Reviews.

Reviews .

THE POET'S M ^ GAZINE . Edited by LKONAKH LI . OYO . IS . W . Allen , Stationers' Court and 11 , Ave Maria Lane . We have received the September number of this useful arrd well-conducted magazine . In the August number the Editor promised improvements in the new volume , in the shape of extended size and improved matter , and we must say that this month ' s number seems to have amply fulfilled

his promises . Amongst the poetical contributions we think that " King Alfred , " by Percy Russell , bids fair to take rank amongst legendary poetry . "The Path of Gold , " by Thos . W . Lee Smith , is continued , and there is an excellent piece of versification by David 11 . Williamson , entitled " Oele to Imagination , " and inscribed , by permission , to Alfred Tennyson . As " pieces de resistance , " the Editor

contributes another instalment of a forcibly written story , " Nothing venture , nothing have , " and George B . Burg-in continues " Silas Dome . " Whilst the substantial is thus cared for , trifles arc by no means wanting , and in "Breakfast Time" wc have a very enjoyable specimen of " Vcrsdc-Socieetc ' . " This monthly serial has now reached its 5 th volume

and lias all the appearance eif assured anil well earned prosperity . We opened it , and perused it , and laid it down , with much of pleasurable feelings . It will repay the study alike of the studious and sentimental nay even the prosy , much more the poetical wc think the idea a right excellent one , poetry being itself , ( despite Lady Glencora ) ,

a very good tiling for us all . We are glad to think that the " Poet ' s Magazine" has been so well s lpported and appreciated . Space alone forbids more lengthened notice of the very excellent papers collected and presented to us this month by Mr . Leonard Lloyd . We hope to recur to it on some future occasion .

LA CHAIN ED'UNION , Paris . K litcil bylko- HUBERT . The September number of this excellent magazine is most interesting . We are glad to see that Bro . Hubert quite agrees with us , and realizes our real good will towards French Masonry , as well as our honest expression of opinion . We wish that the Chainc d'Union was more read in England .

BULLETINO OFFICIALE DEL GRANDE ORIENTE NATIONALE EGUIANO . We have received this third volume of Reports for the 3 rd year of the Masonic Jurisdiction . It deserves perusal by those who read Italian .

MASONIC MONTHLY . J . W . Hinsley . publisher , San . Francisco . This is No . 5 of a new candidate fir Masonic support , We wish it all success . It is well edited and eleseivrs Maeeinic suppoit .

NOTES ABOUT WHISKEY . Sultim , Slnrpc , and Co . 145 , Queen Victoria Street . There are a great many people' in this w . nld who like irhiikey , and a writer in one nl our in igaziiies de-1 hired a few years ago tint it wis the Nitional Saint of Scotland , and that on a return froai a long absence abroad he found that Saint Whiskey had still countless

elevotecs at home . This is a work which professes to tell us all about whiskey , how it is made , and how you m ly judge between go id and bad , true and " doctored . " No doub * . it will have its importance fur nnny of our readers , who elon ' t object to " whiskey loldy , "or what some people would term a " ni ghtcap . " But further thin this we cannot go , and deponent

ileus not presume to make any further " deliverance " on the subject . Whether society in general is benefitted by such information it may be a matter of doubt and question , and so let us remember the old proverb , " the least s lid the soonest mended . " The book is well printed and admirably illustrated , and bristles with statistics , and points out in lucid detail the . Milling mysteries of whiskey .

Mr . Ho , one of the secretaries attached to the Chinese Legation , is engaged in translating Shakespeare into Chinese . The same gentleman has also made considerable progress in a translation of Blackstone ' s " Commentaries" into the s . imc language . — , < ltri « nrei , » ii A rather startling archaeological ditcjvery is reported from Galacia . About three weeks ago a peasant

woman , while working in the fields in the neighbourhood ef Michalkov on the Dniester , dug up several geildcn eibjects , including gobl ts , a staff , brooches with dragons' heids and a crown . The well-known historical investigator , Dr . Praglovski . and other archaeologists of Lemberg have ome to the conclusion that these ornaments belong lo the regalia of

the elder Cyrus , who fell in a campaign against the Massagcta ? , about 529 B . C . In his repoit upon these objects , Dr . Praglovski eleclares that any one who examines the ilctails and style of the ornaments , and then rompires the place where they were found with the reports of Greek historians concerning Cyrus ' . ! expedition against the Scythians , will at once agree with his conclusion . The

