Correspondence.

expenditure , bnfc whether , having' regiird to sncli excess , it is wise , or will be possible , to maintain the present strength is a matter of opinion . As to the vacant beds , we ninst refer our correspondent to the Se -rotary . We presume , however , that the number of vacancies to be filled up in

October will be governed by the number of vacancies that have occurred since the last Election . With reference to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , we shall only consider it onr duty " to jog " tho memory of the brethren

iu the event of its becoming apparent that an hostile resolution to non-coufirm the minutes of fche June Communication is in contemplation . We have no desire to anticipate , though we feel ifc onr duty to be provided against , difficulties that may present themselves . —ED . F . C ]

SUBDIVISION OF THE LONDON LODGES

To the Editor of the FKBK . UASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHER , —I hope Bro . James Stevens ia not losing sight of his proposal to the Grand Lodge for tho subdivision of the London Lodges into Metropolitan Grand Lodges . There are very many brethren of ray personal acquaintance who have expressed their surprise that his intended motion at tho last Quarterly

Communication was intercepted , and who not only entirely agree with his pro . posal , but were pleased to hear him resent the interference which pave rise to his question of privilege . If only for his championship of free discussion at our Grand Lodge meetings he deserves support , to say nothing of the merits of the question he has raised . As to

that latter , you may bo assured it has the agreement of a large body of Metropolitan Masons in its favour , and these desire that Bro . Stevens shonld not let tho matter drop becanse of his having been misinterpreted on the last occasion . If he sees this letter perhaps he will let ns know , through your pages , whether or not he proceeds with it .

Yours fraternally , DELTA . 22 nd . Inly 1882 .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 23 Great Queen Street , W . C . The Last Punic War . Tnnis , Past and Present , with a narrative of tho French Conquest of tho Regency . By A . M . Broadley , Bar . rister-at-law , correspondent of the "Tunes" during the War in Tunis . In Two Volumes . With illustrations . William

Blackwood and Sons : Edinburgh and London , 1882 . ( Continued from page 84 . ) WITH the political aspect of this Punic War we havo no concern , but some of its occurrences , as well as some of its descriptive accounts of places and people , are well worthy of being noticed . Herefor

in-, stance , is a sketch of Sy Ali Bey nnd his snrronndings when visited by the author at Sidi Salah . "The tents , " writes Bro . Broadley , " were very large and difficult to move , and those occupied by the Bey aud his suite wero ponderous marquees . If a strong wind happened to be blowing , twenty or thirty men usually struggled for an

hoar at least with the canvas of the Bey ' s pavilion before it could be got into shape . The baggage was even more cumbersome than tho tents . The heir apparent ' s own luggage consisted of a number of wooden trunks , covered with brown leather , and thickly studded with brass-headed nails . One of them was devoted to syrupssiveet .

, nieats , and zoed < ne , the orthodox nature of which was duly certified by the Boy ' s imam , or chaplain , who found it necessary to make several trials of the drink before be pronounced his definite opinion . The Bey ' s personal cortege was as miscellaneous and remarkable as Lis baggage . At its head was Dr . Stresino , his

physician-extraordiiiary , whose duties were of a very varied nature . In the firsfc place , he had to administer harmless and agreeable coloured potions le cure imag inary ailments ; he wns expected to make himself pleasant whenever the princo was dull , and to piny chess whenever required , always contriving to be the loser . The Bash-Kahwnjee or ' head coffee man '

was certainly tho next iu importance , llis tent immediately ad . joined that of Jiis Highness , and in it a large pot of water wns ' eonunuull y kept boiling over a charconl lire . Ho was expected to pro"nee cups of coffee at a moment ' s notice . During the march ho was """¦ ays close to his master ' s heel ? , with a / I his pnrapliernalia in ettuuie

-ua- .-B , and ready whenever called on to perform his dnty . After tue Kabwajee came the chaplain , the water-bearer , tbe gtm-bearer , tie pipe-bearer , and the sword-bt'nrer . The jester was a verv impo * --aut personage indeed , lie was privileged to say what he liked , and no coarser his jokes the more they were appreciated . Whenever the amp was moved Ali Bev mounted his charger for a few minutes . and

" -n betook himself to a gilt coach , drawn over the roughest ground y our mules . Beggars abounded , and some of the Bey ' s trunks ntained liuen ancl cloth to enable him to indulge freely in the virtue ot iUmsKiviucr " Th T < ri , •' e linaniuv , who fiirnra so consnicnonslv in tho events wlnVh

j atg e ecl to 'he occupation of Tunis are described as " figriouttnralfacil V C ? tt"e dealers J a J the country offers many and exceptional ities for their pursuits . Springs of excellent water are plentiful , pastnre io luxuriant , aud the rfonse forests afford good shelter .

Reviews.

They manufacture their own gunpowder , are very clannish , but sab ¦ itir without a murmur to the authority of their chief . Some live in lints , others in tents , but theso latter are not nomadic . The fChamirs are frugal , but perhaps fare better then their brethren of the plain . The women spin a superior kind of woollen bernous ( cloak ) aud weavo blankets . A large quantity of tobacco of an

excellent quality is grown , bufc nobody smokes , livery one , on tho contrary , takes snuff . It is generally calculated that there are from fifteen to twenty-five thousand fighting meu in the range of mountains . All the adults are for the most ; part armed with Mint-lock guns about seven feet long , and made without any idea of balance . It consequently generally requires a strong man to keep tho tnnzalo

level . The mountains are very stoop , aud the only passes are very narrow paths , in most places not more than two or three feefc wide . Dense forests often cover the heights , and the richness of the vegetation adds considerably to the extreme beauty of tho scenery . Oak and cork trees , the thorn and ' locust . bean ' trees , wild vines , and giant ferns all grow aud thrive together in one luxuriant tangle .

