Original Correspondence.

and write direct to the Duke of Beaufort , or the Grand Secretary , boldly stating , that " I , Henry Price , having held deputations from Viscount Montague and the Earl of Crauford , as Provincial Grand Master of America , do hereby and herewith recommend the appointment of Jeremy Gridley ,

Esq ., as my successor . " Surely , what higher and better recommendation could Gridley have needed , than that of English gentleman who was known to Viscount Montegue , or was at least acquamted with Thomas Batson , Esq ., and who was deemed worthy by John Lindsay , Earl of Crauford , to

receive the appointment of Prov . G . M . over all North America ? Nor is there any room for a supposition that Gridley ' s appointment was opposed by any representations or misrepresentations of some of the Massachusetts brotherhood , so as to require the aid of understrappers " to forward the affair , "

for Gridley received eleven out of thirteen votes of the Boston G . L . recommending his appointment ; and moreover , Gridley was undoubtedly the most talented Grand Master previous to the war of independence . Gridley was eminent at the bar , held the office of Attorney General for the colony under the

British Crown , and was a member of the Legislative Assembly . Th ° conduct of Price in 1754-5 ' therefore unaccountable . Again , Henry Price appealed to the " deputation " or commission copied from the record of his G . Lodge ; not to the original documennts , signed and sealed by Thomas Batson or

the Earl of Crauford , but to that recorded in his book . It is therefore evident that in 1768 Price was not in possession of either of his original deputations , for otherwise he would have appealed to them . Now , a Grand Lodge record might be brought in as evidence , providing we are certain that

the said record was received by an authorised secretary there and then , when each transaction was dated . But I scarcely had possession of the Massachusetts record a quarter of an hour , when I discovered , and have since then demonstrated to the satisfaction ' oftheG . M ., the G . T ., and G . S ., that the record of

1733 was not written until 1751 . The said record is not only not an original record , but it cannot even be claimed that it is an honest transcript of a true original . The whole of it from 1733 to 1751 is evidently a compilation from memory , and some loose memoranda written by Chas . Pelham , who was

not initiated until September 1 744 , and to the copy of his deputation in that record , Price appealed as evidence of his appointments . There is still another descrcpancy which must not be overlooked . Price , in his letter above given , claims to have received his two commissions

respectively in the years 1733 and 1735 , but in the Massachusetts record of 1734 , it is said that Price received the second deputation at the above date , and Bro . C . W . Moore , in his life of Price , says , Price received the commission from Lord Crauford , early in 1734 .

The question now is this . Was Price an impostor ? or did Thomas Batson , Esq ., Deputy G . M ., under the Grand Mastership of three successive English noblemen , really pocket three guineas , received by him from honest Henry Price , Esq . ? Or could Messrs . Batson , Rooke , and Sinythc , the

D . G . M ., and the Grand Wardens , who had signed the deputations of Price , April 13 th 1733 , have forgotten to have had the saici deputation registered in a year in which no other Prov . Grand Mastership was created ? Now , in order to have this riddle explained , I

would beg of you the favour to ascertain from the account book of your G . L . of the above date , if the three guineas of Henry Price , appear among the pounds , shillings and pence . Also whether according to the then regulations of the G . L . of England , did Henry Price have to pay a second three guineas

for his second commission ? and if so , can any account be found thereof either in 1734 , 1735 or immediately after ? If the three guineas should be found recorded , then all parties in the case will deserve an honourable discharge , but if on the other

hand , the said three guineas arc not found in the accounts , and no mention is made in G . L . record of ' 734-i 735 > or immediately after , of Henry Price , Esq ., then , I think , the unanimous verdict will be here , as well as in England , that Henry Price , Esq ., was as Artimtiz Ward would have called him " an

awful smart critter . " Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , Mass ., Jan . 12 th 1870 .

BREAKFAST . — EITS ' S COCOA . — Grateful and Comforting . —The very agreeable character of this preparation has rendered it a general favourite . The Civil Senr ' ee Gazette remarks : " Ily a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern lhe operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful application of the fine

properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately-flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctor's bills . " Made simply with boiling water or milk . Sold only in tin-lined packets , labelled J AMES Ei'j ' . s & Co ., Homoeopathic Chemists , London . —[ Advt . ]

Our Exchanges.

