Turkey.

and worthy a brother this record as a small recompense for the valuable services rendered by him while acting as Secretary of the Lodge . Bro . Evans in a brief speech returned thanks for the kind manner the AA . AI . had been pleased to speak of his services , aud thanked the members for the handsome , gift presented to him . This testimonial was executed at Bro . R . Spencer ' s Alasouic Depot , London , by a first rate artist in his employ , and ivas intended for presentation ill December last , had the one scut out not been at the bottom of tbe sea in the steamer Dutchman when she foundered and returned completely spoiled , consequently the present jewel was substituted .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOAIAS WILLIAM ABBOTT . Tins excellent brother finished his earthly career on the 21 th of December , 1 S 59 , at his residence , 23 , Great Pultcney Street , Golden Square , Loudon , aged twenty-uine years , having for a long portion of that time been ouo of the most able assistants and managers in the works of Gray and Davison , organ builders , in tho New-road . Beloved by all who had the privilege of being under his guidance , highly respected by his employers as a man ivell skilled in the art of voicing and

construction , ancl enjoying their utmost confidence . Ho became a member of the Loyal Berkshire Lodge , No . 839 , in July , 1 S 5 S , and ivas about to be married ivith every prospect of mutual happiness and prosperity . — His death has been severely felt by his sorrowing relatives aud numerous friends . He was the organist of Brunswick Chapel , Portman-squarc . We understand that the Lodge intends to mark their appreciation of his merits by au address of condolence to the bereaved ancl distressed .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Royal family arc all in good health at AA iiidsor ; the Queen and Princesses ride and drive daily in the neighbourhood ; the Prince Consort and Prince of AVales shoot and hunt . On Sunday , Now Year ' s Day was duly kept at the Castle , and on Aionday her Majesty ' s annual distribution of food and clothing to about 6 ' 0 'fl poor persons of the AA'indsor and Clcwcr parishes took place in the Riding House ; the Queen and Prince Consort , accompanied by tbo Prince of AVales , Prince Arthur , Priuce Leopold , Princess Alice , Princess Helena , Princess Louisa

, and Princess Beatrice , were present at the distribution , which was under the direction of the Hon . and Very Rev . the Dean of AVindsor , the Clergy of AVindsor and Clewer and the District Visitors for the relief of the poor . The members of the clothing club ( established under her Majesty ' s patronage ) received at tbe same time articles of clothing according to the amount of their contributions ( as on former occasions ) , with the additions provided by her Alajesty . Tbe Duchess of Kent , Prince and Princess Leinengen ancl the ' French

princes from Claremont , have visited the Queen this week . On AVednesday morning her Alajesty presented the Victoria cross to several gallant officers and soldiers who had been declared deserving of that noble testimonial . The ceremony took place in the Quadrangle of AVindsor Castle , where all the troops in garrison at AAlndsorwore drawn up to witness it . With her Majesty were the Prince Consort , tbe Prince of AVales , the Princess Alice , and several of the younger members of tbe royal family . The Duke of Cambridge and others of the AVar Department were present .

FOREIGN NEWS . —On Sunday , being New Year ' s Day , the usual official reception by the Emperor of the French took " place at the Tciilcries , when the foreign ministers were presented , with the Papal Nuncio at their head . His Alajesty received tbem graciously and made a short speech , in whicli ho declared that he had always been in favour of peace , and that he always would be so . A singular affair took place before the Tribunal of Correctional Police of Paris . A charge having

been made against AL Vacherat for the publication of a book called " La Democratic , " he was defended by M . lEniile Ollivier , one of the most eloquent advocates in Paris . The Procurcur Imperial , having made a very acrimonious speech against M . Vacherat , AL Ollivier began his answer as follows : — "I will not follow the example of the public prosecutor by appealing to passions— " ivhen he was stopped by the presidentwho accused him of insulting the public prosecutorand

de-, , sired him to retract ivhat he had said . M . Ollivier denied bavin" done so , and refused to retract , on which he was suspended from practice for three months . The feeling of the members of tbe bar may be jucb'cd of regarding this despotic act by the fact that Al . Ollivier was immediately embraced by tiie whole of the advocates present . The Dictator Fariui has decreed tho temporary union of Pavma , Alodena , aud the Rauiagua , under the title of the Royal Provinces of the Emilia . - The Nazoinc of Florence

states that on the 27 th ult ., two English ladies were seen in the Piazza del Diiomo of that city writing on the walls " Long live Ferdinand III . ' Bewn with the government ! " The ladies were arrested by a carabineer , who saw them doing this , and they were conveyed away in a hackney coach ; and there , says the Naziriw , the matter ended . An important item of foreign news arrives by telegraph from Rome . It is said that the Duke cle Giaiuuiont has positively stated that tlio pamphlet , "The I ' opu ancl the Congress" does not ^ present the views of tho French government , From Pcsth wo learn

that every effort was making by the Viennese government to suppress the publication of anything that may reveal the state of feeling in Hungary , and so far is this practice carried that foreign journals are influenced to contradict tho statements respecting tho oppression iuflicted ou the unfortunate Hungarians which appear iu the English papers . A telegram from Madrid informs us that the Spanish squadron had burnt and blown up the Aloorish forts at the mouth of the Tetuau . Three vessels , under English colours , had been taken ivith contraband of war

on board and carried into Algesiras . Gibraltar advices aro to the 2-lth . Alarshal O'Donnoll was awaiting reinforcements to hold his position in front of Ceuta , before moving on against Tetuau . -The steamship , Persia , bas arrived at Liverpool with dates from New York to tho 21 st December . The House of Representatives had not achieved the task of electing a speaker , aud the message of the president remained in abeyance . A very influential demonstration in favour of the maintenance of the Union had taken place at New York . A treaty between the

