Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

REMITTANCES RECEIVED . A . F . Sutherlanrl , Suez , Egypt , P . O . O ., £ 2 . George Laurie , Constantinople , P . O . O ., . £ 1 ios . S . Bairnsdale , P . O . O . received , 12 / fi . The annual subscription , including" postage to Australia , is 12 s ., not ios . The amount you have sent , will pay the subscriptions from this number ( 30 ;) to 244 .

The following- communications stand over : — Reports of Mark Lodg . is 12 and 1 . 35 ; Albert Encampment , Rochdale ; Kendal Chapter ; Prov . G . Lodge and Chapter of Glasgow .

Public Amusements.

Public Amusements .

Sadler ' s Wells Tbeatre . Kverv Saturday Morning at 2 , and every Kvcuiiei at 7 , will lie roduccd ISABELLA , characters In- the company : after which the Vantomimc , entitled GOODY . TAVO-SHOKS ; or , Harlequin King Gold and the World of Coins . YV'iittcn and adapted by J . St radian from the late W . Hromjii ' s Burlcs . jue opening . Supported by Messrs H . idspetti , Leigh , Kiaus , Skinner , Cullcn , llelasco , Howard Sidney , Power , Gale , Brnmab . Bnust ' cld , Carlo Troupe , S : c .: Mcsdames ' liramah , Rainbow , Kerride ; c , Xewton , Florence , & c ;

Masters Holland and Stevne . Clown , Mr . G . \ V . Gale ; t ' an . aloon , Mr . liouslield ; Harleijuin . ' Mr . lJaker ; Columbine , Miss Florence ; Harlcquina ( by desire ) Millie . Kosine ; Sprites , The Carlo Troupe ; Policeman , Mr . | . Wilson . " The Knchnntcd Wood . " "Cottage of Gooely Two Shoes . " " Bcautv'sBnudoir . " Grand Ballet , bv Mademoiselle Kosine , supported " by an e . Mensiic Iroupe ol con-phec-s , " The Realm of Toys ( Peace ) . " " English Homestead n ' the Olden 'lime . " * ' The Pavilion ol" King Gold in the World

of Coins . " "Capital City ol ' ihe Counterfeits . " . 'file Mngmlicent and l ) a / . 2 . iingly Brilliant Trnnsl ' ormation Scene , the "Judgment of Paris , " Designed and F . NCctited by R . M . 11 \ de . Poors open at hall-past 6 , commence al 7 o ' clock ' . Stage . Manager , . Mr . C . T . Burleigh . Gallery , 4 . 1 . ; Pit , fid . ; Pit Stalls , is . ; ilexes , is . fid . Rescued Circle , 2 S . ' 6 . 1 . ; Private Boxes , One Guinea . Hnll ' -pricc : Boxes , od . ; Reserved Circle , is . Private Entrance—Open on Saturdays and Mondays at hall-past 5 , Gallery 71 b , and all other parts of the house fid . extra .

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Victoria Theatre . Every Monday at I , and everv evening at 7 , v . ill be produced a Grand , ' GUtte ' rimr , Gorgeous , Comic Christmas Pantomime . entitled GLLLIVBR AND Tllii PAIR PLRSI . ' i . X ; or Harlequin King l . illiput and the Magic Palm ! Written , bv Frank W . Green , Esq . " The Kelrcnt of Past Pantomimes , Illuminated bv the Light ol tlther Days . " Messrs Pretott , Swilt , and Pinker ; Mcsdnmcs Maude , Collins , Mumsford , I'dton , Montague , Collier , Fisher , anil Builcie . li . "Ilall in the

Palace ot King Rampageous , . lie Reckless . Messrs Miep . lerd , Dudley , and Jackson ; Mesdames Harrington , l- ' avren , Cooke , Maitlaud , Tuskey , Leonard , F . llcn Leonard , and Brian . Clown , Jean Lemaire ; Pantaloon , ' Lure C . I ' arkjr ; Sprites , by tlie 1-Tyiii i » Wonders , Brolhers de Vcre ; llarle . juin ; VV . VV . Lncy Harlequina , Miss Lottie MounU ' ord : e ' oiuinbine , Miss Ko-c Fuller , No . 9991 ol" the X TC Puree , Mr . I -licks . Grand Pallet , he Mdllc - Rosine , supported bv Corps ol Corvphees . * ' t launt of the Witches . - *

