Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . . 4 . Short Sketch of the Original Progress of the Italian Language . By R . PALUMBO , Professor of tho Italian , French , aud Spanish Languages and Literature . London 1875 .

THIS is what it professes to be , a clearly written and very succinct sketch of the progress of the Italian Language . The writer points out the meagreness of the materials which remain to ns , and which in no way , or but to a very slight extent indeed , enable us to form a clear view of the rude beginnings of the most musical language in Europe . Tho Oscan and Latin elements are ,

in our opinion , justly placed high among the elements of which tho prosent language is composed , and the close affinity between these two and others is al- > o noted , as well as the changes which came over the spirit of the language by reason of the ever-growing influence of the Christian Church ; thence we advance to the dark ages , when literature and literary pursuits were at their lowest . Then we

approach the glorious epoch in which flourished the immortal Dante , Petrarca and Boccaccio . This is rightly described as the Goldon Ago of Italian Language , and with the view of illustrating both the author ' s style and the character of his criticisms , we take leave to qnote the following passages : " The thirteenth century was called the Golden Age of Italian

language ; patriotism , religion , and love formed the great triumvirate of Dante , Petrarca , and Boccaccio . With their pen the native tongue acquired a new impulse . From the time of Dante and Petrarca it took a rapid stride . A multitude of barbarous words were eliminated , the nobler became separated from the base , and this latter was excluded from poetry . Meanwhile this language took some time to he

generally cultivated . The different provinces of Italy still remained attached to their dialects ; so the vulgar was at that time but little developed . We havo a proof of this in tho beautiful account Dante sent to Guido Novello on his mission to Venice ; he wrote , ' How can I express the gross ignorance of those grave , venerable fathers ? When I found myself in the presence of this grey-bearded and aged

assembly , I naturally wished to fulfil my mission and communicate your message in tho Latin tongue . Hardly had I pronounced my exordium when they sent to beg me either to seek an interpreter or to speak in another language . Half astonished , half indignant ( I can hardly tell which sentiment predominated ) , I began to say something in that tongue which I first lisped at my mother ' s kneo , and even this

scarcely sounded more natnral or familar to their ears than Latin . ' " Bro . Palnmbo then gradually traces the history of the language to the present time , and concludes his brief , but useful brochure , with the following remarks , which are as creditable to his patriotism as they are to his critical acumen , and his noble aspirations : — " Comparing the past with the present , Italy may feel proud of the

great work that her children have achieved in this nineteenth centnry , a work which yet will raise her to a first rank among nations . The Italians will never forget that they have risen to new life through the ever living spirit that breathes in every delineation of their art , in every note of their music , and in every tone of their language . The national freedom so nobly attained by these irresistible weapons , will

ever be kept bright to preserve her independence ; these are the instruments God appointed , wherewith Italy must fight the battle of life and educate her sons more highly . * The proper study of mankind , is man , ' said Pope . The noblest part of man is his moral and intellectual nature , and no nation knows better than the Italians the

tremendous moto-force of philosophy and art . The divine light which illuminated with such radiant glory the minds of Dante , Petrarca , Vico , Michel Angelo , Alfieri , Manzoni , Cavour , Garibaldi and Mazzini will continue to shed a lustre upon her succeeding generations , and keep for ever fresh in the hearts of her people that spirit of freedom , without which no nation can achieve greatness . "

In the Westminster Papers will be found ninch valuable information abont " The Chess World , " with several Problems and Solutions of Problems , several Hands at Whist , and a letter on " Honours —Dealer v . Non-dealer , " in which the writer enters most minntely into a variety of calculations , which are marvellous enough to look at , aud must be still more marvellous to have compiled . The editor , however , is fully equal to the task of meeting J . W . S . with weapons

of the latter s choice , and parries his thrusts with counter thrnsts of such marvellous fignre-puvvcr , as to have made our very hair stand on end . There are , besides , a capital review of a recent well-known work by Sir . A . Trollope , some more wonderful " Calculations for Leader " in Ecarte , and a notice of Napoleon , a game with which we aro not acquainted . Owing to tho few theatrical performances going on now , there are no Dramatic Notes .

The New England Freemason ( Boston , U . S . ) for July devotes a considerable portion of its space to the visit of the Richmond Commandery of Knights Templar to Boston , iu tho month of Jnne , regarding the event , as the whole Masonic world does , as a very significant aud very pleasing episode in the history of the Craft . It contains also an account , abridged from the Freemason ' s Repositnn / , of the

laying of the first stone of tho New City nail , Providence , R . l . There are , besides , an article congratulating the Keystone on having entered on its ninth volume , a short biography of the Duke of Montague , whilomo M . W . G . M ., as well as one of Mercers' Hall , as one of the London Halls associated with Masonry , both signed "J . T . If ., " and the concluding portion of a recent address by R . W . Bro . Cornelius Hedges , Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge , Afontana .

We have received two small yet interesting pamphlets , one on the " Genealogy of the Brigantes or Douglas , " the other on the '' Origin , Intent , End , or Purpose of Masonry , " by Leyland Feilden . We purpose noticing them at some length in our next issue .

