Original Correspondence.

the Masonic body in regard to admissions to the Schools for Boys and Girls , and to participation in grants from the Benevolent Funds , and there appear to mc to be indications that the increasing difficulty in procuring the election of most deserving candidates is becoming evident to

members of our Craft , and is inducing the formation of more limited charities , restricted to the several provinces in which they are established . Indeed , I have recently seen somewhere in print this alleged as a reason for neglecting our great Masonic institutions in London , in favour of a

loca one . The elfect of such a course may not be sensibly felt as yet , but it appears to mc thnl in course of time it will be inevitable . In addition to the cost incurred by candidates whose means are necessarily very limited , and who in case of failure are on this account much to he

p itied , there are several other objections , namely , the system of borrowing votes , which have to be repaid , thus cripp ling the means of the borrowers in future years ; the systematic purchase of votes pursued in some provinces ; the recommendations of candidates on canvassing cards by brethren

who have no personal knowledge of the cases , for which the use of my name has repeatedl y been solicited ; the exchange of voles in one branch for those in another ; the trouble and expense to which subscribers arc put in filling up and posting the papers ; the- probability , since many provinces look chiefly to their own interest ,

and if they do not require their own votes barter them , that a district in which there are but few lodges will fail in obtaining relief for any unfortunates who belong to it ; lastly , the amount of labour in the office in the preparation and sending out of the balloting ' papers , and the cost of printing and postage .

I have long been of opinion that the course pursued among us is very unsatisfactory , sometimes annoying , and that the object we have in view , that of hel p ing the most necessitous and deserving , since we have not means wherewith

to meet all the applications , would be far better effected by the periodical appointment of a special committee , lo the members of which , acting conjointly , should be entrusted ( he examination of claims and the selection of the

candidates most in need , f his is just the course proposed by the writer of the article in the AtheiKvum to which I haw referred , and of which I recommend a perusal , as the subject is there treated at greater length than is desirable in your columns , and the result is the same as that

at which 1 arrived some years ago . JI may be said that subscribers value the patronage exercised in giving their votes , but , is the gratification of vanity lo so small an extent worth consideration , when wei gheel against serious objections to the system . Public interest in the

charities may be maintained by forwarding to every donor and . subscriber annually a brief abstract of the proceedings , a list of the candidates , without full details of each ease , and the decisions of the committee with regard to them . A Li ri : GOVLRNOR OF AM . TIIV . M ISdMC ClMKITILS

THE HOl'SE OF BONAPARTE AM ) FREEMASONRY . To the Editor if The Frccniuso ) i . Dear Sir and Brother , — I see that our excellent Brother R . Wentworth Little states it to be certain , his words are

— "there can be no doubt that the late Emperor Napoleon III . was a member of the' Carbonari . " Now , the query 1 wnttne" respectfull y to put . is " Is it altogether without doubt ? " J am aware it has been often said so , but it has also been denied . I am rather inclined to think that the late Emperor was probably in early life admitted

a member of the "Maijonnene A ' apoliennc , " and never was a member of the actual Carbonari , it is very important that all matters in the domain of history should be perfectl y correct and trustworthy . H ; is our Bro . R . \ V . Little anv actual authority for so important a Mafenie-nt ? Yours 'raternallv , H i it i o i s .

" Alter -tiee-nag inane vcais luin MI ii ., i .-li'i . i a-nl liillioii-ik- , fit wlvvli I e-ii-. il'i tin I i ; n u-nn-lv . I was . I length it . iiuve-it liy a liie-n i u > tie y . ni ' - , i . . - ¦ . -. tl- I ' . iin Killer le-i it , am ! I ) . e J ; i >! b tlie- 1 u-c >! i j it _ -.: u- u c entileanil |> eiinaiient tviiel . — , | . I .. IIAYMHK , . \ 1 im-lie-icr , Juli 15 , lo'd;—To I ' tni Davis . V . ' -mi , 1 . < , ri-Icn , i ' l . C . "

The City Of London Masonic Lifeboat Ball.

THE CITY OF LONDON MASONIC LIFEBOAT BALL .

