The Week.

IstPEBlAli PABEliMEJJT . —In the HotJSE of Loans , on Thursday the 26 th ult ., after several biffs had been advanced a stage Earl de Grey and Ripon said the volunteer force now consisted of 30 , 000 men- On Friday the Militia Bill was read a second time . A number of other measures advanced a stage without discussion . On Monday Lord Clyde took the oaths ancl his seat . The Marquis ofNormanhy moved for copies or extracts from the despatches of

her Majesty ' s Ministers in January , 1855 , 185 G , and 1857 , referring to the condition and administration of the Roman States . Lord AVodehouse expressed his willingness to give the papers , and the motion was agreed to . On Tuesday various bills were advanced a stage . The New Zealand bill was read a third time . In the HOUSE or COM . IIOJTS on Thursday , in reply to a question , Lord John Russell said it was true that an envoy of the Neapolitan Government had proposed that the British Government should use

its offices towards mediating between the King of Naples and General Garibaldi , with a view to preventing the latter jfroin invading the mainland ; and that , should the armistice be refused , the Powers should interfere by force of arms . To the latter portion of the proposition her Majesty ' s Government had refused their assent . The Senior Member of Council ( India ) Bill , the Superannuation Act ( I 860 ) Bill , and the Admiralty Jurisdiction ( India )

Bill , were read a second time . On Friday , Lord John Russell stated that he had called upon the Spanish Government to reconsider their tariff' but that he had not yet received any intimation of their intention to do so . Several bills advanced a stage . On Monday , the Amalgamation of Queen's and Indian Armies' Bill was passed through committee . On Tuesday , Mr . Cochrane asked the Foreign Secretary whether it was true that a letter had been transmitted to him from the Emperor of the French expressive of

the most friendly sentiments towards this country . Lord J . Russell stated , in reply , that the French ambassador had read to him a letter , which had been addressed to him by the Emperor , ancl which was of a most friendly character towards this country . The amendments to the European Forces ( India ) Bill were considered and agreed to . On AVednesday , on the order of the clay for going into committee on the Metropolis Local Management Act Amendment Bill , Mr . Brady moved , as an amendment , that the

house should go into committee on that day three months , upon the ground that there was not sufficient time during the present session to give tbe measure all the consideration that its importance demanded . On a division the amendment was negatived by 71 to

13 . The house then went into committee , aud having agreed to the several clauses , the bill was ordered to be reported with amendments to tho house , GEXEKAII HOME NEWS . —The select committees apppointed to inquire into the embankment of the Thames , the South Kensington Museum , ancl the British Museum , have concluded their labours . Three plans have been selected . These plans include in the proposed embankment the low level sewer on the north

side of the Thames , and all propose the construction of a railway and a roadway . It is recommended by the committee that the construction of the embankment should be in the hands of the Metropolitan Board of AVorks . The cost is estimated at one million sterling , including the cost of sewers . It is proposed that this money should be raised , in part , by the renewal of the coal and wine duties , which would otherwise expire in 1861 . AVith respect to the South Kensington

Museum it will probably be proposed to grant an additional sum , nofc exceeding £ 30 , 000 a year , for additional buildings , ancl room will be provided for the reception of duplicates , l < c , which crowd tbe limited space in the British Museum . A most frightful deed was performed on Tuesday morning , at Manor Place , AValworth . Wm . Godfrey Youngman , 27 years of age , is now in custody charged with the murder of his mother , his two brothers , and a young woman to whom he was engaged

to be married . The prisoner was remanded until Tuesday next . Information has also reached us that Mr . Chaffers , manager of the Royal Bank at Liverpool has hung himself . We regret to say that , according to the report , printed elsewhere , of the electricians to the Atlantic Telegraph Company , it has been found necessary to abandon fche cable . The 19 th Surrey Rifles have been entertained at a banquet at the Surrey Gardens Music Hallwhen Miss Roupell presented the corps with a silver bugle

, ivhich had been purchased by the ladies of Lambeth . There has been a review of the Coldstream Guards in Hyde Park , at whicli some thousands of spectators have been present . Lord Clyde was , as might have been expected , greatly cheered . FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE . —The Emperor of the French has written a letter to Count Persigny , the French Ambassador , in which he expresses an earnest desire for English alliance , coupled

with the practical request that England ancl France should workout in Italy and in Syria a united policy—subjects which are ivorthy of our willing attention ; especially when in tlie East the firm maintenance of the Ottoman Empire in independence and integrity ,

The Week.

and in Italy the renunciation and hindrance of all and any foreign intervention , are the lines of policy suggested as both judicious and desirable . Assurances are given relative to the military and naval strength of France—of a desire for the maintenance of Xieace throughout Europe , the development of the commercial resources of France , ancl the cultivation of a good understanding and common action betiveen the two great AVestern Powers .

