Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . L AXIXG OE THE FouxDATioif STOKE OF THE NEW MAEKET , CHESTEB . This event , which was looked forward to with considerable interest , took place on Tuesday , the Sth inst . For several days previous the weather had been most unpropitious , ancl on Monday many entertained grave doubts as to whether it would be fine or otherwise on the morrow , while everybody hoped for

the best . The important day at length arrived , and Jupiter Pluvius , instead of exhibiting his soaking powers , allowed brig ht Sol to shed his warm and revivifying rays over the old city , which had the effect of causing the interesting proceedings to pass off with more than ordinary brilliancy . At halfpast twelve o ' clock the Mayor ( J . Trevor , Esq . ) , wearing the massive gold chain and robes of office , met the magistrates , sheriff ( Jos . Oakes , Esq . ) , the members of the Town Council ,

and a number of citizens , at the Town Hall , amongst whom we noticed—Thomas Dixon , Esq ., P . S . Humberston , Esq ., M . P ., Charles Potts , Esq ., Colonel Lloyd , Dr . Phillips Jones , AVm . Wardell , Esq ., John Rogers , Esq ., Arthur Potts , Esq ., the Rev . J . H . Hewsan , Chaplain to the Corporation ; the Town Clerk , ( John AA ' alker , Esq . ); the City Treasurer ( E . Stokes Roberts , Esq ., ) & c . A procession was formedandpreceded bthe band of the

, , y Blue Coat School , proceeded to the Royal Hotel , where the Chester Artillery and Rifle Volunteers , headed by the excellent band of the Rifles , under the direction of Bugle-Major Davies , ivere already drawn up . The further arrangements having been completed , the procession of Freemasons issued from the Royal Hotel . Amongst the visiting brethren , including most of the members of the Lodge of Independence in this city , ive noticed Bros . James Salmon , Henry ' Churton , John Pilling ,

AV . M . Lodge of Light ( No . 173 ) , AVan-ington ; AVm . Hardisty , H . Mawdsley , TR . A ., A . F . Bigg Wither , Thomas Burghall , F . Musgrave , Robert Jackson , Thos . Dean , Henry Thomas , John Davies , 0 . AV . Gough , John Bowes , Robert Lansdale , E . Stanley Bent , Alexander W . Bainbridge , A . F . AA * atts , AV . Ellis , S . Caldecott . John Harrison , Thomas Smith , W . H . Light , T . Gittins , 13 . Tasker , R . G . Parry , Thomas Evans , R . G . StanyerR . CliorleyH . B . AVhiteS . W . 173 AV . Bather

, , , , , T . Parkes , T . Hollowell , John AA ' orthington , AV . Axon , G . J . Higginhottom , J . Taylor , G . Robinson , Samuel Smith , J . C . AA ' ard , J . Pierpoint Stringer , P . M ., and J . AA ' alker . The Cestrian Lodge followed , preceded by their emblazoned banner . Among the members were Bros . AValter Butler , AV . M . ; E . G . AVilloughby , Acting S . AV . ; H . Piatt , J . AV . ; Captain Hitchen , S . D . ; T . AA'ilcock , jun ., J . D . ; T . Minshull , Treas . ; Hugh

Roberts , I . G . ; T . Truss , P . M ., Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; S . Brown , P . M . ancl Dir . of Cers . ; R . M . Pigot , P . M . ; J . D . AVeaver , P . M . ; AV . Oakes , J . Goodier , and others . The procession having formed in front of the Royal Hotel at 12 . 45 , it marched to the site of the New Market . On arriving at the ground at one o ' clock , the A oIunteers , under the command of Captain Blackburne , opened left and ri

ght , and the Mayor , Magistrates , Sheriff , Council , and Citizens took up their position on the north side of the stone , the Cestrian Lod ge of Freemasons and visitors took up their position on the south side , ancl the Volunteers occupied the west . The east was filled up by the citizens . Every available spot was filled with spectators , and the windows of the Exchange were crowded with the wives and daughters of the Town Council . AVhen the

properpositions were taken up , the Mayor , the Sheriff , the Town Clerk , the City Treasurer , the Chaplain , and the presenter of the trowel advanced to the stone on the east side ; the Masonic officers also advanced to tlie stone .