United States and the Jjiarez government has been ratified , providing for tho perpetual right of way across the isthmus of Tehuantopeo from Rio Grande to Alazatlan , and from Guayamas to Arizona . With reference to the case of AL Ollivier , the order of French Advocates have met , and decided that the suspension of Al . Ollivier was an attempt to tamper ivith the right of defence , and that the decision of the court should bo appealed against . Al . Placquo , annual chairman of the order , is to be AL Olllvier ' s counsel on the occasion . An avcrlisscment has been given

to the Lsperance of Nancy , on account of an article , which , by its alleged violence , is deemed " insulting to the institutions which France has chosen for herself . " The Const it utionncl states that it is authorized to contradict an assertion in the Independance of Brussels , that the archbishop of Paris had expressed to tbe Aletropolitan Chapter profound uneasiness as to tho state of tbe church . The Spanish navy was engaged for a whole fortnight in landing 30 , 000 men at Ceuta , along with their horsesartilleryancl camp equipmentalthough it was done

, , , with as much ease as landing passengers from a steam packet . In the Crimea the ivholo of tbe English ancl French contingents were landed under twelve hours . The Epoca , of Madrid , says that the difference between Spain and Jlexico has been arranged , and that diplomatic relations arc about to be resumed .

GENERAL HOME NEWS . —Two cabinet councils have this iveok been held at the premier ' s official residence . The returns of the revenue for the" quarter and for the year respectively , made up to the 31 st of December , exhibit a satisfactory state of the national resources . This is particularly the case with tlio customs and excise , which are the best tests of the external trade and the home consumption of the country . On the former the increase on the year amounts to £ 732 , 000 , and on the latter to XI , 075 , 000 . Upon the ivholo tbe annual receipts for 1859

come up as nearly as possible to the receipts o £ 1858 ; ancl if allowance bo made for a decrease of £ 0 S 3 , 000 under the head "Miscellaneous "always an uncertain ancl fluctuating item—exceeds it by half a million ; and if we add to this the decrease of a million and a half from the reduction in the income tax , tho revenue of 1859 exceeds that of 1858 by nearly two millions . Tbo effects of the recent cold , coupled probably with the succeeding sudden changes , are more fully developed in the Registrar General's return of deaths for last week than

they were in the preceding one , the rate of mortality having risen from 1548 to 1677 , the latter number being 221 over the average rate . The total number of births during the week was 1958 . Lord John Douglas Montagu Scott died on Tuesday at his scat Cancston Lodge , near Rugby . He was a keen supporter of our national sports , particularly the turf and the chase . Tbe deceased was second son of Charles AVilliam , fourth Duke of Bnccleuch ancl the Hon . Harriet Kathcrino Townsliend , fourth daughter of Thomas first Viscount Sydney , and was born July loth , 1 S 09 , and married , Alarch 16 th , 1836 , Alicia Anne , eldest daughter of Air . John Spottiswoode . On Tuesday a

conference of schoolmasters ivas held in the room of the Society of Arts , in the Adelphi , to take into consideration the present state of the whole question of the university local examinations . The chief point of discussion was a suggession that there should be but one annual examination at each local centre . Resolutions in reference to this ancl other minor matters were agreed to .- This week the session of the Central Criminal Court for January was opened before the Lorcl Alayor , Recorder , and other functionaries . The first addition of the calendar contained the

names of forty-two prisoners . The learned Recorder congratulated the grand jury on the small number of prisoners lor trial . The only case calling for particular attention was a charge of infanticide , a crime which he feared was on the increase . The grand jury having retired to their room , the court proceeded with the trials .- Joseph Pomeroy and Elizabeth Sophia Pomeroy were indicted for making counterfeit sixpences . It appeared in the course of the trial that they had been in the practice of coining bad money , and tbey were found guilty .

Inspector Brennan then said that the male prisoner had b y his conduct driven bis daughter mad , and brought his wife to her present condition . The court sentenced the male prisoner to fourteen years ' penal servitude . and respited the judgment on the woman . AVm . Jones , nineteen , and Alichael Hayes , twenty-two , were each tried on indictments for assaults of a murderous character on warders in the house of correction . Tho first prisoner pleaded guilty , and admitted that be intended to murder the warder . The Recorder ordered sentence of death to be recorded , but said it would not be carried into execution ; be ivould , however , be kept in confinement for the greater portion of the remainder of his life ,