This ball , which took place on Friday , 24 th ult ., at the London Tavern , was , as the Lord Mayor described it to be , one of the most brilliant assemblages ol' the season , and was as agreeable as brilliant . The varied Masonic clothing of the gentlemen—Craft , Arch , Knights

Templar , Rose Croix , Kni ghts of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantino , Provincial Grand Officers , \ x \ , intermingled with the equally elegant dresses of the ladies , produced a charming coup d ' u-il . Dancing commenced to Shapeott ' s very efficient band soon after half-past

9 o clock , when the fine room of the 1 . ondon Tavern Mas tolerably we / 1 filled , brother Meekham , the principal M . C ., andjhis assistants , having most satisfactorily arranged all the preliminaries . The Stewards , most of them in Masonic clothing , were distinguished by very

handsome satin and silver rosette's , emblazoned with the crest of the City of London , after Bro . Kenning ' s most eflective fashion , and praise is due to them for their assiduous attention to the numerous company . At half-past eleven o ' clock the arrival of the Lore ! Mayor anel Lady

Mayoress , accompanied by Miss Walerlow , Mr . Sheriff Perkins , and I ' nder-Sherill" Crossley ( Mr . Sheriff While being unfortunately absent through illness ) were announced . They were received and conducted to the ball room by Bros . William Carpenter , Frederick Ke'iit , C . C ., Henry

Chapman , Hon . Sec , Joseph Morrell , P . G . D ., anel Brother Stephen Care' )' . The Stewards having formed a double line from the head of the stairs into the ball room , and the company having ranged themselves on either siele , the Lord Mayor preceeded anel accompanieil by

several brethren and other gentlemen , entered , followed b y the lad y Mayoress , escorted by Bro . F . Kent , and Miss Walerlow b y Bro . W . Carpenter . The ladies having taken their seals at the' further end of the room , the Lore ! Mayor after a friendly gossip

, J , . ci 1 with some of the gentle-men about him , amongst whom was Sir Patrick (' olquhotin , D . G . M . K . T ., ( introduced to his lordshi p by Bro . Win . Carpenter ) , joined in two or three quadrilles , which he seemed much to enjoy .

Supper was announced , whereupon the party proceeeleel to the supper room , laid for them ant ! about twenty others , the Ladv Mavoress

beinocscorled by Bro . Win . Carpenter , Miss Watt'rloyi by Bro . F . Kent , and the accompanying ladies b ) other of the Stewards , including Bros . Y . Christian , S . Carey , V . B .-irllell . J . Mom-ll , II . Chap , man , and others . At the supper table , Bro . F , Kent occupied the chair , having <> n his ri ght the

Lady Mayoress and Mr . Slieri ' d " Perkins , and on his left the Lord . Mayor , and Mr . Deputy Sherill Crossley . The' vice-chair was occupied by Bro . W . Carpenter , having on his ri ght hand Miss Walerlow , and on his Ivl ' l Sir Patrick Culqtihoim . In the course of the repast , the Lord . Mayor

proposed' * ihe Committee < i ( ihe City of London Masonic Lifeboat Fuml , and the Chairman proposed "The Lord . Mayor and the Corporation ol the City of London , " to which the' Lord Mayor responded . His lordshi p e \ pressed his thanks lo the Committee for having invitee ! him lo thcir

ball , which he was p leased lo say , -was the most ril / iaut and agreeable- assemblage he had yet had the pleasure- of being present at . In adverting to the object which the ball was intended to promote , his lordshi p observed , that he was gratified to think that there would be .-1 life-boat

identified in iLiine- with the City of London , which he thought ought not to be without at least * one . His lordshi p then adverted to the awful calamity that had befallen the " Northfleet ' and her passenge-rs and men , and expressed his gratification at hating been cii :: blcd . in the

course ol the dav , to raise a subscription of nearly . Tiooo , which he hoped , considerabl y to increase" As to ? vlasoiHT , he said , lie was sorry he- was not a brother . How lie was 11 , it , he scarce ! -.- knew , he held the Order in very hi gh

estimation . [' ,, | -fis mora ! charMeter , and its charitable •' : ; .- !; iiaJ <; ns . and i : was not al all impossible that , if he should be I ' lueg ' u worthy , lie might 1 one die haw the ! io ; ii .- ; : r n \ being enrolled anumgsi , u . s members . Looking around him , hesaw honours , or whatever they were called , borne

The City Of London Masonic Lifeboat Ball.

on the breasts of some of thorn , that made him look poor , indeed , although he was not without his decorations . His lordshi p hereupon naYvcl y ( old a story , which created shouts of laughter , in which he heartil y joined . I ! e said that ' one day , they were about lo have a festive gatheriuir at the

