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itwouldbeiuconvenient to appointacommittee during theprescntsession . —In the HOUSE OP COJIMOXS on Monday , the further consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Red Sea and India Telegraph Company Bill led to considerable discussion , it being moved by Sir J . Graham that the discussion should be postponed . The house divided , and the amendment of Sir James Graham was negatived by a majority of 177 to 130 . In reply to Mr . " Disraeli , Lord J . Russell said the armistice was a suspension of hostilities only , but beiug for a period of five weeks

he was led to hope that it might lead to some arrangement between the belligerents , which might produce a peaceful solutiou . Mr . AV . AVilliams called attention to the increase in the estimates , and also to the punishment of flogging in tho navy . Sir 0 . Napier did not think that corporal punishment in the navy could be altogether done away with . The house went into committee of supply , and the discussion of the estimates chiefly occupied tho remainder of the evening . —On Tuesday the Grieve ' s Disabilities Removal Billwhich had passed the Lords without

, question as a private bill , was thrown out in this House , the Commons considering that it involved public interests . In reply to a question of "Mr . Disraeli , Lord J . Russell said that information had beeu received by the French Ambassador , to the effect that a treaty of peace between the two emperors had been signed . The noble lord then stated the terms of the treaty . The adjourned debate on the Roman Catholic Relief Act Amendment Bill principally occupied the remainder of the sitting . On AVednesday , Mr . Dillwyn moved the second reading of the Church

Rates Abolition Bill . Mr . Du Cane opposed the bill as nothing less than an attempt to rob the established church , and moved as an amendment that it be read a second time that day six mouths . Lord 'R . Montague seconded the . amendment . Mr . Bailies , as a dissenter ,

who did not approve of the union of church and state , said he had no wish to say to the established church " stand and deliver . " He was quite satisfied to cry out ' bauds off , " and if they kept ' - 'hands off" he would be perfectly content . Mr . Adderley supported the amendment . Sir G . C . Lewis quoted a variety of statistics in order to show that tho opposition to church rates was not to be attributed to tho burden they cist upon the community , but rather to conscientious feelings which they were said to violate . He was at one time favourable to a plan for

rating members of the established church and exempting dissenters , but that compromise was opposed by the friends of the existing law , and he therefore saw no alternative but to support the second reading of tho bill . Lord J . Manners eulogised the bill brought in by Mr . AValpole , which ho considered a liberal compromise . The bill now before the house had not for its object the relief of conscientious dissenters , but the subversion of one of the great principles of the English constitution . Lord Fornioy argued in favour of the bill , which he contended would strengthen tho

church . Mr . Drummond maintained that every one who voted for the bill voted against the principles of an established church . Lord Palmerston acknowledged himself a convert to the abolition principle , in consequence of the strong feeling expressed out of doors . Mr . Disraeli , in an amusing speech , drew attention to the changes the noble lord ' s opiuions had from time to time undergone . Lord J . Russell did not consider that there Mas an injustice in church rates , and he could not support the abolition on that ground ; but ho should support the second reading of the bill on the ground that-public feeling had declared strongly in its favour . On the division there were 203 for the second reading , and 193 against it , The bill was accordingl y read a second time ,

PI . T . IJC AMUSEMt' / XTS , ROYAL ITALIAN OI'UISA . —C'ovent Gardcu Theatre , on Thursday , was crowded , as a matter of course , by a purely musical public , the entertainment being for the last time this seasou , Mozart ' s opera , ' ¦ ' Don Giovanni , " with the following powerful cast : —Donna Anna , Madame Grisi ; Zerlina , Madame Peneo ; Elvira , Mdlle . Marai ; Don . Giovanni , Signor Mario ; Leporello , Signor Roneoni ; Maset / o , Signor Polonini ; II Oommendatore , Signor Tagliafico ; Don Ollaviu , Signor Tamberlik . Costa was as great as ever in the management of the orchestra , and the minuet was admirably danced by Mdlle . Zina and M . Dcsplaces .

DRURY LANE THEATRE . —On Monday evening Mr . Balfe took his benefit at Drury Lane . The " Bohemian Girl" was presented in its Italian dress ( La Zingara ) , and served to introduce Miss 'Victoirc Balfe to a London audience in tho character of Arline . who sang to perfection , and betrayed great dramatic power . Giuglini , as Thvddeiis , sang admirably , and lie was compelled to give the popular air , "AVhen other lips , " three times before the audience were , satisfied . His delivery of the " Fair Land of Poland , " was also most masterly . At the conclusion ot

the . opera Miss Balfe was called before the curtain , and Mr . Balfe , who conducted , was also compelled to appear on the stage to receive an ovation from an audience which , it is pleasant to be able to state , filled the house in every part . On Thursday , for the benefit of Sigr . Giuglini , was given part of " Les Huguenots , " with the following cast : — Valentin a , Mdlle . Titiens ; Margarita , Mdlle . Brambilla ; Manello , Sig . Marini ; Never * , Sig . Fagotti ; San Dris , Sig . fLanzoni ; and Llaotd- di Na . ngis , Sig . Giuglini . After which , " La Zingara" was given , with Mdlle . Piccolo-mini as A dine . HAYMAHKET THEATRE . —This evening our worthy Bro . Buckstone takes his benefit , and we , sincerely hope he will have the bumper that

