The Week.

hai'dly known even by name m this . The head of the Polish National Government and five chiefs of the different departments have been hanged in front of the citadel of AA ' arsaw . Eleven other officials of the National Government had been sentenced to death , but the Russian authorities have thought fit to commute their sentence into transportation to Siberia . The missionary difficulty at Constantinople is , we hear , happily

at an end . The book-stores and offices of the several Protestant societies have been re-opened , and freedom of worship is allowed in chapels and meeting-rooms . The sale of the Bible in book-stores is also permitted bufc its colportage is forbidden as well as the gratuitous circulation of works attacking the Mahomedan faith . Notwithstanding the announcement that

peacehad been concluded between the Bey of Tunis and the Arabs we learn that considerable apprehensions exist with regard to its permanency . The Arabs are saicl to be greatly dissatisfied with their chiefs for coming to terms without insisting upon the dismissal of the minister or Kasnadar ; and matters wear , so threatening an aspect that the French and Italian admirals

have dispatched two ships of war to the coast for the protection of the subjects of their respective countries . It is not alone in Northern Africa that the Mohamedan mind is in the state of ferment and uneasiness to which it is periodically subject almost everywhere , but wo learn from Constantinople that an insurrection has once more broken out below Bagdad ,

which has exhibited such formidable proportions that the Turkish forces were utterly unable to cope with it , having been defeated iu no loss than three engagements , with the loss of three guns , which fell into the hands of the insurgents . The same dispatch that brings us this information also announces that the telegraphic cable in the Persian Gulf has been broken , though by what means is not stated .

A telegram from Bucharest announces the granting by Prince Couza , Hospodar of the Moldo-AA'allacian provinces , of an amnesty to all political offenders ; but the foreigners who are included in this act of grace are , nevertheless , peremptorily ordered to quit the country . An " Imperial" decree was issued in Mexico , on the 20 th ult ., providing that in the event of the death of the Emperor Maximilian , or other accident

rendering it impossible for him to perform the function of Government , tho Regency of the newly-created " Empire" shall be confided to the Empress , his august spouse . In honour of her Majesty , a triumphal arch has been ordered by the municipality to be erected in the city of Mexico . English tourists are attracted to Switzerland in greater numbers than usual this season ;

ancl not less than eight ascents of Mount Blanc were made during last week . AA'ith two exceptions—one of them , strange to say , that of a Spanish Don . ' the whole of tlie climbers were adventurous countrymen of our own . Three English ladies also performed the feat of ascending the Grand Mulcts . Chaniotinix is crowded with visitors .

INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND . — -By advices from Suez we learn that the-King of Ava has granted a perpetual concession for railways , telegraphs , and collieries within the territories of the Golden Foot . A great fire has occurred at Manilla , resulting iu the destruction of upwards of [ eight million pounds of the " divine wood . " If no news be good news , then it is pleasant

to hear from New Zealand that military operations are suspended , and that the troops are gone into winter quarters . AMERICA . —The Australasian brought dates from New York to July 27 . The Federal troops have hacl cause to rue their pursuit of the Maryland invaders . It appears that those of them left to hold the Shenandoah Valley have been attacked by the Confederates under command of G-eneral Early , and signally defeated . In their flight they were driven through Mar-

The Week.

tinsburg to the Potomac , with heavy loss of men ancl artillery . Marfcinsburg is re-occupied by the Confederates , whence it is » expected another expedition will go forth into Maryland or Pennsylvania . Atlanta , ifc turns out , has not fallen , as was asserted by Northern journals ; but severe fighting is reported to he still going on before it . Mr . Fessenden calls for subscriptions to a popular loan of 200 , 000 , 000 dols . By the Damascus ,

we receive intelligence from New York clown to the 30 fch ult , afc which time it was understood that Sherman had not captured Atlanta , though he was drawing his lines closer round the city . General Hood , its brave defender , claims the advantage in the late action , and boasts of 22 cannon and 2 , 000 prisoners as the trophies of his victory . The Federal

forces on the side of Decatur have also been routed by Wheeler ' s cavalry , with the loss of their camp ; ancl General Hardee is operating on Sherman ' s rear . Rousseau , who was recently detached with a strong body of cavalry to cut off the Southern communication with Atlanta , hasre-joined Sherman after destroying about 30 miles of the Montgomery Railway . From the

neighbourhood of James River we have news of an attempt by-General Lee to outflank Butler ' s position , which led to some smart fighting , in the course of which General Grant advanced an army corps to the rescue , and drove the Confederates from their breastworks . Grant is reported to be entrenched within ten miles of Richmond , and to have abandoned the siege of Petersburg . So critical is the state of things iu Baltimore that the Federal authorities there have enrolled , armed ,-

and equipped , all the negroes capable of service ; whilst in Missouri , the guerilla warfare continuedwith unabated vigour . Pennsylvania , too , is again invaded by the Confederates , and that in such force that a proclamation has been issued by the governor , and arms are to be furnished to the citizens for the defence of Harrisburg . Rumours of a conspiracy to establish a North-AVestern Confederacy are

revived , and Mr . Vallandingham is saicl to be at its head . It is . not unlikely that the humanity displayed by the owner of the English yacht Dserhound , in snatching from death the crew of the Alabama , will give some employment to diplomacy . Thesubject having been referred to a board of United States naval officers , they have pronounced an opinion in which the

Washington Government concurs , to the effect that the rescued sailors—of course including Captain Semmes—were prisoners of war . SOUTH AMERICA . —The Brazil and River Plate mails , per tho Magdalena , bring intelligence that peace had been concluded between the Monte A'iciean Government and General Flores .

In consequence great joy pervaded the capital , the inhabitants of which were en fete . Afc Buenos Ayres , Congress was wisely directing its attention to the encouragement of measures for opening up comniumeafcons with the interior , and had authorised the President to subscribe for a large number of shares in the Argentine Central Railroad . The project of establishing lines of river steamers through this magnificently watered country was still under consideration .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

HORACE . —AVe are not aware that there has been any meeting of the Mark Grand Lodge since the last we reported . AVe did not publish the Royal Arch Agenda paper the week before last , because we did not receive ifc until two days after we went to press . C . R . —We do not understand the question . j . w . —Consult the " Book of Constitutions . " BRO . PBATT ' S communication is unavoidably postponed till next week .