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more than a third are deserts , and only a fifth Under cultivation ; while the Polar regions arc reckoned as extending over 2 , 401 , 8 75 square miles , thc only inhabitants being 72 , 030 in Iceland and 10 , 000 in Greenland . If these " statistical returns " are correct they suggest some curious considerations ,

but probably they are only , after all , " approximate , " and may be taken as " more or less . " Like the learned Professor LEONE LEVI ' S statistics at York , wonderful as they were , we feel , as we read them over , that we must accept them " cum grano salis . "

WE must all be struck with the peculiar form contemporary literature is assuming amongst us , whether for good or evil who can venture to say ? It is marked by the normal tokens , as in everything else just now of passing life , of exaggeration and bitterness , of profusencss and parsimony . We are

having " editions de luxe , " a term borrowed , like our dramatic pieces , from the French , —we are having cheap editions , —we see notices everywhere of the reproduction of our national classics , and at the same time of their abbreviation and adaptation for the young and rising generation . " Oliver Twist , " forsooth , is threatened with compression and expurgation , as if some of us

had never read , and had no pleasant msmoriesof Mr . BUMBLE and CHARLTE BITES , and sensational reminiscences of FAGIN , poor NANCY , and BILL SIK . ES . Wc do earnestly protest against this interference with the "living words" and " noble thoughts " of dead and vanished authors . It is lo us little short of desecration . They are an inheritance greatly to be prized ,

and not to be " bartered" away for a " mess of pottage . " We like the paths they led us along ; wc love the shadows they conjure up ; we sympathize with their griefs and rejoice in their joys ; and his must be a most unsentimental disposition who has never sympathized with brave REBECCA , mourned

with AMY ROHSART , got cheery with MARK . TAPLEY , laughed with SAM WKLLF . R , mid been touched deeply by TINY TIM . We feel sure we are doing rig ht in protesting against such abnormal proceedings—against such unhallowed interference with our " vested rights" in the productions of the

grealand intellectual departed SCOTT , DICKENS , LYTTON . good old MARYATT and pleaant LEVER . We are in favour of good cheap publications . But such outrages on the toils and utterances of mighty minds and gifted men ought lo be reprobated by all lovers of literature and all readers of old and new books .

* * WE think it is a pity that some arrangements should not have been made to give KING KALAKAUA a Masonic reception by Grand Lodge . He seems to be a zealous Freemason , and it is , in our opinion , very undesirable ,

that he should have returned to his distant home without some recognition on the part of the oldest and greatest Grand Lodge in the world . At the same time as we say this wc exonerate our authorities from all blame , as we know full well the "difficulties of the situation . "

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday last at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , V . P ., in the chair . There were also present Bros . Charles John Perceval , James Brett , John Buhner , G . Bolton , C . A . Cottebrune , A . II . Tattershall , J . Quittmann , Richard Herve Giraud , S . Rawson , William Hale , W . Hilton , Thomas Goode , F . Adlard , J . M . Case , William Clarke , J . R . Gallant , Dr . Jabez Hogg , James Kench , Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Thos . W . C . Bush , L . Stcan , Charles Daniel , John Mason , for Secretary , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The CHAIRMAN , after the reading and confirmation of the minutes , stated that Bro . Terry had applied to him for leave of absence for a week , having an opportunity of going to Paris by invitation , and he immediately granted him permission . Bro . MASON reported the death of one female annuitant , and next read the Warden ' s report .

Thc CHAIRMAN staled that the House Committee had visited the Institution at Croydorij and found that the new building works were going on satisfactorily . The ) ' had been very much interrupted by the bad weather , but , notwithstanding that , the builder was only a fortnight beyond his contract lime . There was really nothing to complain of on thc part of thc builder .

Bro . MASON read letter of Bro . Beavis , Secretary to S 79 Lodge of Instruction , pointing out that , while Stewards and Treasurers received recognition for sums of money placed by lodges of instruction on their lists , the Secretaries of such lodges of instruction , who had much trouble in collecting the money , received no recognition .

Bro . TATTERSHALL said the Stewards collected the money themselves . Thc letter was ordered to lie on the table . The certificate of the architect having been read that the builder was entitled to , £ 400 for the work already done by him to the building at Croydon , payment of that amount was authorised .

The new offices of the Institution at Freemasons' Hall being very nearly completed , a motion was made to the effect that the Secretary be authorised to expend a sum , not exceeding £ 50 , on the necessary additional furniture . It was objected that thc Committee had not power under the laws to give this authority without notice of motion , and on referring to the laws this was found to be the general feeling of thc brethren . Another motion was then put " That the Secretary be authorised lo get the necessary furniture in conjunction with the House Committee . "

Bro . GENERAL BOLTON moved as an amendment " That the Secretary get an estimate for the furniture . " On vole the amendment was lost ; and the original motion "That the Secretary be authorised to get the necessary furniture in conjunction with the House Committee" was put and carried . Bro . C . J . PERCEVAL gave notice of motion for next Committee meeting , " That a Sub-Committee be formed to revise the bye-laws . " The Committee then adjourned .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Wiltshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WILTSHIRE .

CONSECRATION OF THE TIIYNNE CHATTER , No . 147 S 1 _ On Thursday , the 9 th inst , a meeting of the Royal'Arch Masons of Wiltshire took place at Warminster , for thc double purpose of assisting in the inauguration of a new chapter , and of attending the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Wilts . There were present M . E . Comps .

Lord H . F . Thynne , P . G . Supt . Wilts ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . Supt . Hants ; Comps . Lord Methuen , P . G . M . Wilts , P . Z . 355 ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , Eng . ; and a considerable gathering of thc Present and Past Officers of the Provincial Grand Chapter , and others .