" Diana ' s Hunting Grounds in Jinnist .-in . "" Country Koad leading to the City ol" Brobdiguag . " " Kitchen in the Giant ' s House . " " Gates ol" " the Lilliputian City . " "Imperial City of l . illiput . " "On the Road . " "portress of the King of ' Brohdignng . " "Chamber in the Palace of " . King Rampag ' cnus the Reckless . " "Shades of livening . " l . ilorioi's Transformation Scene— "The Temple of Jupiter , " Designed and Painted hv R . M . Mvde . To conclude wilh Ihe drama of LORD 1 " ) V RXI . KY :

supported by the l ompany . Prices ; — Privilc Boxes , £ 2 2 s ., , Cr irs . tnl ., and 10 s . fid . ; stalls , 2 s . ; Promenade , is . ; Pil , fid . ; Gallery , jd . ( Mondays and Saturd .-n s , _; d , ! . Hallprice t * Stalls only at i > o ' clock . Door .-, open at hail-pasl f > , commence at 7 .

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Royal Polytechnic . Great Programme for e hi i .-lmas . 1 . 'Ihe 1 li-torv of a PLI "M PUDDING , will . Milking experiment , hv Plofes-o ' r Onlilncr . 2 . A Christmas Tale ; or , HOW | AX 1 " . ' Cl IX . II , ' ! - ; s r K . VXl ! TIM' : IIKM .: an Illustrate I Poem , willi remarkable elicits . J . Tlie " / . Oil" AT 't'ltl-. "I'ell . V , " an . ¦ inec . lolal ilisonir-c about the Zoological Gardens , In Mr . I . I .. Kin .-, wilh Pholuevaphs bv Mr . York . ... 1 he I 11 Kl-. l " . RUSKS ; or , the Invisible

Prince in a Xew Light : a lair-, talc , imeacallv narrated b \ Mr . George Buckland , as-i .-tcd in ' . \ li- » Alice Bail ! ., Miss Puihain , and . Miss Lilie Bartlett . ; . The WIIITK LADY tip AVFXFL , the new ? nil beaulilul llhosl Illusion . 11 . Xew I I lAKAl TICK K . XTKKTAIXMF . XT , hv Mr . l \ nv \ ere . 7 . the wonderful SWIMMING FLATS ol . Manjni , IJiliU-m in ihe Great Tank . 8 . The MAGIC TLTS , full of hi ; ., 1 , 1 lie ili ~ l 1 ihuie-. l on spccilicd o : casiolls , to good t"lii ! dren . Many oilier Fntcrtainmcnl .- ' . Clpen dni ' v , at 12 and 7 . Admission is .

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Madame Tussaucl ' s Exhibition . On \ iew a Mugiiiliccnl . Marriage Groii | iol" II . K . H TI 1 IC i'KIXCKSS I . OILSI-: and . he MAR . UTS OP I . ORXK , al o a new portrait M „ i ! cl ol DR . I . I V IXG " , I GXI-, . lie ureal AI'RIlAX KXPI . ORI-. K ; fill-: " I I .. MMAXI " , Sli < KGGKR TlCtl-BORX ; IICDSOX . Ihe "RAILWAY KIX ' Gj" and ILK . II . TIIIC PKIXCIC Ol ' ' WALKS , in Ihe Kohcs ol the Order ol the Gaiter . Open trorn loa . i . i . to 10 pan . Admission is ., thildren under jo , ml . IXtra Rooins ( id .

Liverpool Theatres,&C.

LIVERPOOL THEATRES , & c .

