The Week.

occurrence ; but it had never before occurred , as far as he had been able to discover , that a testator annexed such a condition to his will in favour of somebody else ' s widow . But as the law allowed a husband to restrain the marriage of his own widow , it could not be said that a restraint imposed on another man's widow was against public policy , ancl he therefore decided the case against the lady . The Gazelle contains a notification

to the effect that the Commercial Treaty between this country and Turkey , came into operation on the 13 th instant . The statement which appeared some time ago , to the effect that Mr . Peabody , the eminent American banker in London , had determined to devote a large sum of money to purposes of charity in the metropolis , is confirmed by a correspondence published in the Times . The sum is one of no less than £ 150 , 000 , and the object of the munificent donor is to " ameliorate the

condition and augment the comforts of the poor who , either by birth or established residence , form a recognised portion of the population of / London . " This fund has been entrusted to a committee , consisting of Mr . Adams , the American Minister in London , Lord Stanley , Sir J . E . Tennenfc , Mr . C . M . Lampson , and Mr . Morgan ( Mr . Peabody's partner ); and the principal condition attached to the gilt is that " now and for all time there shall be a rigid exclusion from the management of this fund of

any influences calculated to impart to it a character either sectarian as regards religion , or exclusive in relation to local or party politics . " The trustees are left to deal with the money in the manner they may deem most likely to give effect to the object aimed at ; but Mr . Peabody suggests that a portion ot it , at least , may be applied iu the construction of improved dwellings for the poor . FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE . —Russia , among her other

movements of reform , is about to modify the censorship of the press . An Imperial decree has been issued , ordering several alterations in the censorship of printed matter ; a commission has been appointed to revise the law on the press , and the censorship of works published by scientific societies has been abolished . The King of Prussia has issued a decree , ordering the necessary steps for new elections to be immediately taken . In this decree he declares that it is the duty of officials to give the electors " explanations which leave no doubt as to the principles of his

government , and to oppose the influence of hostile parties who endeavour to unsettle the natural tendencies of the public mind , as was manifested on the occasion of the last elections . " He firmly adheres to the principles which he announced in 1858 ; but erroneous interpretations of those principles have , the King says , " produced complications , the happy solution of which is is the task of the present government . " The Lower House of fche Austrian Council of Empire has been engaged in a debate

upon the financial measures of the Government . The Finance Minister ' s published defence of his policy was attacked ; but the Chamber accepted the condition of Europe in 1860 as a justification of the increased military force . The press proscecutions in Austria have resulted just now in two condemnations—the editor of the Wanderer to eight months' imprisonment , and the editor of the Press to fourteen days . The programme agreed on bKossuthKlapkaancl Turr , in reference to Hungaryhas

y , , , been published in an Italian paper ; according to which Hungary is to be established as a constitutional kingdom , to the exclusion of the House of Hapsburg ; civil equality to be enjoyed by all the inhabitants ; ancl an offensive and defensive alliance to be formed between Hungary , Servia , Croatia , and Roumelia The new Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs has issued a circular explaining the policy which the Turin Cabinet will pursue . Iu this circular ifc is declared that Rome ought to be at once the

residence ofthe Pope and the centre of Italian government . "A solution of the Italian question , in conformity with the wishes of Italy , " is asserted to be indispensable , because the present state things exposes the peace of Europe to constant dangers . Garibaldi , who arrived at Milan on Friday night , was enthusiastically received by the inhabitants , the whole city being illuminated ; and a series of political demonstrations ensued . Shouts of " United Italy , " ancl " Rome ancl Venice , " were

uttered by excited crowds ; and in a speech made from the balcony of the Town Hail , Garibaldi promised that Rome and A enice should be freed from a foreign yoke , ancl urged his hearers and all Italians to train themselves to the use of arms , as a necessary preparation for the deliverance of the remainder of Italy . On Saturday evening a banquet was given to Garibaldi , and in his speech , proposing the toast of " Victor Emmanuel , the regular army , and the volunteers , " he said that many foreign martyrs had perished for Italian freedom , and thafc it behoved

