Assyrian Discoveries.

those mounds as tombs of holy men , aud by tricks of Turkish officers , he at last broke the death-spell of the doomed city of Nineveh . And lo ! there he stood in the midst of a ruined palace , Avhose gorgeous chambers , Avith their marvels of art covering in fragments the floorwith their

, magnificent bas-reliefs on the Avails , and their Avinged bulls and lions of gigantic size gazing at him as if they Avelcomed the light , filled his soul Avith both admiration and aAve . You may imagine it to have been no easy AA'ork for him to move these

precious loads on trees and rafts along the Euphrates , and ship them home to the Louvre . Yet it Avas done . But soon England folloAved to take the lion ' s share . Austin Henry Layard , the British statesman , soon after having met in his travels in the East the French Consul at his

successful excavations at Chorsabad , in 1842 , planned the scheme for other investigations . In 1845 he commenced excavations at Nimroud , a village close by Mossul , and his repeated success made the British Museum the focus of Assyrian studies . Herodotus tells a story he learned from

the Assyrians , of the vast treasures of King Savdanpalus , Avhich , though concealed in subterranean vaults , Avere carried off by thieves , Avho dug holes in the ground to reach them , Avhen nobody suspected anything of the kind . Layardwhile

nn-, burying this King ' s palace , failed to find these treasures , they having been plundered by Persian and Macedonian conquerors long ago , but he carried off most valuable trophies of a much nobler conquest .

AVhat an amazing beauty and perfection of art is displayed in these ruins of Avails , depicting hunting scenes , battles , and religious ceremonies , Avith a fascinating vividness of expression in all their details . There the King is seen riding in his brilliant chariotfolloAved by his

armour-, bearers , in the company of his sons , hunting Avild bulls and lions , of Avhom some are p ierced Avith arroAvs , Avhile others lie prostrate under the Avheels of his running chariot . All these scenes are portrayed on frescoes Avith an accuracy of design and a

reality of life that is really surprising . Other tablets show Assyrians attacking the enemy Avith boAvs and spears , besieging cities with battering-rams and movable toAvers , and having taken them by assault , leading the inhabitants aAvay as captives ,

Assyrian Discoveries.

while their leaders are either hung or flayed alive , or , if pardoned , have their eyes pierced Avith a spear at the King ' s hand .. ( To be continued . )

The Installation Of The Prince Of Wales.

THE INSTALLATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES .

April 28 , 1875 . Great day for English Freemasonry ! Most joyous festival of our famous Craft Thatall these hurryingyearshaA'eAvitnessed . IVelve months ago in peace serenely lapped

, Like tranquil meadows by the water side , The order rested , calmly confident In all fraternalgroAvth and peaceful labours , For it Avas proud of its kind leader and its mission . A feAvshort hours and gloom came o'er us all .

Another poAver , dangerous and ambitious , Fell in its hatred , potent in its spell , Had come between the ruler and the ruled . No more for him the genial amity of his ancient mates , No more those goodly truths he taught so Avell , No more those loving Avords he spoke so

often . AVe SOITOAV for him with the earnest sorrow That those most feel Avho love a cherished friend , From whom time ' s everlasting separation , Has here divided from each for evermore . And then there fell upon us a storm of

Avords , And idle threats and childish censures , The angry and the uncharitable anathema ! But yet to-day that darker season ' s sped . The Heir of this great empire , in his own words ,

" Vouches'' for our loyalty and truth , Our charitable enterprise , and our fraternal love , And so Ave heed notthose who curse or blame . Thepastis all forgotten , our Avord is on wards ! Onwards under the banner of our Royal Grand Master !

To him Ave pledge our unstained loyalty ; And round the throne—the guardian of us all , Our liberty , our laAvs , our peace—Ave rally once again , Like our good forefathers in some darker days .