NEWS OF THE "WEEK.
TEE grand event of the week has not been of a political kind, ex- cept in that broad sense of the term which relates to all things that concern the conduct of civilized peoples. The first stone of the Royal Exchange has been laid by the Consort of the Queen ; who by his presence did homage to the wealth and power of that com- mercial nation which has adopted him for one of its most favoured sons. Every thing was auspicious : the sun shone forth, as the playbills would say, for that day only—almost eclipsing the gas- lights in the grand pavilion ; the scene was enlivened by the pre- sence and acclamations of crowds of spectators, yet no cross acci- dent occurred; the procession effected its march and countermarch with all the triumph and less of the vicissitude of the gallant Major $turgeon's march to Ealing; the flags slipped up and down the staff above the pavilion with decorous smoothness, as if conscious- that Englaricr that day expected every thing to do its duty ; the foundation-stone "fitted to a t" ; and Prince ALBERT proved so masterly a hand at the trowel, spreading the mortar in such gallant style, that the people were amazed, and were forced to give vent to &dr feelings in cheers.
Then there was Mr. PIRIE'S feast at the Mansionhouse, all mag- nificence, luxury, and good feeling. The Queen's Husband and the City Magistrate were the Damon and Pythias of the evening ; the Hero of a hundred fights sat beside the Quakeress whose name is throughout Europe a synonyme for charity—the lion with the lamb; Sir ROBERT PEEL and Lord JOHN RUSSELL fronted one another, knife and fork, not sword, in hand. The Prince was, as the saying is, the cynosure of neighbouring eyes—with his high rank, his field-marshal's uniform, his comely aspect, and engaging manner. His health was drunk with an "enthusiasm" that did credit to the wine and turtle; and he returned a pretty little speech of general praise, assuring his fellow-citizens that he now feels quite at home here. Of course he does : what respectable man, living two years in the most comfortable house, with a charm- lag-young wife, a rising family, good shooting, and the general esteem, could feel otherwise than at home ? Warmed by the occa- sion, Lord STANLEY condensed his energies in a neat lecture on the beauty of " things as they are" in the House of Commons, party strife and all; and still more appositely, the President of the Board of Trade volunteered a recitation of "The boatie rows" : evtia before the ladies had retired Lord RIPON began to take the unfledged Exchange for "a boatie" !—whence it may be inferred how gaily all things danced on the wave of hilarity. Under such auspices arises the new " temple of peace," as Sir ROBERT PEEL calls it ; the abode and type of the greatest com- merce in the world. It is a curious coincidence that it so arises, when that commerce is in a state of greater depression and jeopardy than it has ever been in since it was the greatest in the world. It is to be hoped that the omen may be fulfilled ; and that, as a palace will arise from the atone which Prince ALBERT tapped so caba- listically twelve times with a mason's mallet, the structure of British commerce will rise anew from the measures for which Sir ROBERT PEEL has been tapping his forehead these five months.
