Freemasonry In Brecknockshire.

of the oldest members of that lodge . He was present at its foundation ( or resuscitation ) and some few brethren present could recollect what great difficulties they had to encounter during its infancy . He was very proud however to say that it had now arrived at such a state of prosperity that he hoped the example shown by the Brecon Lodge would be widely diffused , not only in the working of lodges , but in the spread of fellowshiand goodwill throughout the district .

p The AV . MASTER gave " The Health of Bro . Purfitt , " a distinguished Mason from Somersetshire . Bro . PAEFITT replied in an eloquent speech . The AV . MASTER proposed " The Health of the Officers of the Brecknock Lodge . " Bro . JONES returned thanks . Bro . AVILLIAMS said he certainlfelt exceedingly proud of

y that day , and his remarks would explain themselves very much Avhen he told them that he was the treasurer of that lodge , and that he believed a share in the concern was better than one in Overend and Gurney ' s bank . After going to the expense of building that lodge the presence of their brethren on that occasion compensated them very much for ifc . He was very

proud to find their first offsping was such a noble bantling , and he was proud to see so many brethren come over the border to rejoice with at its christening . Formerly when they made a raid over the border it was not on such friendly terms . As to the visit of their Hereford friends , ancl the prime beef that is to be put into pickle for them , it was saicl that when the black cattle first went over the border their faces grew so pale that ever since they have been white . He hoped their visit ivould

not be of a character to make them blush after that fashion . As to old Gwent and Morganwg—the very backbone of this country he ivould say in the words of the Welsh triad "Haiurn au gar dir i gelyn , " ( iron to our friends and steel to our foes ) . His worthy Dowlais brethren ( to whom he more particularly alluded ) would understanud him . He hoped that upon all occasions convenient to their brethren they should see them

there , and that at all times they should meet harmoniously . The AA . MASTER gave "The Health of Bro . Capt . Russell , a most zealous Mason , and one of the oldest members of the Craffc in Wales . Bro . RUSSELL replied in a truly Masonic speech , for which . wo regret we cannot find space . This was a most harmonious gathering .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Queen and Princess Helena drove out on the morning of the 19 th inst . In the afternoon her Majesty went to Craig Cluny , accompanied by Princess Helena , and attended by the Duchess Dowager of Athole and Miss MacGregor . The Queen , accompauiad by Princess Helena and Princess Beatrice , Avent out driving on the morning of tbe 20 th inst . In the

afternoon , her Majesty , acccompanied by Princess Helena , ancl attended by the Duchess Dowager of Athole ancl Miss Mac-Gregor , Avent to Alt-na-Guithasach and the Glassalt . The Queen , accompanied by Princess Helena , went out on the morning of the 21 st inst . In the afternoon , her Majesty and Princess Helena , attended by the Duchess Dowager of Athole ancl Miss

MacGregor , drove to tlie Lynn of Quoich , returning by the Lynn of Dee . The Queen and Princess Helena went out on the morning of the 22 nd inst . Tlie'Queen and Princess Helena drove out on the morning of the 23 rd inst . In the afternoon , her Majesty and Princess Helena , attended by the Duchess Dowager of Athole and Miss MacGregor , went out by Invercauld and the

Slogan AVater . The Queen , Princess Helena , and Princess Louise , with the Ladies and Gentlemen in AVaiting , attended Divine service in the parish church of Crathie on the morning of the 24 th inst . The Rev . Mr . Middleton , of Ballater , officiated . The Queen left the Castlo for AVindsor Castle , accompanied by the Royal Family , and the Ladies and Gentlemen in AVaiting . The Queen , with Princess Helena , Princess Louisa , Princess « atrice , and Prince Leopold , arrived at Windsor Castle on the

26 th inst ., at ten minutes before nine o clock , from Balmoral The Queen , accompanied by Princess Helena , drove out in the afternoon . Her Majesty , with Princess Helena , Princess Louise Princess Beatrice , and Prince Leopold , drove in the grounds on ' the morning of the 26 th inst . The Queen held a Council at one o ' clock , at ivhich were present Earl Granville , Earl Russell , the-Duke of Somerset , Lord Stanley of Alderley , Sir George Grey ,

and the Right Hon . W . E . Gladstone . Previous to the Council , Lord Russell and Lord Granville had audiences of the Queen .. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —Great crowds assembled about the entrance fco Westminster Hall on fcho 25 th inst . at fche tim » e Avhen the members of the House of Commons were arriving . Inside the House there was at four o ' clock a great gathering ,

and at half-past four every available spot was occupied . Shortly after thafc time the Chancellor of the Exchequer rose , and amidst breathless silence announced that Ministers had tendered their resignation ; that her Majesty had declined to accept this resignation without further consideration , and in order thafc she might have personal interviews with Ministers had hastened

ber return to town . Her Majesty had appointed one o'clock today at AVindsor Castle as the time when she would receive Earl Russell unci himself . Under these circumstances , he moved the adjournment of the House until six o ' clock this evening . Shortly afterwards the House adjourned . At five o'clock a similar statement was made in the House of Lords by Earl

Russell . He , however , added that her Majesty ' s hesitation ia accepting the resignation of Ministers arose from the troubledstate of affairs , especially on the Continent . On the 26 th inst . in both Houses of Parliament Ministerial announcements were made . In the House of Lords Earl Russell in a speech marked by much dignity , announced thafc her Majesty had accepted the resignation of Ministers . The Queen

at first thought that the vote of the House of Commons referred simply to a matter of detail , and might be accepted and adapted to the framework of the bill . At the interview that day at Windsor , Her Majesty hacl been convinced that there was no course hut resignation for Ministers , and had accepted the tender . The noble earl briefly and moderately defended the course of the Government in respect to the Reform Bill , and remarked ,

that the promise of the Earl of Derby at the beginning of the session that no underhand means should be used to defeat the measure had not been kept . This brought up Lord Derby , who , in an evasive speech marked by no discretion and much bad temper , denied thafc his friends had had recourse to any but straightforward means to defeat the bill . Earl Granville replied

to this speech , and then Earl Grey favoured the House with a tirade against Ministers , the Reform Bill , and things in general The House then adjourned until Friday . In the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer made an announcement in all respects like that of Earl Russell . No discussion , followed this , ancl the House was adjourned .

GENERAL HOME NEAVS . —The returns of the Registrar-General for the week ending June 23 show a slight diminution in the mortality of the metropolis , but it is still much above the average . Smallpox and diarrhoea are perceptibly increasing . There were tliree deaths registered from carriage accidents in the streets . The annual rates of mortality in 13 of the principal

towns in the kingdom per 1 , 000 were—Birmingham , 16 ; Bristol , 17 ; Hull , 20 ; Salford , 21 ; London , 22 ; Dublin , 23 ; Sheffield and Newcastle-upon-Tyne , 25 ; Manchester , 26 ; Glasgow , 28 ; Leeds and Edinburgh , 29 ; Liverpool , 36 . TheRegistral-General mentions that he has received a return from the Bureau of Records , at New York , from which it appears that the population of thafc city is 726 , 386 persons , and the rate of mortality 26 per 1 , 000 . The Archbishops of Canterbury and York were