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THEMASONICQUARTETTE. BROS . BURGESS PERRY , ARTHUR THOMAS , EDWIN MOSS , unit GEORi ; K MUSGHAVK undertake-the Musical arrangements of the Ceremonies and Banquets . For Terms : —Address , BRO . E . MOSS , 147 Alderegate-Street , E . C .

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67 BARBICAN , E . C .

Our Weekly Budget.

OUR WEEKLY BUDGET .

IN the House of Lords the second reading of the Burials Acts Consolidation Bill was opposed by Earl Granville . A long debate followed , in which , amongst others , the Archbishops of Canterbury and York , the Bishops of Winchester , Lincoln , and Oxford , the Marquis of Salisbury and

the Duke of Richmond and Gordon took part . On a division , the second reading was affirmed by 141 to 102 , the smallness of the majority being the cause of much cheering among the opposition . On Friday , Lord Bury brought the subject of Railway Accidents under the notice of the House .

A long and interesting discussion ensued , in which the Earl of Beaconsfield and other peers took part . On Monday , and again on Tuesday , questions were asked of the Government relating to the Russo-Turkish War . On the former day , the Earl of Carnarvon announced that a proclamation

of neutrality would be issued , and this , as our readers are aware , has since been done , while on the latter , the Earl of Derby stated tha , tan answer to the Russian Circular was only awaiting the approval of Her Majesty in order to be sent to St . Petersburg . When it had been presented , a copy ¦ would be laid on the table of the House .

In the Commons , the greater portion of last Thursday was occupied in Committee on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Bill . Some clauses were agreed to , but not without opposition . On Friday a resolution respecting Irish Tenants was moved by the O'Donoghue . A debate

followed , and on division , the resolution was lost by 189 io 65 . On Monday , Mr . Gladstone laid on the table a series of resolutions which ifc is his intention to bring forward on the Eastern Question , and the Chancellor of the Exchequer very readily placed Monday , the 7 fch inst ., at the Right

Honourable gentleman ' s disposal . In reply to the Marquis of Harfcington , Mr . Bourke said that a proclamation was on the point of being issued . Other questions relating to the same important question having been disposed of , the Committee on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Bill

¦ was resumed and further progress made . ' On Tuesday , a motion by Alderman M'Arthur on Ecclesiastical Endowments in Ceylon was only defeated by 147 to 121 , a result which was loudly cheered by the opposition . A motion by Mr . Lefevre on the Irish Land Act was acceded to by the Government . Mr . Cross obtaiued leave to introduce a new

Bishoprics Bill , which was subsequently read a . first time . The House then set about nominating the Select Committee on the Cattle Plague , and several divisions occurred over sundry of the names submitted , so that the House did not rise till a very advanced hour of the night . On

Wednesday , Mr . Holt moved the second reading of a Cruelty to Animals Bill , but he was defeated by 222 to 83 . Mr . 0 . Morgan withdrew his Burial Bill , and then the Assistant County Surveyors ( Ireland ) Bill was affirmed on its second reading by 211 to 32 .

The Queen held a Council at Windsor on Monday afternoon , at which H . R . H . Prince Leopold , the Duke of Rich - mond and Gordon , the Earl of Beaconsfield , the Earl of Derby , the Marquis of Hertford , and Mr . Cross were present At this meeting the Proclamation of Neutrality , published the same evening in a London Gazette

Extraordinary , was submitted to her Majesty and approved . The several ministers had audiences , and ' subsequeutl y Mr . Justice Fry and Colonel Herbert Sandford R . A . were introduced , and had the honour of knighthood conferred upon them . On Tuesday morning tho Queen , accompanied J

Our Weekly Budget.

by the Duchess of Edinburgh , the Princess Beatrice , and Prince Leopold , attended by the usual suite , left the Castlo tor Buckingham Palace . It being the anniversary of the Duke of Connaught ' s birthday , his Royal Highness arrived at the Palace from Dublin , and met her Majesty

»> n her arrival , hi the afternoon a Drawing room was held at which the Duchess of Edinburgh , Princess Beatrice , the Dukes of Connaught and Cambridge , Prince Christian , and the Duke and Duchess of Teck , were present . It was a Collar . lay , and therefore the Knights of the several

Orders wore their respective Collars . The Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers having been introduced , several presentations were made by certain of them , after which a large number of other presentations were made , tbo names having been previously left with the Lord Chamberlain ,

and submitted for her Majesty ' s approval . On Wednesday morning , the Queen , with other members of the Royal family , paid a visit to the Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society , South Kensington . The Royal party were received by Lord Aberdare , President of the . Society , who

attended them round the Exhibition . In the afternoon forty of the boys of Christ ' s Hospital on King Charles II . ' s foundation paid their annual visit to the Palace , for the purpose of submitting their charts and drawings to the Queen . The Queen entered the Pictme Room ,

accompanied by the Princess Beatrice and the Duke of Connaught , and here the boys , with Bro . Allcroffc , treasurer , the governors , and two masters , were presented to her Majesty by the Duke of Cambridge , who is President of the School . Tho Queen was pleased to select a water

colour drawing of H . M . S Thunderer , executed by Frank D . Thompsett . On Thusday a second Drawing-room was held . On Monday , her Majesty will visit Aldershot , and hold a review of the troops stationed there . The Prince of Wales reached Marseilles on board H . M . S . Sultan ,

Captain the Duke of Edinburgh , early on Wednesday morning . He reached Paris on Thursday , and will have reached London ere this record is read by our constituents . He is expected to be present at the Amateur Dramatic Performance at the Opera Comiqne this

afternoon , the proceeds of which will be apportioned equally between the two Schools . On Sunday , the Duchess of Edinburgh attended Divine service at the chapel of the

Russian Embassy in Welbeck-street , and offered up prayers for the success of the Russian army . It was also her father ' s bir-thday . She dined with the Russian Ambassador , and returned the same evening to Windsor .

On Saturday , her Majesty ' s Opera was opened for the first time since its re-edification after the fire a few years since . Sir Michael Costa presided in the orchestra , and Mdlle . Titiens was the leading artiste . After " God save the Queen " had been sung , Bellini ' s opera of Norma was

given—how well it is almost needless to say . Madame Valleria and Signor Fancelli and Brocolini were among the other singers . Thus both opera houses are now , open , and everything gives the hope that the season at Her Majesty ' s will be a brilliant one .

Lord Sudeley died a few days since at the early age of 40 , having been born on 9 th April 1837 . He is succeeded in the title by the Hon . Charles D . R . Hanbury-Tracey , M . P . for Montgomery district . This , of course , has created a vacancy in the House of Commons , for which already certain rival candidates are in the field .

Oh Thursday next the new season at the Alexandra Palace will be inaugurated by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs , with a considerable amount of ceremony . There will be a grand concert in honour of the event , and in the evening a magnificent display of fireworks . On Friday and Saturday the Alexandra Park Races will be held . We wish the

new venture every success . On Wednesday the Two Thousand was run at Newmarket , and resulted in the victory of Chamant , who stood second in the betting , Brown Prince being second and Silvio third . The victory appears to have been very easily achieved , and ,

of course , Chamant now stands well in the betting for the Derby . We are now entering upon the full season of sport , as cricket has already commenced in more than one locality , notably at both Universities , and in Gloucestershire . Moreover , a new athletic ground , not far removed from the

Lillie-brirlge Grounds , has been opened for the special accommodation of the London Athletic Club . There was , of course , a good meet on the occasion , and at the close of the day ' s sport the Lady Mayoress delivered the prizes to the several winners . On Wednesday and Thursday there was held the first show of the Fox Terrier Club , and the