Ihe AA ' orshipful Master of the Cestrian Lodge deputed to the Mayoi . the authority of the R . W . Prov . G . M . Field-Marshall Viscount Combermere , G . C . B ., to perform the ceremony with Masonic formalities , as follows : — "Men , women , and children , here assembled to-day to behold this ceremony , know all of you , that we be lawful Masons , true to the laws of our country , established of old , with peace and honour , in most countries , to do good to our brethren to build great buildingsand to fear

; ; « od , who is the Great Architect of all things . Unless our Craft bad been good , and our calling honourable , we should not have fasted so many centuries , neither should we have had so many illustrious brothers in our Order , ready to promote our laws and urther our interests . To-day we are assembled in presence of Jon all , to lay the foundation stone ofthe new markets for this

ancient and loyal city of Chester ; and as we have the honour to number among the members of our Royal Craft its worthy and respected chief magistrate , I have much pleasure , on the part of the Craft , ancl by the authority of our Right AVorshipful Provincial Grand Master Field-Marshal the A'iscount Combermere , in deputing Bro . John Trevor to perform that ceremony with the formalities peculiar to Free and Accepted Masons . "

The trowel , which was the gift of the Magistrates and Corporation , was presented to the Mayor by Mr . Humberston , M . TB . This beautiful work of art was designed by Mr . Butt , ancl bore engraved on the blade the sacred Masonic symbol , the city arms , and the elevation of the new markets , underneath which was the following inscription : —¦ " Presented to JOHX TllEVORESQOIEE

, , Mayor of Chester ,, by the Magistrates and Members of the Town Council of the City , on the occasion of laying the Foundation Stone

of the isew Market . April Sth , A . D . 1862 . " Upon the handle , which was elaborately chased , was engraved the square and compasses and the Mayor ' s crest . Mr . P . S . HU 3 IBEUSTO _ > , M . P ., then said it was with great pleasure he had met the Mayor on this occasion , together with his brother citizens , to assist iu the celebration of laying the foundation stone of the new market in Chester . Withinhe

, might say , the last forty years , the markets of Chester were held in the open air , ancl the meat market was held in open stalls at the north end of the Exchange , and he believed they were now standing on the site of the old fish market of Chester , and the streets were habitually filled with persons who attended to make their ordinary purchases . It was in the year 1827 or 1828 , he . believed during the mayoralty of Alderman Bowers , and

principally through his exertions , that the present market was built ; but Chester having advanced greatly in population and importance since that time , the market was found to be totally insufficient for the purpose for which it was erected ; and it fell to his ( the Mayor's ) good fortune , and he might say it was also fortunate for the citizens of Chester , to have the opportunity of obtaining , without exception , the best site in the city for

establishing a new market . Not only did that opportunity occur , but . he ( the Mayor ) availed himself of it , and he thought he might say the citizens had much to be grateful for , for the manner in which he had conducted the matter . Immediately the question was brought before the Town Council , that body gladly entered into the spirit of the undertaking , and provided means not only for the purchase of the requisite property , but also for erecting a substantial , spacious , and noble market-place . The Mayor had

received authority from the noble and gallant Field-Marshal A'iscount Combermere , who was Provincial Grand Master of the County , to lay the foundation stone of the new building with Masonic formalities ; and the citizens felt themselves honoured by the presence of so many of the Masonic brethren to assist in the ceremony ; hut he ( Mr . Humberston ) could assure them , that , they met them there in the same spirit of fraternity in whicli they had come to assist the citizens of Chester . ( Cheers ) . He

hoped prosperity might attend the good work thus auspiciously commenced , ancl that during the present Mayoralty they might see a noble building , a suitable market both for buyers and sellers , in the city , and one which would last for many years to come . He was sure from ivhat he knew and had seen of the plans , that the architect engaged in the work would give them not only a spacious , substantial , and elegant building , which

would be an ornament to the city , hut one whicli would be conducive to the convenience of succeeding generations . He trusted the architect ivould see his plans ably and well carried out , and he did not doubt but that the contractor who had undertaken the works would see them executed punctually ancl honestly . Ancl he further hoped that when the present ( Mayor ' s year of office drew to a close , he ivould be able to hand over to his

successor a valuable property to the citizens of Chester . ( Cheers . ) I now , sir ( continued Mr . Humberston , addressing the Mayor ) , have the honour to present to you a trowel from the Magistrates and Town Council of this city , for the purpose of laying the foundation stone , and I trust it will be a family record of the proceedings of this day , and for the honour you have done us in laying this stone ; and it will be long before we can forget the honour of which we are the recipients in your having so kindly attended here to-day to assist in this inauguration