life assurance bodies . The "English and Cambrian " Life Assurance Societ y * 'has changed its appellation to 'ItheCommercial , " an excellent change . Amalgamation appears to be in high favour with the shareholders of even successful assurance bodies . For instance , the " Eagle" and the " Palladium , " the "Medical , Legal , and General , " and the "New Equitable ¦ * Officeswhich had

, earned a large amount of public support , have been completely amalgamated ; and at the special meetings , held for that purpose during the last few days , not a dissentient voice was raised against the conjunction of these bodies ; indeed , on the contrary , the proposition may be said to have been " carried with acclamation . " The Deposit , " the name of which has been often before the public , and generally in an unfavourable light , has concluded an alliance with the " City of London Assurance Society " about the best thing the directors could do .

MISCELLANEOUS . The freedom of the city of London and a magnificent sword has been presented to Sir Wm . Williams of Kars . The celebrated actress , Madame Vestris , died on the 9 th , aged 59 , having long suffered from cancer . On the 10 th , the Eight Eev . Dr . Charles Earing , who has been appointed Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol , and the Eight Rev . Dr . Henry J . C . Harper , who has been appointed Bishop of Christohurch , New Zealand , were consecrated in the private chapel of Lambeth Palace .

The long vacation— -the holiday of lawyers and unfortunate debtors—commenced on the 11 th . It will close on 24 th October . The long-vaunted dinner to the Guards came off at the Surrey Gardens on the 25 th . About 2 , 000 men sat down to the entertainment , which certainly did no credit to the providers , either for quantity or quality . The will of the Eight Eev . the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol was sworn under £ 140 , 000 personality ; the Hon . Eachel Ramsey , of Cheltenham , £ 20 , 000 ; Sir Jeffery Prendergasfc , £ 16 , 000 ; Sir Alexander Crichton , £ 7 , 000 within the

province ; Mr . Charles Shaw , of the Stock Exchange and Myddleton-square , £ 12 , 000 ; Mrs . Anna Shaw , of Baker-street , £ 10 , 000 ; the Eev . James Ellis , of Clothall , Herts , £ 90 , 000 ; the Eev . E , Lyon , D . D ., of Bishop ' s Caimdle , £ 25 , 000 ; Eev . E . W . Estcourt , M . A ., of Long New ^ ton , £ 20 , 000 ; Eev . G . G . Townley , D . C . L ., £ 10 , 000 ; Mr . John Wilkinson , of Leeds , £ 50 , 000 within the province of Canterbury ; Mr . E . V . Hooper , of Islington , £ 60 , 000 ; Mr . W . Evans , of Chelsea , £ 6 * 0 , 000 ; Mr . J . C . Chaplain , Elms , Tunhridge , £ 10 , 000 . The will of Sir Edwark Tierney , of Dublin , was proved first in Ireland under £ 60 , 000 , and since in England under £ 45 , 000 within the province of Canterbury .

Freemasons in the East . —A correspondent from Belgrade ( in the Daily News , writes of the Freemasons in Turkey ) , —It may be stated that they eschew polygamy , and only recognise one wife , whom they permit to appear at the Lodge banquets unveiled . At these banquets wines are drunk , toasts are proposed ; and