The Week.

at Turin . An amnesty for small offences has been published .- From Florence we learn by telegraph that the proposition of Signer Ginori , as to the incompatibility of the dynasty of Lorraine to govern Tuscany has been agreed to unanimously , and a proposition carried by the assembly that it is the firm will of Tuscany to form part of the kingdom of Italy under King Victor Emmanuel . The mayor of Parma has addressed a letter to the Patrie , g iving a positive contradiction to

the report of a revolutionary movement having broken out in that city . The real wishes of the duchy of Parma with regard to the annexation to Piedmont were to be ascertained on the 14 th , by a plebiscite , or declaration of the people , on the matter . General Garibaldi has accepted the chief command of the forces of Central Italy . All the accounts from Vienna state that there is a great desire for reform in Austria . The Chamber of Deputies tit Munich have rejected the motion for the formation of a central German . The last accounts from

power Berlin represent the state of the King of Prussia tis very serious . New York news is of very slight importance . President Buchanan has positively declined to boeome a candidate for re-election . Tho affairs of Mexico remain in a most unsettled state . General Degollada was sparing for a new campaign . The advices from California are to the 11 th July . Great excitement existed in Nevada and El Dorado counties in consequence of the new and extensive gold discoveries in AValker's River . A terrible railway accident had occurred in Albanya train

, being precipitated in a creek , by which fifteen persons lost their lives . CoLOTtiAJi-TheParanahas arrivedatSouthamptonwiththeWest India mail . The Paramatta was still ashore when the mail left St . Thomas ' s on the 1 st inst . Business is reported as rather dull in the islands , but the sugar crops were looking well . Health of tho islands generally favourable .

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —On Saturday , in the HOUSE OP LORDS , after several petitions had been presented , ancl the Royal consent given by commission to various public 'and private bills , the Queen ' s speech was read by the Lord Chancellor . The commission of prorogation was then read , bringing the session to a close .- In the HOUSE OF COMMONS , on the motion of Mr . Bland , new writs were ordered for Liskeard , in the room of Mr . Grey , now ono of the commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs ; for Hertford , in the room of Mr , Cowper , who has accepted the

office of Alec President of the Board of Trade ; and for Berwiek-on-Tweed , in tbo room of Mr . Earle , who has accepted the Chiltorn Hundreds . Mr . AVesthead then drew attention to the report of the committee on the Pontefract compromise , and moved that the report of tho committee be read . He said that as Mr . Guilders could not bo replaced in his former position , Mr . Overend , tis a man of honour , should resign the seat . Mr . Selwyn thought that sneh a course was uncalled for and unjustand suggested that the order for tho

, discharge of the Pontefract election petition be itself' discharged . Mr . Selwyn afterwards withdrew his motion , and the proposition of Mr . Overend was then adopted , that Mr . Ohilders should be replaced in his former position . Mr . Gregson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affiiirs when he expected tho treaty with China would be ratified . Lord J . Russell could not say exactly when the treaty would be ratified , but he believed there would be no unnecessary delay . The

government would require the Chinese to fully carry out the condition of the treaty , ancl would invito an ambassador from that court . Lorcl Eleho moved an address for copies of reports relative to the instruction of volunteers in the government musketry school at Hytho . Aftersome observations from S . Herbert , as to the wish of the government to forward these volunteer corps , Lord Palmerston said that ninety such corps had already been formed , and other such corps wore in course of formation . The government was most anxious to encourage thembut were still

, more anxious to encourage volunteer artillery corps along the coasts of the kingdom . The motion was agreed to . The speaker soon after proceeded to the House of Lords to hear the royal commission read for tho prorogation of the present session . On his return ho read her Majesty ' s most gracious speech at the table , and the members separated .

GENERAL HOME NEWS . —T wo Cabinet Councils wero held this week at the official residence of Lord Palmerston . At the election of a new member for Devonport , iu the place of Mr . Wilson , tho candidates were Mr . Ferraud , Conservative , and Mr . Buller , AVhig . The hitter was returned by a majority of 75 .- The Registrar General ' s returns exhibit a further , though slight , decrease in the number of deaths for the past week ; but the public health , the Registrar adds , is far from being in a satisfactory condition . The total number of deaths was 1 , 290 ;

those from diarrhcoa numbering 296 . The number of births was 1 , 762 . A melancholy catastrophe is reported in the loss of the British ship Blenheim , in tbo Bay of Bengal . Her commander ( Capt . Headley ) , tbe second officer , and eleven of the crew- went down with the ill-fated vessel . On Saturday morning a ship lying in the AVear , at Sunderland , was reduced almost to a wreck by an explosion of gas . The vessel was loaded with coal ready for sea , and the cargo had evidentlgenerated a large quantity of hydrogen which became

y gas , ignited by a light inadvertently brought into the cabin . A number of persons were also seriously injured by the accident . Mr . AVakley has resumed the adjourned inquest on the body of Elizabeth Freshficld , at Ball's Pond , whose death occurred through an attempt to procure abortion . Tt will bo recollected that a person named Clement John Carnell , who passed as her husband , committed suicide immediately after tho death of the unfortunate woman . Very

The Week.

little additional evidence could be obtained , and , after a short deliberation , the jury returned a vedict of Murder against Carnell . The trial of Dr . Thomas Smethurst , for the murder of Isabella Banks , at Richmond , was resumed on Monday morning , before Lord Chief Baron Pollock . It will be recollected that tho prisoner is charged with the murder of a lady named Isabella Banks , by administering to her constantly either of arsenic or antimony , or some other irritant poison .

