Holiday Haunts.

Portmadoo , a barbonr of considerable importance , lies beyond . The line divides at this spot , one branch hnjrsing the coast , the other going through Festiniog , Blaenau , Bettws-f-coed , Llanrwst , to Llandudno Junction . Aronnd this net work of railways , and reached by spurs projecting therefrom , range the very choicest scenery in Wales . The praises of tho valleys of Festiniog have been

sung by Lord Lyttelton , and the falls of Cynfael have been described by Mr . Eoscoe with a vigour worthy of their fierce and terrible nature . Bettws-y-coed is tho reverse of the scene just mentioned . It is a quiet , lovely sylvan retreat , with all the elements of grnndenr aronnd . Within itself it combines much in which the artist and the angler delight , and is a favourite hannt of both . The coast lino

and its spurs lead to Llanberis for Snowdon , to the Menai Straits and its wonderful bridges , to Carnarvon , and to a thousand attractions which cannot be dealt with here . The whole district is full of charms for tbe tonrist , of the mighty works of natare , and of her beauty too . Those who desire further information shonld provide a good guide book , one of the best we have seen being Black ' s , pub-JiVhed in 1881 .

•Returning to Crewe , the main line divides into three great arteries . The one on the left goes to Chester , a famous old city at which a stay shonld be made . The walls of tbe old city should be perambulated , the quaint and outwardly uninteresting Cathedral visited , and tbe remains of domestic architecture of centuries ago would repay in . spection . Tbe line skirts the southern shore of the Irish Sea

and embraces Rbyl , with a branoh direot to Llangollen . Farther on is Abergele and Conway , with a spur to Llandudno , clasped between the outstretched arms of the Great Orme ' s Head . Onward the line continues past Bangor to Holyhead , where an admirable service of boats are provided for the conveyance of passengers to Ireland . The middle of the three

arteries goes north , divides on the left to Liverpool . The third goes to Leeds . Between tbe three are included all the principal places in Lancashire and Yorkshire np to Preston . Here a branch on the left leads to Lytham , Blackpool , and Fleetwood for Belfast by steamer . Still going north Lancaster is passed and Carnforth is reached . At this point commence tbe series of lines that

cover tbe Lake District , to which we have referred in a previous paper . No word-painting can picture the delights of Cumberland and Westmoreland , they mnst be seen to be appreciated . We shall , therefore , leave them to be explored by those who seek to know tbem , promising them a treat that will survive as long ns memory lasts . We pause a moment at Carlisle , the border station of the

London and North Western line , before entering Scotland . It is a grand old grey town , abounding in historical interest and ought not to be missed . Some miles farther on a line branches off to Dumfries on to Stranraer , from whence a line of steamers cross the North Channel to Lame , thus shortening the sea voyage to Belfast , nearly always a rough one by the ordinary routes . At Carstairs the line

divides , from which point one branch goes to Edinburgh and the other to Glasgow and Greenock . Lanark is not far from Carstairs , from which ancient town the falls of the Clyde can be visited , and many points of great interest , in which Wallace figures as a glorious central figure . Stirling is the next point of divergence . Here one trunk goes to Oban and tho other to Perth . Then it branches out

again , taking in Dundee , Brechin , Montrose , Aberdeen , Peterhead , and Fraserburgh on the one hand , and on the other Blairgowriej Blair Athole , Lossiemouth , Inverness , Dingwall , and Strome Ferryj covering in fact nearly every part of Scotland . This bare outline oonld be filled in with descriptions of wild scenery , of lochs and

mountains and of historic events that would require volumes to record . Our objeot is simply to stimulate the public taste , and having done that we must leave them to other resources which are ready to hand , and which will teach them that , in the three kingdoms , there are scenes of grandeur and of beauty which shonld at least be seen before fresh fields and pastures new are sought in foreign climes .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . Ml Letters must hear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

A PARTING SHOT . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Just a few last words in self-defence , and then , for the present at least , I shall take leave of Bro . Perceval , -there is no need for me to pursue tho matter farther with regard to the revision of the rules , and tbe proceedings arising therefrom , after the admirable letter which appeared in yonr last issue , signed by "A MEMBER OF THE LATE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . "

Inthe number of the CHRONICLE for 11 th August , I am accused m'sqnoting Bro . Perceval in one particular case , and he saya there are other instances in which ho ( ' W ATCHMAN ' ) has misrepresented » e meaning of my text , though he may have nearly quoted tho words correctly . " This last charge I pass by with tho remark that „ ^ °# learned to regard Bro . Perceval ' s unsupported statements with

nspicion . ^ Not that be wilfully misstates an opponent , butbecanseho cannot believe it possible that any one can be right who differs from im . and that all who do so are more or less guilty of moral turpitude . . n ° disposed to accept condemnation withon ' fc proof , and it is alf ^ v . Bro ' •Perceval rarely gives , and in this instance omits ens ? •u I wi " sav nothin S of hia mocIe of retreating from a disussion he provoked , nor his reason given for that step j those are

