Royal Arch

hoped that the time was not far distant when the Craft would mark its sense of Comp . AVatson ' s services by a general acknowledgment of them , and provide a suitable reward for them . This was a matter ivhich was very important in his eyes , and he believed only wanted to be known to have it properly responded to . Comp . AVatson , on behalf of himself and tho visitors , returned thanks . The usual other toasts were given and received with that cordiality and good feeling which characterizes the companions of the Domatic Chapter , and they separated highly pleased with their newly exalted companion , their visitors , and the new officer ? , who each gave great satisfaction to the Chapter in general .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

PROVINCIAL ENCAMPMENTS . PLT-AIOUTII . —Loyal Brunswick Encampment . —The regular quarterly convocation was held in the Freemasons' Chapter room , St . George ' s Hall , Stonehouse , on AVednesday evening , the 21 st instant , on which occasion the A ery Eminent Provincial Grand Commander of Devon , the Rev . Sir Knight Huyshe , visited the Encampment , and complimented the Eminent Commander and the Knights on its appearance and working .

PORTSMOUTH . — Royal Naval Encampment . — The Knights of this flourishing Encampment met at the Phccnix Lodge rooms on Wednesday , the 14 th , present : —Sir Knts . Bradley , Past Commander ; J . Rankin Stebbing , Past Commander ; Alfred Heather Hollingsworth ; G . AA . Clarke , Prov . G . Sec ; J . Stening , and others . Sir Knt . J . Steiiing was reelected Eminent Commander for the ensuing year , after which Sir Knt . Bradley , in the most kind and fraternal manner , presented Sir Knt . Stebbing with a very elegant Templar's ring , formerly in the possession

of the late Sir Knt . George Stebbing . Sir Knt . Bradle 3 ' said that when the lamented brother , towards the close of his life , went safely through a very serious operation most skilfully performed by the late Sir Knt . Dr . Meadows , he gave his medical friend the ring in question , and on the doctor ' s death ii came into his hands ; and as he had ahvays considered it should belong to ihe son of their former reverend friend , he presented it with the highest gratification to Sir Knt . J . R . Stebbing , whom he and the Encampment so much respected and whom he hoped would long live to wear it . Sir Knt . Stebbing returned thanks in a most feeling maimer , and expressed his warmest gratification at the very unexpected and valuable presentation .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Queen and her family have again left town for AVindsor to spend the Easter recess . Her Alajesty held a drawingroom on Saturday , which was but scantily attended , but a considerable number of ladies were presented . The London theatres have this iveek been amply patronized by the Royal Family , who have boon to the Olympic , the Haymarket , and the Adelphi . On Tucsclaj' evening , the Prince Consort went into the city , and dined with tho Clothivorkeis ' Company , of which he is a brother liveryman . The confirmation of

Prince Alfred will most probably take place during the visit of the Queen to AVindsor ; our elegant contemporary , the Court Journal , says , that the ceremony will be as simple and unostentatious as possible ; and the precedent already established in the confirmations of the Princess Royal , the Prince of AVales , and the Princess Alice , will be strictly followed ; the Prince will shortly after join his vessel . It is announced that an addition will shortly take place in the family of Prince Frederick AVilliam of Prussiathe happj- event he looked

; may forward to in the beginning of July , the sojourn of Queen A ictoria ia Berlin will probably be so timed as to extend over the period of the anticipated occurrence . The Queen held a lerCe at St . James ' s Palace mi AVednesday afternoon , which was very numerously attended . IMPERIAL PARLIAMEXT . —On Monday in the HOUSE of LORDS the Duke of Newcastle stated , in reply to Lord Derby , that it was the intention of the government to withdraw the army estimates with a view to

their revision , but not for the purpose of increasing their amount . In Tuesday , the Earl of Carnarvon inquired whether tho government had any information as to the preliminaries of peace said to have been agreed to between Spain and Morocco , and whether there would be any objection to produce any correspondence on the subject . Lord AVodel'ouse Kniil tho Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had received a telegram somewhat similar to that which had appeared in tho morning Papers but he could nothing to the exact terms of what had

, say as heen agreed to between the contending powers . In the HOUSE of "oiiaroKg on Monday , after the miscellaneous business had been disposed of , Mr . Horsimin proceeded to call the attention of the House to the forei gn policy ofthe government . 1 fe animadverted upon the non-P' -orhietion of official correspondence with reference to Spain and AIoi-nnno ; severel y criticised the policy of the government upon the question <» the annexation of and accused them of to

Savoy , truckling Franco , aid trying to prevent free discussion within the walls of Parliament , he designs and policy of the emperor had become so plain , that silence on the part of that House must bespeak either indifference or complicity , j , " *! ' wtVe bound fearlessly to discuss and truthfully to characterize ia V policy and , for himself , he denounced the recent conduct of fne

The Week.

