Scotland.

The concluding " grand honours " having been paid , JBro . A . Smollett , Prov . G . M ., of Dumbartonshire , proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Sir A . Alison for his conduct in the chair , remarking that it ivas very fortunate that on such an occasion he might with perfect safety say that so large an assemblage of Master Masons had never before been seen in Scotland or in one room . Bro . Sir A . Alison feelingly replied , and in doing so took

occasion still further to eulogise and pay a tribute of respect to the . memory of the late Duke of Athole . The Provincial Grand Lodge ivas then formally closed , and the benediction , having been pronounced by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , ivhile the " Dead March" was being played on the organ , the Provincial Grand Lodge departed , the brethren all upstanding . Soon after the hall ivas entirely cleared ; and thus ended a very grandimposingand impressive ceremony

, , , conceived in the best manner , and carried out ivith the greatest order and regularity , the ii-hole arrangements being such as to reflect the highest praise on the Executive Committee . Each of the brethren were presented with a beautiful memorial card , bearing the inscription .-

—IN MEHOMAM . GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK JOHN , SIXTH DUKE OF ATHOLE , K . T . Most AVorshipful GBAND MASTER MASON OV SCOTLAND . Born 20 th September , 1814 . Died 16 th January , 1864 . Copies of which ive have received through the kindness of Bro .

John Davidson . The appearance of t \ ie Aiall during the giving of the " Grand Honours" baffles description , so imposing and so magnificent , that each and all of the 1 , 500 brethren were dazzled with the grandeur of the scene .

The following letter ivas received from His Grace the present Duke of Athole , who was unfortunately unable to be present : — Blair Athole , March 16 , 1864 . Sir and Brother , —I regret that , owing to preparations for my departure to Canada and other business , it will he out of my poiver to avail myself of the invitation to the Funeral Lodge , kindlforwarded by desire of Bro . Sir Archibald Alison .

y However , I trust you will report to him and other Brethren that , had . it been possible , I should have much liked to be present . I am , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , ATHOLE . B . Mitchell , Esq ,

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COTSKT . —Her Majesty , with the younger members of the "Royal family , remain at AVindsor . On Saturday her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales held the first drawing-room of the season at St . James's Palace , which was attended by a very great number of ladies . The presentations continued till a late hour . The Queen has joined her people in the general movement for the relief of the sufferers by the Bradfield inundation

at Sheffield . Her Majesty expresses her deep sympathy with the poor people upon ivliom this sad calamity has fallen , and announces her intention of subscribing £ 200 to the fund for their relief . The Prince of AVales has subscribed £ 200 , and the Princess of Wales and the Dulte o £ Cambridge £ 50 each . IMPERIAL PABLIAJIENT . —In the HOUSE OI ? LORDS on

Thursday , 18 th inst ., Lord de Grey endeavouredjto calm the apprehensions of Lord Desarfc , who contemplated with concern the large number of ten years' soldiers whose period of service will shortly expire . The Minister for AVar said the statements on this subject were exaggerated . No doubt , a large number of men would , in the course of the next twelve months , be entitled to their discharge ; but , having regard to past experience , they might hope that at least half the number would re-enlist . —

Lord Donoughmore condemned the present organization of the Ii-isli police , who , \\ t said , were admirable as soldiers , but most * inefficient as detectors of crime . Lord Granville could not accept this vieiv of the case ; but still in consequence of the representations which had been made to the Government on the subject , an official inquiry ivould be made . On Friday Lord JRussell to Lord to

appealed Ellenborough postponehis speech on the ^ Dano-German dispute . He liad good reason to hope that Denmark would agree to the . proposed conference , hut it was yet doubtful whether all theparties ivould consent to an armistice . Negotiations were now pending ou this subject , and a discussion in that House at thepresent moment ivould , for reasons of public policy , be

undesirable . Lord ^ Ellenborough , though not satisfied with this statement , yielded to the noble Earl ' s appeal . —Lord Clanricarde again called the attention of the House to the proceedings of the Federal recruiting agents in Ireland , aud more especially to the enlistment of men for service on board the Federal

corvette Kearsage . He contrasted the mild measures of her Majesty ' s Government in this case with the treatment Sir John Crampton received at the hands of the United States Government in 1854 . Lord Donoughmore also remarked upon the . faith with which the " very unsatisfactory" explanation of thecaptain of the Kearsage had been received , and reminded the House that this ministerial charity had not been extended to

the Messrs . Laird in the matter of the Mersey steam rams . Lord Russell defended the course ivhieh the Government had taken , and insisted that the Federal commander ' s statement must be accepted as satisfactory . Sei'eral measures ivere advanced a stage , and their Lordships adjourned until the 5 th of April . In the HOUSE OE COMMONS on Thursday , the 18 th , Mr .

Chichester Foitescue , in reply to a question , said that although the Government of New South Wales had found it necessary to raise the colonial tariff , in order to meet a deficit which had been caused by a considerable expenditure on public ivorks , there ivas no just reason to apprehend the adoption of a protective system in the colony . The . revised tariff applied chiefly

to articles of luxury . —Lord Pahnerston declined to accede to Peacock's request that the opinion of the law officers of the Crown on the case of the Tuscaloosa should he laid before Parliament . —In reply to Mr . Ferrand , Sir G . Grey said he had been

assured by the Mayor of Bradford that ample precautions had been taken for the security of the Doe Park reservoir . — Sir Charles Wood , in answer to a question from Mr . Smollett , said he had no information that Sir Ot . Trevelyan had ordered successful candidates for the India Civil Serviceto reside a year or two at one ol the universities , in order that they might acquire " the habits and demeanour " of gentlemen .

—On the order of the day for resuming the debate on the Government Annuities Bill , Mr . Gladstone entered into a defence of his statements relative to the British Provident Institution . Mr . Sheridan denied the accuracy of these statements , and demanded that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should apologise to the Housefor " the unfounded charges" he had made . Mr .

, Gladstone , however , not only declined to apologise hut also declared that he was quite satisfied as to the accuracy of the information on ivhieh he had based his statements . After some further discussion , the debate on this measure was again adjourned . On Friday , after a few questions of no great public interest were pub to the Government and answered , Sir John

Hay rose to move a resolution of ivhieh he had given notice ,, expressing regret that Mr . Gladstone had not withdrawn the imputations which he had cast upon Mr . Sheridan , the member for Dudley . After some discussion on a point of order , Mr . Gladstone , ivhile maintaining that his statements relative to the