Our Weekly Budget.

present , the Bishop of Melbourne , the Dean of Lincoln , the Dean of Lichfield , Dr . C . Scott , head master of Westminster School , Mr . Beresford Hope , and others . It is proposed to raise a sum of £ 5 , 000 towards the endowment of a Thirlwall Professorship of History , as one is greatly

needed at Cambridge . A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close . j From the annual report of the Newspaper Press Fund it appears that the number of new members elected during the past year is thirty-two , making a total of 337

members , of whom 227 reside in the metropolis and 110 iu the country . There are 57 life members , and grants to the number of 36 , representing a sum of £ 731 were made .

The stock and securities to the Credit of the Fund , by the purchase of £ 600 New Three Per Cent . Consols , now amount to £ 9 , 600 , and the ordinary income is estimated at £ 773 2 s . Eleven members have been removed from the roll for the

non-payment of subscriptions in arrears , and four members have died . A sum of £ 25 has been placed at the disposal of Dr . Richardson , the honorary physician , to enable him to meet any pressing cases that may be brought under his

care . On Thursday a numerous and influential deputation of those interested in cotton manufacture waited on the Marquis of Salisbury , Secretary of State for India , to represent

to his Lordship the difficulties they labour under in competing with the cotton spinners established in India , and praying for the abolition of the Indian import duties on cotton goods and yarns . The noble Marquis , in reply , stated the nature of the instructions he had sent out to

India , their object being to secure the abolition of the tax at some fixed date , and to * introduce a graduated scale of reduction in the meantime . The deputation expressed their thanks to his lordship , and retired .

Both University Crews have been going through a severe course of hard work , and if the accounts we read in the daily and other papers are to be relied upon , we may anticipate a very close struggle , on the eventful day , for what is called the Blue Riband of the Thames . There has been

another sensation match at the Agricultural Hall , Weston having challenged any one on the following terms Weston to walk and the other to get over his ground in any way he chose . These were accepted by a pedestrian named Rowell . Up to 10 . 45 p . m . on Thursday , Weston

had accomplished 187 miles , while Rowell was 48 miles to the bad . To the surprise of the judges , press , and the public , however , an announcement was made in the course

of the afternoon of that day to the effect , that Rowell had been allowed from the very first , a start of 50 miles . "Under these circumstances , " says the Standard , " we consider any further comment on the affair superfluous . "

The elections in Franco have gone most decisively in favour of the extreme Radicals , of whom M . Gambttta is the acknowledged head . M . Bulfet , the Prime Minister , was rejected at each of the four places for which he was a candidate . This and the decision of the election in favour of

his Radical opponents has led to his resignation , and Marshal Mac Mahon has entrusted the formation of a new Cabinet to M . Dufaurc but the change in the personnel of the Ministry will be very inconsiderable . The consequence of all this has been a kind of panic

on the Bourse , and in the good City of Paris . People are asking What next ? and there seems to be some doubt as to the kind of answer that will be given . The status quo in the insurgent provinces of Turkey remains , but the Porte has taken another step in the right direction ,

and has fixed a term within which the insurgents must lay down their arms , granting them an amnesty if they accept these conditions . This must more than ever incline the Great Powers of Europe to uphold the dignity and integrity of Turkey . The Turks are

gentlemen , and the insurgents arc—well , we need not describe them . An _\ tiling more overwhelming than the deient of Don Carlos and his supporters by the troops cf King A ] j ) hni-. o can hardl y be conceived . Estella lias been captured and tho Carlists have been defeated and

are flying in all directions , so that peace will no doubt resume its sway in the course of a short time . This is satisfactory , but what shall we say of the following telegram , transmitted to the Standard by its correspondent at Madrid .

"The Archbishop of Toledo and other prelates Lave petitioned the Cortes to grant Catholic unity , and to prohibit the exercise of any other worship on Spanish territory . " We hope the Spanish Cortes will have sense enough and atriotism enough , to reject this petition with all the scorn

Our Weekly Budget.

it merits . Spain will doubtless remember that she is living in tho light of the nineteenth century , not in the darkness of the Middle ages .

