The Week.

not quite so animated as on Tuesday , but prices on the average were pretty fairly maintained . In consequence of the final adjustment of the half-monthly accounts at the Stock Exchange the value of money rather advanced , but for ordinary discount tho terms continued to range from 2 } to 2 ^ . Bullion continued to floiv into the Bank , a further sum of £ 20 , 000 of the late arrivals hai'ing been sent into that establishment . INDIA , CHINA , AND COLONIAL . —The advices from Calcutta state that the intelligence received from China has not had a very encouraging

effect upon affairs in that presidency , ancl it was feared that peace would not be settled on a satisfactory and lasting basis . No great alteration hacl occurred in the state of the exchange , but trade was rather limited owing to the merchants being desirous of waiting the delivery of the letters by the incoming mail . -A correspondence from Kiachta states , that the loss ofthe Chinese iu the affair at theTaku forts was 1000 men killed ; the number of wounded is not stated . And that the American minister had arrived at Pekinbut is kept confined . Captain Vansittart

, is reported as having died of his wounds . Admiral Hope ' s state of health is serious . Iu the north aud at Shanghao several Europeans have been murdered by the Chinese , ivhich has led to further complications . Being yet entirely dependent upon non-official sources for information of the causes which led to the Peiho tragedy , the recent news from China must have been read with the greater attention ; and in reference to the rioting and bloodshed at Shanghai , the telegraph gives the account of it in such a way as to leave an impression that it ivas

connected with the new rupture in our negotiations with the Chinese . But this is not the ease . The cause has to be traced to the kidnapping which the abominable coolie traffic creates , and the fatal consequences that have arisen would have come to pass , no matter though Air . Bruce had no occasion to return to Shanghai . As to the course which our Government , in conjunction with the Government of France , intend to pursue in China , we remain much in the dark . All that slips out is onlin the way of rumour . The last report is that of the Overland

y Mail , which asserts that Alajor-General Hope Grant is to have the command of the expeditionary force to China , and that no troops are to be despatched from England , but a force of 10 , 000 is to be sent from India , the selection of ivhich will be left to the Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief . This statement , however , does not agree

with the statements that have appeared in the French journals , the editors of which profess to have more knowledge on such topics than we have ourselves . The steamer Celt has arrived at Plymouth , with the Cape mails , bringing dates from Table Bay to the 21 st August . Great regret prevailed in the colony at the recall of Governor Grey . A severer drought than was ever known existed in the colony , and au enormous amount of stock had been lost , and the distress among the farmers was very intense .

COMMERCIAL : AXD PUBLIC COMPANIES . —Tho weekly reviews from the manufacturing districts state that business had become more tranquil , although the operations ivere still in some departments on a satisfactory scale . At Manchester and Birmingham trade was not particularly active , but it was considered to present encouraging symptoms . In the neighbourhood of NOI-AA'ieh , Nottingham , and Sheffield , the transactions were unimportant , but at AA ' olveriuuuptou the Continental orders exhibited au increase , with a gradually expanding business . The

operations at Newcastle and Leicester showed that but for tho late intelligence from China , greater activity would have been observable ; as it was , the position of affairs was not unfavourable , the hosiery department in the latter town being remarkably active . At Halifax , Htiddersfield , and Leeds a good steady trade was transacting , though there was no remarkable variation in the general quotations . Tho traffic returns of the railways in the United Kingdom for the iveek ending the 17 th September amounted to £ 549 , 490 , and for the corresponding week of 1 S 5 S to . - £ 513 , 290 , shoAving an increase of .- £ 36 , 200 . The gross receipts of tho eight railways having their termini in the metropolis amounted to

. £ 246 , 963 , and for the corresponding period of last year to . £ 230 , 998 , showing an increase of , £ 15 , 965 . The receipts on the other lines in the United Kingdom amounted to . £ 302 , 527 , and for the corresponding period of last year to £ 282 , 292 , shoiviiig an increase of , £ 20 , 235 , which , added to the increase on the metropolitan lines , makes the total increase - £ 36 , 200 , as compared with the corresponding week of 1858 . In the port of London during the past iveek there has been rather less activity . The number of ships announced inwards at the

Customhouse as having arrived from foreign ports amounted to 270 ; there were six from Ireland , and 94 colliers . The entries outwards were 121 , and those cleared were 90 , besides 15 in ballast . The departures for the Australian colonies have been seven vessels—viz ., five for Port Phillip of 4748 tons , one for Sydney ot 918 tons , and one for Portland Bay of 432 tons ; the total amounting to 6098 tons , By the China intelligence it appears that a moderate business hacl been transacted in

