Colonial.

first P . G . M ., and felt assured that he would do all in his power to advance and promote the interests of the order . The toast was drunk with Masonic honours . Bro . Thornton returned thanks . He felt grateful at the presence of so many of the brethren , and assured them that he-had been deeply impressed with the ceremony , and trusted that he would fulfil the high responsibility he had taken upon himself to the satisfaction of all Masons . There was no honour which he coveted closer to his heart than the position he had been elevated to , and

whatever little ability he possessed would be devoted to the advancement in this colony of Masonry . The Prov . G . M . ( I . C . ) then proposed " The health of the Provincial Grand Master and Deputy Provincial Grand Master and officers of the English Constitution . " He believed that if ifc had not been for the presence of Bro . Williams , D . Prov . G . M ., and the brethren who assisted him , the ceremony would not have been so efficiently performed as it had been . The toast having been drunk with Masonic honoursthe D . Prov . GAL ( E . C . ) responded to itand

, , said , iu performing the ceremony he believed he had only done what was his duty , and what every Mason would be perfectly willing to do to another . He assured them that ho came there , with all sincerity and friendship , to assist them , and trusted that the Grand Lodge of Ireland would meet , with success . Bro . AVilliams , D . Prov . G . M . ( K . C . ) then proposed "The health of the Provincial Grand Master and Officers of

the Scotch Constitution . '' The toast was drunk with Masonic honours , aud responded to by Bro . Macfarlane , Prov . GAL ( S . C . ) The next toast was "The health of the Deputy-Provincial Master and Officers of the Irish , Constitution , " which was proposed by Past Master Murphy , and responded to by Brother Clark , on behalf of Brother Loveeraft , 0 . Prov . GAL ( I . C . ) The chairman proposed "All the Fraternity round the Globe . " This toast was drunk with the usual Masonic honours . Bro . Clark proposed '" 'The health of the Brethren who have honoured

us by co-operating in the formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland in Sew South AVales . " The toast was drunk with Masonic honours . The next toast " Our Absent Brethren , " was proposed hy the chairman . Brother John Clark proposed " The health of Aiasfcers , Paymasters , and Officers of the Lodges under the English constitution in this colony . " This toast was drunk with Masonic honours . The healths of the Masters . Past Masters , and officers of the Lodges under the Scotch constitution in this colony , was

proposed by the Prov . G . M . ( I . C . ) and responded to by Bro . Allen . This toast was drunk with Scotch Masonic honours . Bro . Gordon proposed the healths of the Masters , Past Masters , and officers ol - die Lodges under the Irish constitution , which was drunk with Scotch honours , and responded to by Bro . Smith , AV . M . of Lodge 260 . The Prov . G . M . having left the chair , the brethren departed , after having snent a very pleasant evening .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

Tui" Co in IT . —Our record of the movements of the royal family this week may be confined to a very small compass . Her M ! ajesty remains iu strict retirement at Osborne , the only visitors being the Prince and Princess Liningeu . The Prince of AVales has gone back to Oxford , and ifc has been officially announced that he will visit Canada in a- mouth or two . The Due de Montpensier has arrived in this country on a visit to the Queen , aud his to banished relatives . I . iiPEiiiAL PAitu . uiEXT . —In the HOUSB of Lor . DS , on Monday , Lord

Norrnaiiby said that , shortly after leaving the house the other night , he had received a letter from Italy , with respect to ivhich he had been cpiestioned during the debate . He handed one to the Marquis of Clanricarde , which he said would convince the noble lord ancl others that they were entirely iu error in the statements made on Thursday night . A message was brought from the Commons requesting a- conference with their lordships on the subject of the commercial treaty with France . Their lordships were informed that the Commons had agreed to address

the Crown on the subject . Lord Taunton gave notice that on Thursday next he should move that their lordships should join in agreeing to a similar address . On Tuesday , Lord Chelmsford introduced a bill for the purpose of remedying the evils incidental to Sunday trading . Some other business was transacted , and their lordships adjourned at an early hour . —Iu the HOUSE of COMMONS , on Monday , Lord John Russell said , in reply to a question from Mr . Puller , that it was the intention of the I'Vench government to impose an export duty upon rags as soon as the

existing prohibition shall have been removed , but that he could not state the exact amount ofthe proposed duty . 'The noble lord added that the government had taken steps for obtaining a free export of rags from other countries in which the export is now cither prohibited or restricted by heavy duties . Lord John Maimers asked the Foreign Secretary whether he had received any further information from Paris wifch regard to the intentions of the French Emperor respecting Savoy . Lord John Russell could onl y add that he had no doubt that the opinion of the great

powers of Europe would have due weig ht with his Imperial Majest y . Mr . Oisraeli then asked the government what course her Majesty ' s ministers intended to pursue with referen : e to Mr . King-lake ' s motion ; whereupon Lord John Russell replied , that the second reading of the reform bill was fixed for the ! l . 9 th instant , and that he did not choose to give way in order to give precedence to Mi * . Kinglake . Mr . Kinglake moved the adhjurnipent of the house , and corn plained of something like a breach oi iaith on the part of fche government , as he had only consented to post