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Italy to he grateful to the Hungarians and the Poles . General Turr likewise made a speech , declaring fche cause of Ital y to be that of Hungary ; and "The Wallachians" ancl "The alliance ancl community of all nations , " were likewise toasted . Following [ the popular demonstration at Milan , we hear of similarenthusiasm at A erona , though Garibaldi has not appeared on the scene . Many Italian soldiers , it is also said , have been arrested

at Mantua . A despatch from Athens assures us that a deputation from tho insurgents at Nauplia has arrived in the capital for the purpose of soliciting King Otho ' s clemency ; ancl it is likewise stated that the revolt which , broke out in the island of Syra has been completely quelled . Advices from Constantinople announces that , on Thursday night last , there was a collision in fche Sea of Marmora , between the English steamer Laconiaand a Russian steamer bound to Salonica . The

, Russian vessel sank immediately , ancl fifty-two persons perished ; but tho Laconia , though much damaged , succeeded in reaching Constantinople . AHEUICA . —By the Arabia , we have intelligence from New York to tho morning of the 12-th inst . AVe learn that the Federal army , on the Potomac , had at length made a forward movement . The advanceifc appearscommenced on the 10 th .

, , The army met with no opposition . Centreville , which was supposed to be held in force by the Confederates , was found deserted , ancl on arriving at Manassas that was also entirely abandoned . The Confederates hacl burnt everything they could not carry away , hacl destroyed the railway bridges , ancl left nothing but desolation behind them . The Federals have occupied all the positions abandoned by the Confederates . An important

naval battle , or rather two battles , have beeu fought m the Cliesapealce . On the morning of the Sth inst ., the Confederate iron-clad ship Merrimac , accompanied by two war steamers , attacked the Federal sailing frigates Cumberland ancl Congress ^ at the mouth of the James river . The Merrimac made two separate clashes at the Cumberland with her iron prow , and at each succeeded in knocking in her sides , and ultimately left her to sink . Seeing this , the Congress struck her colours and

surrendered . The victory of the Confederates was complete . On the following night the Federal iron-plated Ericsson steamer Monitor , arrived at Fortress Monroe , and in the morning the Merrimac went out ancl attacked her . These two iron vessels were engaged in close combat for five hours ; when the Monitor succeeded in forcing a bole in the port side of the Merrimac , which then returned with the Confederate fleet to Norfolk . According to the Northern accounts , the Monitor was

uninjured . This is the first fight that has ever taken place between iron-clad vessels . The victory of General Curtis over Generals Price and M'Culloch hi Arkansas is confirmed . The loss on each side ivas reported to exceed 1000 . Commodore Dupont ' s naval expedition hacl proceeded to Cumberland Sound , and gained same successes over the Confederates . The Confederates were supposed to be making a stand at Chavenom . in Tennesseea place of great natural strength . On the Mississippi

, tho Confederates were fortifying an island a little below Columbus , ancl as General Beauregard hacl gone to take the command , it is likely they will make a stand at that point . The House of Representatives had passed a resolution in accordance with President Lincoln ' s suggestion for abolishing slavery .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

P . M . —Lodge 25 on the Irish Register , meets in Dublin . MERTHYR COLLIERY ACCIDENT . —We have ' received a postoffice order for fifteen shillings , on behalf of the sufferers by the late accident at tlie Cethin Colliery , from the brethren of the Vitruvian Lodge ( No . 423 ) , Ross , which ive have forwarded to tho Lord Mayor as requested . EXCELSIOR . —There " are no direct laws relative to honorary

members of lodges , ancl they are more often elected by show of hands than by ballot . We look upon the privileges of a honorary member as merely nominal . He should not hold office in the Jlodge . He ^ may however have a vote or not . as determined by the members . There lis no necessity to return him to [ Grand Lodge : if you do so , it has been ruled he must pay a small fee , anything above the quarterage

to the Fund of Benevolence . AVe have received a copy of Lectures on tlie Ancient and Modern Drama , by Bro . Jones , which shall be noticed next week .