British Burmah.

with all other social institutions , has a right to expect that the advent of a new rule will conduce to advantage . " These are the thoughts of the Masons in British Burmah , expressed by petitions from every lodge in the province , asking for a District Grand Lodge , and we trust the petition may be complied with as a reward for past , and a stimulus to future exertions . One pardonable desire is that of maintaining and developing

their own Provincial Charities , whicli is impossible at present . The District Grand Lodges of Bengal and Madras , to whom tiie money is now sent , have , of course , local claims on them , and their distance from Burmah precludes reference to them in many cases of urgent need .

Notes On Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , MUSIC , DRAMA , AND THE FINE ARTS .

Mr . and Mrs . Howard Paul , the " very distinguished entertainment givers are now in Scarborough , and will visit the following watering-places in the next three weeks : — "Whitby , Buxton , Fleetwood , Blackpool , Southport , Rhyl , Carnarvon , Llandudno , and Aherystwithwith their new and highly amusing

en-, tertainment . This will be their farewell appearance in each place previous to sailing to America on September 15 th . Their last performance in England will be in the Free Trade Hall , Manchester , on September 14 th . Madame Rudersdorff is said to he occupied in the

composition of a grand opera . Mr . Boucicault writes to the " Era to say that he is not , and has no intention of becoming , the lessee of any London theatre . Mrs . Norton ' s serial tale , " Old Sir Douglas , " ¦ which had been interrupted for a time , will be

resumed in the September number of " Macmillan . " Miss Amy Sedgwick is going to make a professional tour through the provinces and America after a short summer season at the Hay market Theatre .

The JEra says Mr . Vernon Rigby is engaged as principal tenor for the winter season at the Royal Italian Opera House , Copenhagen .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

IHE COUET . —The Queen drove out on the afternoon of the 25 th hist ., with Princess Louise and walked in the grounds on the morning of the 26 th ult ., with the Duke of Edinburgh . Prince Louise , and Princess Beatrice . Her Majesty held a council at one o'clock , at whicli were present the Duke of Buckingham , the Earl of Devon , and Sir Stafford Northcote-The Queen drove o , ut in the afternoon with Prince Leopold ,

attended by Lady Augusta Stanley . Prince Louise and Princess Beatrice drove also . Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of AVales dined with her Majesty . The Queen , ivith Princess Louise , walked in the grounds on the morning of the S 7 th ult ., and Prince Leopold drove out . The Queen drove out in . the afternoon with Princess Louise and again on the

morning of the 28 th ult , with her Royal Highness . Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice went also . The Queen drove out in the afternoon with Princess Louise , in a carriage and four , attended by Lady Augusta Stanley . The Princess of AA ' ales and Princess Leiningen dined with her Majesty in the evening . Divine service was performed on the 29 th ult ., at Osborne before the Queen and their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Edin .

burgh , Princess Louise , Prince Leopold , aud Princess Beatrice , The Dean of Westminster officiated . The Queen walked in the grounds on the morning of the 30 th ult ., with Princess Louise , attended by Lady Augusta Stanley . The Prince and Princess of Wales visited her Majesty . Tho Queen drove out in the afternoon in a carriage and four with Princess Louise , Princess Beatrice , and Her Majesty walked in the grounds on the

morning of the 31 st ult . with Princess Louise . The Queen went out hi the afternoon with Princess Louise , and again on the morning of the 1 st inst ., with her Royal Highness , attended by Lady Augusta Stanley . IMPEBIAI , PAHLIAMEKT . —IN THE HOUSE OB LOBDS on tho 25 th ult ., in reply to a question put by Lord Shaftesbury , tho

Earl of Derby said tbe Government had not given its consent to a meeting being held in Hyde Park on the 30 th ult . On the contrary , no such meeting ivould be allowed . The Houso disposed of some other business , and adjourned shortly beforo seven o ' clock . On the 27 th ult ., LortA Shaftesbury suggested that places should be set apart for public open air meetings . —

Lord Derby thought the suggestion a good one , and promised to consider it . — Lord Redesdale subsequently introduced a series of alterations in the standing orders in reference to railway bills . —The alterations were opposed by Lord Stanley of Alderley , and other peers , but were eventually carried . The other business was of no public importance . Several bills

were advanced a stage . Nothing of public interest transpired . The Earl of Carnarvon announced that before bringing in a bill to give effect to the proposed confederation of North American colonies the Government would communicate with the Government of the colonies . Other business of little importancei The HOUSE OE COMIIOUS had a morning sitting , at which a series of resolutions in reference to Admiralty administration

was moved by Mr . Seely and discussed at great length . Mr . Seeiy finally withdrew them . At the evening sitting , in reply to a question , Mr . AA alpole said the Government had issued invitations for special constables to repress further riots . In reply to Mr . B . Osborne , Mr . Walpole went into a long explanation to show that he had been . vholly misunderstood by Mr . Beales in reference to the proposed meeting in Hyde Park . He

announced that no such meeting would be permitted , hut that Primrose Hill might be used . Mr . J . S . Mill stated that Mr . Be / iles and his friends regretted the misunderstanding , and that they would abstain from holding the meeting . Among the other questions was one relating to Frankfort , as to which Lord Stanley gave some information in reference to tbe exactions of

the Prussian General . Lord Naas , in reply to Mr . B . Osborne , said it would be proposed to extend the bill suspending lialeas corpus iu Ireland . A long discussion took place upon a declaratory resolution moved by Mr . Lowe as to the duties of returning officers . The motion , which arose out of the Helston case , declared it to be the duty of a returning officer , in cases of

equality of votes , to return all the candidates . Eventually tho resolution was carried . Major Jervis moved for a Royal Commission to inquire Into the condition of railways which are in pecuniary difficulties . An interesting debate followed , but at the request of Sir S . Northcote the motion was -withdrawn . ——After some other matters had been rather briefly

—discussed , the House went into committee of supply and proceeded at once to deal with the remaining estimates . On the 27 th ult . the House had a morning sitting , which was chiefly taken up with a discussion in committee of the Reformatory Schools Bill . At the evening sitting Mr . Maguire gave notice of his intention to move a resolution antagonistic to the renewal of the Habeas Corpus ( Ireland ) Suspension Act . On the motion for adjournment , two topics were discussed—