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of the Electoral County Boards ( Ireland ) Bill , was negatived without a division . On the second reading of tho Grand Jury Presentments , & c , Ireland Bill , moved by Mr . J . Butt , a division occurred , the Bill being defeated by 1 S 1 to 153 , whereat there was much cheering from the

Liberal benches . On Thursday , the debate on the Slave Circulars of the Government was resumed by Mr . Herschell . Among the speakers were Mr . Forsyth , Sir H . James , Sir W . V . Harcourt , the Hon . D . Plunkct , and Mr . Disraeli .

A discussion then ensued , the Government being victorious by 203 to 248 . Mr . Fawcett then moved an amendment to Mr . Hanbury ' s amendment , but was defeated by 290 to 245 . The latter was then put as a substantive motion and carried .

There have been three elections to the House of Commons . In the first , Colonel Barnes has been returned for East Suffolk , in the second , Mr . Wroughton for the County of Berks , and in the third Mr . W . B . Denison has been returned for the Borough of East Retford . Tho nomination

for Horsham , in which the Solicitor General , Sir Hardinge Giffard , i 3 a candidate , is fixed for to-day , and the polling will come off on Tuesday next . The Queen held a Court at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon . Of the Royal Family there were

present , the Princess of Wales , the Princess Beatrice , the Dukes of Edinburgh and Cambridge , the Duke and Duchess of Teck , Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein . Her Majesty ' s Body Guard , under tho command of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , and the Yeomen of the

Guard with their Captain , Lord Skelsmersdale , were both on duty . The Chief Officers of State were in attendance upon the Queen , the Diplomatic and General Circles were numerously represented , and a large number of presentations to Her Majesty were made . As it was a Collar day ,

the Knights of the several Orders wore their respective Collars . The Duchess of Edinburgh , who is now en route to St . Petersburgh , was prevented from attending the Court in consequence of being in deep mourning for her aunt , the Grand Duchess Marie , sister of tho Emperor of Russia .

Beyond all question the most interesting event in the week ' s history has been the grand Masonic celebration at Oxford . It is barely two years since H . R . ET . Prince Leopold was initiated into Freemasonry in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 . Last year he was appointed S . W .,

and on luesday last he was installed into the Chair of K . S ., there being present several Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , together with a strong muster of P . M . ' s and members . Afterwards the Brethren adjourned to a banquet at the Clarendon . On Wednesday , His Royal

Highness was installed as Grand Master for the Province of Oxford , in the Sheldonian Theatre . It would occupy too much space to give tho names of all who were present . The Officers present and prist of the Provincial Grand Lodge were in strong foice , and of Grand

Officers there were present Lord Skelmersdalc , Deputy G . M ., who performed the ceremony of Installation , the Marquis of Hamilton , G . S . W ., Alderman Stone , G . J . W ., Rev . J . Simpson , D . C . L ., Grand Chaplain , Bro . M . Mclutyre , Grand Registrar , Bro . John Hervey , Grand

Sec , and Sir Albert W . Woods , Grand D . ofC . Among Prov . G . MM . and tfhers , were Bros . Earl of Hardwicke , Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , Earl of Limerick , Lord de Tabley , Lord Methuen , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , the Earl of Jersey , General Brownrigg , Colonel Burdett , W . W . B .

Beach , M . P ., T . F . Hulscy , M . P ., J . B . Monckton , & c , & c . His Royal Highness having been installed , was dul y proclaimed and saluted according to ancient form . Bro . Reginald Bird was then reappointed D . P . G . M , and Bro . W . J . D . Campbell was appointed and invested as

Provincial Grand Steward iu place of the Prince . There next devolved upon the newly installed G . M . the very agreeable duty of presenting to Bro . R . J . Spiers , a splendid testimonial , consisting of a splendid silver inkstand , an album with tho names of the subscribers , and a purse of 500

guineas , as a slight recognition from the brethren of the Province of the eminent services to Masonry which Bro . Spiers had rendered during his twenty years ' tenure of the office of Deputy P . G . M . The gift was feelingly and suitably acknowledged , after which a

congratulatory address from the Gr . O . of Italy was presented by Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . The Lodge was shortly after closed ; but in the evening a banquet , presided over b y His Royal Highness , was held in the Corn Exchange . Thus Masonry is to be congratulated on tho

