Masonic Festivities.

to which Bro . Smith replied . A novel part of the proceedings , and which caused some merriment , was tho donning of the ladies by the brethren with their insignia . After supper , dancing was resumed , and kept up with great spirit till au early hour this morning . This annual meeting of St . Andrew ' s Lodge lias been tho most successful and agreeable that hag been held for some years . Tho whole affair passed off harmoniousl y and to the satisfaction of all concerned .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

HER MAJESTV and her family have been for tho past week enjoying tho comparative privacy of Osborne , but have just returned to Buckingham Palace . The Duke of Cambridge completed his fortieth year on Saturday , and the Duchess of Cambridge gave a grand entertainment on the occasion . It is said that a congress of all the great powers will take place either at London or Berlin , to take into consideration the state , of Italy . The Monikur last week contained an announcement respecting the proposed congress , differing in some important particulars from tho unofficial

statements by which it had been anticipated . Tho jl / cmftatrdoes ^ not attribute the origin of the congress to tho efforts of Lord Cowley . As to the basis of negotiations , upon tho sufficiency and fnmness of which the success of the labours of tho plonipotcntaries would before all things depend , nothing certain is ascertained . Tho Mouitcur also contains a report by At . Delanglc , ou the subject of Protestant worship in France . Henceforth , iu order to increase the guarantees for liberty of worshi p , tho authority for the opening of new 1 rotestaut

chapels , meeting places , & c , will bo granted , not by prefects , but by tho emperor in his council of state . Our Paris letters mention that great uneasiness continues to prevail there . Matters are critical , but the danger has been greatly diminished , as the assembling of a congress would deprive France and Piedmont of a pretext for proceeding to hostilities . The Moniteur of Saturday announced that Count . Prosper de Chasseloup Laubat had been appointed minister tor Algiers and the colonies . It also announced that four regiments of the line

intended to form part of the African army , had received orders to depart for their destination . Count de Cavour has arrived in Paris , and has hail interviews with the emperor aud AI . Walcwski . Nothing certain is yet known as to the decision of Austria , but the general belief is that she will also give in her adhesion to the proposal of a congress . Austria is transferring trom Trieste to Venice whatever property belonging to the government is deemedvaluable . A camp of 10000 men is to be formed on the east of

_ , the Adriatic , to protect fstria aud Dalmatia . It is stated , on good authority , that the emperor is shortly to leave Vienna for Italy . A rumour is gaining ground on the Continent that his mental faculties are impaired . The emperor , at times is stated to be unable to collect his thoughts ; while his disposition has become excitable and desirous of change . The spread of the malady is feared by the physicians , since , from the nature of its origin , its cure seems difficult . On AVednesday the annual commemoration

of the Piedmontese soldiers , slain at tho battle of Novara , in 1319 , was celebrated in the cathedral of Turin . The ceremony was solemnized in the most impressive manner . A Paris letter in the Nord states that the Sardinian cabinet has addressed a communication to the five great powers , strongly insisting on being allowed to take part iu tho deliberations of any congress on theaflairs of Ital y . The Duchess of Parma , who is at present at Spczzia , intends settling at Genoa , and placing herself tinder Sardinian protection ; she means to demand the evacuation of her dominions by Austria , anil in case of refusal to call m the au ! ot Sardinia . The lAIodenese government hail addressed a note to Cotmt Cavour ou the subject of the reception of deserters from the Modcueso