intrinsic value of the objects is set down at 100 , 000 florins at least , or about £ 10 , 030 . Mr . iTorniuzd Kass . im will l .. ave England again on the 20 th to resume work at Nineveh , where exc . ivaiions iiave been conducted dniiig his abs nee by his nephew . It is probable ' that the Kouyunjik library will

be thoroughly explored by Mirch next . Some 400 fresh tibli'ts are nil tlieir w . iy In the Uiit ' sh Alus urn . — Acidrmij . Lord and Lady Stitfi hi and Hun . Miss Harford hare airiird in town I 10111 plying a sris 11 ijsits in Scotland .

Letters From Our Irrepressible Correspondent.

LETTERS FROM OUR IRREPRESSIBLE CORRESPONDENT .

No . III . —INEFFECTIVE OFFICERS . 7 « the Editor 0 / Me " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Next to an incompetent W . M . I know of no more sorry sight in a lodge than ineffective officers . It

is very sad to see how our beautiful ritual is marred , how the lodge work is mutilated , by slovenly delivery , or race parrot-like repetition . I am one of those who think that no brother should be promoted to office until he has shown his proficiency in the lodge of Instruction . In these days of proper performance of allotted eluties , and when makeshitts and substitutes are alike at a discount , it is

too bad to go on promoting officers , etcher through a tedious routine , or through the interest of a clique , or the wish of some dominant member , or the modest applicatioa for office of the brother himself . Merit and proficiency should be the only test we recognize in our lodges for promotion and preferment , and then that deadweight of incapables which so paralyzes a lotge would be unheard

of and unknown . How p ' easant is the sight of that 1 idgc in which all seek to work in uniform accuracy , and with evident carefulness and serious interest . How much does the ceremonies often commend the moral teaching cf Masonry ? How depressing on the other hand is that lodge , and I fear I might name one or two , where the officers are prompted , and where the ceremonial is

abbreviitetf , and where all is elons hastily , confusedly , unconcernedly , because—yes , because the banquet " might get cold . " Oh ! ye gods and little fishes ! what a humiliating climax for Masonic professions , Masonic theory , and Masonic Ceremonies . I , for one , always , in my own mind , " spot" that lodge as in bad "form" where the work is hastily or stumblingly per ' ormed , anel when Bro .

Jiggins whispers to you " sotto voce" " I am sure you will like the cook and the wine . " We have outlived , happily , the era of what SOTIC one his called , perhaps severely , the " pothouse performances" of Masonry . We have witness ;! happily a taste for Masonic aesthetics setting in among our lodges . Lodg : s are now arranged artistically " more Latomorum , " not as I cam

remember some , with no ornament , no symbols , no pretence at decoration , anil with the tables of the "best room " nf the inn to serve for Secretary and Treasurer , while the W . M ., just elevated above his fellows , sat in a comfortable coffeeroom arm chair . We have left all this far behind us never to return to us , and why wc should s-e still amongst us the lingering barbarities of pre-historic tim s , which

ineffective offi eers represent , I , for one , do n it un lerstand . L-t us set our face s sternly against interest an I cliqueism in such matters , the unwise system eif a mistaken routine , or the admission of cliims which are no c ' aims at all . The appointment of offi-crs is the perogative purely of the Master pro tern , belt as even Ihe most powerful autocacy must depend to a great extent on " public opinion" in some

form , so he is a wise ruler in freemasonry who takes counsel with his P . M . 's . as to the officers he appoints . I confess I do not , for one , like that sistcm , ( ihough sirmthing may be sail for it ) , which places all the brethren in turn in office by seniority , because 1 think it creates in a lodge a spirit of subserviency , and weakens lie responsibility of the W . M . I should pufer such a system

as this , that the W . M . should select , with the advice of the P . M . ' s , the absolutely most efficient officers , year by year , making it , however , a sine quie non that each should be a life governor of one of the chari'ies . Does this seem ton hard a qualificati m ? 1 fancy it would eloour lodges a great eleil of good . I am Dear Sir anel Brother , YOUR OWN IRREPRESSIBLE CORRESPOND iNT .

