The Week.

him to renounce th e temporal power , [ and thus to bless Italy . As the address is said to have received no less than 700 signatures , ive may hope that a patriotic sentiment is more widely spread amongthe Italian clergy than AA ' are accustomed to suppose , and may expect to sec this excellent example folloived in other districts . A fearful raihvay accident has occurred between Florence and Sienna , by tho collision of tAvo trains , one of which contained soldiers . The

dead aud Avounded are said to number 100 . If credit is due to a private telegram received at Berlin from St . Petcrsburgh , the Russian Emperor remains faithful to tbe programme of liberal reforms which he set forth at the commencement of his reign , notAvitbstanding the obstacles which he has to encounter and the discouragement AA-hich he must have bad to bear . The despatch in question announces that the government of the Czar propose not only to

accelerate the emancipation of the serfs , but to give to Russia rcpresentatiA-e institutions of some sort . These projects arc , it is alleged , to be at once brought under the consideration of the Council of the Empire ; but as this intelligence us from a source entirely unknown , it is not at present entitled to credit . A lesser reform in the Russian dominions , but one of some importance to the mercantile community of the empire , and officially announced , is that parcels passing

ontwavds throught the Russian Post-office are to be exempt from Customhouse control . An action of somcii'liat more importance than usual has taken place in the Herzegovina , betivoeii the Turks and the Montenegrins . The latter AA'ere defeated with considerable loss . Accounts- from Greece announce that the royal troops entered Nauplia on Sunday last , and that order is noiv ' ve-established . AMERICA . — -The intelligence brought by tbe steamer China from

Neiv York is of much greater interest than any Ave have lately received . Island No . 10 on thc Mississipi had at length fallen before Federal gun boats , the Confederates losing C 0 OO prisoners and 100 siege guns . The surrender ivas succeeded by a pitched battle betAveen the main armies , near Corinth . According to the Northern accounts the Confederates , under Generals Beauregard and Johnston , commenced the attack on the 6 th and at the close of-the day had sained

the advantage . During the night the Federals Avere reinforced by a large body of troops , under General Buell , and on the morning of the 7 th they in turn attacked the Confederates , who were compelled to fall back , and at four in the afternoon retreated towards Cornith , pursued by the enemy ' s cavalry . The Federal loss in killed , wounded , and prisoners , is estimated at 20 , 000 , and that of the Confederates at 35 , 000 . General Johnston is said to have been killed

and General Beauregard Avounded . The Federal General Prentiss Avas captured . In Virginia also the hostile forces have come into collision . General M'Clellan , with his vast army of nearly 150 , 000 men , arrived in front of the Confederate works at Yorktoivn on the 5 th , and commenced an attack ivith artillery , Avhich Avas quickly replied to by the Confederates . No resultjwas gained by either party . The strength ^ of the position of the Confederates is supposed to

balance in a great measure the superior force of their opponents , though the Northerners think tho place cannot hold out . ' It is reported that 100 , 000 Confederates will shortly be massed at A'brktoivn with 500 cannon of the largest calibre , and a desperate battle is probable—indeed , skirmishing has already commenced . Of course contradictory accounts arrive relative to the battle of Corinth , but as nothing definite is yet known , they will be taken for what they are

worth . In the neighbourhood of Island No . 10 , 5000 prisoners were captured , with a large quantity of guns , & c . The Merrimac is again gh-ing much uneasiness , having captured three small Federal vessels , while there has been another skirmish betw'cen this iron monster and the Monitor , the latter being aided by another iron-clad steamer . A desperate engagement between the Monitor and Merrimac is expected , and French and English men-of-war are iu Hampton Roads

to watch the anticipated battle . Tiie Confederates have captured Port Craig , Neiv Mexico . An Anglo-American treaty on the slavetrade has been proposed by President Lincoln . By the arrival of the Jura , Ave have three days' latter news from Neiv York . As was anticipated , tbe accounts now received materially reduce the numbers said to have been put Jiors de combat in the battle near Corinth . The Federal loss , ivhich ivas stated in the IICAVS brought by the China to have been 20 , 000 men , is now reduced to 7000 , of whom

The Week.

