The Week.

shop of a gnnmaker . He loaded the weapon , and meeting a girl in the Jstreet he invited her to accompany him , and upon her refusing to do so he deliberately fired the pistol , the ball , however , happily only taking effect in her left hand . The culprit was then secured by a sergeant of police , named Drew , but he was unfortunately able to fire another shot from his six-barrelled weapon . The wonder is that the

sergeant ' s head was not blown to atoms , but he escaped with the loss of several of his teeth and a portion of his tongue . Jones was again captured , and formally examined before the magistrates on Tuesday . A shocking case of highway robbery ancl murder occurred near Rotherham on Saturday night . The victim was a gardener , named John Cooper , a tall powerful

young fellow , who was on his way from Handsworth to Stone . He was attacked in an unfrequented part of the road , and on Sunday morning he was found dead , with his skull ancl jaw fractured , and his pockets turned inside out . A hedge stake was lying near , ancl the spot showed signs of a' deadly struggle . A shocking case of child burning was before the magistrates

at Chelmsford ou Tuesday . The wife of a gardener in that neighbourhood was , in the opinion of all her neighbours , on the eve of her confinement , but about the 11 th of last month she declared she had had a miscarriage . On tbe evening of that day circumstances occurred to induce the neighbours to believe that she bad given birth to a child and burnt it . On the police

being called iu and a doctor , the appearances found in the house went far to show that the horrible charge was true . But as there was no proof that the infant had been born alive , she was committed for trial on the minor charge of concealment of birth . FOKEIGN INTELLIGENCE . —The new Emperor Maximilian , who formally accepted on Sunday the crown proffered by the

Mexican deputation , is about to embark at Trieste on board the Austrian frigate which will convey him to Vera Cruz , after he has paid a visit to the Pope , whose blessing may possibly have some effect on the imaginations of the Mexicans , and whoso influence over the Mexican clergy must be valuable to the new Sovereign . A letter from Vienna informs us that the rennnciatiou by the Emperor Maximilian of the right of the

succession to the Austrian Throne is unconditional , and unconnected with tbe stability of tbe Government in Mexico . Advices from Copenhagen report that on Monday morning th e Prussians attempted an assault upon both the Danish wings at Duppel , ancl that the attempt was in each instance a complete failure . The Commander-in-Chief of the Danish forces has

made a report to the same effect . The cannonade from the batteries and approaches , he states , drove back the Prussians . The bombardment of the place was continued during- tbe subsequent part of the clay , and is represented to have been at least quite as violent as on any former occasion . About sixty of the Danes were wounded , but the injuries are stated to have

been in most cases of a trifling description . The great anxiety of the Prussians now is to capture Duppel before the Conference opens , as an armistice would probably be the first step agreed on , and they dread a cessation of hostilities before they have accomplished any military success . The Paris papers state that the Emporor will receive Lord Clarendon in a private

audience on Thursday . It is believed in Paris that the object of Lord Clarendon ' s journey is to endeavour to establish a complete understanding between the English and French Governments in reference to the Danish question . Continental papers say that the Austrian Government has notified to France its entire disapproval of the proposal to submit the fate of Schleswig and Holstein to a plebiscite , while the Prussian Cabinet is inclined to assent so far to the French project as to accept the

The Week.

decision of the Estates of the Duchies . By accounts from Rome it appears that tbe health of the Pope has improved . THE EAST . —The news brought by the overland mail from Calcutta is of slight importance . In China the chief event had been tbe return of Major Gordon to active service . It does not appear that the major had received the satisfaction he demanded of the Imperial Government , relative to the

circumstances connected with the fall of Sooehow ; but he had thought it best to take the field to stop the growing confidence of the rebels , and to prevent the probable demoralisation of his force through want of employment . The cause of the Imperialists was brighteniug , and it was thought Hang-chow and Nankin would shortly fall . There is no news from Japan .

The third session of the Parliament of Victoria was opened at Melbourne on the 20 th January by the Governor , Sir Charles Darling . The chief measure in the ministerial programme was a new land bill . The financial state of the country was shown to be satisfactory , there being a small surplus , and no new taxes were necessary . In New South Wales there had been

very serioas floods , which had destroyed a large amount of property . There had been some sharp debates in the Assembly , the new tariff meeting with much opposition . In New Zealand the Maori chiefs had taken up a strong position at Piko Piko aud Paterongi , whither General Cameron had followed them , and it was reported had succeeded iu hemming them

in , leaving the alternative to surrender or starvation . AMEEIOA . —The American advices brought by the Jura , are not very interesting . The Federal expedition which had proceeded from Vicksburg up the Red River had taken Fort de Russy , with its garrison of a few hundred men , and had afterwards occupied Alexandria . There was a rumour that the Northern militia would be called out , and would be employed

in garrison duty during the campaign about to be opened . The Arabia has brought us New York advices of the 2 nd instant . There had been no important movements in Virginia ; but the Confederates were believed to be strengthening their positions on the Rapidan , and General Grant was at Fortress Monroe , where he was supposed to be consulting General Butler

respecting his plans for the campaign . A corps of Federal troops had advanced from Alexandria , ou the Red river , to Natchitoches , ancl had there captured 200 or 300 prisoners ancl three or four guns . A body of Confederates had taken ancl burned part of the town of Paducah , in Kentucky ; but the garrison of the fort , witli the aid of some Federal gunboats on the Ohio river ,

had repulsed three attacks . There had been a conflict between the Federal soldiers and the inhabitants at a place called Charleston , in Illinois ; and some 20 or 30 negroes had been killed or wounded . So serious was the conflict , that the General commanding the department had , we are told , demanded 5 , 000 troops to " suppress the insurrection . "

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

E . A . —Shall have his questions replied to to-morrow . J . H . —Certainly not . S . S . S . —We have not the report at hand , but will refer to it . THE GEAND FESTIVAL—All brethren are entitled to attend if there is room . The tickets , though sold at 15 s . each , cost the Stewards in reality , including expenses , something like

30 s . But then consider the honour of wearing a red apron , and taking no rank at the end ot the year for your outlay . S . W . —A brother not installed may preside at a Lodge of Instruction .