Early History Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

silent on this point , but Spratt ' a Constitutions of 1751 confirm tho fact . Will our distinguished Bro . J . H . Jfeilson , of Dublin ( of whom wo as Irish Masons aro justly proud ) , give thia important matter his attention , and seek to clear up tho early history of our Grand or

Provincial Grand Lodge of Munstor , which apparently existed prior to the Grand Lodgo of Dublin . In a catalogue of Masonio works for sale by tho veteran Craftsman ( The " Father of tho Lodge " ) , Bro . Spencer , published about 1860 , I find tho following : —

" Transactions of tho Grand Lodgo of Munster 1726 to 1733 , 18 pages 4 to . Extracts from the Transactions of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster , 60 pages 4 to . Sundry MS . and printed papers relating to the Grand Lodge of Munster ; " I should think these aro the actual records noticed by Bro . Furnell , and probably camo into Bro . Spencer ' s possession subsequently to 1848 .

Would Bro . R . Spencer , or his son and Bro . Walter Spencer ( whoso ablo sketches in tho FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE delight so many ) kindly say what was done with these MSS . They wero not for sale lately , I know , from enquiries' I made , and I cannot find out that any of my friends havo them under our Grand Lodge . I anxiously await a reply , Yours fraternally , MASONIC INVESTIGATOR .

Old Warrants.

OLD WARRANTS .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —On referring to tho Book of Constitutions , 1807 ( Ancients ) , I find Doyle ' s Lodge of Fellowship numbered 336 , yet in Hughan ' s Memorials it is given as No . 98 , under both Ancients nnd Moderns , with a foot note stating that it was warranted by the "Moderns" in 1753 , but I suppose tho Lodgo did not secedo till 1807 , when it received a warrant from the " Ancients , " and I conclude

its number was altered , previous to the Union , to No . 98 Ancients , owing to senior Lodges having ceased to exist . Am I ri ght in my supposition P Would not a list of all the Lodges , and the towns and places of meeting which have been warranted by either Grand Lodgo from the Revival 1717 , say to 1832 , if published be interesting . For instance ,

at Havant there was a Lodge about 1760 , there was also one which ceased working some 40 years since ; there was also one at Hambledon , in this County ( Hants . ) , some years back . I havo no doubt scores of extinct Lodges might be traced . Apologising for thus troubling you , I remain , yours fraternally , P . M . 804 .

[ We havo much pleasure in answering our correspondent ' s letter , as it raises a curious study , and the reply herewith will serve to furnish a key to elucidate several others of a similar character . Bro . Hilghan , in our contemporary sometimo since , had a friendl y discussion with Bro . W . T . Kinnersley W . M . 84 , and pointed out tho facts which aro now asked for .

Doyle s Lodge of Fellowship , No . 336 , of 22 nd September 1806 , Was changed to No . 98 , 14 th September 1807 , by the Lodgo assuming the position on the Roll of a Lodgo formerly meeting at Elizabeth Castle , Jersey , and the now wan-ant , with Sir John Doyle as tho first Master , bears tho new number ( 98 ) A . D . 1807 , as Bro .

Constable kindly gave in THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE last week . A new Lodge , bearing No . 336 in 1806 , would not he distinguished with tho No . 98 in 1807 , nnless it had purchased , or obtained by somo other means ( as with the "Ancients" prior to the Union ) , tho position of an older Lodge . This tho " Doyle ' s Lodge of Fellowship " did , and that fact explains the date mentioned in the note , " 17 th March

1762 , " which was tho period of constitution originally of No . 98 . No . 336 was transferred to another Lodge , and hence arise all tho difficulties of tracing those " ancient " Lodges , difficulties unravelled only by brethren like Bros . Hiighan and Bass , who are often solicited to give the key to inexplicable Masonic problems * Long may they be spared so to do . —ED . F . C . 1

Birth.

BIRTH .

WILLING . —On tko 18 th ultimo , at Springfield Lodge , Junction-road , Kentish Town , tho wife of Bro . James Willing jun . of a daughter .

The next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall will be held at Falmouth , under the presidency of the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgccumbe , P . G . M ., and it is expected there will be a very strong muster on the

occasion . The town is already " in arms " to receive the brethren , the worthy and esteemed Mayor , Bro . Thomas Webster , W . M . No . 75 , taking a conspicuously active part in the preparations .

At the meeting of the Hayle Chapter to be held on Tuesday next , E . Comps . John Coombe , John S . Smith , and E . H . Pool , will bo severally installed 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd Principals , Comp . N . J . West M . E . Z . fulfilling the duties of installing Z .

HOT / LOWAY ' S REMEDIES surpass all othera in tho treatment of those cases which have their origin in loss of nerve power . Hysteria , melancholy forebodings , and feebleness of the vital powers , with a general feeling of languor , lassitude and depression , are frequent , and common evidences of tlii .--, condition of loss of nerve > orce . If tlii- impairment of ncrvi e . power is not counternoted , a multitude of evils ensue , and it is on this account that it is so imperatively necessary for steps to be taken to restore the power before the loss has becomes almost irreparable . Holloway ' s twin remedies are remarkably adapted for cases of the f regoing character , aud no one who suffers in such a way should refrain from fairly trying them ,

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

AU Books intended for Keview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason's Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Clouds in the East . —Travels and Adventures on the Perso-Turkoman Frontier . By VALENTINE BAKER . London : Chatto aud Windus .

