Our Weekly Budget.

Hayclock , in Lancashire , by which it is feared over -JOU lives have been lost . A meeting was held in Liverpool on Wednesday , under the presidency of the Earl of Derby , ancl among- thoso present were the Bishop of Manchester , the Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool , Dean Howson

of Chester , and other persons of initnence . His Lordship having dwelt on the greatness of the calamity , a series of resolutions was passed having for its object the raising of a sufficient sum of money to relieve the distress caused by the death of so many bread winners . It is years since any

snch terrible calamity occurred , in fact , nothing has been heard of which can compare with it since tho fatal explosion at the Oaks Colliery . At present it is not known bow many deaths havo actually occurred , as the work of exploration proceeds but slowly , and np to Wednesday only

sixtyh ' ve bodies had been recovered . The scene in the neighbourhood can better be imagined than descr bed . We trust tho subscriptions of the public will bo on the most liberal scale . Tho Paris International Exhibition is likely , according

to the accounts wo havo of it , to prove a great success financially . On Monday , over 200 , 000 people visited it , and had there been admission by payment as well as by ticket this number would have been largely increased .

There seems to be a iair amount ot visitors , but the hotel keepers would have more business if their charges were less exorbitant . However , that is sure to be the complaint in every capital , when si fete of this kind is in progress .

JSTews of the somewhat sudden death ot George v ., ex-King of Hanover , reached London on Wednesday , ancl takes us back to the clays when German unity existed only in the brain of Emperor William and his ministers . The

late monarch had been deposed from Ins throne ever since J 866 , when he sided with Austria against Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War , ancl Hanover became an integral part of Prussia . Then was established the North German

Confederation , ancl a few years later followed the establishment of the German Empire . George V . was son of the late King Ernest , who , till the year 1837 , was known in this country as Duke of Cumberland , one of the least popular of the sons of George III . On the death of William IV .,

in 1837 , the throne of Hanover passed , by the operation of the Salic Law , to Ernest , and , on his death , his sou became King , as George V . The deceased was , therefore , first cousin to our Queen , and the Court will consequently go into mourning , He is succeeded in his English Dukedom

by his only son , the Crown Prince , who is unmarried . George V . was blind , and like many other blind men was a great musician . Until his reign came to a close , he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Hanover , but this has now ceased to exist as a separate and independent organization .

The political world is in a state of suspense , and will remain so for somo time to come , until the issue of peace or war is fettled . The most disquieting news relates to Austria , who is mobilising a part of her army . But Austria

has been so vacilliating , that the quidnunc * have not yet made up their minds as to Avhether tins is ominous of peace or Avar . All Ave can do is to trust in Providence that the peace of Europe may not be further broken .

Anecdotes, &C. In Relation To Military Masonry.

ANECDOTES , & c . IN RELATION TO MILITARY MASONRY .

A French Merchant Captain . —In the summer of 1 SIJ 5 , tlio schooner Vigilant , Captain Bergouu , from Dunkirk , arrived in Lerwick harbour , with loss of sails and other damage . The captain procured an agent , with whom he agreed for the necessary repairs , which were . soon effected , and the vessel declared rcmly for se / i . A misunderstanding , however , arose between the captain and tlie agent ,

on the charges incurred , which , in tho seqnel , proved to be excessive tho captain threatened to sail without acknowledging the account unless corrected , whereon a ineditutinaejiaji'xt warrant was procured against him . I knew him to be a man incapable of acting with dishonesty , although a little acute in the detection of certain mistakes , nnd was struck with astonishment at seeing liim marched off to

prison , and incarcerated beside a felon convicted of theft and burglary . As the captain understood the English language bat very imperfectly , I proffered Ttiy services in his forlorn state . After the bursi of indignation which naturally followed had subsided , ho earnestly requested that a Freemason might bo sent to him . I was acquainted

with several gentlemen reputed to be of trio Order , and to whom 1 made his case known . The agent who procured tho warrant , th > judge who signed it , and the captain who suffered by it , were ail Freemasons ; instant justice was rendered , aud the captain immediately liberated , I was so struck with the wonderful influence of

Anecdotes, &C. In Relation To Military Masonry.