The new chapter , to be called the "Thymic" Chapter , has been formed in connection with the Longleat Lodge , No . 147 S , and is now the fourth chapter in Wiltshire . The proceedings commenced by a chapter being opened b y Lord H . F . Thynne , the P . G . Supt ., as ' / .., with Comp . Col . Shadwell Clerke , as H ., and Ex . Comp . W . W . B . Beach , as J ., after which the companions were admitted , and the acting Z . requested the Grand Scribe E . to take his place and consecrate the new chapter .

Comp . Col . Shadwell Clerke , having assumed his position , called on thc acting Scribe E ., Comp . H . C . Tombs , who read the petition and charter for the new chapter . The companions who had signed the petition—ranged in the form of an arch—were then asked whether they approved of the Principals named in the charter , and signified their assent in due form .

Comp . the Rev . F . KING , P . Z . 5 S 6 , P . P . G . f ., then delivered an oration on the principles of the Order and the auspicious occasion on which they were then assembled . He reminded thc companions that the efficiency of a chapter did not all depend upon the Principals , but to a great extent upon the officers and companions , and that its welfare was entirely in the hands of its members , who could promote it only by working well and harmoniousl y

together . Remember , he said , that the chain is strong as the links arc strong , and is no stronger than its weakest link . If any member allowed himself or his example to do despite lo the honour of the chapter , he would be the weak link in thc chain , and the whole chapter would suffer . He concluded by expressing his heartfelt wishes for the long continued prosperity of the new chapter .

After a solemn chant the first portion of the dedication prayer was given by the acting Third Principal , and the invocation by thc Consecrating Officer . Then followed another chant , and the reading of a portion of scripture ( Ezra iii ., 8-13 ) , and the pedestal was unveiled . Then an anthem was sung , after which the corn , wine , and oil were respectively carried round by the three acting Principals , and the Consecrating Officer formally

dedicated the chapter , lhe censer was then borne round , and the remainder of the dedication prayer having been given , the chapter was formally constituted by the Consecrating Officer , who , after the anthem , " Glory be to God on High , " pronounced the benediction . Thc Three Principals named in thc charter were Ex . Comps . Robert Stokes , P . Z . 5 86 , P . G . M . Wilts , as Z . ; Thomas Stephen Futcher , P . Z . 5 S 6 , P . P . G . S . N . Wilts , as H . ; and William C . P . Powning , P . J . 5 86 , as J . These having all

passed the chairs corresponding to those to which they had been appointed in the new chapter , were installed therein without ceremony , and the officers for the ensuing year were elected and invested . The names of eighteen or twenty candidates for exaltation , and five or six for joining , were proposed . Comp . Henry C . Tombs , P . G . S . E . Wilts , and P . A . S . Eng ., who had taken an active part in connection with the formation of the chapter , was unanimously elected an honorary member thereof , on the proposition of Comp . Toone , seconded by Comp . Pike .

A vole of thanks was most warmly passed to thc M . E . P . G . Supt . Lord I-I . F . Thymic , for his liberal donation to the chapter of the whole of the new furniture and appointments , in acknowledging which vote his lordshi p took occasion lo express his high appreciation of the compliment paid to him by the brethren of thc Longleat Lodge in naming the new chapter connected with their lodge after himself .

Thc members of thc P . G . Chapter now retired , and on being re-admilted and received by the Thynne Chapter , the M . E . Comp . Lord H . F . Thymic took his seat as P . G . Supt ., supported by Comps . Robt . Stokes , P . G . H ., and William Nott , P . G . J ., and declared the P . G . Chapter open . The roll of the chapters was called by Comp . Tombs , P . G . S . E ., all being found duly represented , and the minutes of the last P . G . Chapter were read and confirmed .

The P . G . Scribe E ., Comp . HENRY C . TOMBS , P . G . A . S ., then read the report of thc Charity Committee , held that morning , from which it appeared that out of the balance in hand the Committee recommended that £ 10 should be voted to the newly-established Wiltshire Provincial Benevolent Fund , and £ 10 ios . to the Boys' School , in the name of the P . G . Supt ., and to be placed on the list of Comp . William Nott , P . G . Treasurer , who had offered lo represent the Province of Wilts at the next festival of that Institution . The recommendations of the Committee were adopted .

Comp . NOTT , Secretary of the Provincial Benevolent Fund , at the request ol the P . G . Supt ., explained thc position of that fund , stating that , from the returns already sent in , he had every reason to believe that it would be supported by the various lodges in the province in such a manner as to ensure its success ; but that at present , for want of information from some of the lodges , he was not in a position to give any precise figures .

The Treasurer ' s report was then read and approved , after which the Provincial Grand Registrar , Comp . A . PLUMMER , read his annual report , recapitulating the position of the chapters in the province , both financially and numerically . The PROV . GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then addressed the companions , whom he was pleased to see in attendance in such large numbers . This was

a red-letter day , adding to the province , as it did , a new chapter , which he trusted would prosper , as the Longleat Lodge , to which it was attached , had done . He was glad to welcome so many distinguished visitors . He would now especially mention Comp . Col . Shadwell Clerke , and would thank him for perlorming the consecration ceremony in such an impressive manner as

they had heard that day , trusting that when he returned to Grand Chapter he would be able to take back a satisfactory report from Wiltshire . He ( thc P . G . Supt . ) would also particularly express his obligation to M . E . Comp . Beach , from the neighbouring Province of Hampshire , for his valuable assistance to-day . To Lord Methuen , also , the beloved Provincial Grand