AT the present time , when what is termed tho Eastern question is once more upon tho tapis , and while the attention of far-seeing politicians in this country is being directed towards our Indian possessions , with apprehension and misgiving , this work deserves , and will probably obtain , peculiar notice and consideration . It was in tho early part of 1873 , during tho excitement occasioned in England by

tho Rnssian expedition against Khiva , that tho journey here narrated was projected by tho author ; and but little time was lost in carrying his plans into execution . Without aid or encouragement from Government , influenced solely by the patriotic desire of serving their country , Colonel Baker , of the 10 th Hussars , Lieutenant Gill , R . E ., and Captain Clayton , of tbe 9 th Lancers , set off to traverse and survey

strategically tho entire mountainous district lying between the Southern shore of the Caspian on tho one hand , and the north-western boundary of India on the other . When it is considered that a great portion of thoir route lay through a country where European had never trod before , over wide expauses of desert , infested by hordes of warlike barbarians , and in a climate excessively trying to the most

robust constitutions , it will be seen that the expedition must have been attended with considerable difficulty and discomfort , and by no small degree of danger . The party proceeded by direct ronto to Astrabad on tho south-eastern coast of the Caspian , from thenco on horseback to Teheran , and from Teheran in an easterly direction as far as the town of Sangbust , which lies near to tho north-eastern

boundary of Persia . Hero they were met by an insurmountable difficulty , which prevented them from continuing their journey into Afghanistan , and they wero accordingly obliged to turn back . Their return route however was fruitful in important discoveries , traversing as it did a district almost at that timo entirely unknown to geographers . Having discovered the source of the Attrek , a river about

which the most vague and inaccurate accounts had hitherto been given , they followed its course almost to its outlet in the Caspian Sea . During tho expedition both Colonel Baker and Lieutenant Gill ( Captain Clayton was early disabled by sickness ) laboured hard to obtain tho most accurate information as to tho physical features of the country , and the manners , customs and opinions of the

inhabitants . Much of the information may not be over palatable to the peace-at-any-prico party in England , but all of it is valuable . It appears that tho rivalry of Russia and England in the East is regarded with the greatest possible interest by the semi-independent governors of Northern Persia , aud that England has been somewhat discredited by recent events . " We hear , " observed one , " that England is no

longer the power she used to be ; that you have got great riches and think of nothing else , but that you never fight now . " " If we do not fight , " replies onr author , " it is not from any loss of power , but because we havo no desire to increase onr territory . " " But if you are strong , " rejoins the other , " and if you can still light , why did yon the other day pay tribute to America ? " To give a reply to this question , through an

oriental interpreter , that would satisfy a fighting fvhoord chief waa not an easy matter . Colonel Baker is of opinion that an army of valuable auxiliaries might be raised in Central Asia with very little trouble . He found largo numbers of men who , under European leadership , and with the advantages of drill and discipline , would make splendid soldiers . Horses , too , might be obtained in large numbers , aud

at a moderate cost , from tho Turkomans . At an average price of £ 20 he could have obtained something like 15 , 000 fine cavalry horses in three months . Tho author himself tested the powers of one of them , and found them of a very high order . During the latter part of the expedition the Colonel suffered severely from fever , and was many times tempted to retrace his stops . A voice , he tells us , seemed

to say to him , " Return , while yet there is time , aud reach the Caspian Sea ; air alone can save you . Why rush to certain death ? You are not on duty , you are merely trying to carry out a useful work for your country . Will your country ever thank you for it ? " Nevertheless , he persevered , getting weaker and weaker every day , until , at last , within sight almost of the sea shore , he was unable to sit on his horse , and had to bo carried into Reshdt on a tracteravan or Persian

palanquin . It is impossible to read this interesting narrative without feeling that Colonel Baker and his companions have placed England under great obligations for the skill , energy and perseverance they displayed in their expedition . It is certain that the work will bo closely studied by all interested in geographical research , or , in the important question of tho strategical defensibility of our great Indian possessions . We may add that the work is illustrated with three excellent maps , and some very fair chromo sketches .

Cook's Tourists' Handbook for Switzerland . —London : THOMAS COOK & SON , Lndgate-circns , E . C ; SIMI'K IN , MARSHALL & Co . New York : COOK , SON & , JENKINS , 261 Broadway ; Geneva , TnoMAS COOK & SON , 90 Rue du Rhone . 1876 . WE can strongly recommend this as a most useful book to any of our readers who may bo contemplating a trip to Switzerland this summer , and who are not alread y furnished with anything in tho way of a guide .

Ihe directions in the introductory matter , as to luggage , Custom Houso examinations , passports , and money , are very simple and very clear , and speaking from our own limited experience , the traveller will do well to follow them . The coupon system , for which we are indebted to the enterprise of Messrs . Cook and Son , is well calculated to smooth away many of those difficulties which an Englishman so ofton encounters on his first visit to a European country . Our full-grown British tourist is not generally a man of many languages . He speaks