The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

"The Shaughraun" at Drury Lano Theatre . THE opening of onr national theatre is an event which interests all play-goers , heralding , as it does , the approach of another dramatic season . Under the jndicions management of Mr . Chatterton , the star of DRURY LANE has risen high of late years . It is too much to expect from private management that regard for art , aud striving for artistic merit , which , in these days are

incompatible with pecuniary success ; they certainly cannot be expected from the man who wrote that " Shakspeare meant ruin , and Byron bankruptcy ; " but Mr . Chatterton may claim that his productions at Drury Lane have been at least harmless , and have not left any unpleasant taste in the month . For some years Mr . Halliday has had the honour of supplying the opening piece of the season , in tho

shape , generally , of an adaption from one of Scott s novels , but this year the author is changed , and Mr . Boucicanlt come 3 to the front with an Irish drama which has aqnired some notoriety in New York , entitled The Shaughraun . We all know the materials of which Mr . Boacicault ' s Irish dramas are invariably composed : tho inevitable faithful follower , with his keen appreciation of fun and his readiness

to do anything right or wrong in the service of tho master whom ho loves , that master is always the same young Irish gentleman who has got into trouble through " weaving of the green , " he is betrayed by that spy , generally also a process server , whom wc know so well , and arrested by that familiar English officer who always brings his many stupid mistakes to a climax by mai'rying that wild Irish

girl , the patriot's sister . All theso are familiar to ns ; are they not sketched iu the " Colleen Bawn , " and drawn more boldly in " Arrah-na-Pogue ? " It says much for Mr . Boucicanlt's ability as a playwright that out of such materials he can and does construct dramas which never fail to interest and please ; it says little for his artistic feelings that with such undoubted ability he has written no

work more worthy to endure than " London Assurance , " a good , but very artificial comedy . Of all living British dramatic authors , Mr . Boucicault has most mechanical ability and most instinct for effect ; but we think it extremely improbab ' o that any ono of his dramas will be played in the next generation . The Shaughraun is a fair specimen of his style ; it is well constructed , contains some good situations , well led up to , and some touches of that mingled humour and pathos

which Mr . Boucicanlt knows so well how to nso : it has , too , the inestimable advantage of the acting of Mr . and Mrs . Boucicanlt , both of whom are inimitable in their respective lines : the always sound acting of Mr . David Fisher , the manly bearing of Mr . Tcrriss and Mr . J . B . Howard , and the really powerful performance of Mr . Shield Barry , all combine to make The Shaughraun an nndonbfed success ; but wc cannot think the piece worthy of Mr . Boncicuult ' s genius , or of the great theatre in which it is played .

Maccabe.

MACCABE .

Frederic Maccabe , the entertainer , who has recently returned from a long and , we believe , successful tour in the Uuited States , has been appearing nightly to highly appreciative audiences at the Philharmonic Hall , Islington , aud it may be said , with truth , that there is no " single-handed" entertainment going at all comparable to the musical and ventriloquial one entitled " Begone Dull Care . " Mr . Maccabe is

like wo don't know how many talented gentlemen rolled into one , for ho composes the music , writes the songs , and enacts all the characters —male and female—in this varied , nuflaggingand thoroughly artistically finished entertainment ; the only drawback , on the night we wero present , was tho excessively crowded state of tho Hall , a fact attributable to the universal popularity of Mr . Aiaccabc , and to the tact and indefatigabloness of Mr . Sutton , his business manager .

Railway Traffic Returns.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS .

The following statement shows the receipts for traffic on the undermentioned railways for the past week , as compared with the corresponding week in 1874 : — MJICH '' . pan . Reccii > t . c . Railway . 1875 1875 1874 £ £

Caledonian ..... 739 58 , 014 56 , 993 Glasgow and South Western . . 315 J 19 , 538 18 , 658 -Great Eastern .... 763 51 , 688 54 , 072 Great Northern ... » 523 59 , 998 59 , 814 Great Western .... 1 , 525 113 , 038 10 S . 55 S Lancashire and Yorkshire . . 430 72 . 08 L 70 , 191

London and Brighton . . . 37 * i 40 / i 6 t 38 , 8815 Loudon , Chatham and Dover . . 15-H 26 , 705 24 , 947 London and North Western . . 1 , 587 188 , 935 187 , 218 London and South Western . . G 2 GJ 43 , 5 f 53 40 , 870 London , Tilbury and Sonthend . 43 2 , 8 'i 0 — Manchester and Sheffield . . 259 . V 32 . 659 32 . 020

Midland < J 75 T 118 , 991 114 , 727 Metropolitan 8 8 , 464 7 , 740 „ District ... 8 4 , 2 G 4 3 , 513 „ St . John ' s Wood . . If 365 332 North British 8443 . 46 , 470 44 , 636

N ' orth Eastern .... l , 400 fr — — North London .... 12 7 , 265 6 , 525 North Staffordshire Railway . . 191 10 , 559 10 , 016 „ „ Canal . 118 1 , 587 1 , 600 S < . tub . Eastern .... 350 47 , 812 41 , 573