Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

The excavations at Nineveh have at length authorised by the Sultan , who has given the necessary fornan to Mr . Layard . Bio- Ben began work again on Friday week , lthoug h the striking apparatus would not be in working nrder until the middle of this week .

M DLLB . TITIENS . —An operation was perfirmed on Mdlle . Ti'iens at Worthing last week . r nsiderable relief followed , and arrangements were made f r her removal to London on Thursday , the 13 th inst ., ° hich were carried out very satisfactorily . Mr . Harris , of Worthing , accompanied her , and very soon after her rrival Dr . Howell and Mr . Spencer Wells met him in

consultation . —Medical Journal . The story of the " Arabian Nights " has been translated into Bengalee , and is being printed bv natives . The edition will be in eight volumes , and will be the largest work ever issued by the native press .

The first Belgian expedition to exploie Central Africa sent by the International Association will start for Natal on the 18 th prox . After making their arrangements at Natal the expedition will go on to Zanzibar and to Lake Tanganyika , and from thence will journey into the interior to establish the first station .

Monsieur Thiers is said to have left various posthumous works , which are to be published under the editorship of MM . Mignet and Barthe'lemy St . Hilaire . Amongst other works there are his personal memoirs , on which he has been engaged for years , a treatise on the distinction between Grecian and Reman art , a portion of a history of the Renaissance , and his long-looked for work

on polemic and religious philosophy 111 which , on the authority of history , he refutes the doctrines of Darwin , Comte , Littre , Renan , and Spinoza , anil which , it is said , is to afford a final answer to those who have termed him a " freethinker , or at least a Voltarian . " THE N OTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS . The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the

University buildings at Nottingham has been fixed for Thursday , the 27 th inst . The ceiemony will be performed at noon by the Mayor of the borough ( Mr . John Warren Bowers ) , and subsequently there will be a public luncheon in the Albert-hall , at which Mr . Gladstone is expected to be present . Amongst the other guests who have accepted the invitation of the Mayor are Lord Belpcr ( Lord

Lieutenant of the county ) , Lord Carnarvon , the Duke of St . Alban ' s , and the Rev . G . F . Browne , secretary of the Cambridge University Commission . The cost of the buildings , including the land , will be X 6 o , ooo . Of this sum an anonymous donor has contributed £ 10 , 000 , and the remainder will be found by ihe Corporation , who have given the site . There will be lecture anil class rooms for the promotion of the Cambridge University Extension

Scheme , which it will be remembered was first incorporated at Nottingham , which has since been carried out successfully in several centres of industry . There will also be class rooms , laboratory , & c , for the use of the students in the science classes in connection with the local Mechanics' Institution , as well as rooms for the Free Library and the Natural History Museum . 'Ihe architects are Messrs . Lock wood and Mawson , of London and

Bradford . A number of Arctic Relics has been presented to the Royal Artillery Institution , Woolwich , by Captain Feilden , who accompanied the recent Polar Expedition as naturalist . The collection contains reindeer skulls and antlers , a Greenlander ' s harpoon , and a pair of snnwshoes

which belonged to the late Dr . Rae . A NEW CITY . —At St . Albau ' s , recently , the Mayor , Mr . W . C . Smith , having received the letters patent for the creation of that town ieto a city , publicly proclaimed the new constitution . He was accompanied by other members of the Corporation , who wore lobes of office . The Town Clerk read the charter to a

large number of inhabitants , who were afterwards addressed by the Mayor and the rector of the Abbey . There was 1 luncheon subsequently in the Town Hall , when the Mayor congratulated the citizens on the honour conferred upon St . Alban's , and proposed the toast of " Success to the City . " BRITISH MUSEUM . —We are glad to hear that

seven of the engraved stones , recently stolen from the British Museum , including one of the large ones with a regal head and Pehlevi inscription , have been returned by the authorities of the Hague . —Athemeum . Some of our contemporaries have reported how a stray Whitehead torpedo had been picked up in Portsmouth Harbour , and have drawn attention to the possibility

"f a few ships and some hundreds of lives being lost by contact with similar straying projectiles . No such disaster could occur . The torpedoes with which practice is made from the torpedo ships and launches are in every case dummies . Every part is perfect except their heads , which are invarially empty . In this case the only loss which wuld possibly have happened would have been the loss

of the weapon itself , which , had it not been discovered , might have floated out to sea . The cylinder containing Cleopatra ' s Needle is n ° w afloat in deep water , and the towing to this country W 1 'l shortly commence . Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of tree

and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regu'ations , E . A . Song , & c . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the ice ° f the Freemason , or will be sent post free to any Part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-fivf fenny stamps . Address , Publisher , 19 8 , Fleet-street , Loiidon . —AuvT ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

LONDON MASONIC CLUB LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . —This lodge , which has been adjourned for the summer months , will resume its meetings on Monday next , the 24 th , at 6 o ' clock p . m ., and will meet regularly on the 2 nd antl 4 th Monday in every month throughout the season . Brethren can visit by introduction of a member of the lodge , without being a member of the club .