[ Emperor of the French in Italy as a policy of deceit . He had treated the British government with a duplicity which they had not the candour to avow , ancl with a contempt which they had not the spirit to resent . They had placed themselves in a position of humiliation ; but they might yet find that there was sufficient spirit left in parliament to vindicate the honour of the country and drive them from office . Lord John Russell adverted to the annexation as it ivould affect Switzerland , and said hev majesty ' s government had ascertained that the courts of A ienna and

Berlin admitted the gravity of that question , and that the powers of Europe would be called on to consider whether the independence of Switzerland would be menaced by the treaty between France and Sardinia . He admitted that recent occurrences had excited a considerable amount of distrust in this country towards the Emperor of the French ; and that that distrust was likely to be felt throughout Europe ; and , iu conclusion , while . " expressing a wish to be on the most friendly tei'ins with the French Government , he asserted the necessity of maintaining

friendly relations also with the other Powers of Europe , so that pence might be maintained—a result which could not be anticipated if the rights of the Powers were not mutually respected , or if any particular power were to go on annexing first this country , and then that , for its own aggrandisement . Afr . Bright said that , often as the subject had heen before the Souse , he had not been able to discover their direct interest in its discussion . He denounced the policy of incessant meddling—so needless aud so expensive—which had so often

characterised English Governments , and advocated a general friendliness ivith all the Powers of Europe , and an interference only when it became au actual necessity of justice and moderation . Air . Kinglake vindicated the course ivhich he had taken in keeping the subject before the House and asserted the political and military importance of Savoy and Nice , in contradistinction to the opinion of Afr . Bright , who had described them as worthless provinces . On Tuesday , Air . B . Cochrane asked Air . Kinglake whether he intended to bring forward his motion relative to the

annexation of Savoy and Nice before Easter . Air . Kinglake replied , that the policy of her Majesty's ministers , as announced by Lord J . Russell , on Alonday night , was so much to his satisfaction , that lie should not persevere with his motion at present , nor should he think the interposition of Parliament necessary so long as the policy of tho Government continued faithful to the spirit of that declaration . Captain Leicester Vernon moved his resolution in favour of the fulfilment ofthe Admiralty contracts with Mr . Churchward of Dover . Captain A ei-non

contended that the public faith was pledged to the fulfilment of these contracts , and proceeded to defend Mr . Churchward from the allegations contained in the report of the Packet and Telegraphic Contracts Committee . The honourable gentleman created great amusement by reading extracts from letters addressed to Air . Churchward by Admiralty officials during successive Liberal Administrations , and while he was connected with the Morning Herald . These letters communicated information for leading articles , and suggested the views which should bo

expressed . Sir F . Baring defended the committee ' s report , and stated the grounds upon which they had arrived at a decision adverse io Mr . Churchward . Sir S . Northcote , Mr . Laing , Air . Malms , the Solicitor-General , Lord Lovaine , and Sir F . Kelly took part in tho debate which ensued . On AVednesday , Sir John Trelawney ' s Church-rate Abolition Bill passed triumphantly through committee . An enormous number of petitions ivere presented from all parts of the country—in fact the most obdurate opponent of abolition must have had his eyes sufficiently

opened to perceive the dislike with which church-rates are regarded . Mr . Newdegate proposed one of his usual amendments , ivhich was most signally defeated . The debate was animated and not very tedious . Admiral AValcot denounced the bill as being dangerous to the union of Church and State , which he regarded as the best guarantee for thi < security of our civil liberty and social institutions . After a division , which negatived the amendment by 222 to -J !)—majority 17 ;!—the House went into committee , and agreed to the four clauses ivhich made up the bill .

GEKEBAI . HOME NEWS . —A deputation waited upon the Under Secretary at the Home-office on Saturday , for the purpose of explaining the plans proposed by the Corporation of the City of London for the erection of a new metropolitan meat and poultry market , to lie connected ivith the projected metropolitan railway . Tho mortality of London , which , from l ,-1 fl 7 deaths in the first week of the current month , TORIto 1 , 563 in the following week , made a further advance in the week that , endedJast Saturdayin which the number 1611 the ten

, was .. Jn years 1850-39 the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding * with last week , when raised in proportion to increase of population , is 1 , 367 . The births of 918 boys and » 27 girls , in all ., S 4 o children , were registered . The Rev . James . Bonweil , we are informed , whose scandalous immorality in the matter of Alias Vorath and her infant set all London talking some time ago , is not likely to escape the retribution he has so richly deserved . On the receipt of the formal report of the commissioners

, the matter was , it / . corns , forthwith carried into the Court of Arches , and it is hoped the case will shortly be in a train for heariii" -. It may be anticipated , therefore , that the Rev . Air . Bonweil will not long bo suffered to disgrace the spiritual functions he . still assumes , albeit he is represented in his parish by his assistant curate . The death of Lady Stnitheden , the wife of Lord Chancellor Campbell , took place on Sunday from bronchitis ) . Lady Stnitheden ivas the eldest ( laughter of the lata Lord Chief Baron , Lord Abinger , better known , perhaps , as Sir J .-imes Scarlett , _ nd ivaa crested a peeress jji her own