The Week.

who recognise the claims of the Prince of Augustenburg . In its sitting of Saturday , the German Diet , with only three dissentient votes , excluded Christian IX . ' s representative from tlie assembly , and resolved to suspend the exercise of a vote for Holstein . In this sitting the Austrian and Prussian representatives delivered an important declaration , stating that the position of Austria and Prussia is fixed by the treaty signed by them

in 1 S 52 . That treaty was accompanied by stipulations for the inseparable union of Holstein and Sehlesivig ; and the Austrian and Prussian governments are prepared to execute the treaty if the Cabinet of Copenhagen executes the preliminary conditions . Herr Von Bismarck on Tuesday communicated to the Chamber of Deputies the views of the Prussian Government on the

Schleswig-Holstein question . The Minister said however much the Treaty of London was to be regretted , yet Prussia was bound in honour to respect its stipulations , hut expected a similar observance onfcliepart of Denmark . Prussia Intel come to an understanding with Austria ; and as the treaty was acknowledged to be in orce , the necessity remained of carrying into operation the Federal

execution , and they had accordingly proposed to the Diet that it should be carried out forthwith , and the two Governments would make the necessary military arrangements . The English Cabinet has addressed to the German Diet and the Prussian government , and probably likewise to Austria , despatches intimating that England will faithfully observe tho

treaty of 1852 , which secures the hereditary rights of Christian IX . to all the territories then united under tho Danish Crown , ancl adding that it expects all the powers which acceded to that treaty will " share this opinion . " According to the Times , the

British Government has also advised , or will advise , Christian IX . to revoke the" patent of the 30 th March , " and thus deprive the German Diet of any pretext for ordering a Federal execution . M . Foulcl ' s financial statement has been published , and recommends the Emperor of the French to raise a loan of 300 , 000 , 000 francs , 210 , 000 , 000 of which has been rendered necessary by the Mexican expedition . According to the

Wiener Zeilimg the Austrian Government has relinquished the idea of the issue of a public loan , as circumstances aro at present unfavourable to such an operation , and are making other preparations to cover the public expenditure and for the repayment of the sum due to the National Bank . INDIA , & C . —A despatch received at the India Office confirms

the intelligence of the Earl of Elgin ' s dangerous illness , ancl adds that the latest accounts of his condition on the 14 th ult . represented him to be daily becoming weaker . Sir John Lawrence , who has had great Indian experience , has been appointed to succeed Lord Elgin , who was about to return home prior to his health , for a long time bad , succumbing to the active

discharge of his duties . In a sharp " affair , " which occurred on tlie Punjab frontier on the Oth ult ., the British troops had about sixty men killed and wounded , including three officers killed and two wounded . The detailed accounts from Japan brought by the China mail add little to the intelligence already published . At Nagasaki large bodies of armed men were gathering

in the neighbourhood ; many native merchants who hacl dealngs with foreigners had been murdered , and the Governor had warned the British Consul that foreigners must be on their guard . Some leading Daimios were said to be pressing the Tycoon to expel all foreigners from Japan .

AMERICA . —Recent intelligence from America Ifas been conveyed to us by the Adriatic and China , —the Adriatic having brought New York telegrams of the 20 th ult ., received in Newfoundland . Despatches from East Tennessee announced that after four days' " heavy skirmishing , " General Longstreet had driven General Burnside's army into Knoxville , and hacl com .

The Week.

pletely invested the city . On the 19 th ult ., General Longstreet captured a position in front of Knoxville , and the Federals retired within their defences . It was believed that General Burnside would " vigorously defend " the city , which was saicl to he " strongly fortified . " There was no important news from Virginia ; but General Lee was reported to occupy a position between the Rapidan and Orange Court House , ancl to have

strongly fortified all the fords of the Rapidan . General Butler hacl proceeded to assume the chief command in North Carolina , ancl it was said that all the Confederate prisoners would be subjected to his control . Mr . AA " endell Phillips , tho well-known abolitionist orator , had made a speech in which ho saicl that President Lincoln hacl informed him that- the greatest folly of

his life was the issuing of the emancipation proclamation . Some additional details of the operations of General Longstreet have been received . He crossed the Tennessee river on the 14 th ult ., and General Burnside retreated before him . There was " skirmishing" between tlie Confederate vanguard and the Federal rear ; and on the 16 th ult . General

Burnside "formed a hue of battle at Campbells Station . An engagement ensued , and lasted from noon till sunset , when General Burnside " checked the Confederates' advance , " but retreated during the night , aud arrived at Knoxville on tho 17 th ult . General Longstreet attacked a work in front of Knoxville on the 19 th ult ., and after an action which lasted some hours , the Federals abandoned their position , and retreated to

" stronger defences . " General Burnside , ire are told , in " private despatches" of the 19 th ult ., " represented his position as secure , but stated that communication with Cumberland Gap is interrupted . " At Chattanooga , General Grant was " expected to immediately assume the offensive . " A similar " expectation" was entertained respecting the army of the

Potomac ; but it was said that the heavy rains hacl suspended General Meade's operations , Charleston accounts of the l 7 tb ult . state that four " monitors " had passed up the channel , " apparently to ascertain the depth of water , " and that 25 shots hacl been fired into the city , but had done no damage . General Banks occupied Brownsville on the Sth ult ., without encountering any resistance .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

A . A . O . — AA ' e cannot undertake to instruct the brethren as to the proper passages at which the Sacred Law should be opened in the various degrees . As the question comes from the Chaplain of a lodge , we should think he is rather in a position to instruct us . If a AVarden is called upon to explain the working tools , we think it would be more convenient for them

to stand to the rig ht of the Master than to remain in their usual position . There is , however , no fixed rule on the subject . In the event of a sermon being preached for a Masonic Charity , there would be no impropriety in the prayers being read by a clergyman not a member of the Craft . S . — Appeal to the Pro-, * . Grand Master in the first instance .

Should you be dissatisfied with the result , as under the circumstances you probably will , you have your remedy before Grand Loclge . LODGE OF EMULATION . —Our report of the annual meeting of this loclge is unavoidably postponed . LODGE CESAREE . —AA ant of space compels us to omit the report but it shall appear next week . M . 0 . shall he attended to .