Our Exchanges .

The following have been received regularly of late : — The Neilgherry Excelsior , published at Ootacamund , Madras . This journal frequently contains interesting extracts on ¦ Masonic subjects , and is evidently edited with care and ability .

Maconniek Wcckblad . —A valuable organ oi the Craft , published weekly at Amsterdam . The number for the 10 th J anuary contains a continuation of Bro . Loysen Dillie ' s " History of the Grand National Mother Lodge of Berlin , " one of the three Masonic powers in Prussia . From

the same source , we learn that the Grand Orient of Lusitania is making progress , there being now 15 lodges under its banner , viz ., six at Lisbon , six at Oporto , two in Spain ( Cadiz and Seville ) , and one at Fayal . Five of these , namely the lodges "Cosmopolite , " "Tolerance , " "Triumphe

Moral , " " Unido Fraternal , " and " Esperanzo , " number between roo and 150 members each . The French grades of "Scotch Master , " "Knight of the East , " and " Rose Croix " are worked in addition to the symbolical degrees . In No . 3 , 17 th January , there is a long circular address

issued by the Lodge of the Sun , at Bayreuth , on the Roman Council and Freemasonry , and several protests from French lodges on the same subject , which is one that possesses little interest for British Masons , who can afford to smile at the arrogant pretensions of the Ultramontanists . A

list of the officers of the lodge " Carl of Sweden , " of which the King of Sweden and Norway is Master , is also given . This lodge is held at Zutfen , and is one of the highest standing in the state . Bro . Franken , the Almoner , is a wellknown Mason , and the Chapel Master or Org .,

Bro . C . F . P . Soeteus , is a musician of some celebrity . Frcimaurer-Zeititng , edited by Bro Moritz Lille , at Leipsic , contains in the issue for January 8 th , among the memorable Masonic events of the year 1 S 6 9 in connection with the

Grand Lodge of England , an account of the Inauguration of Freemasons' Hall in April last , and quotes copiously from the Rev . R . J . Simpson ' s excellent oration on that occasion . This paper also gives reports of lodge meetings , and interesting statistics of the membership of various

German lodges . Thus we learn that the " Harpocrates" Lodge , at Magdeburg , reckons 123 members , besides 10 honorary members ; " Pysche , " at Oppelm , 153 ; a lodge at Lubeck , 176 ; and one at Hanover , 253 . It is evident that our German fratcrs do not believe in small

lodges . In many numbers of the Frcimaurcr-Zeitung , capital addresses delivered to the lodges by talented brethren are reproduced with advantage , doubtless , to the German Craft at large . Masonic Tidings , Warsaw , New York ; edited by Bro . J . W . Simons and John Ransom . —This

is a welcome visitor to our sanctum , and we can cordially reciprocate the following kindly comments upon our own labours : — LONDON' FREEMASON . —We arc in receipt of this invaluable Masonic paper . It gives news from all parts of the world , and circulates in all the

dependencies of the British crown . We hope to receive it regularly hereafter . It is printed by Bro . George Kenning , under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of the United Kingdom . Its terms three shillings three pence per quarter , postage included .

The paper has been recently enlarged , and is now a marvel of cheapness . We hope to be an occasional contributor to "Masonic Tidings . " The Elevator , San Francisco , California , — this journal is devoted to the interests of the

emancipated negro race in the States , and we gather from it that coloured Masonic Lodges are rapidly increasing . We have also received the following Masonic MagazinesorJournals , butfromwant of space must defer fuller notices of their interesting contents : —

The Keystone , Philadelphia ; the Masonic Advocate , Indianapolis , Indiana ; the American Freemason , Cincinnati ; the Chahie D" Union , Paris ; the Monde Maconniquc , Paris ; Die Bauhuttc , Leipsic , edited by the celebrated Masonic Historian , Bro . J . G . Findel ; the A / gc

