The Week.

sum of money was found in each room , where the game of hazard was being played . The House of Commons has passed the resolution of the chancellor of the exchequer , and from that moment the old scale of wine duties ceased , and the new one is noiv in full operation . Until the first of January , therefore , there will be a uniform duty of 3 s . a gallon upon all foreign ivines imported into this country ; and after that elate a graduated scale of duties ranging from Is . per gallon upon ivines containing less than eihteen degrees of proof spiritIs . Gd . if less than

g , tiventy-six degrees , and 2 s . if less than forty degrees . The aggregate number of patients relieved afc the Metropolitan Free Hospital , during the week ending February 25 th , was , medical , 917 ; surgical , 425 ; total , 1 , 342 , of ivhich 4-15 were new eases . Ou Tuesday , the steamer Nimrod , from Liverpool to Cork , was totally lost off St . David's Head , on the coast of Pembrokeshire . It is thought that at least thirty lives aro lost , and £ 50 , 000 .

FOREIGN' NKAVS . —A rumour reached London on Saturday , that Russia had decided on renewing her old alliance with Austria . It is stated that a treaty is on the eve of being signed , and the provisions are declared to be as follow ' : —1 . The most ample concessions as to all that regards the Holy Places at Jerusalem will bo made by Austria to ' . Russia . 9 . AA'ifch a view to eventualities that have every probability of being realized , Austria agrees to conform her policy to that of Russia , as to the Danubian provinces and Seiwia . 3 . In compensation for these concessions iu

the East and on the Danube , Russia will guarantee to Austria the whole of her territory , including Hungary and Venetia , against insurrection and foreign foes . The Pays and Patrie of Monday give a denial to the news of an offensive and defensive alliance between Russia and Austria . ¦ In private advices from France ifc is mentioned that the authorities are deeply impressed with tho advantage likely fco accrue from the active employment of the population , and that therefore the proposed outlay on public works will be in every way expedited . In Italy we have to

note preparations for war . No one seems to think that the spring can pass away without disturbance , and , among other signs of an approaching storm must be observed a decree of the Neapolitan Minister of AVar ordering officers on leave to join their regiments on the 1 st of March . Another rumour reaches us to the effect that Louis Napoleon has made a resolution that no powerful kingdom shall be established in central Italy . He now proposes that Tuscany shall become an independent state , and choose its oivn sovereign ; that Parma and Modena shall be

annexed to Piedmont , ivith the consent of their inhabitants ; and thafc Sardinia shall be compelled to accept these conditions , under the threat of the withclraival of the French army . The Spanish squadron has bombarded Larache and Arcilla , causing great destruction in those tivo

places . Some of the Spanish vessels were slightly damaged . Tlie Spanish loss was one man killed . It is said that ltabatt has been also bombarded . AVe learn from Madrid that the whole of tho Spanish press , especially the Progresista section , attack England violently . The French Ambassador has presented the Queen with an autograph letter from the Emperor Napoleon . A telegram dated Singapore , February 21 st , says that the war steamer Onriist , laying in a narrow creek , about five days steaming above Banjermassing ,

on the 27 th December , AA'as attacked by about 000 men , in a great number of prahus , ivho suddenly made their appearance from the creeks , so that the crew had not time to fire more than one shot . AVhen the assailants were in possession of the vessel , after murdering all on board ( seven officers ancl fifty men ) they ran the vessel aground . If the vessel lost is a vessel of war , it is probable thtit it is in the service ofthe King of the Netherlands . In the American Senate a resolution has been adopted calling for a letter to the French Emperor on the subject of

commercial relations and free trade . The Senate has expressed its gratification with the proposal of Paraguay . The bill abolishing the franking privileges has been passed ancl referred to a select committee . It is stated in democratic circles that if Kansas admitted the AVyandotto constitution , the president ivould veto the bill . Tlie Treasury balance ivas last Aveek nine millions subject to reductions for drafts drawn . On the 26 th ult . King Victor Emmanuel received , at Milan , a despatch from M . Thouvenel , informing him that the Emperor would on no account

permit the annexation of Tuscany to Piedmont ; but that the King might take Parma , Modena , and Romagna in exchange for Savoy . Tuscany is to choose her ruler by universal suffrage . The King of Sardinia is saicl to have shown great indignation at this proposal .