The Week.

his managerial abilities and spirit , and his invariable complaisance entitle him to . The following is the bill of fare . The new comedy of " The Contested Election" commences the evening , followed by ' " How to Make Home Happy , " by Mr . and Mrs . Charles Mathews , at the end of which Mr . Buckstone will , as usual , address the audience . This is also the first time of a new ballet , by Mr . Leelercq , entitled " Allhallow ' s Eve . "

PRINCESS s THEATRE . —The withdrawal of "Henry tho Fifth" has been followed by the revival of "Henry the Eighth , " shorn of none of its original splendour . Air . Kean ' s Wolsey remains one of the best of his Shakespearean assumptions , not conventional , nor aiming at thaisustained dignity which , however incompatible with the historical truth or poetic treatment of . tho character , most actors have attempted to impart to it . Mr . Ivean presents to us tho man in the habit as he lived , and as he is presented to us by the . dramatist . Mr . Kean ' s Queen-Katherhie is as impressive as ever , the striking point being of course hpr dignity in the trial scene .

OrA'Mi're . —On Monday night another new drama , by Air . Tom Taylor , entitled '' Payable on Demand , '' was brought out with unequivocal success , and Air . F . Robsou has thus acquired a fresh , character of 'importance , which he is likely to sustain for some time in the presence of an admiring public . Notwithstanding some faults of construction , aud a slight falling , off in the dialogue , the piece must be acknowledged worthy of the author . Throughout the whole of the second act the . character of Reuben is a great creation on the part of Mr . ltobsou . Tlie wild

thirst for gold , the affection for his daughter , the tearful remembrance of his late wife , to whose spirit lie prays in an agony of doubt , are brought into the strongest and most natural , collision , while the compound is curiously tempered by the quiet craftiness of the . modern speculator . In describing the character and perplexities of . Hcuucu . as pl .-ryed by Mi-. Robsou we , in f ' aci . describe the piece , but a word of commendation is due to Miss AVyndham ' s earnest performance of the mother and daughterand Mr . II . AVigan ' s hihl

, gy finished representation ot a Frenchman , —a lieutenant in the first act , and an enthusiastic vendor of curiosities in the . second . The two scenes , one an old-fashioned German interior , elaborately set , the other , a modern drawing-room , gorgeously furnished , are well worthy the high reputation which the Olympic managers have acquired by the arrangements of their stage . S'I ' IIAXO TiiEA-ran . —Two novelties have made their appearance here ,

a farce entitled " Quixote , Junior , " of -which we cannot give a favourable , report , and a now burlesque . This burlesque is very funny . The dialogue bristles with , fun , and the slang allusions , which are plentifully interspersed throughout , arc not in such very bad taste . Altogether , as burlesques go now-a-days , the "Last Edition of the Lady of Lyons " is a capital one . The audience were in ecstasies of delight therewith , likewise with the author , Mi-. If . J . Byron , who is rapidly achieving eminence iu a branch—or rather on a twig in tho dramatic art—whose highest rewards ore not of a sufficiently gratifyiiignature to invite much competition .

SURREY G . IIIDKXS . —The second series of concerts and fetes at the Surrey Gardens commenced on Monday afternoon , when the combined attractions of two concerts , a double display of fireworks , aud a preeminently fine day , had the effect , of filling the music-hall , and even overflowing it to such an extent that a . considerable number of amateurs had to listen to the music from the garden . Each , of the concerts was a very admirable entertainment .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

Bno . J . JOII . VSON , No . 01 , is thanked . It is impossible for us to keep the appointments correct wi thout the assistance of the brethren . Fully half of the Lodges have not made us any returns of the places and times of meeting , without which wc cannot notify their appointments . " II . V . 0 . "—Certainly not .

' ¦ ' Uxu-onjUT / or AVoiiKiNo . "—Sonic remarks on this subject from a correspondent are in type . ' ¦ ' Axcravr A i i : \ vs OR FREEMASOSRY . "—Our correspondent is thanked for his oiler , of which we shall avail ourselves . "A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND 0 FHCER . "~ TOO late for our impression

of tho present week . "P . E . X . "—A communication relative to American Brethren will receive early attention , "Ale . C ; Gwiscow . "—Your reports of the slate of the Craft in the North will be % -elcome .