Week iiiding I cbiu . 'uy 15 . RIIVAI . AbhVAXDKA 1 I ll-ATRI-:, I . inn-street . —Lessee Bro . Ii . .-s .-iker . Grand ClnUas i ' a 111 ,, uiinie , " Cinderella , or the Prince , the Ph . i'uix , and lie- Punipkiu . " ROYAL AMl'lit fliieV I Kl-:, local I Iia 7 laue-s 7 rec 7 e--l . csicc Mr . II . Leslie : Mana-ei . Mr . Arthur . Gamer . Millie .

ileatrrit'e s Cnnieilv-Dratua ' - otnp . -iuv , iu " Xos Inlimcs . " PRINCI-OI- WALKS THKATK ! -:, Cla . lon-.-, | u .-, re .-l . es-. ee Mr . Scilnn Parry . " Kudimiun , " and " V ' c-Ia ' s Temple . " rm- . A'i'KE ROVAL , V \ iliiains , m-si | uare . " I . essVe , Bro . lie Frcccc . Grand PaiUnmhnc , " Lucre-Land , or I lar C | uin :-ir Bruno the Bra e , or the Pain Casket ol Phantom I ' asllc . " ST ! JAMES'S HALL , Lime-slreet . — Propiietor , Br ,,. , s . Hague . Special Christmas I ' roirraminc .

CIRC 'L'S , William Urowii-s . reel . —I lold .-n ' s Comie Manni kills , uiehj'antumime of " Blue Beard . " TVTKWSOMF'S CIK' / JS AMiilech . i . s ,. — i ropiietor , Mr . A * James Xewsnme , S-pciial Proeraninic and Fautoniiuic , " lack * the Giant Killer . "

NliVV STAR ML ' .-sIC MALL , Wnaeensen-r-.-.-eoe . — . elanager tiro . Saunders , Oj . cr ,., and Special llnii ' dav Attraclio :-, including Grand Ballet L \ lravngan / a , " Kin ^ ,, ; liie Peacocks . " r > OTL'XDA | lll-A'PRlfand ML'SIC 11 . V I . I . . Proprielnr , . M ~ r . ¦^ M D . Grannell . Christmas Paulominie , " Babesinthe Wood , ' and Miscellaneous Fntcrlninmvnts .

QUICI-. X' . S l-IAI . L , Bold-sireel . —Lamb ' s Roe , I ) ii ,..., m . i . ' ! S . o . land , with the Original .-coltish Minstrel-. WI-LI . INGTOX HALL , " Camden-street .-Dr . Corrv ' s Diorama of Ireland and Iri . -h . Miie-tic . t .

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The price ol" the Freemason is Twopence per week j annual subscription , ios . ( payable in ade-anee . ) All communications , letters , & c ., to be addressed to the Editor , 19 S , Fleet-slrect , E . C , The Piditorwill pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted tohim , nut cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by postage stamps .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , FBBRU . VRY 8 , 1 S 73 .

Aids To Study.

AIDS TO STUDY .

BY BRO . WM . CARI ' ESTER , P . M . I ' . Z . 177 . XVIII .

To the biblical student , and , indeed , to all who desire to find sacred history verified by ancient traditions and records , the contributions which the mounds of Assyria and Babylon have yielded ,

through the labours anel researches of travellers and scholars , during the lastfevv years , are of more interest than anything that has been obtained through the . interpreted memoranda of Egyptian

monuments and papyri , inasmuch as many of them connect themselves with scripture history , and afford incontestible evidence of its authenticity , in some of its most remarkable features . Some of the earliest of that most interesting

class of records , which have been truly called Assyrian books , —tablets , cylinders , or prisms of clay , covered with cuneiform inscriptions , in a line character , some of which were multiplied for

use antl preservation , have been disinterred at Kileh-S ' iergat ( now identified with Asshur ) , west of the Tigris ; but those found on the eastern side of the river , as at Khorsabad , Bavian ,

Shereel Khan , Nebbianus , Koynnjik , antl Nineveh , are hy far the most interesting and valuable . Conspicuous among the ruins are those which have been mentioned as capitals : Nineveh ;

Nimriul ( CaIah ) , | lo \ ver down ihe river ; Kileh-Shergat ( Asshttr ) , lower still ; and Khorsabad « r Dnr-Sargina , north of Nineveh , em the little river Khosr-sti , which joins the Tigris at Nineveh . The

very name of the last , as -Mr . l'hilip Smith observes , —the " City < i' Ijargon , " excludes it from the original Tetrapolis . it was , in fact , a new roval city , supplemental to ?\ iiieveh .