The consecration of a new lodge at Walton , one of the suburbs of Liverpool , will take place next month . The name selected is the Wilbraham Lodge , and will be No . 1713 , 011 the registry of the Grand Lodge . The meeting place will be the Institute , Sefton-street , Walton , and the first leaders of the lodge will be Bros . C . W . Cayzer , W . M . designate ; F . J . Pentin , S . W . designate ;

and G . Fry , the J . W . designate . The ceremony of consecration will probably be performed by the R . W . P . G . M . ( Bro . Lord Skelmerstlale ) , on or about the 4 th Oct ., the day after the Prov . Grand Lotlge meeting at Southport . There is every prospect of the complete success of the new lodge , as the brethren identified with its origination have the good of Masonry sincerely at heart .

Ths Installation meeting of the King Harold Lodge , No . 1327 , will be held em the nth proximo , at the Britannia Inn , Waltham New Town . Brethren are invited , antl can be supplied with Lanqutt tickets at 10 s . Od . Bro . J . Tydeman S . W . having been unanimously elected , will be installed W . M . THE SURREY MASONIC HALL COMPANY

LIMITED . —Notice dated September 19 th has been given by Bro . II . A . Dubois , Secretary to this Company that an Extraordinary General Meeting of ihe Shareholders will be held at the Surrey Masonic Hail , Camberwell , on Thursday , the 27 th day of September , 18 77 , at 6 o ' clock p . m ., for the purpose of considering , and , if deemed expedient , of passing the following Resolutions on one e > f them ,

viz ,: —That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the company that it cannot , by reason of its liabilities , continue its business , and that it is advisable to wind-up the same . That a Liquidator , or Liquidators , be appointed to windup the affairs of the company and distribute its property .

GREAT CITY LODGE ot' INSTRUCTION , NO . 1426 . —The ceremony of installation will be worked in the above lodge , at the Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons ' Avenue , Coleman-strcet , on Thursday the 27 th inst , at 6 , 30 p . m . Bro . Lux , W . M . 1426 , will be the installing officer .

The brethren of Aberfeldy , N . B ., gave H . R . H . Prince Lcopoltl a hearty reception on the occasion of his passing through on Friday week , on his way to Tay mouth Castle . A new application of the term " Pan Anglican " has been placed before us by Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . S . W . of Greece , P . G . S . of Scotland , etc ., who has patented a very novel railway key which can be carried in the

waistcoat pocket and will open any railway door in the Kingdom . URBAN CLUB . —An " at home , " presidod over by Mr . J . Jeremiah , was held on Friday week , at St . John's Gate , and it was well attended by the members and their friends . The musical and reciting -arrangements were well carrietl out by Messrs . J . J . Bacta , W . G . Church , G . Graham , A . Bouchette , C . F . Druery , & c .

In answer to the numerous letters that the publisher has received fiom brethren in Liverpool , we beg to state that the Freemason is to be obtained in Liveipool on Friday afternoon at 3 o ' clock , nt the Office , 2 , Monument place ; at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street ; and at the Landing Stage .

IHE INDIAN FAMINE . —UptoThursday night the Lord Mayor's Fund amounted in the whole to upwards of £ 192 , 500 , of which £ 155 , 000 has already been placed at the disposal of the Madras Committee . MANCHESTER . —Fcr the information of the fraternity in Manchester , the Publisher begs to state that the Freemason may now be obtained at Oldridge ' s ,

Bridge-street , Manchester , on Friday evening at 6 o ' clock . The Liverpool contributions to the Indian Famine Relief Fund have now reached the very handsome sum of nearly £ 20 , 300 . At a meeting of the Manchester Committee last week a resolution was passed

requesting the local authorities of Lancashire towns to head their subscriptions " The Lancashire ; Fund , " so that the subscriptions from this county may come under one general lv : ad . Lancashire has before shown what she can do in the way of charity , and " so she can again , " notwithstanding bad commercial times .

Forty Scottish kings , two Irish kings , and one French king , two Irish princes , besides innumerable chieftains and ecclesiastics , are said to have been buried in Iona , Scotland . In honour of the visit of Prince Leopold there has been a variety of entertainments at Taymouth Castle . The Prince has written to Mr . Rankin , chairman of the

reception committee at Aberfeldy , a letter 111 which he says he admired the decorations of the town antl was touched and gratified by the compliments paid to him . The Duke of Connaught arrived at Balmoral on Saturday afternoon , travelling by ordinary train . It is expected that he will also visit the Earl and Countess of Breadalbanc at

Taymouth shoitly . On Tuesday last , a meeting : of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Sussex was held at the Pavilion , Brighton , presided over by Sir . W . W . Burrell , Bart ., R . W . P . G . M . During the proceedings , the sum of £ 100 was unanimously voted to the Indian Famine Fund .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Prov . Grand Lodge of North Wales and Shropshire , have , through Sir . Wm . Watkin Wynn , M . P .. R . W . P . G . M ., subscribed £ 50 to the Indian Famine Fund . The amount was sent to the Lord Mayor on Saturday . A new Masonic lodge will be consecrated at Grand-over-sands , Lancashire , on Wednesday , the 26 th

inst ., at the hour of high twelve . The lodge will be in the West Lancashire district , and will be named the Sir John Brogden Lodge . The Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire will be held in the Town Hall , Southport , at twelve o ' clock at noon , on Wednesday , the 3 rd October next . The R . W . Prov . G . M ., Lord Skelmersdale , will

preside . On the conclusion of the business the brethren will proceed to Holy Trinity Church , where a sermon will be preached by the Prov . G . Chaplain . Madame Worrell-Duval announces a Grand Evening Concert to take place at the Horns Assembly Rooms , Kennington , on Thursday Oct . nth , when several well-known artistes will appear .