pone his motion , at the instance of the horeign Secretary , upon , the understanding that a government night was to be devoted to the subject . Mr . Disraeli insisted upon the necessity of a discussion on' the . Savoy question , and said that the policy of the government was involved hi great mystery and required explanation . Lord Palmerston attempted to intimidate the opposition by stating that ifc should be clearly explained whether those who wished to bring the question of Savoy before the house did so with the view of expressing censure on the conduct of

the French Emperor , or of asking the houso to pass a vote of censure on her Majesty ' s ministers . Sir J . Packington denied that Mr . Disraeli had in any way intimated a desire to pass a vote of censure . The Chancellor ofthe Exchequer said that grovernmenfc was fully prepared to meet any discussion relative to their conduct in relation to Savoy . Mr . Gladstone then moved the second reading ofthe Paper Duty Repeat Bill , whereupon Sir AA . Miles moved his amendment , to the silent thai , as the repeal of the duty will necessitate an addition to the income-tax ,

such repeal is , at the present time , inexpedient . Sir AV . Miles delivered an elaborate speech , in the course of which lie argued that tho repeal of the duty would not cheapen literature , and that it was a mistake t , ) suppose that paper of good quality could be made of substances other than rags . Mr . Banks Stanhope seconded the amendment ; ane ! Mr . Norris then delivered a forcible speech in favour of repeal . In tbf debate which followed , Mr . Mill , Mr . Black , Mr . Maguire , Lord Robert Cecil , and Mr . Gibson took part . Sir J . Packington implored the House

not to de-vide without considering tho condition of the working classes , and persons with small fixed incomes , for whom the budget did nothing . He understood that the paper duty produced last year . £ 1 ,-100 , 0 ( 10 and there was a rumour that ifc would yield A'l , 500 , 000 . He asked the Chancellor of the Lxcheqiior whether those statements were correct' ! The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he knew nothing of the rumour about ; a million and a half . The House then divided , when there appeared—For the second reading 215 Against it 1112

, ; , ; majority , ;"> - " , . The result of the numbers was received with cheers . The bill was then read a second time . On Tuesday Lord John Russell took the opportunity of laying on the table , further papers on the state of Italy . He said all he desired was that the Italiansshould be allowed to manage their own affairs . An interview with a

1 uscan agent ljad so completely convinced him of tho impossibility ol ! restoring the grand dukes , he had no alternative but to recommend that the Italians should have their own way . Ministers had exerted all their influence in order to preserve the peace of Europe , and if in doing so they had contributed to the independence of Italy , he for one was not ashamed of the part he had taken in bringing this about . Mr . AVhiteside argued that this country bad no business to interfere with the interfere with the . internal affairs of foreign countries . He thought ,

however , that the despatches ou the table ivere very meagre with respect to the annexation of Savoy . The prime minister himself had been absolutely silent . Lord Palmerston denied he wished to stifle discussion . He excused the sileuce of the British Government as to the annexation of Savoy , from July to December , on the ground that a congress was then expected to assemble , where the question would bo naturally discussed . But when it became clear that there would be no congress the Foreign Secretary had addressed a strong remonstrance to

the French Government . It was admitted that England ought not to go to war in defence of Savoy ; and he thought that to stir up hostile combinations on the continent ivould only tend to irritate France , and make it a point of honour with her to insist on the annexation . He thought that the annexation of Savoy ivas not in accordance with the imperial declaration at Bordeaux , that the empire meant peace . He considered this annexation as dangerous to Europe in general , and to Switzerland in particular . The noble lord concluded by stating thai ; Government had received information to tbe effect that Tuscany- had . now voted her annexation to Sardinia , and that he believed the French

Ernperor would be satisfied to gain more from disarming the suspicions of Europe , than from the possession of Savoy . Mr . Disraeli complained that Lord John Russell had not replied to the observations he had made the other night . Tho crisis most perilous , and it was astonishing that in such a position of affairs the Government should urge the house to abstain from discussion ; and if Europe were now to be torn by convulsions , a heavy responsibility ivould rest on the minister who had encouraged the French emperor in the prosecution of his ambitious

projects . Mr . Kinglake denied that he intended to stir up war , and objected to Lord John Russell ' s despatches that there was a want of reality about them which made them disregarded by the French Government . . Air . Kinglake was followed by Air . S . Fitzgerald , who commented strongly on the practice of corresponding by private fetters . Mr . Osborne abused everybody except the French emperor , and after a few words from Lord John Russell , the papers were laid on the table , and the subject dropped . On AVednesday tbe House was engaged in

discussing Mr . Locke King ' s Relig ious AVorship Bill . The object of that bill is to enable clergymen of the Church of England to preach in any public hall or other uueonsecrated building , without having previous ! y obtained the permission of the incumbent . Mr . AAlilpole opposed tinbill on the ground that ft would create " confusion" iu parishes , and override the canon law . Lord Robert Cecil protested against the bill as ,-in insult to the Jews . This was resented by Sir F . Goldsniid , who . in a , brief speech , advocated religions libert y , and . stated that he was as anxious for the free preaching of the Christian as of the Jewish faith , Mr , Gladstone advised , the withdrawal of the bill ,