The Cutlers' Feast At Sheffield

THE CUTLERS' FEAST AT SHEFFIELD

One noticeable feature iit Ibis great g . itbcr ' ng was the large number of M isons prisnt . Bro . W , II . Brittain , fie well-known P . P . G . Officer of W . Yorkshire , and Master C ' jtl . r , wis supporter ! light and left by his Grace the Duke eif Norfolk , Colonel Stanley , Right Hon . J , A .

Roebuck , Q . C ., M . P ., P . C ., Mr . W . S . Stanhope , M . P ., Mr . L . R . Starkey , M . P ., Sir H . J ickson , Q . C ., M . P ., Lord Byron , Admiral Douglas , Rev . Dr . G itty , Bro . Sir John Brown , the Mayors of Leeds , Sheffield , Hull , 11 riifax , Pontefract , Doucaster , Nottingham , Burslem , Birnsley , and Rothcrham , the Master of the Cutle'rs' Company , London , Captain D . Gallon , the MiS'er of the Clolhworkers'

Company . Amongst the numerous other gues ' s we are enabled lo enumerate the following membe-rs of the Fraternity , viz ., Bros . W . II . Gill , Ald . Tozr , Dr . de Birtolome ? , II . Harr ' son , Rev . Cinon BHkency , W . Bnggc , J . Haywood , J , U . Askham , P . II . Uuwin , T . F . Cocker , fi . Belfitt , J . E . Bingham , hdgar Allen , R . Arnison , W . D . Allen , H . II .

Andrew , C . J . Bannister , J . Binney , C . E . Brittain , J . Bromley , J . B . Curtis , Rev . E . B . Chalmer , T . Collinson , C . C . Carr , G . A . Cubltey , E . Drury , T . B . Edwards S . B . Ellis , Dr . Griffiths , H . J . G irnett , E . M . Gibbs , J . T . Gil-Utt , W . 11 iwson , T . Ilmipion , Rev . A . W . II imilton-G .-ll , A . Hay , G . W . 11 iwksley , S . Haves , Dr . I lime , G .

Howson , C . Harvey , W . Jervis , W . Longilen , I . F . Littlewood , II . W . Lofebouse , j . Mountain , J . F . Mojs , H . Pawson , J . Roberuhaw , J . C . Shaw , II . Smith , W . Short Septimus Snort , J . Spencer , H . Secbohni , S . I .. Swum , S , Smith , S Suckley , W . C . Taylor , V . 'J * . Trimiicd , W . J " , I ' asker , | . W . W . mda'l , G . E . Webster , G . VI . Wateif ill , J . D . WWt . r , | . It . Wood .

'I'li > Mansion H «' iu * t' fund for the relief of the : Tiianns dis ister am iinteil on Thursday evening m upwanls of £ 11000 . We are informed ttiat , in response lo an appeal nude lo Ihe memous of tbe Haiti : and ilic Corn Exchange , a sum o' £ ' 500 has been subscribed , ant that tliin amount i-, 1 M-I I el to be inert mod .

Notes On Art, &C

NOTES ON ART , & c

A notable improvement in watches is reported from Chaux de Fonfs . By a peculiar process the figures on the dial arc rendered luminous , so that if exposed once during the day to the sunlight they remain phosphorescent , and visible throughout the nijht .

Readers of Sartor Resartus interested in the Rue d'Enfer will henceforth have to inquire for the Rue Denlert Rochereau , it having just been rechristened in honour of the lite defender of Belfort . There is much criticism on the kind of pun involved in the change , and other alterations on the same principle , such as the Rue de Svy , for the Rue Desaix , are ironically suggested .

Jn consequence of the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine , the pisciculture establishment of Huningen , which had been founded by the French Givernmentin the year 1852 , passed into the hands of the German Government , which , since 1 S 71 , has bestowed the greatest attention on the establishment , and spared no cost to make it as efficient as pissiblc . Recent statistical reports state that

the establishment , while under Germ in controle has sent away no less than 23 , 500 , 000 ova of various species of fish , such as trout , salmon , carp , roach , & c . Some two million young salmon have been placed in the Rhine , and a simitar number of other useful fish into the rivers of Upper Alsitia . The result has been that fish are now plentiful in those waters , that the rents paid for fisheries ^ ave considerably

risen , that salmon c * n now be bought at about 61 . per lb . in that neighbourhood , and that the time seems to have returned when fish was in those districts a cheap food for the people . —Nolure . According to the last report of the Japanese Pjstmaster-Gencral , the postal correspondence of the islands during the year 1877 included 22 , 053 , 430 ordinary and

