The Week.

AMERICA . —The news from America , brought by the Enropa to Queenstown , is of considerable importance . The Federal government had received despatches from the fleet at Port Royal , announcing that the bombardment commenced on the 1 \\\ inst ., and that , after a fight of four hours , the Confederates abandoned tho forts and retreated precipitately . On the following day tho Federal

army , numbering 15 , 000 men , landed , and established themselves at Beaufort , South Carolina , which will be hold as the seat of future operations . Before retiring the Confcderalists destroyed all the houses and plantations . The country round Beaufort is a vast tract of swampy rice fields ; and the communication between it and Charleston is performed entirely by water , so that , except the

possession of a good port , it appears doubtful of what great advantage the capture of the place will be to the Federals . Tho losses on both sides arc miraculously small for a desperate fight of four hourseight Federals and 100 Confederates . Beaufort , it is said , will be at once opened to commerce . There is a report that another expedition will shortly be despatched from New York . In Kentucky

General Nelson had obtained a victory over the Confederates after two days' fighting , the latter having 400 killed and 1000 taken prisoners . Tho British steamer Bermuda , which lately evaded the blockade and landed a cargo of arms and warlike stores at Savannah , has once more , we are told , eluded the vigilance of the

Federal cruisers , and has escaped from Savannah with a lading of 2 , 000 bales of cotton for Liverpool .- ¦ Considerable excitement was caused in London on Wednesday by tho announcement that the Confederate Commissioners , Messrs . Slideil and Mason , with their secretaries , were captured on board the British mail steamer Trent , while on her voyage from Havanna to St . Thomas . This

vessel was brought to by the American war steamer San Jacinto , and a Federal officer boarded her , demanding that the Commissioners should be surrendered . This demand was refused by Captain Moir , and also by the Admiralty agent , whereupon Mr . Slideil openly claimed the protection of tho British ( lag . The lieutenant signalled for further assistance , and the Commissioners

and their secretaries were removed in custody , tho Admiralty agent protesting against the act . These are the simple facts of the case ; and it will at once be seen that tho question is one for the law officers of the Crown to consider and report upon . The Nashville lies quietly at Southampton , and Capt . Peagrim has probably by this time become aware that he will not be permitted to refit

for war purposes . The Globe calls attention to a section of the Foreign Enlistment Act , which provides that no vessel can be constructed , fitted out , or refitted in this country for purposes of war without the permission of the Crown ; and adds that as regards the civil war in America the proclamation of neutrality renders any such permission to either of the belligerents altogether impossible .

CniNA . —The advices brought by the China mail to the loth Oct . state that the eldest son of the deceased Emperor had succeeded his father on the celestial throne . The allied troops had commenced the evacuation of Tien-tsin and Canton ; and we may therefore presume that the stipulations of the treaty of peace continued to be observed by the Chinese government . At Ningpo and Hangchow trade was , it is stated , obstructed by the rebels . The aspect of affairs at Japan was represented to be more favourable .

AA E are sorry to state that the School of Art at Stoko-upon-Trent is likely to be discontinued for want of proper support ; indeed it would have been given up long ago but for the munificence of Messrs . Minton and Co ., who have been in the habit hitherto of clearing off all arrears from the institution , besides subscribing £ 25 a year . They have , we are informed , contributed upwards of

£ 1 , 000 to the funds of the school during the last five years . For henceforth they will subscribe £ 50 a year , and leave the people of the Potteries to do the rest . Certainly a densely-populated district like the one about Stoke-upon-Trent can Support a School of Art .

Special Notice.

SPECIAL NOTICE .

AVith the MAGAZINE , of Nov . 2 , a beautiful Steel Engraving of the Right Hon . tho Earl of Dalhousie , K . G ., P . D . G-. M ., in full Masonic costume , was presented gratuitously to every subscriber to the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . The Engraving has been executed in the highest style of art , by

Posschvhito , from a photograph by Mayall . A few copies for framing ( suitable for lodge and other presen *) may be had as follows ;—India Proofs , before letters ( which must be ordered immediately ) 7 6 India Proofs ( after letters ) . 50

Largo Plato Paper 3 0 A few proof impressions of the Right Hon . Earl of Zetland , GMaster , may still be had : India paper , 5 s . ; large plate paper , 3 s .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

To SUBSCRIBERS AND OTHERS . —All remittances by cheque , post ,. office orders , & c , are to lie made payable to the Proprietor , Mr . AVILLIAM SMITH , C . E ., 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand . COMMUNICATIONS for the EDITOR to be addressed to H . G . AVARREN Esq ., 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand . ALL ORDERS or Communications with respect to the publishing department to be addressed to the Publisher , 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand .

\_ I : j—AVe do not know any difference in tbe apron of the Master and Past Master . The Master is entitled to wear the levels on his apron , the instant he is installed . JW . S . —AVe do not know which of the London Lodges have Benevolent Funds attached to them . These funds are generally for the benefit of their own members . The following lodges we know have such funds , the Robert Burns , Israel , and Joppa . AV . AV . is thanked—but our free list is already too large in comparison with our circulation .

ANTI-IMPOSITION . —We do not know of any lav / in the English Constitutions forbidding a AA arden of a lodge , who has received relief from tho Board of Benevolence , being elected N Master of the lodge in the same year- —but we cannot imagine any brother who has been necessitated to apply for relief offering himself for election , nor can we suppose any lodge of brethren would under the circumstances elect him , no matter wdiat might be his Masonic abilities . —If the Master of a lod

ge through his own misconduct falls into difficulties , he may if he thinks lit apply to the Board of Benevolence for relief , but it will be the fault of the members of his own lodge if he obtains it . You state that " this case is spoken of with surprise , as he was never fit for his office , for many reasons , as well for his incapacity . " If so , his election reflects as much On the brethren as on the Masterbut "Anti-Imposition" should ive us his own

, g name—those of the parties implicated—and the means of verifying his statements—of course in confidence . If he cannot do so , we must request that he will not write to us in future , as TUE MAGAZINE cannot be made the vehicle of anonymous aspersions , on any portion of the Craft .

T . E . S . —AA e cannot enter into a description of Masonic salutes in tbe pages of Tins FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . AVe never heard of the salutes due to an E . A . or F . C G—The fourth proposition in the first Book of Euclid ' s elements of Geometry , has no special reference to the Mark Masters degree . AVDP—1 If the by-laws have been sanctioned by the ProvGM

... . . .., we consider that sufficient , but still they cannot be allowed to override the Booh of Constitutions . The brother aggrieved should appeal to the Board of General Purposes . 2 . The Corinthian represents beauty ; the Doric , wisdom . 3 . You are right as to the position of thetwo great pillars . 4 . The pedestals should not be triangular , but represent the base of a column .