Men born under such accidents of nature as theso are , of course , hardy , fearless , nnd capable of enduring extraordinary fatigue . " The first three chapters iu the Second Volume , headed respectively "A Revolt in the City of Cucumbers" ( Sfax ) , "The Shelling of Sfax , " and " Loot , " are very interesting . The Arabs made a good fight , of it , bufc it was impossible they could withstand the heavy

artillery of tho French fleet , aud the wonder seems to be that they shonld have been able to withstand it so long and so bravely . " The resistance , " says Mr . Galea , as quoted by Bro . Broad ' ey , " was as brave as it was hopeless , bnt no amount of personal courage can compensate for tho use of weapons fit only for old metal dealers or curiosity shops . Iu the narrow streets of tho native town , house after

house was only occupied after a desperate hand-to-hand conflict . As to the scenes depicted in the chapter in " Loot , " there is no need to describe them ; a state of pillage can easily be imagined . But the occupation by French troops of Sfax and other places by no means put an end to tho opposition of the Arabs , aud it is not surprising that the account of the "Loot" should be followed immediately by

one headed " Alarms at the Capital . " The French protectorate of M . Roustan had been established , and fcho Bey had accepted the inevitable , bufc the whole of Southern and Central Tunis was iu a state of revolt , and Europeans were everywhere being put to death by the enraged Arabs . On the appearance of a band of insurgents afc Rades , which is equally visible from Tunis and Goletta , the bridge

between the latter and Rades was ordered by fche Bey to be broken down and the passage guarded by artillery . But so great was the excitement that " people in Tunis decided fco fly to Goletta , aud persons in Goletta determined to take refuge iu Tunis ! A crowd of Tunisian fugitives arrived by train afc Goletta , but only to meet

another mob of refugees waiting impatiently to take the return train to Tunis . " We can well understand that the meeting of the two crowds formed au " amusing" —though a somewhat painful" tableau . " We have already spoken of the pluck shown by fcho Arabs dnriug the French attack on Sfax . We have a further instance of this in

tho repulse of Colonel Correard s column , which had made an attempt on Hammamet , but had beeu compelled to fall back on Hainman-el-Lif , whence it had started , in order " to revictual and complete its munitions before recommencing its march . " Says Bro . Bradley : "Tbe French troops had already sighted Hammamet , when thoy found the surrounding olive groves alive with Arabs . While the latter checked

their progress hy a sharp fire , other bodies of insurgents collected in their rear , and threatened to cat off all communication with Tunis . In this predicament Colonel Correard asked tho co-oporation of a troop of 500 Tunisian irregulars encamped in the neighbourhood , bat , as the commanding officer declined to comply with the request in the absence of instructions , it was decided to full back to ' revictual and

complete munitions . ' Daring the retreat tho Arabs made constant attacks on the column , notwithstanding thafc ifc was protected by artillery and mitrailleuses , and in spite of the heavy loss they necessarily sustained in each assault . The French at length regained their old camp , ^ fter a most harassing and perplexing march . " No wonder it should be added , " Iu no country does news spread with

more mysterious rapidity than amongst the Arabs , aud the consequences of Colonel Correard's retrogade movement were soon felt ; the position of the Zaghouitn column became critical , and even the Bizerta road was no longer safe for foot passengers . " In this difficulty , troops were sent by sea toHamuiamefc , which was afc once occupied , " but even then we are told , " matters can hardly bo said to have

mended ; the Arabs devastated the country up to the very walls of the tovvn , and Colonel Correard did not think it prudent even to attempt a junction with the garrison . " Of subsequent events , the march and capture of the Holy City of Kairwau are the principal , their description by Bro . Broadley being extremely graphic . The expedition , which was under tlie command

of General Forgemol , appears lo have been well planned and well executed , and reflects credit , on the force engaged . Tho Arabs , too , fonuht bravely as usual . But worthier far of notice than the mere military operations are the particulars of the Holy City itself , which was founded about the year A . D . 675 by the Emir Okhbuh Ben Na . fi Bf > n Abdullah Ben Kni ' s el Fabri . Its history has exercised a strong

influence on fche fortunes of Europe . From ont of its gates the gallant Tarik set out ou his Conquest of Spain . In A . D . 75 G its Kmir Abd el Rahman was strong enough to send an expedition against Sicily . Later , the Caliph el Rescind appointed Ibrahim Ibn cd Atrhbad hereditary Emir , who became the founder of the Aahlabite dynasty and proclaimed himself Caliph of tho West . Ifc

was here he received " the ambassadors of Charlemagne , who asked for tho remains of St . Cyprian . " His sons waged war on Italy aud Sicily , and one of them conquered Malta . Iu A . D . 877 Ibrahim Ibti Ahmed founded most of the towns ou the Tunisian littoral , and successfully besieged Tunis after ifc had been captured by somo of the insurgents . The first of tbe Green Caliphs , who reigned after the Aghlabites , by name Obeid Allah , "ravaged Lombardy , took Genoa ,