ALL SAINTS LODGE , No . 1716 . —A full report of the consecration of the above lodge will appear in 1 , ur next issue . Bro . Wm . Bradstock of the King Harold Lodge , No . 1437 , Waltham Cross , has been presented by a number of ftiends with a testimonial , in the form of a valuable gold watch and cbain .

Bro . Edgar Anderson , the Dramatic reader , akes a benefit at the Surrey Masonic Hall , on Friday , the 5 th prox ., on which occasion a talented company will give a grand costume recital . WHAT IT MAY COME To . —William Sikes

was again brought up on T . uesday before the magistrate at Bow-street charged with stealing a handkerchief . Mr . Hodges prosecuted , instructed by the Treasury , and the prisoner was defended by Mr . Montgomery , Mr . Wiggins , and Mr . Wilkinson . The Bench was crowded with Dukes , and several Bishops found places at the table usually reserved for solicitors . The first witness called was Charles

Bates , alias " the Artful Dodger , " who is now undergoing a term of imprisonment at Milbank . The witness wore the usual convict ' s garb ; his hair was parted down the centre , anil he appeared to be a person of remarkable intelligence and some education . He deposed as follows , examined by Mr . Hodges : —Knew the prisoner perfectly well . He was called " the Brain Spiller . " ( Laughter . )

Supposed he was called that because he broke skulls . ( Roars of laughter . ) He saw the prisoner take the handkerchief . There was no doubt about the matter . Crossexamined by Mr . Montgomery . —He had been in prison on and off for several years . He had been charged with robbing his mother , stealing from his father , and trying to defraud his grandmother . He had also been charged

with forging the names of seven-and-twenty different people . He supposed some of the charges were true . ( Laughter ) . He knew that he had been convicted on all of them . ( Roars of laughter . ) Mr . Montgomery . —Now , Sir , answer me this question . Do you think a convict's word is to be believed before that of an honest man ? Bates ( indignantly ) . — That is a

most improper question , and 1 appeal to the Court . ( Applause . ) Let me tell my learned friend that an honest lieait may beat under a prison waistcoat , and long hair does not olwas mean business aptitude , national honour , and hardworking integrity . ( Loud applause . ) Mr . Montgomery ( with great warmth ) . —You must not call me your learned fiiend . Bates . —I retract the

" learned . " ( Roars of laughter . ) Cross-examination continued —I have been tried for murder . I got off on an ulil-i . It was certaintly rather crooked . ( Shouts of laughter , in which the Bench and Bar joined heartily . ) My maternal aunt did not like me before her death . 1 suppose she objected to me because I put some poison in her tea . ( Laughter . ) She found me out the first time , but the

poison found her out the second . ( Roars of laughter . ) The money was paid by the insurance company . I had insured her life for £ 500 . The prisoner had none of the proceeds . Cross-examined by Mr . Wiggins . —The handkerchief I saw th ¦ prisoner take was a cotton one . 1 hat I would swear . It was not made of Indian straw . Of that I am certain . Cross-examined by Mr . Louis George . —

Until 1 was sent to prison I was an innocent little boy . My parents took great pains with me . 1 was their hope and pride . I have always regarded the prisoner with feelings of affection . In my opinion he is a most respectable person , antl is quite incapable of stealing a handkerchief . Re-examined by Mr . Hodges . —I am quite sure the prisoner took the pocket-handkerchief . I saw him take it . The

theft occurred in the broad daylight . There could be no doubt about it . Mr . Hodges then informed the magistrate that , although this was a preliminary inquiry , it would be necessary for the Crown to call 42 more witnesses . He was sorry to say that the case might take up some time , and therefore he would suggest that arrangements should

be promptly made to allow for the Christmas , the Easter , and the Midsummer holidays . The magistrate , after expressing an opinion that no time had been wasted , promised to consider the matter during the adjournment , and remanded the prisoner ( for the forty-second time ) until Thursday . —Punch .

HOLLOW-AY ' S OINTMENT AMI PILLS . —When rheumatism becomes ehronic , and as it were lixed in a limb or part , it is truly a terrible enemy to encounter . The joints often become stiffened and excessively painful when obliged to be moved , or on exposure to changes ol lemperauir , dampness , 8 cc . Holloway ' s Oinrment exercises a wonderful cll ' ect in alleviating this torture , for by its use the blood vessels of the part have their tone restored , and tiic irritated and painful nerves soothed and calmed . It must be persistently and perseveringly used , for the ; disorder is a most obstinate one . and will not yield unless resolutely attacked . These remedies will also be found Jto be most useful in cramps and muscular spasms . —Auvr .