The Week.

for having the seats free . The Rev . C . H . Spurgeou delivered an address to the Society of Friends , in the Friends' Institute . Bishopsgate-street , on the Gth inst . The subject was the " Life ancl character of George Fox . " The speaker strongly Airged upon the members of the society the duty of taking an active parfc in the contest against Ritualism , they occupying

a peculiarly eligible vantage ground , for engaging in such a contest . The meeting was largely attended . The Poor-law Medical Officers' Association met afc the Ship Hotel , Charingcross , ancl by formal resolution , as well as by speeches , strongly deprecated any interference on the part of boards of guardians Avith the life appointments of medical officers . It appeared

from the staments made that attempts had been made to displace such officers . A resolution was likewise passed urging the desirability of medical officers having a seat at the board , to advise the guardians on questions of medical management . Dr . Rogers , of the Strand Union , occupied the chair . There was meeting on the 7 th inst . in Willis ' s Rooms , in support of

the Universities Mission to Central Africa . The Bishop of Oxford was to have presided , but was detained by a slow train , and the Bishop of Lincoln took the chair in his stead . The proceedings were of an interesting character . The conduct of Bishop Tozer in removing the mission station was strongly defended , aud an urgent appeal was made for funds . There

was also a meeting afc the Mansion House to take steps in respect to raising a fund for the relief of the sufferers by the great fire at Quebec . The urgency of the case was pointed out , and various subscriptions were 'Announced . Among these were the Duke of Cambridge £ 50 , and the Earl of Carnarvon ; G 200 . The total amount of subscriptions is about £ 7 , 150 . An order in council is published in a supplement to the Gazelle , according to Avhich store markets may be opened with the licence of the

Privy Council in counties where there has been no cattle plague for a month previously . On the 7 th inst . Mr . J . D . Coleridge , Q . C , M . P ., inaugurated the third session of the Articled Clerks' Society by delivering an address to the members and friends of the society in the Great Hall of King's College , Strand . The address , as might have been anticipated , was most

interesting and instructive , and was delivered in Mr . Coleridge ' s . most felicitous style . There were kindly words of advice and encouragement to the young men engaged in the study of the arduous profession of the law , and the value of a general cultivation of the mind was enforced in most eloquent terms . The address ivas listened to with the

greatest attention , and at the close a discussion upon the present state of the law of libel was introduced , and carried on in a very able manner by several articled clerks who were present . -At the Surrey Sessions , a case of a curious character Ai-as tried . A barman named Britton was charged with robbing his master . The master , it seems , suspected Britton

of robbery , and took serjeanfc Ham , a detective officer , into counsel as to how he should test the correctness of his suspicions . Ham told him to mark some money , and send some one with it to get drink . This was clone , and then Ham being called in , Britton was charged with robbery , and his box searcher ' , when two of the marked coins were there discovered . But it came

out in cross-examination that Ham had previously lent the prosecutor keys by means of which he had opened Britton ' s box , and the prosecutor admitted that he hacl on three occasions used the keys and searched the box . The . Chairman of the Sessions in summing up severely commented upon Ham's conduct in lending the keys for such a purpose , and the jury , who , acquitted Britton , expressed their entireconcurrence therein . Some extraordinary evidence has been given at an inquest on

the bodies of three children of a "Mr . Lazarus , a clothier in the Hampstead-road . The premises of Mr . Lazarus were destroyed by fire on the oth inst ., and the children Avere then burnt to death . Two servants who lived in the house deposed that when the cry of fire was given , they took a baby out of tbe front door and then wanted to go back for the other children , when the

police interfered and prevented them . Both witnesses declared , there was plenty of time to save tbe lives of the children had they been permitted to make the attempt . In this they were corroborated by a man named Cornelius Reading . He gave the first alarm of tiro , ancl when he was told there were five children upstairs went up to to the top of the house and brought down

one . He went a second time and brought a second , and ivhen he wished to go again ancl bring fche others , the police interfered ancl prevented him . The inquest is adjourned for further inquiry into the matter . FOEEIGX I--TE 1 UGE 5-CE . —The Presse lias a story to the effect that Prussia ancl Russia have really come fco a perfect

understanding , and are about to divide t , he greater parfc of Europe between them . Prussia is to do what she likes ivith Denmark , and annex as many German States as she pleases . Russia is to have Galicia and Turkey . Italy is to have some sop thrown to her , and England is to be quieted with the protectorate of Egypt . This is surely the maddest of mad

rubbish . "AViirit is to become of France in this arrangement ? She probably would have something to say about Egypt and also as to Turkey . Sooner or later there can be no doubt the Mahoimnedan rule must cease out of Europe , but ifc will nofc be in consequence of any such arrangement as that ivhich the Presse talks of . It is quite possible that Austria would be Avilling to give up Galicia for s consideration ; but where is that compensating transfer of territory to be had ? If ive ivere to place

implicit reliance upon the Vienna papers , ive might conclude that Austria has made peace with Italy with a strong mental reservation . The JTeio Free Press denies that the Emperor Francis Joseph has renounced his rights of succession to the territories of the dispossessed Italian princes . No one , however can suppose that the Emperor has any serious intention of endeavouring to enforce these so-called rights . Austria's

connection with Italy has not been of such a pleasant or profitable kind that she would be likely to wish it renewed . A Constantinople telegram gives with some detail of a defeat of the Candiote insurgents which must have completely destroyed all their hopes of ultimate success . The battle took place near Vrissa , and of 10 , 000 Cretans engaged , 700 were killed . It is

added that 3 , 000 insurgents who had taken refuge in tbe caves of Melidoni ivere drowned by the rising of the tide . Ifc must be remembered that this account comes from Turkish sources , but it has not yet been contradicted , ancl if the Greeks had had any room to discredit the report they would doubtless have done so before this . A Vienna telegram says that the accession of

Baron von lleust to the Cabinet is most acceptable to the other members of the Ministry . It is further said that the appointment of the Huron means thafc a policy of conciliation is to be pursued towards Hungary . This , indeed , is what might be expected , bearing in mind Baron von Beust ' s recent political course . Moreover , there can be no doubt that Austria ' s future

existence as a Power will depend largely on the manner in which she deals with Hungary . There can be little doubt that the Constantinople telegram announcing a defeat of the Cretan insurgents was in the main true . A message from Athens , in fact , virtually confirms it ; for the admission is made that the Cretans hard pressed by the Turks , had been compelled to retreat . The announcement is softened , however , by the statement that tbe Christians have gained partial success elsewhere .