Obituary.

P . G . Chap , for the Eastern Archipelago , Bro . the Rev . John Every , officiated as Chaplain , and read portions of the burial service . The AV . M ' . read the charges and ritual in a most impressive manner , listened to with evident marked attention and emotion by tbe numerous mourners and brethren around the grave . Full and ample Masonic honours were given . After the conclusion of the ceremony , the brethren marched back to Freemasons' Hall , where lodge was closed in due form .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty and the greater part of the Royal family still remain in retirement at Osborne . The Prince of Wales returned to Cambridge on Monday . Lady- Macdonald bas succeeded Lady Churchill as Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —Iii the HOUSE OP LORDS , on Tuesday ( when it re-assembled after the recess ) , Lord Wodebouse , at the

instance of the Earl of Ellenborough , corrected a statement which he hacl been represented to have made on a former evening , relating to the dispute between Denmark and the Duchies . He observed ¦ that he bad not stated that the Danish Government hacl submitted the entire budget of the kingdom to the Holstein Diet , but merely that portion of it which referred to the Duchy of Holstein . The Queensland Government Bill was passed through committee . Several bills were brought up from the Commons , and read a first

time , including the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill . —•— -The HOUSE or COMMONS met on Monday , for the first time after the Easter recess . The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill was read a third time and passed . The Post-office Savings Banks' Bill passed through committee after a desultory debate , in the course of which several verbal amendments were proposed , some of which were accepted , and others negatived without a division . On the motion for the second reading of the London Coal and AVine Dues

Continuance Bill , Sir G . C . Lewis explained that at present the coal dues were levied within a radius of twenty miles of Sfc . Paul ' s Cathedral . These dues consisted of 'Id . per ton , which went fco the Corporation of the City of London , ancl Sd . ancl Id . per ton , the produce of which was devoted to certain works of public utility . It

was no doubt witmn the recollection ofthe House that a committee sat last session upon the subject of embanking the Thames , and that they hacl arrived at the unanimous conclusion that as the coal dues anil the halfpenny wine duty would cease in 1861 ' they ought to be renewed for a specific period , and that the whole or part of the cost of the Thames embankment should be made a first charge upon them . The object of the present bill , therefore , was to continue for ten years all the dues now levied , reserving , however , to

Parliament the appropriation of the 9 d . duty . 'to such purposes as ifc might think proper , when the Royal Commissioners had reported on the scheme for embanking the Thames . The bill also proposed to continue the -Id . duty for ten years , and be proposed , when the bill was in committee , to move that the proceeds be applied to the payment of the interest on ancl the creation of a sinking fund for the debt of £ 540 , 000 now owning by tbe Corporation of the City of London . Considerable discussion took place , ancl Mr . Roupell

moved that the bill be read a second time this day six months , an amendment which was negatived by 135 to 20 ; ancl a subsequent amendment , having the same object— -that of defeating the billwas negatived by 119 to 10 . The Election Law Amendment Bill , and one or two other bills , also advanced a stage . On Tuesday , in reply to Lord Stanley , Mr . T . G . Baring said that purchase in the army above the rank of major had been discontinued in the Indian regiments , hut that Lord Herbert wished to see bow tbe system worked before introducing it generally . Sir H . Stracey submitted a resolution that , in tho opinion of the House , the establishment of Sailors' Homes hacl been so conducive to the benefit of

seamen , ancl , consequently , of so great national importance , as to be deserving of the support ancl encouragement of the Legislature . Admiral Waleott seconded the motion . After some discussion , in which it was urged that such subjects were better left to private philanthropy than Government inlluence , the motion was withdrawn . On AVednesday , Mr . Raines moved the second reading of his bill for reducing the qualifications for the Borough franchise from £ 10 to £ 0 . Tbe motion was negatived by 2-45 to 193 .

