The Week.

three tailors were charged with having intimidated a tailoress . Mrs . Ann Newland , the tailoress , was coming out of Mr . Poole ' s shop in Saville-row , when the defendants , who , it was stated , were acting as " pickets " in connection with the strike , came up to her and insisted on inspecting the contents of a bundle she carried .

The woman refused , some sort of an altercation ensued , and Mr . Poole , who witnessed the affair , gave the three tailors into the custody of a policeman . The assault was admitted by the counsel for the accused , and they were ordered to find bail in £ 5 each to keep the peace for six months . The bail was at once forthcoming .

FOREIGN I NTELLIGENCE .- —Tho France mentions a rumour that the suggestions of England as to Luxemburg have not been favourably received at Berlin . Another journal of a semi-official character—the Etendard—says that the most cordial relations exist between France and England , aud between France , Russia , and Austria relative to the Luxemburg question . We are , of course , left to infer that all these Powers are averse to Prussia .

The authority , however , is not very good . We decline to believe that England is taking any very active part in the business , and assuredly the news to hand latel y would tend to show that Russia and Prussia are on the most friendly terms . The report that Count Bismarck had resigned is denied . -A Paris paper says that the

Bavarian Minister at Yienna has urged upon Baron von Beust the desirability of an alliance between Austria and Prussia , and that the Baron declined to entertain it . This may bo true , but the probability is that the report is set afloat to indicate tho course France wishes Austria to adopt . The publication of all those rumours

indicates very clearly how dangerous is the situation . The foreign news to hand is not very large in quantity . There is one telegram , however , of some importance . It is from Paris , and gives denial by the Etendard of rumours that a French note has been despatched to Prussia , and that the reserves had been called out . No doubt this denial is perfectly true . But the

very existence of the rumours to which it refers is sufficient evidence of the opinion of many people in France that the relations of the Imperial Government with Prussia are of a very ticklish character . Moreover , there have been , instances when denials have been made in French

papers of alleged rumours , with the view rather of eliciting public opinion as to the matters denied than of satisfying the public mind on the subject . Our Berlin correspondent says the feeling there is that war will not take place just yet , not because the matter in dispute is likely to be amicably settled , but because the Emperor can scarcely go into war while the Exhibition is open .-

The Luxemburg question does not assume any more pacific aspect . A Vienna paper , while announcinn- that negotiations are in progress which may result in peace being preserved , warns the public not to be too san ° -uine on the subject . From Paris comes the statement " that no direct communication has been exchanged between France and Prussia on the subject of Luxemburg . The has been into the hands of C

question put England , R . nssia and Austria , who have not yet made known what they have done . Then from Berlin we are assured that all the rumours lately circulated respecting Prussian armaments are pure inventions . " Up to the present time , " continues the telegram , " no real warlike preparations have taken place . " Telegrams in almost the very words from Berlin about

of this one came this time last year , just when Prussia was really arming to the teeth , and t he onset with Austria was about to begin . On the

The Week.

Bourse at Paris the people believe that war is imminent , and certainly the news to hand does not lead us to the conclusion that they are wrong . The Prussian Chambers ai'e convoked for the 29 th inst . The Saxon Diet is to meet for a short session on the same day ; the Austrian Reichsrathis to assemble on the 20 th of May . ; The news in reference to the Luxemburg question is of

a very warlike character . Some of the French papers throw off all disguise , and avow that war between France and Prussia is inevitable . The Pope , on the 22 nd inst ., gave the usual benediction of the city aud of the world from the balcony of the Vatican . His holiness , says the telegram , had an enthusiastic reception . The Count of " Flanders and the Princess Hohenzollern

are to be married at Berlin on Thursday next . Great preparations are being' made for the event . —¦— -The Luxemburg question has not made much progress , but what news is to hand is distinctly of a warlike character . The Paris Etendard says that an identical note prepared by England , Russia , and Austria has not been presented as yet at Berlin on account of the absence of Count

Bismarck in Pomerania , where he has been taking a few days' holiday . This difficulty is by this time removed , for the Prussian Minister was to return on the 24 th inst . to Berlin . A very significant notice appears , however , in the North German Gazette . That journal says that the character of the mediatory proposals is not yet known , but it adds : — "So much is certain , that Prussia has

given up neither her right of garrisoning the fortress of Luxemburg in favour of Luxemburg's union with Belgium , nor the treaties with Holland which regulate the actual position of that Grand Duchy . " This last looks very much like an intimation to the King of Holland to be prepared for strong measures on the part of Prussia if he gives countenance to the pretensions of France . Moreover , as the evacuation of the Luxemburg fortresses is just what France is demanding , it is not easy to see how war is to be avoided .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C . BRO . SCOTT . — "Wo have received the " Madras Masonic Calendar . " W . J . H . — "Wo would onco more seriously impress upon our correspondents tho propriety of writing their communications , on ono sido of tho paper only , as this neglect causes us great inconvenience . ILVDOSH . —If "Kadosh" will send his namo and address to

Bro . Little , whoso private address can bo ascertained at tho offlc-o of tho FREEMASOXS' MAGAZINE , Bro . L . will havo great ploasuro in answering K . ' s queries respecting tho Order o £ tho Bed Cross . T . B . HAIXES ( Hamilton , Canada West ) . —Your subscription has been received , and the request contained in your letter shall be complied with willingly . II . 11 . B . ( Warrington ) . —No . There is not .

M . M , —We agree with our correspondent that on the face of it there does appear to be agreat injustice , inasmuch as there are eighteen vacancies to be filled , and there are thirtyfive candidates for the Eoyal Benevolent Institution at the next election . Hitherto , in most benevolent institutions , it has been the practice to give as many votes as there are vacanciesleaving it to the possessor of the

, proxy to give them to as many candidates , or give them in the aggregate to one only . This was found to be an evil , inasmuch as the number of vacancies are by no means uniform ; and although the votes given by unsuccessful candidates at one election go to their credit at the next , if an extra number of vacancies should occur in a later year , a new comer , with fair claim to support , and a moderate number of friends ,

would be able under the aggregating system to swamp the efforts of those who had been engaged for years before , and whose claims were equally deserving of support . These are reasons that have induced the change , and the Eoyal Benevolent Institution is the last to take up what has been in operation in the other Masonic Charities for some years past ,