Our Exchanges.

mccii ITandclsblad , Amsterdam ; the Laiulmark , New York ; Le Rappcl Maconnique , Brussels ; the Masonic Monthly , Boston , Mass ( for October , 1869 ); the Craftsman , Hamilton , Ont . 5 the Masonic Record , Bombay ; the Voice of Masonry

Chicago ; and though last , not least , the first number of the Gavel , Toronto , which we hope often to grasp in our fraternal hands . It will be perceived that the above list of

exchanges is rather a formidable one , but it will assuredly enable us to keep our readers thoroughly en rapport in future , with the sayings and doings of the brethren of every nation and clime .

The Canadian Difficulty.

THE CANADIAN DIFFICULTY .

The following circular in reference to the Canadian difficulty has been forwarded to us for publication : — Grand Lodge of Quebec , of A ncient Free and A ccepted Masons . Office of the Grand Master , Richmond , P . of Q ,

November 20 th , 186 9 . We . the undersigned , having been duly authorized and deputed therefor , beg respectfully to announce to 5 ou the constitutional formation of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Quebec , on the 20 th day of October , A . D . 186 9 ;

and we respectfully pray , that you , as a sister Grand Lodge , will extend fraternal recognition to , and establish fraternal correspondence and communication with , the Grand Lodge of Quebec aforesaid ; and , if in accordance with the custom of your Grand Body , we furthur request that you will be pleased

to honour the Craft in this province by appointing a representative of your Grand Lodge , near the Grand Lodge of Quebec . And for the information of your Grand Lodge , we beg leave to transmit herewith , a printed report of the proceedings of the convention , by which the

Grand Lodge of Quebec was formed , including the list of the lodges constitutionally represented thereat , together with the names and former rank of the Grand Officers duly elected , appointed and installed in accordance with the customs , landmarks , and constitutions of our most ancient and honourable

fraternity . Also , for the further information of your Grand Lodge , we beg to submit the following , as among the many reasons which induced the lodges , being a full majority of the private lodges within the

province of Ouebec , under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , and Canada , in convention assembled , to form an independent and supreme Grand Lodge in and for the Province of Ouebec : —

1 st . That for a number of years previous to the formation of what is still called the Grand Lodge of " Canada , " and until July 1 st , 1 S 6 7 , the territory over which that Grand Lodge claimed to exercise jurisdiction , formed and constituted but one province called " The Province of Canada , " and having but

one Legislature or Parliament : but by the proclamation of the " British North American Act , " on July 1 st , 1 S 67 , the " Province of Canada " as then existing , was , to use the word of that Act , " severed " into two separate and distinct provinces , called the " Province of Quebec , " and " The Province of

Ontario . " These Provinces of Ouebec and Ontario , thus formed , were also by the proclamation of the aforesaid " British North American Act , " joined ( together with the provinces of Nora Scotia and New Brunswick , ) into one federal union which was declared " to form and be" " The Dominion of

Canada ; " so that since the 1 st July , 1867 , the two provinces of Ontario and Quebec , have been and are , as distinct and separate as the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick , or as are any two States of the American L ' nion , while the legislature of each province is similar to the legislature

of each State of the samc . and the Dominion Parliament is somewhat analogous to the Federal Congress of the United States of America . 2 nd . That the Grand Lodge of" Canada" ( whose name had thus become a " misnomer , " ) for two years , has merely been exercising what may be

called an ad interim authority ( always conjoint and divided as far as what is now the province of Quebec is concerned ) , over t ' . uo separate and distinct pi ovinces , contrary to the well established principle , " that Masonic and political boundaries are , and ever ought to be , coterminous . " And not only was

the continued existence in the province of Quebec , of private lodges under the jurisdiction of the three Grand Lodges , viz : England , Scotland , and Canada , and the consequent joint occupation , directly and indirectly , of the same province bv these three

separate Grand Lodges , deemed and held to be contrary to the laws , usages and customs of our ancient and honourable fraternity respecting the establishment and jurisdiction of Grand Lodges , but much painful experience had shown and con-