Canton and Hong-Kong , but there was not any great extent of operations , the principal demand being to supply immediate wants . Silk had improved , ancl tea was in better request at the late advance , but the free shipments to this country induced an impression that the trade would not be interrupted , and that there would eventually be somo reaction iu value . As the disposition was to facilitate exports with all possible despatch , supplies would be forwarded as quickly as possible , and already

the statistics exhibited an increase in favour of the present season . Tho proceedings to-day at the meeting of the Brazilian Land and Mining Company ivere not very interesting , and were ultimately adjourned to receive the report of the agent sent out to effect the realisation , yf the

The Week.

assets of the National Brazilian Association , in connection with which the noiv company was started .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

FETE AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE . ON AVeduesday a favourable day and a most attractive programme of amusements and music attracted a great number of visitors to the palace on the occasion of the benefit of Bro . F . Strange , the contractor ofthe refreshment department , and he showed himself fully alive to the necessity of providing special attractions for the visitors . Bro . Strange arranged an English vocal concertengaged the Cremona hand

, , and obtained the services of the fine band of the Coldstream Guards and the juvenile baud of Caversh . am House Academy . Bro . Strange wisely fixed the ] irice of admission at one shilling ; and , hoping for fine weather , waited the result of the announcements he had put forth of all these attractions . The vocal concert was supported by artists whose names are not generally included in Crystal Palace concert programmes . But , nevertheless , the operatic selections which they gave were exceedingly

well received , and the selections from Lucia , Maritana , and the madrigal " Down in the flowery vale , " especially deserve mention . Although , also , a comic singer is not usually to be heard at the palace , Air . E . AV . Hackney , the well known favourite of the Canterbury Hall , was enthusiastically applauded hi his violin solo and comic song , " T ' other side of Jordan , " and although it raised some curious associations to see a nigger melodist occupying the Handel Festival orchestra , his performance hit the popular taste , and everything he attempted was encored . Out of doors the aquatic sports on the tidal lake excite ! great interest , and

although the pair oared and scullers' matches which took place were not invested with all the excitement of the Henley or Thames regattas , still , despite the smallness of the sheet of water on which the events came off , a large amount of enthusiasm was manifested hy the spectators . The pair oared race for two silver cups was decided in three heats . AVhile the aquatic sports were going on the great fountains claimed attention , and although the wind was high , the elegant water devices were seen to a great advantage . After the fountains the attention of the

visitors was concentrated in the balloon ascent . And at six o ' clock , according to announcement , Bro . Strange ' s second grand annual banquet was to take place . That some little delay occurred before the dinner was ready , and that it was long after six before active operations commenced , will be readily imagined , when it is stated that upwards of 450 guests sat down to table . However , from the moment knives and forks were set in motion the greatest conviviality and good fellowship prevailed ; and when Air . Newtonchairman in the absence of Air .

Bassde-, , tained at home by a domestic affliction , gave out the usual loyal toasts , they were responded to with the utmost enthusiasm , which is always a characteristic of such festivals . Other toasts followed , including that of health ancl success to Bro . Strange ; and , shortly after this had been drunk , With the usual honours , the company dispersed , very ivell pleased , apparently , with the day and evening ' s entertainment . The numbers present during the day amounted to 19 , 338 : being , admissions on payment 16 , 192 , by season tickets 3 , 146 .

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA , COVENT GARDEN . —The English Opera company commences its season on Alonday next , with " Dinorah . " The cast of the principal parts will be as follow's : —Itoel , Air . Stanley ; Corenlin , Air . AA . Harrison ; and Sinorah , Aliss Louisa Pyne ; ancl beyond a doubt ' ' Dinorah" will be as popular as " Satauella , " and will melt us each evening with all the lyric pathos of which Aliss Pyne is capable . The public will hear Aliss Pyne sing " Ombra leggic-ra , " and she will sing it tivonty times as often as Aliolan Carvalho , and ivill be applauded , and Sinorah will run after her little goat , and the little goat will perversely run aivay from Sinorah . The Queen has taken a box for the season , and the list of supporters comprises many fashionable names .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

" P . 11 ., No . 419 . " —It is not only incorrect , but distinctly opposed to the Constitution , to give what is called the P . AI . ' s degree to candidates for exaltation to the Royal Arch , under the English Constitution . "Z . "—On the confirmation of the resolution of Grand Lodge , expunging No . 19 from the roll of Lodges , the Alount Sinai Chapter will cease to exist , until permission be obtained from Grand Chapter to attach it to some other Lodge .

BRO . AVIGGINTOX . —AVe have received from this brother suggestions and plans for a Alasonic Hall and Club House , Avhich shall receive duo attention . "A YOUNG MASON " must have forgotten his obligation or he would never have asked us the question . " ' P . S . "—The real number of Lodges in England is rather under six hundred , including the recent creations not vet consecrated .