The Week.

were brought to trial . They p leaded guilty , ancl asked , as they had only done what they were hired to do , they should be released on their own recognisances not to offend again . Miss Held , the owner of the property , left thc matter in tho hands of the court , and the prayer of tlie defendants was complied with . They were discharged on entering into their own recognisances for future good behaviour . A robbery of a most daring character has been committed at the Bank of

Manchester . The thieves well armed with the usual instruments of housebreaking , appear to have secreted themselves in a building adjoining the bank , from which at the proper time they might make their way with comparative security- to a vulnerable part of the premises they intended to plunder . They must have acted with great coolness and determination , and finally they succeeded in reaching a safe , from which they took upwards of £ 1000 in gold ancl silver . Two men have been apprehended on

suspicion of being concerned in the robbery . FOREION INTELLIGENCE . —The most interesting news from Paris is the marriage of Earl Cowley ' s daughter , Lady Sophia AA ellesley , to Lorcl Royston . The ceremony took place on Monday at the British Embassy-. The Emperor and Empress honoured the interesting occasion by their presence , ancl after the marriage service was concluded signed the register . Among the numerous company were the Prince Napoleon and the

Princess Clotilde , many of the members of the French Cabinet , and most of the corps diplomatique . The whole ceremony-was very brilliant and imposing . The Emperor Napoleon , in replying on Saturday to the address of the Legislative Body , expressed the p leasure afforded him b y the Legislature ' s unanimity , " at a time when the truth is obscured by hostile passions in all parts of the globe . " It was necessary that France should be calm ancl strong at home , in order that she mi ght " exercise a legitimate

influence in favour of justice ancl progress , whose progress is so often compromised by the exaggeration of extreme parties . " La France asserts that the Confederate Government of America has formally notified to the European Powers that the blockade of the Southern coast has never been effective , and that several ports on that coast for a long time were- entirely open . Being raised de facto , the blockade , it is contended , is annulled de jure , ancl tlie European states are therefore at liberty

to avail themselves of the important change in affairs . The Minister of Finance informed the Italian Chamber of Deputies on Saturday , that the deficit at the end of 1862 amounted to nearly £ 15 , 000 , 000 . He further declared that within four years he hoped to equalise income and expenditure by contracting a loan of £ 28 , 000 , 000 , hy selling crown lands and railways , by increasing the land tax , by imposing sundry new taxes , and by various fiscal measures . He said that the

ministry deemed it " necessary to take advantage of the existing political lull to regulate the finances . " His proposals were "favourably received" by tho Chamber ; ancl on the same day the Minister introduced a bill authorising a contraction of a loan of £ 28 , 000 , 000 by such instalments as the Treasury may think expedient . A telegram from Vienna says , the leaders of the revolutionary committee have been discovered . They will be immediately prosecuted . As

alarming accounts of the health of King Leopold have been current for some weeks past , it is satisfactory to learn , from Brussels , that on Shrove Tuesday , His Majesty drove through several of tho streets , ' and appeared to be in good health . . The revolution in Poland is assuming increased proportions . A convention is said to have been concluded between Russia and Prussia , relating to the reception of Russian soldiers who are driven into the Prussian territoryand also for the forwarding

, of Russian troops ' throngh Prussian territory . The semi-official FreusZeitung states its belief that the convention extends to measures for suppressing the revolution , to which end the active co-operation of Prussia -may become necessary . The insurgents have captured some dispatches of the Russian Government , amongst other matters accusing Austria of encouraging the rebellion . The question . of Prussian interference in Poland came

before the Prussian Chambers on Tuesday . Herr Mismarck was asked if the Government had concluded a convention with Russia engaging to assist in the suppression of the Polish insurrection . The Minister declined to answer the question , hut subsequently , in the course of the discussion which ensued , he declared that the Government followed a Prussian and not a Russian policy . He denied , however , most explicitly that there was any truth in the statement of the Czas that any foreign powers had made representations to Prussia on the Polish question . The Liberal party in the Chambers afterwards introduced

The Week.

a resolution declaring that it is in the interest of Prussia not to side with any party in tho Polish difficulty , and that , therefore , either of the contending parties entering Polish territory should be disarmed . A telegram from Cracow brings news fcnat the Polish insurgents had attacked Minchoiv and been repulsed . Ifc is added , however , that the town was subsequently fired . On Tuesday night a body of the insurgents entered Ge ' nia , in Austrian-Polanel , without resistance from the inhabitants . It i 3

surmised that they were pursued by Russian troops . The same telegram mentions a report that the Russians had been beaten by Langiewicz , who had in the engagement captured some cannon . A-. _ _ . . —The Arabia brings ns news of considerable importance . On the 31 st ult . a Confederate flotilla consisting of two iron-chuls ancl three steamers , attacked the Federal blockading force , of 13 vessels with two first-class frigates , off Charlestown . " After fighting from seven o ' clock a . m . till four p . m . the Federal gunboat Mevcedlta .