Mansion House , and a short lime before the hour at which ( hey bad lo receive their guests arrived , a friend of Lis—not of the party—called . Having expressed a wish to see his lordship in / lis official attire , he ( the Lord Mayor ) said , if he would wait a few minutes his wish should be

gratified . Leaving the room , said his lordship , 1 returned in a few minutes , with all my honours thick upon me . Having submitted myself to the criticism of my friend , lie very dryly said , Weil , Sir , 1 think yon may now do very well to compete with one of your own footmen ; " upon which , as we have said , there were shouts of

laughter , which the . Lad y Mayoress and tlie other ladies seemed much to enjoy . The chairman then proposed the health of Mr . Sheriff Perkins and Mr . Under-Sherilf Crossley , to which they both responded , expressing their desire , as the Lord Mayor had done " , to do

anything in their power to promote the object of the Lifeboat Committee " . The- Yico-Chafrman proposed the health of Sir Patrick Culqiihoun , who responded , expressing , with most kindl y feeling , his gratification at the in every way successful cllorls of the Committee towards the- attainment

of a nuist noble object . The party returned to the . ball room , the Lord Mayor and Miss W .-ieorlovv again joining in a quadrille , with Bros . 11 . Chapman , J . Clever , | . Stansfield , and their respective partners , anel not taking their departure till a late hour , before

doing which they again expressed their gratification with all they had seen and heard . We may add , that after leaving the supper rooms the genera ) company returned to the ball room , anel ke'pt up the dancing , until ( some of them ) nearl y five o ' clock .

Everything , from first to last , was well con ducted , and passed of in the most satisfactory manner . The rct ' i-cshiiienls dining ihe evenin " were ample , anel were we-il served , and the supper tables were p lenlcotisl y and elegantly spread . We have icason to hope that the fund will be K'jiofitleel in proportion as the company was ) lc , l . sed . The're were about 2 ; o present .

Ln . v Lonoi : in- INSIRIH-j-io \ , —The Fifteen Sections will be worked in the Lily Loil ^ e of Instruction ( No . S 20 ) , held at the " Grevhound Hotel , " George-street , Richmond , 011 Monday , l'Vb . 17 , 1 S 7 .- ; , at Six o'clock . Bro . T . J . Barnes , P . M , ,-j 4 and 9 . ; . ; , will preside ;

Bro- T . Austin , W . M . 9 , 5 , ; , Senior Warden ; Bro . W . Watson , P . M ., 23 anel P . G . S ., J unior Warden . First Lecture-: —1 st section , Bro . Ashhurner , 1278 ' ; 2 nd section . Bro . Mortlock , 1 So ; ; rd section , Bro . Myers , S 21 ; 41 !) section , Bro . Hogg , I . J 4 V ; j th section , Bro . Chadwick , " ,,-J 4 ; "lh section , Bro . Ycrry , ,-, 54 ; 7 th section ,

bro . Pindar , 14 . Second Lecture ' . - —1 st . section , Bro . Berry , _• ¦; , " . ] . ; 2 nd section , Bro . Howe , 212 ; , ; rd section , Bio . Rugg , 7 . S 1 : 41 I 1 section , Bro . C ' liudick , 1421 ; jilt section , Bro . Yclto : i ,

Books Received.

BOOKS RECEIVED .

" Kbrielatis F . ncomium ; or , The Praise of Drunkenness . '' " Freemasons ' Calendar for the Province of Dorset for 187 , ; . "

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

I ' m tlie Week cixiiner l- ' tiilay , 1-Vbruary 21 , 1 . H 7 , ; . 'file- Kililoi will Let eilail to have notice bum Sev ' ieiai jc-s of Lodges anil Cliaple-is of any change : in place or time u £ nicetiiier .

S ¦ ¦ ' : ir : le ;/ , 1 ' it : 1 , ; . ' ¦ u \ s ' e' 71 . ' ,, I ' -namae- . ( i' \ 'IVnniair . Nile ! , C .-aiiinn-rt . ,, l . ; .- ' ij , S ; , ' : il . \ , Slillill ' . ; Ca-i ! . ' , t'ltlliVll-:- ! ., (' . OIlln'IVM-ll . .. I / , ! .. ( , l- ' iail 11 Ail . iVni , ( L , ! ' ; 1 , vvii Hall , llacl . nev . Star l . n , ' . ;; e ; i , l ll ! -tl liflion ( I ;;•;) , M . ilijili-, ul tlianLy , New Clusij-lij . iii , at ' j ; lau . C . U . iJllley , l ' leccj'tul .