East, West And South.

He took away , besides some 50 , 000 of the best cigars which the Government factories could produce , a number of presents and purchases , in remembrance of his stay . Some deer , which are HOAV in the Zoological Gardens , and a selection of specimens of the beautiful Bigadera or

" Euplectella Aspergellnm , or Venus flower-basket , Avhich are HOAV so admired as bracket-ornaments in this country . These sponges are found principally off the island of Cobu , a large bank of them Avas discovered by divers about the year 1867 , which has since been depleted . I believe he

also took some specimens of native skill in the item of toothp icks , articles on the elaboration of which , out of soft Avoods , the untaught skill of the natives exhausts its fanciful fertility . They are considered by them a necessity , not a luxury of life , and at parties it is customary to hand

round a tree , AVIIOSO branches , sprays , buds and leaves are all found , npon being plucked , to be toothpicks Avith stems or handles of variedly artistic and remarkably fanciful designs . The toothp ick , Avhich is modestl y kept dark in this country is , throughout Spanish and some other

countries , an established institution—a patent fact ; even in the United States , if I remember rightly , a stack of them forms a central feature at the hotel dinner table ; and in that country , I knoAV , they aro made iu untold millions out of hickory Avood , for exportation .

The foregoing narrative may sei'A e to show the reception ancl the kind of experience undergone by our Princes on their visits to foreign parts , in a humble Avay reflecting the

routine of the Hcir-Apparent ' s late ovations in British India . As to the veracity of the incidents narrated , —Avas not a report thereof duly forwarded by mo and inserted in the Times Newspaper of January 1870 ? WALTER SPENCEK .

Scraps From Abroad.

SCRAPS FROM ABROAD .

We are indebted to Le Monde Maronniquc for the following interesting items of news : —On the lGth ult ., the managing body of the Masonic General Orphan Asylum in Paris delivered the report of its financial condition , ancl of the results Avhich have attended its zealous labours in the cause of beneficence . The institution

was founded in 1862 , under the Empire , and at the outset of its career Avas exposed to many perils , Avhich threatened even its existence . But in spite of these it has been enabled , by perseverance , ancl by the application of that principle of solidarit y in which lies the real

strength of Masonry , to educate eighty-six children , some of Avhich , having completed the respective terms of their apprenticeships , are already bravo workmen . This result has been achieved by means of the funds received into its coffers , and amounting , from its establishment till now , to

the sum of 147 , 000 francs . In the year just ended the receipts , including donations , individual contributions from brethren , proceeds of fetes , and collections from various sources , reached close upon 20 , 000 francs , Avhile the disbursements Avere 17 , 000 francs . After the delivery of this

report the President delivered several savmgs ' -bank books to those of the pupils Avho had most distinguished themselves , and then folloAved a splendid concert , at Avhich M . Liicien Collin ancl Mdlle . Girard , of tbe Opera-Cornique ,

Mdlle . Theol , of the Theatre Taitbout , and M . Emilo Bourgeois , pianistc , gave their valuable services gratuitousl y , as did likewise the choral society , Le Louvre , and M . Guillot , a comic actor of high reputation , whose performance evoked immense laughter .

There are thirty-three Lodges in Hungary . TAventy-oneof Avhich six are in Buda-Pesth and fifteen in the provinces —are under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient , Avhile twelve—three in Buda-Pesth and nine in the provincesackuoAvledge the St . John ' s Grand Lodge . The latter , in

addition , has four Lodges in foreign parts . In announcing Avith lively satisfaction that the Grand Orient of Egypt has renounced the rite of Memphis , Le Monde Maroimigne considers the resolution docs honour to the chiefs of that Masonic body . " True , " it adds , " it still

retains the thirty-three degrees of the Scotch rite . It is a halt , therefore , half Avay , but we have every confidence this lialt will be only momentary , and that in time the Grand Orient will retain only the three symbolic or Craft degrees , which are the only true Masonic degrees , ancl outside which

hero is nought but fantasy , aristocracy , and blameworthy inducements to vanity . " The chiefs of the Egyptian Grand Orient aro Bros . Zola 33 ° Grand Master ; de Beauregard 33 ° , First Assistant Grand Master ; and Sciarrono 33 ° , Second Assistant ditto .

