The Week.

the evacuation of the Roman States has been finally arranged betAveen the French anel Sardinian Governments . On the other hand , it is stated that reinforcements for General Goyon ' s army were dispatched from Jfarseilles as late as Saturday last . A telegram from Naples , dated the 28 th ult-., informs us that on the jn-evions clay a flag of truce was sent from Gaeta to the fleet , and that an Italian steamer thereupon proceeded to the fortress , when the firing ceased on both sides , ft may be reasonably supposed

the object of the besieged is to treat for the surrender of the place . The elections to the Italian Parliament have proved decidedly in favour of the Government and the policy of Count Cavour . Bertani has lost his election at Jiilan , and Guerazzi has been defeated afc Lucca . The party of action , in fact , have been sorely defeated . Naples , to its honour , has returned the martyr to constitutional Government , Poerio , and their gallant liberator , Garibaldi . The Lndependance Beige says ifc has received a confirmation of its

statement that Prince Jfettei-nich had verbally informed JL Thouvenel that an attack by Garibaldi upon any part of the Austrian territory would be considered by Austria as a casus belli ,- and adds thafc JI . Thouvenel , in reply , observed that if , in the eventuality referred to , Austria employed Federal contingents , France would consider that act a , violation of the principle of non-intervention . According to the Independence Beige the objects which General cle la Jfarmora is endeavouring to promote at Berlin are to

reassure Prussia as to the intentions of Piedmont with regard to Germany ; to induce her to recognise the possession of Venetia as a necessity for Italy and a danger for Austria anel Germany ; to promote , as representatives of constitutional liberty , relations of friendship between Piedmont and Prussia ; ancl , lastly , to show that if these overtures are rejected , Italy will be forced to unite herself closer than ever to France . The Council of the Russian Empire is about to assemble under the

presidency of the Emperor , to settle definitively the terms ofthe Imperial manifesto for the abolition of serfdom . AVhile engaged in this vast ancl good work the Emperor is no less alii'e to the disturbed state ofthe frontiers , and has ordered the formation of three armies—one to march to the Pruth , the second to the frontiers of Poland , and the third to be ready for any other destination .

THE CAVE . —The Cape mail has arrived with dates to the 22 nd ult . Governor Grey ivas on his way to the frontiers to adjust matters in British Kaffraria . The vine disease had again appeared , and great loss ivas anticipated in consequence . The Pioneer , one of the vessels belonging to Dr . Livingstone ' s expedition , was in S imon's Bay , and was to leave shortly .

INDIA AND CIIIXA . —The news from Calcutta received by the overland mail contains nothing of particular interest , except the report of a public meeting to adopt a petition to Parliament praying for publicity of accounts , restraint upon the Secretary of State for India ivith regard to spending Indian funds , the opening of the Legislative Council , etc . The grant of Sir Charles AA'ood to the Jlysoi-e Princes AVUS of course the immediate cause of the proceding . The meeting was remarkable for the great unanimity of

feeling it elicited from all classes of the community . Fully onehalf of those present were natives , a fact that Avas alluded to by several of the native speakers as being a pledge of reunion between themselves and their European brethren , ancl a termination of the bitterness of feeling or antagonism of race which has existed since the mutiny . The Europeans also showed their willingness to let bygones be . bygones , by assenting to the sentiment by loud cheers . The China papers clo not afford much intelligence . The Overland

Trade Report alludes to a rumour that our troops at Tien-tsin ivere menaced by large hordes of Tartars , and that Jlr . Adkins , w-ho was left in charge of the British embassy at Pekin , has been murdered , but adds that the rumour is not generalb / believed , and assigns , as a tangible proof of its incorrectness , that the first portion ' of the indemnity had been paid by the Chinese authorities . The rebellion is stated to be on the increase , but the rebels had not ventured on any further attack on Shanghae . Nothing more has been heard of

the reported rebellion in Shensi . Trade is reported as good at all the ports . The Chinese have paid the first instalment " of tbe indemnity , and all remained quiet at Pekin . The weather is described as intensely cold , but the troops were very healthy . Lord Eldu and Sir Hope Grant had left for Japan .

AMERICA . —By the arrival of the Australasian ive have neivs from New York to the 10 th inst . At that time there ivas no retardation of the onward course of the disunion movement . South Carolina had dispatched Colonel Hayn to AA ' ashington to demand the surrender of Fort Sumter , and had informed Captain Anderson of their intention to capture the' fort if not i | uietly surrendered . A somewhat unlooked-for circumstance is reported from New York—viz ., an enthusiastic demonstration of working men in thafc city against coercing the Southern States .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

AfR . HULLAH . It is AA'ith pleasure Ave observe thafc a grand morning concert is to take place at the Royal English Opera , Covent Garden , on Jtonday , February 1 , in aid of the llullah Testimonial Fund , Ai'hich Ave have no doubt ivill be liberally supported by the Craft . Afr . Harry Chester thus ivi-itcs to fche Editor of the Society of Arts-Journal : —•

Afr . Hullah ' s singular success in teaching " the masses " to sing , and the happy results which were evident in fche conduct of those taught , had n- great effect in breaking doivn the narrow- barriers within which ifc used to be the fashion to restrict the education of the poor , anel in reconciling old-fashioned persons to the modern system of Jfeehanics' Institutes ancl Athenauims for the instruction anel amusement of adults ; ancl in this point of view I am convinced that we should clo him scant justice if ive attribute to him an influence for sood exclusively in connection with music .

Some persons have supposed that Jlr . llullah received large sums from the Government . This is quite a mistake . The Committee of Council on Education gaA'e to him their " sanction , " i . e ., their patronage ; and received from him , in return , an immense increase of their popularity and of facilities for carrying out their views ; ancl when his classes at Exeter-hall were producing a profit which , if he had been unhonoiu-ed by the " sanction" of the Privy

Council , would have gone into his own pockets , he had to forego that profit in order that it might make good the deficiency occasioned by the other classes of " method " for drawing , writing , and arithmetic , which ivere held " under the sanction ofthe Committee of Council" in connexion with his classes .

Having seen abundant instances of his disinterestedness , of his postponement of his ow-n interests to those of his great objectviz ., to naturalise in the United Kingdom the power of singing at sight , I feel no surprise at learning that his success in the service of the public has not been attended by sufficient pecuniary receipts ; and now that the lire at St . Jfartin ' s Hall has produced a crisis , there is naturally a general desire to offer to him some encouragement and help in a substantial form .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

; Thos . Hughan must ivrite to a bookseller . His mime does not ! appear on our list . ! j J- S . —The late Daniel O'Connell was a Freemason . i MARK JIASOX . —AA ' rite to Bro . Frederick Binckes , 40 , Leicester-! square .

j AA ' EBB ' S LECTURES . —AA'e consider them useless to the English Jlason . They are only an American edition of Preston . AA ' ere wxabout to visit the United State , ive shoulel study them . Ax OLD SUBSCRIBER is thanked for his criticism . It shall not bo lost upon us . Bito . Pi ' . vrcE is thanked for his kind promises .

KXIGUTS TE . AIM . AII . —The proceedings of Grand Conclave and various encampments are unavoidably held over . JIAsojrio FESTIVITIES . — The pressure upon our columns this week prevents our publishing Jlasonic Festivities until next week . The publication of various other articles of interest is also unavoidably postponed . J . A \ . —Respectfully declined , with thanks . Unsuitable for our columns .