the mystic tie over the nsnal tardy orrrntion ot olhcial regulation ? , that I eagerly seized tho opportunity to become a Freemason . —Dataeus . —F . Q . R ., Vol . IX ., p 110 . The Surgeon and the Calcutta Masons . —The surgeon of a largo trading vessel left Englanl on a voyage that was calculated

to extend over three years . The passage was not congenial to his nature , for tho captain behaved to him with contempt , and ho was not therefore treated as ho ought to havo been by others . The motive for tho captain ' s conduct arose from tho surgeon ' s non-compliance with certain peenlativo views which affected

tho interests of the owner , aa well as the comforts of the ship ' s company , bnt which circumstances it would havo been imprudent to havo divulged , as such a course would have drawn npon him all the severity it was then in tho power of a sr > a captain to intlict . On reaching a distant port , tho surgeon left the ship ,

preferring to throw himself on tho consideration of strangers rather than to enduro a continuance of such cruel treatment , and his prospect was brightening . Several passengers , however , who wero desirous of returning homo , would only take berths in the ship on condition that tho surgeon would resume his duties , his character being highly

esteemed . On this tho captain , by apologising for his past conduct , by promises of amendment in himself , and of full pay and privilege , succeeded in changing tho determination of the surgeon , much to the satisfaction of the passengers . The surgeon packed np his moveables , and consigned them to a person to convey them on board . He saw

his trunks secured on a sort ot cart , which drove off , ho himself following at a brisk walk . On tho cart nearing the place where the boat was waiting , he observed the driver to use increased speed , and turn suddenly into tho bush way , where in an instant ho was out ot sight ! Tho blue peter was at the masfc head , not a moment

was to be lost , and tho poor fellow boarded the ship without oven a change of linen . Tho passengers kindly supplied him with many things , but the captain ' s conduct became harsher than ever ; to jeers on hia misfortune succeeded every species of vindictiveness in his power . His end had been

answered . He had obtained passengers , with their money and stores , and he forgot all his promises to tho surgeon , whom ho unceremoniously dismissed on his arrival in Calcutta , and who became a wanderer and an outcast in the " City of Palaces . " But the surgeon was a Mason , and in the hour of need , starving and

scarcely clothed , ho remembered that as he had promised to relieve others in their trouble he was probably himself entitled to ask relief . Ho applied to a Provincial Grand Waster , who supplied his immediate wants , and shortly enabled him to make a decent appearance ; soon after which he was engaged by a native gentleman in the

upper provinces as secretary and medical attendant , in which capacity ho still remains . Before leaving Calcutta he called on his friend tho Grand Officer , and repaid tho advance , with the most grateful acknowledgments for the powerful and truly Masonic kindness afforded him in the hour of affliction . —F . Q . U ., Vo \ . IX , p < 103

The Jubilee of H . Langley , Esq . STOKEK .. KI ' ER or ILM . Onux . vxcii , PORTSMOUTH . Come , sing with mo the jubilee ; ' tis fifty years ago Since first our honor'd Master sailed to meet old England ' s foe .

Ho lett his happy homo , in Kent , so buoyant and so free , Aud cheerful went , wherever sent , to servo on land or sea . When Georgo the Third called England ' s sons , he answered to the call , And now we sing his jubilee , in this his festive hall .

He was in that dire hurricane that swept o ' er ocean ' s waves , When hundreds brave , in Christian ' s fleet , were hurried to their graves ;

Tho seamen strove in that dread hour against the angry deep , But , far beyond all human power , the awful whirlwinds sweep . To Thee , O God ! their cry was raised , on Thee for mercy call , For him Thou spared Thy name be praised , iu this his festive hall .

Wild anarchy had raised her head , aud terror reigned around , And all tho noblest blood of Franco was shed upon tho grouud ; Bravely against their rebel bauds he fought for many a day , And when the dreadful battle raged was foremost in the fray . But heaven preserved him , while around so many comrades fall , Aud now wo siug his jubilee , in this his festive hall .

Ho served when dreadful pestilence was spreading far and wide , Aud saw his gallant messmates sink in numbers by his side ; Heedless of almost certain death , his willing aid was near , While many from infection ' s breath shrank far away with fear . But ho was spar'd , while o ' er his friends was laid the funeral pall , And now wo sing his jubilee , within his festive hall .

When tyrant France imprisoned him , his spirit never pined , But to relievo his distress ! . ! friends was foremost in his mind j * His freedom oft ho strove to gain , aud reach his native shore ; Sickness aud want , with manly pride , most patiently he bore . And days and nights at sea had passed iu little skiff so small , Where now wc sing he reached at last , o ' en this , his festive hall .

This is his year of jubilee ; wo hail the happy day ; Long may he live , and we to serve beneath his gentle sway ; May lie whose mercy graut-J him health , largely increase his store , Freely he shares his hard-earned wealth in comforting the poor .

That heaven ' s choicest blessing .- ; upon his head may fall , So let us pray who meet this day , within his festive hall . W . F . WOLFK . April IS ! - ' .

* Upon Mr Laugley ' s arrival , a prisoner , at Verdun , ho found six of his fellow townsmen , prisoners , iu tho greatest distress , these he relieved , and continued his kindness to them and the rest of the English prisoners during their captivity .