The Naples official journal contains an article expressing * - regret at fche hostile aggressions made in Sicily whilst negotiations are being carried on for the solution of the pending question at Turin , Paris , and London ; and notwithstanding that the Neapolitan Government had given orders for the evacuation of Sicily by the Royal troops , in order to avoid fche shedding of Italian blood . The same journal repeats that an alliance between Piedmont and Naples

is necessary for the welfare of Italy . Garibaldi has taken Milazzo ancl entered Messina . The Royal troops still occupying the Citadel . It is stated the loss of the Garibaldians at Milazzo iva & 780 . The Neapolitans had 1 , 223 killed . There were many wounded on both sides . Although no absolutely authenticreport has been published of the Tceplitz interview , it is understood that the chief object of the two Sovereigns ( Austria ancl Persia ) was to provide against " the danger which menaces Germany . " If this has really been satisfactorily attained , no stronger guarantee

could be given for the peace of Europe . There is no reason to believe that other questions were debated . By a letter from Pesth , it seems that the arrival of General Benedeck had immediately put an end to the recent disturbances in that city . The troops were sent to their barracks , and the General made a sort of triumphal procession through the streets . The Genoa Co-mere Mercantile publishes an account of the massacres at Damascus up to the date of the 10 th July inclusive . 3 , 000

Christians had taken refuge in the citadel , which was occupied by the Algerines under Abd-el-Kader . The town was still in the power of the murderers ancl icendiaries , to the number of 2 , 400 , the greater part of whom were Druses ancl Bedouins . The Turkish garrison consisted of 5 , 000 men , inactive or hostile . The soldiers had driven the Christians into the flames of the burning houses . Conferences have been held at Paris of the representatives of the five powers . The representative of the Porte wished to lain

exp beforehand that , if the Sultan authorised him to adhere to the Convention under certain reservations , it was only in order nofc tobe the cause of a conflict betiveen France and England . The essential reserve which the Porte wished to make was that , before adopting the Convention for regulating foreign intervention in Syria , mention should be made in the same of the spontaneous desire of the Sultan to arrest the effusion of blood in Syria , and to accept the co-operation of his allies to that end .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Madame Cicely Nott , after a most successful tour in Germany , where she has enjoyed the patronage of many of the nobility of the highest distinction , will make her re-appearance upon the stage in England , at Brighton , on the opening night of the season . Madame A an den Heuvel ( late Mdlle . Duprez ) and Mdlle . Saxe are about to make their first appearance at the Grand Opera in " Robert . "

Mefodrame will be the staple attraction at the Princess ' s next season . M . Fletcher , the original jeune premier in the Fame aux Camellias , Filles des Marbre , & c ., and who is reported to speak English excellently , is engaged for the principal characters . Mr . George Alning leaves the / Olympic ancl transfers his service to the Lyceum . Miss L . Keeley and Mr . F . Robinson go the Olympic .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

E . A . —Bristol is the only city that is , in itself , a Masonic province . The general rule that governs the G . M . in erecting a Masonic province , is , that there must be at least three Lodges within the proposed jurisdiction . LAXCASxnrAN . —Send the report , but be particular in writing all names very plain . HENBTT H . —NO . You cannot be admitted .

LODGE No . . —If you do not , you subject the Lodge to pains and penalties . H . WEBrOEDWEST— The Bro . alluded to is nofc connected with this Magazine . T . A . C . —The Chaplain is not a statuteable member of a Lodge , bufc acting on the supposition that what the Grand Lodge

does , the subordinate Lodges may do Chaplains are appointed to many Lodges with beneficial results . Sc . —Your letter is again unavoidably postponed .