The Week.

nothing in the French law to deprive a priest af his civil rights , or to prevent him from entering into the civil contract of marriage . A dispatch from Berlin announces that the French and Prussian plenipotentiaries have signed the treaty of commerce and the conventions attached to it . The clandestine enrolment of volunteers for some foreign expedition is persisted in

with great pertinacity by the movement party both in Italy and Sicily . The Italian Government , at the risk of a largo share of unpopularity , are taking measures to stop the enrolments , and prevent the departure of any expedition . Monsignore de Merode , the Papal AA ' ar Minister , has issued an order of the day announcing that the French army has undertaken the whole

responsibility of protecting the frontier of tlisPontificial States in the provinces of Prosinone and A ' elletri . The Papal garrison occupying the most advanced post on that portion of the frontier is therefore withdrawn . The AVurtemhurgh Moniteur speaks in favourable terms of the recognition of Italy by Prussia , which gives fresh reason to believe that the AA * urtemhurgh

Government will shortly follow the example of the Cabinet of Berlin . A St . Petersburgh journal has semi-officially contradicted thc rumour that the Russian Government had conjointly with France proposed to the British Cabinet to recognise the Southern Confederacy , and mediate between the American belligerents . A report is current in the diplomatic

circles at A * ienna that Prince Philippe of AA ' ui temberg , who is a major in an Austrian regiment of cuirassiers , is about to marry a sister of the Empress of Austria . —•—The Austrian Cabinet , repulsed in its attempts to impede the Franco-Prussian Treaty of Commerce being carried ito execution , and for itself entering the Zollverein , docs not consider itself as beaten . Count de Rechberg has just addressed a depatch to Count Karolyi at Berlin , at least as long , and not more convincing than the

former . In that document Count de Rechberg attempts to prove—1 st , That Prussia is not bound towards France by the signature she has affixed to that treaty ; secondly , that it would be advantageous for the States of the Zollverein to submit to the Austrian tariffs , although the state of manufactures in Austria maintains those tariffs higher than those of the Zollverein . According to a private letter from Berlin , Count

De Bernstorff has received a note frem the Cabinet of Vienna , in which the writer points out in the most unequivocal manner the irritation caused hy the recognition of Italy by Prussia . Spain , it appears , is not willing to be bought out of Cochin-China . The TEpoca of Madrid denies that she is willing to receive three million francs for her share in the expedition ,

instead of a portion of the territory ceded to France The Belgian Government has in contemplation a great financial measure , the importance of which will be appreciated particularly in France—the conversion of the Rente . The announcement was made in one of the late sittings of the Chamber of Representatives , ivhere a bill on public works is now under

discussion . M . Frere , in defending the system of the Cabinet in rejecting any loan and devoting the progressive ancl annual resources of the Treasury to public works , declared that it reserved as ulterior means the profits which ivould result to the state by the conversion of the Rente . This remark produced a great sensation . The Belgian Minister regards the conversion

as an indispensable measure recommended by the present state of the Money Market which has been considerably improved by the political state of Europe . A report is current that the Servian G-overnment has , for tho sake of coining to a compromise , withdrawn its demand for the demolition of the Turkish fortress , and limited its application to its being maintained in statu quo , and not strengthened by an additional force . The Viceroy of Egypt has sent 12 , 000

The Week.

Minie rifles as a present to the Sultan . His Highness the Viceroy of Egypt has at last left England . The Hon . C . A . Murray , formerly our diplomatic agent in Egypt , and who had been deputed by the Government to attend his Highness during his stay , took leave of him on Monday at Greenbithe , when the yacht proceeded to Cherbourg , en route to Constantinople .

AJIEEICA . —The latest news is to the 28 th ult . President-Lincoln had strongly urged the border state representatives to accept his proposals for a gradual emancipation of the slaves , as their approval would relieve him from the growing pressure of the Abolitionists . Tho majority of the border state representatives declared iu reply that they saw no reason why their

constituents should be required to make sacrifices greater than those demanded from the people of other states , and added that under no circumstances would they become parties to General Hunter's policy of letting the slaves loose on the Southern people . It was reported that " the Confederates , " numbering 60 , 000 men , under General Jackson , were concentrating their lines on James river , " and it was supposed that they were

assembling all their disposable forces on that point , and were likewise preparing to attack Suffolk . A previous rumour , however , affirmed—and there seems to be no reason for attaching more credit to one than to tho other—that Generals Jackson and Ewell , at the head of 30 , 000 men , were in the neighbourhood of Gordonsville , and were preparing to attack the Federal General Pope . It was asserted that a large body of

Confederates , under three Generals , had crossed the Tennesse river , and that the Confederate cavalry in East Tennesse was 5 , 000 strong . Commodore Porter had arrived at Washington , and his flotilla of mortar vessels was supposed to have anchored in Hampton Roads . President Lincoln had issued a proclamation declaring that the provisions of the Confiscation Act will be

applied to all persons who may persist in " rebellion . " "Several Committees , " said to be composed of " the Mayor and all the leading men of wealth and influence in the commercial and legal community of New York , " had passed resolutions requesting President Lincoln to publish an emancipation proclamation . It was said that G eneral Lane had received authority to enlist ne _ rro recruits in Kansas .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

ROXAL A sen MASO - NBY LIST SCOEDAXD . —AVe have received a report of the Committee appointed by the Royal Arch Masons of the AVest of Scotland , at a meeting held in the Crow Hotel , Glasgow , on the Sth of July , which shall appear next week , as we have no other wish , whatever may be our own opinion , than to give both sides of a question . J . L . —A . PBOVIXCIAL GB A- N - STAKDAED . —Bearer is allowed to

wear the accustomed jewel of that office ; but , as a Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer , he takes no rank , and does not assume the purple . P . M ., R . A ., and M . M . —There are nominally thirty-three degrees in working in this country . As a direct step from the third degree , a brother may now go to the 18 ° , from which again he takes another spring to the 30 ° . The subsequent degrees

are given separately , but few attain them , they being elective , and not of right . BEO . G . II . is thanked , but it has already appeared in the columns of THE MAGAZINE . I . G . —You acted perfectly right in refusing to interrupt the the ceremonies to report the arrival of either members or visitors .

EXIJEIEEE . —AVe do not understand the purport of your query . OBSEEA ' ANCE . —It is not correct for the Principal of a Chapter to wear his jewel of office in a Craft Lodge . -