The largest ruins in Assyria are the mounds : til Nebbi-Yuuus ami Koynnjik ' , on the left bank ol the Tigris , opposite Mosul , on the ri ght bank , in latitude ?/> ' ' N ., which mark the traditional

site of tlie ori ginal Nineveh , and contain the palaces of Sennacherib and his successors . Passing down the great plain , we find similar mounds to these of Assvria , anion : ; ' the ruined

cities of Bab ylonia . The nrgilaceous plain supplied tlie materials feir bricks , which the liereie sun haieleneel sulHcieivtly for the construction of the

massive stages of the tower and walls of the palaces , while , for the protection of the outer surfaces , thev burnt them thoroughly . As the

Aids To Study.

scriptural record says , " they had bricks for stone and slime for mortar . " It is doubtful whether the " slime" means the te . nacions mud , or the bitumen , which is one of the most characteristic

products of Chaldea . The ' characters impressed jpon the bricks , and upon the tablets and signetcylinders , found in the ruins , attest the knowledge of the art of writing , and furnish testimony

concerning this early age , which is , in some cases , confirmed by the records of later kings , representing , of course , only the traditions of their times The names of the earliest of these cities are

recorded in the scriptural notice of Nimrod . Of the cities forming the southern tetrapolis ( besides Babel ) , Erech and Calneh seem to be the Huruk and Nipur of the cuneiform inscriptions ,

which are identified , almost certainly , with Wark , and Nifter . Accad seems to be the name rather of a region than of a city , and is sometimes used like the general name of the kingdom . The

testimony found in the ruins seems to indicate the existence of two Tetrapoleis , corresponding to the two-fold division of the Babylonian plain—the upper consisting of Babel , Borsippa , Cutha ( now

Ibrahim , N . E . of Babylon ) and Sippara ( the Sepharvaim of Scripture "! , now Sura , on the Euphrates , twenty miles above Babylon ; the lower comprising ( besides Ercch and Calneh )

Larsa , or Larancha ( the Ellasar of Scripture , and now Senkereh ) , ^ and Hur ( now called Mughein i . e . the mother of bitumen , from the vast quantity of bituminous cement found in its

nuns ) . Among the travellers wdio have been possessed with a desire to explore the vast mounds of Assyria and Babylonia , Mr . Layard , while

seeking for the means of effecting his purpose of penetrating those of Nineveh , was stimulated to increased activity by the success of M . Botta ' who had discovered , at Khorsabad , about to miles

iv . N . E . of Nineveh , at the foot of the Makloub Mills , the magnificent palace of Sargon , the sovereign who completed the capture of Samaria , and extinguished the kingdom of Israel , as is

recorded by Sargon himself , on one of the tablets ; n the great hall of his palace , B . C . 720 , according to the canon of Ploleniny . But hy what means are the inscriptions found

in these ancient ruins rendered intelli g ible ' By written letters , anil that not in their first stage , for the writing of the Assyrians and Babylonians hael , like that of the Egyptians , passed

beyond the hieroglyphic , stage . The kind of writing found 0 : 1 these monuments is what has been variously called the wedge , nail , arrow-head , dagger , or swallow-tail , but is now generally

called cuneiform , or cuneatic , from the Latin annus a v . e . 'gie , that b- 'ing the form of the letters , which s , ein to have been produced

upon the soft clay , by the . simple pressure of the style or instrument of writing , which left a mark like a fine wedge , or something like the form which would be made if a shortened arrow were

impressed upon a soft clay tablet—broad at one end and tapering oil to the either . Inscriptions have been found iu which tlie tapering is wanting , and others in which it is

represented b y cross-bars , like the head of a hammer . Kvick-iitly from-its rigid antl curveless character , ihls fi .-uii oi' writing was specially , and very probably , purposely , adapted for being