606 , 354 registered . letters , 6 , 764 , 272 postcards , and 7 » 37 > 536 newspapers . The increase in the number of newspapers over the number for 1876 is 2 , 323 , 141 , or about 46 per cent ., while , as compared with 1875 , it amounts to 100 per cent . The Melbourne Argus reports a " rush" for gold in the MunoIIy district , Victoria . A Chinaman ,

working at a place in that district , found , on the 23 rd of June , a nugget weighing 400 oz . But the reports of the Government mining surveyors and registrars of the colony for the quarter cneling the 31 st of March show a continued decline in the c | uanlity cf gold raised . The quarter ' s yield

is computed at 168 4280 Z ., or nearly 14 , 000 oz . below the cor sponding quirtcr of last year . Ill the last number of Peterman ' s Geographische Millhcilungen , the number of inhabitmts of tne g lobe is estimatedat 1 , 439 , 145 , 300 . The number of horses existing ( China and Jipan not included ^ is said to be 51 , 000 000 .

The awful catastrophe on the river on Tuesday nijtit , by which , in a leev minutes , 500 or 600 persons were diowncd within sight of all theapp l ' unces by which life is usially saved , impresses us m ire that ever with the importance of introducing swtramuvg into the ordinary education cf children eif both sexes . The growing love of excursions and adventures by land and sci—in themselves

so healthy and commendable—suggests the wisdom ol this course . We have but to visit some of the coast towns or seaports where bathing and swimming are cultivated almost as fine arts—conspicuously , perhaps , South Shields , at the moutti of the Tyne—' . 0 see how , in such accidents

a ? those of Tuesday , persons might be made comparatively independent of alt extraneous aid , and accomplish their own deliverance . —Lancet . At Duisburg has been erected a memorial of Grhardt Krcmer , us the au'hor of " Mercator's Projection . "

The four panels designed b y Mr . Boehni to decorate the pedesta ! of the equestrian statue presented by S ' r Albert S issoon to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales to Bombay , have been shipped on board the " Avondale . " 'Ihe lirst represents the reception of the Prince by the native chiefs ; the second , a procession of native women bearing offerings in the shape of flowers

and fruits ; the third , the Royal Arms ; and the fourth has the following inscription : "Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , K . G . C ., C . S . I ., in commemoriti > n eif the visit of his Royal Highness to India , 1875-76 . Sir Albert Sassoon presented this statue to his fellow-townsmen of the loyal city of Borrbay . " The panels we're submitted to the Prince , ' and received his heaity approval .

Lieutenant Kitchener has been appointed by the Foreign Office , to superintend the survey of the island of Cyprus . —A thenvenm . P . ofessor Struve , director of the Pulkova Observatory , is leaving Russia f ir a visit to Western Europe , for the purpose of giving directions for the construction of

a new great refractor , for the Pjlkova Oiservatory . Ihe old retractor , which some time ago was one of the best in the world , is now behind those eif Washington , Chicago , and Gateshead ( Mr . Newall's Oiservatory ) , and the Pulkova Observatory , according to the will ol its founder , the Emprir Nicho ' as , should he maintiineel supeiior to ai 1 other observatories in that , direction . —Nature .

The Birmingham Post states that the Emperor of Brazil has I itely scut , 1 silver vase , as a tribute of regird , [ o Mr . I ' bonas Allsop , the author of Jir . iilleclhns of S-iinii'l Tit / lor Cderidg * . Tne va e , ivtiich came from R'O Jan iro to England through the Brazilian M ' mis'ter , bears [ he lulloviii- ' inscription : —To J'homas Allsop , Irom

Petro lit . In reco'iiiti 111 of interesting documents and le-tieii , Hirowiiig light on the life of S . T . Coleridge , as the only surviving Irieud of ( he pYilosoptier aiel p oet , whom I loved living and hinoir deed . Wnen the Emperor wis lau in Envjl . i'id , h-e piil a visit to Coleridge ' s tomb at Hi < l | jit-e one morning as early as x x n ' ntnek .