Australia.

had prevented him from doing that for Freemasonry which his desire had prompted , and which the nature of his office had demanded . He hoped , however , that he would now be spared to the fraternity in such a state of health as would enable him to take an active part in the duties pertaining to his position , and he added that he felt assured that the cause of Freemasonry had not suffered in reality by his absence , since Bro . Professor Wilson , the R . W . Prov . G . M . depute had been so indefatigable in his exertionsand

, had done more for the advancement of the science than he ( the R . W . Prov . G . M . ) could possibly have been done if he bad been here . AA e cannot from want of space give the admirable speech of the R . AA . Prov . G . M . in extenso , though we would fain to do so , and now pass on to observe that the R . AV . Prov . G . M . depute gave the next toast "Success to the St . Clair Lodge , and the R . AV . M . " He expressed himself as hihlgratified at having another

gy opportunity of testifying to the zeal of Bro . Reed , who ho stated bad for the second time been installed by him ( R . AV . Prov . G . M . depute ) he ( Bro . Reed ) having but a comparatively few years since been initiated in the Australasian Kilwinning Lodge , during Ids ( Bro . Professor AVilson's ) year of office as Master in that Lodge . He also adverted to the great pleasure he had derived from that day inspecting a valuable testimonial , in the shape of an illuminated

address , that had been presented to Bro . Reed , on his passing the chair of the Kilwinning Lodge . In responding to the toast , Bro . REED most cordially thanked the R . AA . Prov . G . M . depute for the very flattering manner in which he had coupled his name with " Success to the St . Clair Lodge , " he also expressed the great pleasure he felt m seeing so many visitors present to ivelcome their young sister , lie assured tbe R . AA . Prov .

G . M . and brethren , that the members of the new lodge , ivhich bad been instituted under such favourable auspices that evening , would do all in their power to maintain and uphold the principles and tenets of the Order , and would emulate their older sisters , as to ivho shall best work , and ivho shall best agree . The toast of " The A'isitors " we responded to by Bro . H . AV . Lowry , P . Prov . G . M ., G . C ., in most appropriate language . The last Masonic toast having heen given the lodge ivas called on , and was then closed in due form .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —On Thursday , the 20 th , the Queen held a drawingroom at St . James ' s Palace , the first of the season . It is gratifying to find her Majesty emerging from her long retirement , consequent on the death of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent . The attendance ivas very largo , and the number of presentations more than ordinarily numerous . On Monday her Majesty paid a private visit to the Royal Horticultural Gardens at South

Kensington . Her Majesty , it is well known , has taken great interest in the formation of those beautiful grounds , and had intended to have honoured the opening by her presence , but was prevented by the mournful event ivhich the whole nation deplored . On the present occasion her Majesty walked through the whole grounds , and minutely scrutinised all the arrangements , and then planted with her own hands a beautiful AA ellingtonia , exactly opposite to

the one planted by the Prince Consort on a former occasion . On Tuesday the King of Belgium and tbe Count of Flanders took leave of her Majesty on their return to Belgium . The Queen and Prince Consort visited the Countess of Xeuilly at Clarcmont . On AA ednesday the Queen held a privy council , when Sir Richard Bothell was sworn in as Lord Chancellor . Sir Richard Bethell ' s elevation to the peerage will cause a vacancy in-the representation of Wolverhampton . The title of Sir Richard will be Lord AA estbury .

The Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia have arrived at Buckingham Palace , on a visit to her Majesty . LAIPEHIAT , PABLIAAIEXT . — Thursday , the 20 th inst ., being the anniversary of her Majesty ' s accession to the Throne , the House of Lords did not sit . -On Monday Lord Derby presented petitions against the total abolition of church rates , and took the opportunity of expressing ahopethat , now that Sir John Trelawney's

bill bad been rejected by tbe House of Commons , some measure Avould be introduced embodying a satisfactory settlement of the question . In reply to Lord Ellenborough , the Duke of Somerset said that no positive decision had as yet been arrived at with reference to the abolition of the Indian navy- ; but under any circumstances , the smaller vessels would be retained for postal and river service . The India Loan Bill was read a second time . On Monday Earl Granville at once moved that their Lordships adjourn ,

as a mark of respect for the late Lord Campbell and for the high office he held , and to prove their feelings of submission to the chastening hand of God . The noble Earl warmly alluded to the eminent le-gnl abilities of the deceased Chancellor , and was followed ,