GENERAL HOME NEWS . —In the metropolis , last week , there were 1220 deaths—a number that shows little change in the rate of mortality from that of several weeks past , ancl upon the whole a satisfactory state of the public health . Of births there were 2000 —1012 boys and 988 girls . The barometer at Greenwich recorded a mean height of 29 . 678 inches for the week , and the thermometer a temperature of 43 . 5 degrees . Lord Granville yesterday inaugurated the memorial schools which have been erected at AA ' est Ham ,

as a tribute of respect to the late Sir John Pelly . The windows ancl streets of the town were filled with inhabitants , and the ceremony was made the occasion of quite a gala day . The spirit-stirring strains of the 5 th Essex regiment of A'olunteers gave a very joyous air of festivity to the scene . Mr . Edwin James has made ' a communication to the electors of Marylebone , in which he resigns his seat as their representative in Parliament . Inability , from the pressure of professional engagements , to give

sufficient attention to the interests of the borough , is the reason assigned by the hon . gentleman for taking this step . His resignation bas produced a great sensation in the borough , it being wholly unexpected by the great body of the electors . Rumours are already rife as regards the paobable successor of the learned gentleman , and the question as to the selection of a local candidate of adequate position and pretensions , to represent the borough , is mooted in certain quarters , and an early

meeting is talked of to consider what steps should be taken to ensure a fit and proper person , of local influence , and competent to promote the interests ofthe constituency . Among other names mentioned is that of Colonel Romilly , who , it will be recollected , contested the borough with Mr . Edwin James when that gentleman was returned ; but the Colonel , it is said , declines to come forward . Major Lyon , who was second on the poll in the contest between Lord FermoyColonel Dicksonancl himselfis also

, , , mentioned as likely again to offer himself as a candidate . As yet , however , there is no rumour of a Conservative candidate , ancl , unless Mr . Haigh ventures into the field , it is very probable that the Tory party will seek to thrust a representative upon the electors . On Saturday evening a large company met afc the London Tavern to commemorate the achievement of the independence of Greece . The representatives of the principal Greek firms in London , as well as a number of those who distinguished themselves in the war of

independence , were present . M . Trieoupi , Greek Minister , delivered an eloquent eulogium on tbe soldiers who fought , and all > ho hacl aided in any way to bring about the result .- — -Burhill Park , the seat of Francis T . Bircham , Esq ., AValfcon-on-Thames , was nearly destroyed by fire on Saturday morning , the flames doing their work so rapidly that furniture , paintings , and plate all fell victims to their fury . Mr . Bircham himself was severely burned in endeavouring to save some part of the property . An accident of an appalling , and at the same time of an almost unprecedented character , took place in Dublin , on Saturday night . It appears that while an omnibus was

on Portobello-bridge , one of the horses became restive , and commenced backing . This continued until the driver lost all control over both of the horses , and finally they forced a way through the wooden palings , ancl precipitated the omnibus , with ifcs twelve unhappy occupants , into a lock of the canal , a distance of eighteen feet . The driver , seeing the clanger , managed to jump off the box in timo to save his life , but eight of the passengers were drowned . Tbey had no chance of escape , as the water in the canal was seven

feet deep , ancl an interval of half an hour elapsed before assistance could be rendered , and the water poured out of the lock . A more distressing accident never occurred . A case involving a question of considerable importance to tradesmen ancl their customers was tried at the Kingston assizes , before Chief Justice Erie . For some years a gentleman had been dealing with a poulterer and fishmonger , but being dissatisfied with some article supplied , he ordered the cook to cease to deal at that shop . Subsequentlthe cook was

cony victed of embezzlement , and sentenced to imprisonment , when an account was sent in for £ 34 by the fishmonger , the plaintiff in the present action , ancl which amount was now sought to be recovered . The refusal to pay was grounded on the fact that the plain tiff had heen informed of the defendant ' s order to his servant to withdraw her custom , and that money had been supplied to pay all purchases when made . This being proved , the judge ruled that the defendant was not liable under the circumstances , and the jury returned a

verdict accordingly . Mr . Commissioner AVarren opened an inquiry on Tuesday into the state of mind of Lord Kingston , whose strange vagaries has so often been before the public during the last few years . The proceedings have been commenced under a writ of Imiatico inquirendo , which was obtained by his younger brother tho Hon . James King , ancl by bis cousin , Colonel King . Mr ., Montagu Chambers delivered a lengthy speech , after which a considerable amount of evidence , some of it of a very extraordinary

kind , was heard . The Commissioner stated , that after he hacl heard further evidence for the petitioners , ancl personally examined the Earl , he would give bis decision as to whether or no it was necessary for him to call in the aid of a jury . The case is still proceeding . —¦—If ancient alchemy failed in its attempts to turn the baser metals into gold , modern science lias succeeded in performing transmutations of epiite as important an nature , although , perhaps , less dignified in name . To the uninitiated it might seem that neat ' s leather sounds as well as hog's skin , and that there could be no great advantage in calling the one by tbe name of the other , or in causing the one to resemble the other in appearance