These brethren are assisted by a Grand Master ' s Council , consisting of thirty working members . The Supreme Council of the Scotch Rite has for its Grand Commander Bro . Zola , with Bro . Sciarrono as Lieutenant , and Bro . Oddi as Grand Secretary . Among the higher Lodges are

a Consistory , an Areopagus , a Council , a Grand Chapter , and a Chapter . The National Symbolic Grand Lodge has for Grand Masters Bros . Zola , de Beauregard , and Sciarrono , with Bro . Oddi as Secretary . Tho symbolic Lodges are fourteen in number , and most of them aro composed in Great measure of Italians .

The quarrel which , ever since 1864 , has intervened between the Grand Orients of Colombia ancl New Grenada is determined . Tho first Masonic Lodge , bearing the title of Trahajo y

Ilonrade ? :, was constituted a short time since in Bolivia . It is in the jurisdiction of tho Grand Orient of Pern , and already , on 1 st January last , numbered thirty-four members .

The death is announced of Bro . Roberts , President of the Republic of Liberia , and formerly Grand Master of Masons in that little State .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

ELECTION OP HOUSE AND AUDIT COMMITTEES , SATUEDAY , 3 rd JUNE 1876 .

We understand that the tAvo brethren nominated as candidates for the House Committee , Bros . Diaper and Sanders have withdrawn their candidature , consequently there Avill be no contested election . For the Audit Committee , there being nominated one in excess of the number required , there Avill be an election .

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls Avas held on Thursday , the 25 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Col . Creaton P . G . D . in the chair . Bro . Hedges ( in the absence of Bro . R . W . Little , the Secretary , through indisposition ) read the minutes of the

Special House Committee of the 4 th April , and the Special Committee of the 25 th of May , ivhich Avere confirmed . After some other business the election for the House and Audit Committees took place , and the Scrutineers gave the following result : For the House Committee—Bros . John

Boyd , H . Browse , H . A . Dubois , B . Head , P . De Lande , J . Nunn , Lieut .-Col . J . Peters , J . A . Rucker , Griffiths Smith , A . H . Tattershall , Rev . J . M . Vaughan , ancl T . W .

White . For the Audit Committee—J . G . Chancellor , II . Dicketts , T . Kingston , H . C . Levander , H . M . Levy , J . G . Marsh , J . Nunn , W . Roebuck , and R . B . Webster . Votes of thanks Avere accorded to the Chairman and

the three Scrutineers , Bros . Major Finney , Venn and C . Moutric . Amongst those present Avere Bros . H . Browse , T . Cubitt , H . Dicketts , J . Nunn , Col . Peters , Dr . Erasmus Wilson , T . Fcnn , J . A . Rucker , Jardine , Young , J . Boyd , Chancellor , H . G . Buss , C . Moutrie , C . Hill , J . M . P .

Montagu , J . B . Shackleton , H . Massey , R . W . Stewart , T . Fenn , J . A . Rucker , Hyde Pullen , J . Terry , B . Swallow , W . Paas , J . Baldwin , J . Last , T . Massa , W . Roebuck

J . Smith , R . Berridge , A . D . LoeAvenstark , J . Filer , T . White , A . H . Tattershall , Major Finney , Captain WordsAvorth , T . Bacon , J . T . Moss , F . Binckes , H . M . Levy , & c .

The monthly meeting of the Grand Lodge of Benevolence Avas held on Wednesday , the 24 th instant , at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen-street , Bro . J . M . Clabon P . G . D . in the chair , the vice chairs being occupied by Bros . J . Rawson D . G . M . China , and J . Brett P . G . P . Grants to the amount of £ 653 were aAvarded . There was a numerous

attendance of the brethren , including Bros , the R . W . the Earl of Donoughmore S . G . W ., W . H . Murlis , W . Stephens , B . Swallow , W . J . HoAve , J . Smith , Dr . J . Hogg , Myers ,

Griffiths Smith , C . J . Hogard , H . A . Dubois , J . R Webster , Fredk . Binckes , Coulton , Gibson , Somers , J Pinder , Kench , Rev . J . M . Vaughan , C . A . Cottebrune , J Wright , S . Foxall , J . Hervey , H . G . Buss , Pendlebury , & c