INDIA ; CHINA ; JAI ' ; AND COLONIES . —AVe have received by the overland mail , advices and papers from Calcutta to Jan . 24 , and ' from Hong Kong to Jan . 14 . The Calcutta papers contain no general intelligence in addition to that brought by the last Bombay mail . Speaking of commercial matters , " Trade ( says the Calcutta Bnglishmau ) , continues altogether flat , ancl with no promise of better improvement . Looking at the prices reported from home , and those quoted here iu our Price Current , sane men , accustomed to old modes of business , look with

wonder upon what is being done here ; wonder as to IIOAV buyers see hope of return . In these days of enlightened trading , how creditors are to be met is quite besides the question . Money , it will be seen , is less accessible ; already the Bombay banks have raised their rates , and Calcutta has followed their example , with prospects of a further advance . The only branch of commerce in which there is any real improvement is in freights , ou'ing to the tonnage taken up . 'fur transport of the China expedition , and the rice going forward for Maiu-itius . The public history of Hong Kong may be written in a few words . Everything is

The Week.

quiet , oven to the exchange . The consul general of Japan has written a rather stringent letter with reference to the proceedings of some of our merchants ( or their representatives ) in that country . The letter you will probably see ill some of the Chinese papers . The reprimand has given the greatest satisfaction to every person ivho wishes to preserve the honour and credit of his countrymen , though some think it too elaborate for the occasion—a short snub would have been more in character with the offence . The United States frigate Powhattau

has sailed for Japan , on her ivay to America . The Capo mails have arrived this Ai'eek . The vine disease ivas spreading through every vine-growing district . The martial spirit for enrolling volunteer forces was still very active in the colony . Thefts of cattle by natives were still reported from the frontier districts , but attributed to tho hordes of squatters kept on the farms , and the small amount of wages and food given to the fanners' servants . Preforms , the President of the ; Transvaalhas also been elected President of the Orange Free State . A

, large number of the colonists ivere hostile to this union of the republics , and seemed to think that the homo government AA'ould interfere to prevent its being carried out , while it would also occupy the attention of those associations that watch the progress of civilization in Southern Africa . At Natal , Mr . Justice Phillips had been suspended from his office by Governor Scott . A criminal had been pardoned by the governor without consulting the judge . The latter , therefore , made some remarks on the bench which the governor thought offensive .

Several public meetings had been held in favour of Mr . Phillips . News had been received by the Lynx of the Livingstone expedition to tho Zambezi River down to the 12 th of December , when it was at tho mouth of the Kongone . The party had all suffered from the fever , but AA'eve recovering . The little steam launch was useless .

To Corbespondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

" G . B . "—An affirmation may be substituted for the usual form of obligation in the initiation of members of the Society of Friends . " S . AV . "—You have no such right . It depends on the members of the Lodge , and if they see fit to elect the J . AV ., you havo no appeal from their decision .

UNIFORMITY OP WORKING : PETER THOMSON . — The speech of Bro . Havers , on the occasion referred to in a recent number , is reported in tho Freemasons' Magazine of 1851 ; an oration worthy alike of the deceased brother as of the brother ivho delivered it . In framing these few lines , therefore , it cannot be my purpose to ,, improve upon it , but solely to inform the brother who put that question , in case he should nofc be able to that earlnumber of the magazinethat the late BroPeter

procure y , . Thomson was a ' P . S . G . D . of England , P . M . No . 227 , P . Z . No . 218— -not to speak of the many Lodges of whieh he was a honorary member—and presided for upivards of thirty years over that Lodge of Instruction which is held under the sanction of the Lodge of Stability . He was a brother beloved and respected liy all who knew him , and imparted his Alasonic knowledge in the most liberal and disinterested manner to

all who wished for ifc . Bro . Henry Muggeridge , P . M . No . 227 , is one of his many pupils , and was elected after the death of Bro . Thomson , by tho supporters of that Lodge of Instruction , as its preceptor . The working is that generally understood by "Peter Thomson ' s , " in distinction from that of " Gilkes ' s . "—A COMPANION OP NO . 218 . "Hiciu DEGREES . "— " C . E . T . " ivill find in the Freemasons' Magazine

, Svo . series , June Kith and 30 th , July 14 th and 28 th , an account of the whole of tho degrees under the Antient and Accepted Rite . There are but tivo practised , the Rose Croix and the Kadosh ; of the former there are the Metropolitan Chapter and fche Mount Calvary Chapter , in London ; the Iuvicta Chapter at AVoolwich ; the Vectis Chapter at Ryde ; the Royal Naval Chapter at Portsmouth ; the Palatine Chapter at

Manchester , and the Vernon Chapter at Birmingham , under authority of tlie Supreme Council , which body alone claims the rig ht ; of conferring tho 30 th degree , or Knight Kadosh . AVe have no knoivledge of the 19 th degree , or Grand Pontiff , being worked . KXIOIITS HOSPITALLERS . —In the Freemasons' Magazine of January 20 th , 1850 , is a statement of the possessions of the Order , in England , confiscated by Henry VIII . at the dissolution of religious houses . " POTTER . "—The office of Chaplain not being one essential to the working ofthe Lodge , we do not see any objection to its being hold by the Senior AA'arden .

ADJOURNED LODGES . — There is no direct law against adjourned Lodges , but as no Lodge can be called off excepting for necessary refreshment , after which work is to be r-eneivod , ifc necessarily folUm-s that the Lodge must bo closed on the clay on ivhich it is opened . The Grand Master holds this to be the law with regard to Grand Lodge , the practice of Avhich rules private Lodges .