We were in error last week in stating that Bro . Terry had intimated there would be an increase to the annuitants of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Two members of the committee , it appears , havo expressed an intention to make a proposition to this effect , and there is every probability that the motion will be carried .

Bro . S . Adams , tho courteous manager of tho Royal Music Hall , Holborn , announces his annual benefit for Thursday , the 9 th of March , on which occasion a host of

talent will be present to give their valuable services . Bro Adams has occupied the position of manager for tho last 14 years , and during that period has gained a host of friends who will , no doubt on this occasion rally round him .

Bro . George Reeves Smith , the General Manager of the Royal Aquarium , Bri ghton , has tendered his resignation , having been selected to fill a similar post at the Royal Aquarium , Westminster . The directors and shareholders

of the Brighton establishment mnst regret this , as the successful state of its finances , as declared at the last meeting , was attributable to our worthy brother ' s indefatigable exertions as manager and caterer .

Miss Emily Mott has just concluded an engagement at the Royal Aquarium , Brighton , where her reception on each occasion was most enthusiastic . Her perfect vocalisation in the songs of " The Minstrel Boy , " " The Banks of Allan

Water , ' and " The Skipper and his Boy " received deserved applause from crowded and fashionable audiences . As her voice is greatly improved , we hope soon to hear her in oratorio , where she would be heard to advantage .

The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

" Othello " at tlie Lyceum . — " The Gascon " at the Olympic . IN tlio entire range of Shakspearian impersonations the part of Othello is probably by far the most difficult . Wo have seen moro than one adequate representative of Hamlet , and Iagos of fair mettle by tho dozen , but wo know of but one Othello , and that was Edmund Kean . Gnrrick , with all his genius , could never entirely surmount

ID ' physical disqualifications for tho character , and it may bo remembered , by students of theatrical history , that in this part , and in that of Borneo , his much interior contemporary , Barry , was more than his match . The performance of Edmund Kean has probably never been excelled , and as each fresh actor essays tho part , the conviction seems to grow upon us that in this century , at all events , he never will .

Mr . Irving can only be said to add one moro to the long list of its failnros . In saying this , however , we woufd not be understood as urging that his conception does not show Bkns of careful study , or that it fails to afford a large amount of satisfaction to tho audience . Tho character represented is powerful and original , but it is not Othello . In the carlior scenes we missed the enthusiasm , tho hearty self-contidenco of tho soldier a 3 Shakspcare painted him , and tho

character we did see was already one tinged with au unnatural melancholy . When donbts began to bo suggested to him , ho was too ready to listen to them , and long before the climax of tho play had been reached the torrent of passion into which he had fallen was already beyond his coutrol . The climax and catastrophe were consequently wanting iu force and impressiveness . In some of theso respects tho actor may hope to improve , but wo doubt if he will ever achieve more than un succcs d'ddime in this character . Miss

Batcinau as Emilia was more successful , and indeed there was much real force and intelligence in this lady ' s impersonation . Mr . Forrester also appeared to advantage in the character of Iago ; but tho Desdemona of Miss Isabel Bateman was weak and monotonous . Tho performance will probably draw better than Macbeth , but it will not havo the success which was achieved by Mr . Irvine ' s first Sbaksperian

iinpersona'ion—Hamlet . A new drama , adapted to tho English ptasrc from a . French orginal produced a few years since at the Gaitt ' , Paris , was performed for the first time at the OLVMI'IC on Monday last . The play ir , ay be considered as a semi-historical one , since several of the characters , notablv Mary Queen of Scots , and her romantic admirer , Chastelard ,

are personages who have figured with effect in history . But the hero , a Gascon adventurer , is a purely fictitious character , aud fictitious also to a great extent is the story . Ttie play possesses a fair degree of interest , is well mounted , and capitally acted : and we think it more than probable that it may achieve a genuine , if not a lasting success . The hero is of course played by Mr . Seville , and tho part could scarcolv be in better hands . Queen Mary is

interpreted with some success by Mrs . Eousby , and another rather important character , a maid of honour to tut ; Queen , by Miss Fani y Josephs . The part of Chastelard is rathiy weakly played by Mr . W . ii . Fisher . A drama , founded upon the novel of "BleakHouse , " is being performed at the GLOBE ; but we must defer our notice of this until neit week .