Poetry.

"lis eve—on earth the sunset skies Are printing their own Eden dyes ; The stars come down and trembling glow , Like blossoms on the wave below , And like an unseen sprite the breeze , Seems lingering ' mid the orange trees , Breathing its music round the spot , But I am sad—I see thee not .

'Tis midnight—with a soorhing spell The far-off tones of ocean ' s swell , Soft as the mother's cadence mild—Low bending o'er her sleeping child ; And on each wandering breeze are heard , The rich notes of tbe mocking bird , In many a wild and wondrous lay—¦

But I am sad—thou art away . I sink in dreams—low , sweet , and clear—Thy own dear voice is in mine ear , Around my cheeks thy tresses twine—Thy own loved hand is clasped in mine , Thy own soft lip to mine is pressed ,

Thy head is pillowed on my breast ; Oh I have all my heart holds dear , And I am happy—thou art here . GEOEGE D . P EESTICE .

HONOUR MASONRY . If Providence your lot hath blest , In peace and affluence to rest , Let not your mind contradicted be , Nor scorn the abodes of poverty . AVhen you behold , in abject state ,

A brother crush'd by fortune ' s fate , Lend him your aid , his wants to free , And you shall honour Masonry . "When o ' er the list of human woes , Yon find the tear of grief o ' erflows , The AVHIOW ' S moan , the orphan's sigh ,

Your help shall honour Masonry . AA here discord reigns with direful sway , The balm of reas'ning there display ; Show to the world a conscience free , And you shall honour Masonry . Your time shall pass serenely

on—AA'hile conscience dictates , right is done : Your hoary locks shall honoured be , If you ' ve regarded Masonry . AVhen life ' s tempestuous scenes are o'er , And nature ' s calls require no more , In Heaven you'll take your lust degree , If you have honour'd Masonry . [ Copied from The Amaranth , 1 S 28 . 1

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COTJBT . —Her Majesty is immediately about to return to Osborne . Before his return to England , the Prince of Wales will , as we learn from an official report from Cobourg , accompany his sister , the Crown Princess of Prussia , and her husband , on a tour in Switzerland , and along the Mediterranean coasts . The Prince will distribute the medals and certificates

of honourable mention awarded by the juries of the International Exhibition . This state ceremonial , which is to be of an imposing character , has been deferred until January next , when the full period for mourning for the late Prince Consort will have expired . GENEKAE HajfE NEWS . —The weekly return ol the Begisfcrar-General exhibits a relatively satisfactory state of health in the

metropolis . The deaths during the week were 1121 , the decennial average being 1156 . Tbe number of births AVUS 1757 , hohi ^ - an excess over deaths of 636 . The mortality from scarlatina and diphtheria is on tbe increase . —It is reported that foremost ainono . the subjects which Ministers will discuss at the Cabinet Council ivhich lias been summoned for the 23 rd , will be the American Avar , the Roman question , and the distress in Lancashire . Lord

Lyons , who has been in England for some time past on "urgent private affairs , " is expected to leave for Washington in the course of the present month . He will probably remain hero until after the meeting of the Cabinet , as it is stated that , before his return to his post , he " will be placed in a position to define the course and views of her Majesty ' s Government ,

ivithout any uncertainties or doubts in view of the various , phases which the contest in North America may assume . " It is added , by tbe Army and Navy Gazette—which is our authority for tbe foregoing statement—that the views of Russia on this question " are assimilated" to those held by the govern . meiits of England and France . On Monday Lord Palmerston ,

visited Winchester on the occasion of the inauguration of the * Diocesan Training School , and ivas most cordially received . At , the opening ceremony the Bishop of Winchester made an impressive address in reference to the institution , after which tha Bishop of Oxford preached a sermon in aid of the funds , in which he dwelt at considerable length on the general question

of the education of the people through the means of properlytrained teachers . At the conclusion of the service the Mayor and corporation of the City , through the Recorder , presented an address to the noble lord , in ivhich they expressed their admiration of his public character , and their grateful acknowledgment of his administrative abilities . Lord Palmerston , iu reply , thanked them for this expression of their approval , and

trusted that the present Ministry would continue to enjoy the confidence of the country . A grand banquet in the evening concluded the proceedings . On Wednesday his lordship formally opened the Hartley Institution at Southampton . Mr . Gladstone visited York on Saturday , and was entertained at luncheon by the Lord Mayor of that city . In responding to the toast of his health , the right lion , gentleman again touched on the

American question . Referring to the virtual despotism which has been established in the Northern States since the outbreak of the civil war , he expressed his belief " that the longer this terrific struggle continues , the more doubtful becomes the future of America , the more difficult will it be for her to establish that orderly and legal state of things which now , it is too

plain , is for the moment [ at least superseded . " He could not help seeing that " an influence unfavourable to freedom has been strengthened by the unhappy experience of what may be called American democracy , " but he trusted that Englishmen would be on their guard against such an influence , and would bear in mind the share which slavery has bad in rending

the Union . He then turned to Italy , where events were occurring which should allay the doubts of those who might be apprehensive of the " efficacy of constitutional principles . " His Lordship received an address from the Corporatian of the town , and was subsequently entertained at a dejeuner by the Mayor . In the course of the day , he made three speeches , but he appears

to have studiously avoided any allusion to the question of the American war . His colleague , Sir G . C , Lewis , however , AVIIO was present at the annual dinner of the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society on Tuesday evening , made some remarks on tins all-absorbing topic . AA'hile admitting that the great body of the English people held that the war between the Northern and Southe ™ States must issue in the independence of the latter , he eavn-Aei . himself against a . definite expression of op inion on the