2000 arc prisoners in the hands of the Confederates . The Pederal officers , however , appear to have suffered severely . The forces engaged numbered 70 , 000 on each side , and it is Avorthy of notice that General Beauregard in his report of the first clay ' s fighting claimed the victory . The Confederate Congress has proclaimed free trade ivith every nation except the Northern States . The bill for the abolition of slavery in Columbia has passed tbe Union House of

Representatives , by 39 votes to 30 . President Lincoln has ordered a day of thanksgiving for the late victories , and he has signed the bill for affording pecuniary aid to States Avislving to abolish slavery . MEXICO . —The Juarez Government seem unable to derive wisdom from experience . Misled , ono ivould think , by the ease with which the Soleded treaty ivas conceded hy the allies , Juarez has ordered the collection of a forced loan of ten millions , to AA-hich all the foreign

commercial houses in Mexico are called on to contribute immense sums . Tho allies immediately decided upon sending an ultimatum to Juarez threatening to recommence hostilities if he persisted in collecting the loan . A conspiracy has been discovered in the capital , and the city placed in a state of siege .

INDIA . —Thc Overland Bombay Mad brings papers from Bombay to March 27 , and from Calcutta to March 18 . The most important event recorded is the transfer of the government of India from the hands of Earl Canning to those of the Earl of Elgin . The new viceory arrived in Calcutta , on the 12 th of March , and immediately assumed the government . Earl Canning embarked for England on the 10 th , having previously received addresses from all classes of the

community , European and native . The disturbance near the Cossyah had not been sup _> i-esscd , and the Jyntceabs were extending their depredations . A nepbeiv of Nana Sahib , one Ram Rao Sahib , had been seeking to raise a rebellion in Hyderabad . His plots failed , but he managed to escape . A re « -ard had been offered for his apprehension . Mogul Beg had been hung close to the spot where he murdered Air . Fraser and other Christians in the Palace of Delhi in

1857 . The march of a large Persian army as far as Herat is confirmcd This proceeding is in violation of the treaty AA'ith England , and fears are entertained of differences Avith the Persian Government . it is gratifying to knoAv that an abundant harvest has been reaped in all parts of India , and that the country is generally healthy .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

VERITAS is thanked . He will see that the advertisement , of Avhich he complained , has been withdrawn . Neither the Editor or the Proprietor had noticed it previously , or it would never have been allowed to appear , even once . ROYAL BEXESULEST IXSTITUECOX - JOB AQ-ED MASOXS AND TUEIB WIDOWS . —If "A Subscriber" and "J . R . S . " have not received their proxy papers , perhaps it arises from their

not liaving paid their subscriptions . They should communicate with the collector , Bro . Davis , and if he has not called for the subscriptions , complaint should he made to the Committe of Management . AA . P ., a M . M . —1 . Like yourself Ave have noticed the absurdity but cannot help it . As advertisements ( not otherwise objectionable ) are sent to an office so they appear , the individuals to whom they relate would never pay for them if they

were altered . This is a well knoAvn rule in all neivspapers and periodicals . 2 . AVe entirely agree with yon . A coUector is to collect , i . e ., to call for subscriptions , and if he expects them to be sent to liiin he is likel y to miss hundreds of pounds which AVOUUI be freel y given , if applied for personally . 3 . We believe the poundage is paid in Avhatever shape the subscription arrives . This , as you say , is a premium for nonexertion . 4 . AVe cannot tell ,

S . S . —AA e do not apprehend the incoming Board of General Purposes will be bound to take the same vieiv of the matter as the outgoing Board . If that is the case there must be another reference on . the subject . T . E . AV . —Alasonic law is one thing and red-tape another . If you do not like the treatment put a motion on the paper for next Grand Lodge , get up your case thoroughly and bring it forivard . It must be answered . Bno . RICHABDS . — Next week .