He was a married man ; but he had gone through the ceremony of marriage with tho deceased shortly before her death , and he had induced her to make a will in his favour , under which he would have come into possession of about ; £ 1 , S 00 . Mr . Sergeant Ballantine opened the case for the prosecution , Dr . Julius being the first witness examined . Besides his , some other medical testimony was taken . Dr . Taylor was examined at considerable length as to tho resul t of his analysis , and gave it as his opinion that death had been produced by the administration of

irritant poisons . Mr . Serjeant Parry then made a long and able address on behalf of the prisoner , and proceeded to call Dr . Richardson , who gave evidence for the defence . This witness , whose cross examination was still proceeding when the court rose , stated the result of certain experiments ho had made with poisons on dogs . The impression seemed to be , however , that from the mode of carrying out those experiments they had not much bearing ou the present case . The trial lasted all the week , and was not concluded at the time of our going to press . Tbo funds yesterday were rather weaker , and prices closed about one-eighth per cent , lower , the final quotation of Consols being 95 } to if .

PROVIDENT AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS . —In a country liko England , exhibiting such proliwon of charity—where science , tho arts , and commerce , the church , ancl the naval and military professions can each point to its Asylum , where the orphan is clothed ancl educated , aud the aged , whose only sins are poverty aud misfortune , is enabled to end his clays in comfort , agriculture ¦ — employing the largest invested capital , representing as she does the most important interest of the country—stands unrepresented in this glorious list , unable to show any

refuge for the unfortunate British farmer , or any asylum whore his orphan can find a home , or his widow a resting place . This lamentable tact has not escaped the notice of some philanthropic gentlemen , conspicuous among whom is Mr . Alderman Mechi , who has brought to bear upon the project of a new Royal Agricultural Benevolent College the same energy which has so successfully characterised his life in the pursuits of commerce and agriculture . Ifc is his desire to see established a great institution worthy of the wealth and patriotism of British

farmers , and affording a secure refuge to their decayed brethren and the widows and orphans of those who have been less fortunate in life than themselves . The project was first agitated in June only of the present year ; but such a hearty response has been made to the worth y alderman ' s appeal , that already more than three hundred leading members of the -agricultural interest have given in their adhesion , including such names as the Dukes of Rutland and Richmond , Earl HoweLord AVharncliffeLord CombermereLord AshleyM . P . Lord

, , , , , Btirghley , M . P ., the Lord Mayor , Lord Leconfield , and Lord Henry Thymic , M . P . AVe need hardly point out that some of these names are well known and respected in the Order ; and , considering what a large number of English Freemasons are connected with agricultural pursuits , wo are sure that wo shall not in vain recommend the rising institution to the favourable notice of tho brethren .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

"Tin : GRAND LODGE or THE PIULADELPHES . "—AVe aro compelled to defer the communication of M . Duquesnes until next week . ROYAL GLOSTER LODGE . —The report of the meeting of this Lodge , on the 11 th inst ., only reached us on the eve of going to press . AVe are , therefore , only able to give a very much condensed account of the interesting proceedings . Bito . RonEitT STUDS . —The question has been considered in Committee

of Grand Chapter , and we have no doubt will be officially noticed . The transaction , took place so far back that we do not sec any use in further alluding to it . The truth is , it is a great mistake to allow the same brother to bo Prov . Grand Master under both tho . English and Scottish constitutions . Much of what took place in Canada was attributable to that cause—though , doubtless , tho brother acted conscientiousl y , thoiHi

as we . think , mistakenly in his proceedings . " ii . "—Iu the Book of Constitutions , p . IS , is the following- rule : — "Brethren of eminence and ability , who havo rendered service to the Craft , may , by a vote of the Grand Lodge , duly confirmed , be constituted members of the Grand Lodge , with such rank aud distinction as may be thought proper . " Thoro is no power , however , so far as we can

see , to make honorary Prov . Grand Officers ; nor is it likely that any attempt will be made to confer honora ry rank on any brother unless under extraordinary circumstances , .-, tieh as a prince of the blood becoming a member of the order ; the Grand Lodge having negatived a proposition of the Grand Master to confer honorary rank on a Past Asst . G , Dir , of Corn ., who had served tho Craft for nearly twenty years ,