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occurrence of a second auspicious event in the course of less than twelvemonths . While this important ceremony was being enacted at Oxford , an elder brother—in moro senses than one—of His Royal Highness , namely , tho Duke of Edinburgh , was

present at a meeting , presided over by the Lord Mayor , at the Mansion House , for the purpose of promoting the cause of tho National Training School for Music . A meeting of this character , it may bo remembered , was held some time since at Marlborough House , under tho presidency of H . R . H .

the Prince of Wales , when a resolution was passed to establish free musical scholarships in the City of London and Metropolitan district . The meeting of Wednesday was hold to g ive effect to this resolution . The Duke of Edinburgh moved the adoption of the report presented by tho City of

London Committee . Mr . Morley , one of tho honorary secretaries , read tho report , from which it appeared that already 93 scholarships have been provided , and this number was largely increased before the closo of tho meeting . Tho report was adopted unanimously . Other

resolutions wero proposed and agreed to , after which tho Lord Mayor proposed a vote of thanks to the Duke for his presence on the occasion , and the Duke , after acknowledging the compliment , proposed a similar vote of thanks to tho Lord Mayor for his kindness in presiding . Lunch was

then served in the Long Parlour , the only toasts being those of the Queen and the Duke . Among those who have given scholarships must be mentioned the Queen , the Princo

of Wales , the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , one each , the Corporation of London ten , the Lord Mayor one , tho Society of Arts four , Messrs . Rothschild two , besides several of the City companies aud others .

The Prince of Wales , in his Indian tour , has reached Nepaul , having reached the Camp at Busbussa on Saturday last . Sir Jung Bahadoor , the Nepaulese Prime Minister , crossed into British territory for the purpose of meeting His Royal Highness and conducting him within Nepaulese

territory . A picked force of troops of all arms was drawn up to receive the Prince , and was inspected by him before the ceremonial of the day was over . Presents were interchanged , the meeting being most cordial on both sides . The sport in the Kumaon Serai during the previous week

had been very fair , and preparations on a grand scale had been made for a grand tiger hunt . On Monday the Prince and Sir Jung Bahadoor had great success . Upwards of 600 elephants were employed in beating the jungle , and seven

tigers were shot , six falling to the Prince ' s own rifle . Tho Prince is reported to be in the enjoyment of excellent health . We shall soon hear of his return to England , when , doubtless , he will experience a right hearty welcome .

Another fatal collision occurred off Dover , towards the end of last week , by which a German ship ran into a British vessel , tho Strathclyde . Of a crew and passengers numbering together about 70 , little more than one half have been saved , over 30 , and amoug them several ladies , having

been lost . Au inquest has been held at Dover , on the bodies of certain persons recovered , a verdict of manslaughter being returned , and there will , of course , be an inquiry by the Board of Trade . The Franconia is under arrest , in Victoria Docks , and it is reported that she did not render

all the assistance in her power to the disabled vessel . Tho body of a young lady that was brought into Ramsgate has been identified by Mr . Boucicault , brother of the actor , Mr . Dion Boucicault , as that of his step-daughter , Mrs . Lizzie Green , aged 29 , who had only quite recently been married to an officer in the Indian army .

Our operations in the neighbourhood of Perak , consequent upon the murder of Mr . Birch , the British resident , have been highly successful , and it is reported that several of the persons implicated have been made prisoners . Both

the naval and military authorities appear to have cooperated most zealously , and the duty of punishing the guilty has thus far been performed most efficiently , though not without the loss of more than one valuable life .

It is always satisfactory to learn that the memory of a great man is about to receive public recognition . A public meeting was held on Tuesday , at the Westminster Palace Hotel , " for the purpose of founding a Professorship of

Ancient History in the University of Cambridge , m memory of the late Right Rev . Connop Thirlwall , Bishop of St . Davids . Bishop Thirlwall will always be remembered sis one of our grandest historical scholars , and his

History of Greece is one of the best that has been compiled by an Englishman . Dr . Thompson , Master of Trinity College , Cambridge , took the chair , and there were