Correspondence.

matters your readevs can understand and appreciate ; but I am not disposed to submit to what I think I shall prove to be an utterly groundless accusation . It is quite trne that on the 14 th not 16 th July , Bro . Perceval did write that " a Committee should be formed outside of the Board of General Purposes , " and it is equally true that on the 21 sfc of the

same month , referring to tbe revision of the rules , I stated : "He ( Bro . Perceval ) has condemned the Board of General Purposes , and yet he would select six of their number for this delicate work . " Were these quotations to stand alone , Bro . Perceval would have some reason to complain , but unfortunately for him they do not . On tbe 16 th Jnne , a date probably forgotten when the letter four

weeks later was penned , Bro . Perceval expresses his intention to move the following resolution in Grand Lodge at a certain time which he states : " That as the defined Rwlea and Regulations miner which our Order is to be governed is a matter of the gravest importance to our well-being , and owing to the great delay that has hitherto taken placo in bringing the matter to an issue , that a Committee shonld be

formed , consisting of twelve members , six to be appointed by Grand Lodge , and six by the Board of Qeneral Purposes , to take in hand the reconsideration of tbe Revision of the Book of Constitutions , together with the suggested amendments and alterations , as soon as possible , and to lay the result thereof before Grand Lodge in December , for acceptance . " The italics are mine . He closes the paragraph thus : " By

these means both views of the case will be brought to bear , the purple and the bine . " There is nothing in the foregoing resolution hinting a suspicion of the bona fides of the Board of General Purposes , the object , aa I take it , being to facilitate tbe despatch of a troublesome business by a small committee , in which tbe Board and Grand Lodge shonld be equally represented . Nothing in tbe resolution could have

prevented the Board of General Purposes from nominating six of their own number , or at least of selecting six nominees who knew and would represent their views . It is clear , beyond dispute , that on tbe 16 th June , Bro . Perceval did not wish to go altogether outside of the General Purposes Committee , that was a conclusion arrived at later ,

when he became incensed at what be deemed their improper condnct . Then it occurred to him to shunt the Board , and to appoint a fresh Committee . My case therefore is abundantly vindicated . I was dealing with tbe whole subject . One of my charges against Bro . Perceval was inconsistency , and I venture to think that I have proved it np to tbe hilt out of his own mouth .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , WATCHMAN .

THE PRICKED WINDBAG . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have carefully read the letter of "A MEMBER OF THE LATE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES , " but be . sides stating that the charges he makes against me are generally incorrect , while his answers are not only incorrect , but beside the question , I can bnt express my surprise at the unbounded assurance

of au anonymous correspondent calling for an apology from me or any one else who gives his name , not for the sake of notoriety , but that it should not be said that such charges were made behind a "nom de plume . " I decline to make any further remarks until called upon by those who alone have the right to demand an explanation from me . Yours faithfully and fraternally , C . J . PERCEVAL , P . M . 1607 .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PATRIOTIC CHAPTER , No . 51 .

THE Quarterly Meeting of this Chapter was held on the 9 th instant , at the Three Cups Hotel , Colchester . Ex . Comp 3 . T . J . Railing P . G . S . E . M . E . Z ., E . Hennemeyer H ., W . P . Lowis P . Z . Treasurer as J ., J . J . C . Tomer S . E ., A . S . B . Sparling S . N ., W . Sowman P . S ., C . D . Marshall 1 st Asst . Soj ., S . Mnnson Janitor , George Harrison , John Dean , J . T . Bailey , and R . Little .

Visitor—Comp . Clarke Abbott 809 . Four brethren having been exalted to tbe sublimo degree of R . A . M ., the Officers for the ensuing year were elected as under : —Ex . Comps . E . Hennemeyer M . E . Z ., J . E . Wisemau H ., William Sowman J ., T . J . Railing I . P . Z . P . G . S . E . S . E ., C . D . Marshall S . N ., W . P . Lewis P . Z . Treasurer , J . J . C . Turner P . S ., Munson Janitor . The M . E . Z , stated that since the last meeting a

Grand Chapter had been formed for the Province , . and be had pleasure in proposing as a joining member the Grand Superintendent , E . Comp . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., P . G . Soj . England , who they were prond to claim as a native of Colchestor . There being no other business , the Companions adjourned to the festive board , and spent i pleasant honr and half in social intercourse .

Ad00504

D ANCING . —To Those Who Have Never Learnt to Dance . —Bro . ¦ and Mrs . JACQUES WYNMANN" receive daily , and undertake to teach ladies jinl gexiftemen , who have never had tho slightest previous knowledge or instruction , to go through every fashionable ball-dance in a few easy lessons . Private lessons any honr . Horning and evening classe PROSPECTUS OIT APPMCAIIOIT ACADEMY—14 NEWMAN STREET , OXFORD STREET , W . BBO . JACQUES WSNMASN win BE HAPPY TO TAKE ins MAJTAGBMEITT O » MASOHKS BAILS . FIHST-CIASS BAUDS PBOVIDED .