in a similar spirit , by Lord Brougham—between whom and Lord Campbell so many angry passages of arms have taken place in the Upper House . Lord St . Leonards also bore testimony to the personal and professional merits of Lord Campbell . The motion for adjournment Avas agreed to . On Tuesday the Duke of Somerset made a statement Avith reference to the new scheme for granting commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve to officers of the

merchant service . After passing an examination , the captains and mates of the mercantile marine will be enrolled in the Reserve , and in time of war they will be admitted to the rank of lieutenants . He believed that if hostilities broke out between this country and another power , these gentlemen would come forward in large numbers—the inducements of a pension for wounds , and of honorary promotion for distinguished services being held out to

them . The Earl of Derby expressedhis approval ofthe scheme . In the HOUSE or COJIMOHS on Thursday , the 20 fch , in reply to a question by Mr . Darby Griffith , Lord John Russell stated that Austria and Spain had proposed to France a co-operation for the support of the Pope ' s temporal power , but that the French Emperor bad declined to accept the proposition . Lord John Russell's reply sustains the correctness of the statement as to the

fact of such a proposal having b ; en made . The India Council Bill went into Committee , and made considerable progress . On clause 10 Mr . Layard moved that not less than one-fourth of the additional number ofthe Council shall be natives of India . Sir Charles AA ood said he considered it essential that the natives should possess more power in the government of their country than they had previously enjoyed ; but he had omitted to mention them by name ,

that they and the Europeans might stand upon a footing of equality . Mr . Bright said he should be satisfied if the right , lion , gentleman ivould promise that the proportion of natives should certainly not be less than that enumerated in the amendment , and would send out to Lord Canning a recommendation of that kind . Sir C . AVood said that he intended to recommend to the Governor-General that natives should be admitted into the Council . On Friday , the House bad a morning sitting , which was occupied with the consideration in Committee of the remaining clauses of the

Harbours Bill . At the evening sitting Mr . Cochrane moved a resolution condemnatory of the present system of competitive examinations for appointments in the Civil Service ; but , after a long discussion , in the course of which the existing system was defended by Lord Stanley , Mr . Gladstone , and Sir C . Northcote , the motion ivas Avithdrawn . A conversation having taken place on the subject of the new- fortifications at Portsmouth , Lord Palmerston statedin reply to Colonel Dicksonthat he had no reason to

, , believe that Lord Carlisle intended to retire from the Irish Viceroyalty . —•—On Monday , Mr . Milner Gibson stated , in reply to Sir John Pakington , that negotiations Avere now going on for tbe reduction of the duty on British salt imported into France . The right lion , gentleman trusted that these negotiations would lead to a satisfactory result . Mr . Scully raised a long discussion on " tbe Donegal evictions , " by moving that an address be presented

to the Queen , praying Her Majesty to order an inquiry to be instituted , with the view of considering whether Mr . Adair ought not to be struck off the Commission of the Peace for the county of Donegal . Several members held that Mr . Adair was perfectly justified in adopting the extreme measure of wholesale eviction—all his efforts to improve his estates being met by the machinations of a band of Ribbonmen . On the other hand , it was contended that he , had acted from arbitrary and vindictive motives , and that the

notion of a Ribbon conspiracy was a mere delusion . Eventuall y the motion was withdrawn , and a conversation took place on the augmentation of the British force in Canada—Sir James Fergusson and Mr . Disreali condemning the step , as likely to irritate the Americans ; while Lord Pahnerston contended that the Government were only taking tho precautions usual when a neighbouring state was engaged in hostilities . A discussion on the dispute between Spain and Moroccooriinated bSir R . Peelelicited from Lord

, g y , John Russell the statement that the quarrel was likely to be amicably settled through the good offices of Her Majesty ' s Government . On Tuesday , the House of Commons held a morning sitting , which was cruelly occupied with tho discussion in Committee ofthe clauses of the London Coal and AA'ine Dues Continuance Bill . At the evening sitting , Lord John Russell announced the death of the Sultan that morning . A long- discussion arose on

a motion , proposed by Mr . Vivian , for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire whether the service might not be armed with a better weapon than the Enlield rifle . The lion , gentleman spoke in the warmest terms of Mr . AVhitworth ' s invention , as did also Mr . J . A . Turner , Mr . Crossley , and Lord Elcho ; while Mr . Newdogate put in a word for Mr . AVestleylRichards' breech loader . Mr . T . G . Baring , Lord Pahnerston , and Capt . . Tends opposed the motion , submitting that a Committee of the House of Commons was not a proper tribunal for deciding upon the merits of fire-arms . The Premier also stated that official experiments were now being