, anel another , name unknown , were wrecks , the Qualcr City was damaged , four Federal vessels were set on lire , and ' thc rest ran away . " The Confederates returned to port amidst great entlmsiam , and Beauregard at once declared that tho blockade of Charlestown was finally raised . . The foreign consuls at Charlestown , it is reported , were also unanimous in the decision that the blockade had been legally raised . If this bo the case , it is a nice point whether the blockade at Charlestown 'is at this moment

valid , and whether any fresh blockade can be . established without sixty days ' s notification . Several other naval affairs are reported The bombardment of Galveston by the Federals had commenced , but the TRarrict Lane , the recapture of which was an important object of the expedition , had , it was said , managed to escape . The Federal gunboat P . Smith , carrying 11 guns , had surrendered unconditionally to the Confederates at Stone River . The Federals report she was captured by running ashore . The Federal iron-clad steamer

, Montank had been engaged for four hours with Fort M'Allister , on the Ogeechee River , according to the Federal accounts , without receiving any injclry ; but the Southern accounts assert that she was badly injured in her turret by the guns of the fort—at all events , the fort was not captured by her . There were reports of an engagement between the Oreto aud three Federal sun-boats , and that

tbe former when seen was on fire . General Banks ' s expedition had left New Orleans , it was supposed for the purpose of making an attack on Fort Hudson . The House of Representatives have passed tbe bill authorising the arming of negroes . The AVashington Government had yielded to the remonstrances of the hovenior of Philadelphia , auel ordered the release of the editor of the TPliUadelpliia Journal . Gold was at 55 per cent , premium . The AVest India mail brings the intelligence that the noted Confederate cruiser Alabama arrive ! on the 20 th ult . at Port Royal

, Jamaica , and there lauded the surviving officers ancl crew of the Federal steamer Jlatteras , which , as we already knew , she had sunk after a short action off Galveston . It appears , however , that the Hatteras sank so quickly that no fewer than 43 of her unfortunate crew were drowned before the prisoners could be removed on board the Alalama . Captain Semmcs had , we nve told , been hard pressed by Uie Federal squadron sent in pursuit of him . Important news arrived on Thursday by the Edinburgh from New Yorkwith elates

, to the 7 th inst . A defeat has been inflicted on the Federals off Fort K'Alliser , and another on the Blackwater River . Con federate Commander Watkins has also officially reported the engagement at Galveston , with a loss of a Federal ship and schooner of 13 gnus , th c capture of 100 prisoners , and the defeat of the enemy . 120 Federal vessels havo taken their departure for the South , from Ncwl . iiru . I . is rumoured that an attack is contemplated on Richmond , and the Confederate ., are throwing up earthworks in every direction for its defence .

Confirmation is given to the notification by the Confederates to the authorities at Nassau of the raising of the Charleston blockade . Tlie Federal Colonel Stewart , chief of General M'Clernand ' s staff at Alcksburg , has been shot and deserted by his own soldiers ( as we understand the passage ) while on a rcconnaisance , and bis private memoranda , relating to public service , has fallen into the hands of the Confederates . A revolt of negroes has also taken place in the Federal garrisons . One hundred Confederates are said to have been captured

, with their camp equipage , at Middieton . General Butler , tlie hero of New Orleans , is accused of plunder and peculation , am ! au explanation is demanded by the Fein Torlc World . Strong exertions are being made by the Federal Government , and the attack on Charleston is said to have commenced .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

A BROTHEII . —A Master Mason cannot legally wear any decoration beyond the apron , excepting he be a Royal Arch Mason , when he may wear the jewel of that degree . ERUATUJI . —In an an advertisement last week relative to the publication of the speech of Bro . Havers , at the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows , he is described by the printer as the Senior instead of the Junior Grand AA ardeu . The error is evident to all who know Bro . Havers .