The Week.

occasion . The house then ivent into a committee of supply . On Thursday Lord Palmerston announced that on the folloiving night he should call attention to the state of our foreign relations . Supply and other business ivas then brought before the house . The next day , however , Mr . Disraeli announced the intention of the government to make a statement on that subject on Monday or Tuesday , aucl Lord Palmerston thereupon withdreiv his motion . In answer to several questions , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said he hoped to conclude public business about Tuesday , the 19 th . He could not fix any earlier clay . On Monday Lord

Palmerston asked tho Chancellor of the Exchequer Avhether he could name the day when he would make his statement relative to the state of Europe ; he also wished to know Avhether the right hon . gentleman could state more clearly tho time when the dissolution Avould take place . The Chancellor of the Exchequer , in reply , said he Avould make the statement he referred to on Friday next . The prorogation would most probably take place on Tuesday next , and the dissolution would take place as soon after as Avas consistent with decorum . He must decline to fix a clay for the dissolution , bufc it Avould take place probably in Passion Aveek .

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS . MR . GYE has commenced the season at the Royal Italian Opera Avith great spirit and Covent Garden Theatre has been crowded to the ceiling , though the great stars have not yet made them appearance in the operatic firmament . The engagement of Mile . Lotti appears to have been a successful hit ; although not a singer of the

A'ery first class , she has exactly hit the critical taste of her audience ; she is , besides , a very pleasing actress . Great disappointment ivas experienced last night by the nonappearance of Sig . Ronconi , who had been announced for his great part of Enrico , in " Maria di Rohan ; " illness prevented his singing , and the character was undertaken by Sig . Debassini , Avhose singing was praiseworthy , but of course the magnificent acting of Ronconi was not to be replaced . " King Henry the Fifth " continues its triumphal career afc the Princess ' sand Mr . Kean ' s last and greatest effort has

, been fully appreciated by the public , and , strange to say , by all the critics ; indeed the French and German papers contribute to swell this manager ' s fame . At the Haymarket , Mr . C . Mathews is still attracting the admirers of genuine comedy . This week he again plays Puff in the "Critic , " and Mr . AffaMeHawlc in the "Game of Speculation , " two performances unrivalled on the stage . A new comedietta , called " Nine Points ofthe Laiv , " was on Monday night produced at the Olympic ; it is by Mr . Tom Taylor , and Avas perfectly successful , as it deserved ; for it is

not only sparkling ivith wit and humour , but is also admirably and naturally Avritten , Avhich last is not often considered a necessary point to be considered . When AA' add that the principal character was sustained by the ever pleasing Mrs . Stirling , who was well supported by Messrs . Addison and AVigan , we have given quite sufficient reason for the enthusiastic applause Avith Avhich the play was greeted . The extraordinary powers of Mi-. Robson were never fitted ivith a more congenial part than that in which he nightly draws both smiles and tears as Sampson Burr . No one ivith any pretensions to taste should omit to see the " Porter ' s Knot . "

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS DURRANT . Oil the 27 th March , in his fifty-third year , Bro . Thomas Durrani , of the AVhite Hart Hotel , Booking , Essex . He ivas a member of the Lqdge No . 817 , and also of