Masonic Notes And Queries.

TREEMASONEY . In " Ceremonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples du Monde , " Vol . IV ., p . 252 , will be found a curious plate , representing a lodge of Freemasons , with a list of lodges as at date 1736 , with their arms . The number of lodges is 129 . A

portrait of Dick Steele heads the engraving . This work is very curious , and worthy of perusal , especially to antiquarian brethren . It will be found in Shelf 3 , of No . 2 , 006 , in General Library of British Museum . — A . 0 . HAYE .

MASONIC STUDENT AND MASONIC MSS . I am sure we who are readers of THE FEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE must feel indebted to " Masonic Student" for his remarks anent Masonic manuscripts . I hope before long he will " be tempted to forward a further communication in respect to them "

, as the subject is one of great importance to all who desire to know what ancient Masonry was , and what now remains as evidence of its nature . As there are private copies of Masonic MSS . of ancient constitutions about , I think brethren holding the same mi ght do well to forward them to the

Editor of THE FBEEMASONS' MAGAZINE to be printed . I can vouch for such copies being carefully preserved from uoy own experience , as for some years now I have been a contributor to the paper , and from time to time have had occasion to send MSS . of different kindsseals & cfor insertionand in no case have

, , , , either been lost or injured . The Publisher is , in fact , most rigidly careful . I think the last few years have witnessed considerable improvement in the articles on Masonry . —W . J . HUGHAN .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The - Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents .

CAPTAIN TORCKLER .

TO THE EDITOIt OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AUD MASONIC MTHHOH . Dear Sir , —Noticing in your paper of Oct . 17 , 1868 , an advertisement inquiring for a Captain Torckler , I am induced to reply , as it seems very queer that my name should be made so public , and should be glad ifyou would inquire from " P . Z . "

what motive he may have for so doing . Awaiting an answer , I am , dear Sir , Tours truly , FEEDEEICK TOECKLEE . Shanghai , March 2 , 1869 .

Masonic Impostors.

MASONIC IMPOSTORS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIHI . 0 I-. Dear Sir and Brother , —The recent exposure of that consummate swindler , Seigmund Sax , in your columns must have been no small benefit to the Craft ; but it came a little too late . Recentl y , in Crewea second edition of our Hamburg hero cropped

, up in the person of a Dr . J . B . Smith , who hails from Washington City , United States , and one well worthy of being his parallel . The American sharper is about 50 jears of age , 5 ft . 9 in . in height , dark eyes , full face , of very gentlemanly manners , good address ,

respectably attired , wears a cap , and' has a naval appearance . His success here in deceiving our Secretary and Almoner and borrowing his fare to London , does him no small credit , for neither of them are to be easily done . Each , too , had some doubts , but both , I regret to say , had not the pluck to put him

at once to the test by calling at the post-office . Assoon as they informed me of the case , I at once pronounced it a swindle , much to the surprise of my two friends . However , on calling at the post-office , both felt the " luxury of doing good " aud the annoyance of being done at the same time . Next morning , too

, a gentleman handed a copy of the Manchester Examiner and Times of March 2 nd , the very day of the doctor ' s visit here , containing an account of how this veritable Yankee had got £ 5 from a Professor of Edinburgh University by very similar means , without the " Masonic " aid though .

It is not well , Sir , for Masonic " nature to be toofull of the milk of human kindness " with such characters , for there is a limit at " which forbearance ceases to be a virtue . " I think , Sir , it is time for our Grand Lodge to take some energetic steps onthis head , — "And put in every honest hand a whip

To lash such rascals naked through the world . " And thus rid the Craft of such who have more of the " rank compound of villain" in them than anything else . The Doctor ' s procedure here was as follows . Hehands the following letter to the Secretary : —•

"To the W . M ., Wardens , and Brothers . I am a Master Mason of long standing oj Howard ? 35 , Washington City , United States . I am the Assist . Director of the United States Mint at that place . In company with Dr . E . N . Kent , the Assay Master of the Branch Mint of New York , we

have been travelling for some time on Government business connected with coinage . We have been last at Londonderry , Ireland , on a visit to some friends , and left there Saturday last . He proceeded via Belfast to Liverpool by steamer ; while myself , having , business in Dublin , came that way , our arrangements

being to meet here this day to proceed to London ,, where the American Minister was to have the proper vise attached to our passports , from whence we were to proceed to the Brazils . I gave Dr . Kent our letter of credit on Messrs . Baring Bros ., for use in Liverpoolretainingas I supposedsufficient funds

, , , for my own purposes . He has failed to meet mehere , and I have been auxiously awaiting him at the station since morning , having arrived via Holyhead at 1 p . m . Late this p . m ., on applying at the post-office ,, I receive a letter from him , that an unavoidable delay prevents his reaching here in timeand has proceeded

, to London , and expects me there . Unfortunately , I exhausted my funds to such an extent that I cannot proceed . I have been since the receipt of this letter in a ' state of great anxiety . It is too late to communicate with our Consul at Liverpool , and I must reach London at once . I have the necessary

credentials of my official position from our Secretary of Legation at London , my passport , & e . After an almost exhausting inquiry , I learn that a Masonic a meets to-night . I can only say that I am a well-