Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

castle , which shews that in 1855 , among other degrees , he received that of Red Cross Knight , a fact which may be interesting in relation to recent correspondence in the Magazine . While travelling in Portugal , Bro . Lundy ever found

Freemasonry decidedly useful . Wearied with the annoyance of Custom House officials who persisted in turning out all his luggage to public inspection on an open quay , he at length—not knowing the language—gave him some sign when the officer in

command speedily made things comfortable , and sent Bro . L . off to his Hotel reflecting on the Substantial benefits of our Order . We carried with us to Holland a letter of introduction to Bro . Jacob Van Lennap , of the

Lodge "Frederick William" in Amsterdam , and a Craftsman of European celebrity . We found however , that Bro . Van Lennap , had been dead for some months , and we thus lost the pleasure of his acquaintance . We received , however , a present of an excellent likeness of this eminent Brother .

The Royal Order of Scotland has a nominal Provincial Grand Lodge , which has however ceased to work . H . R . H . the Prince Frederick who is Grand Master of Holland , is an enemy to all the high degrees , of which the Rose Croix is

the ne plus ultra in the Netherlands . Our brethren in Holland do not meet very frequently , but through the kindness of our esteemed Bro . Van Santon , we spent a pleasant evening with the Frederick William Masonic

Club in Amsterdam , aud hope ere long to have a re-union with the worthy " Chips" who there assemble . The Grand Lodge of Holland , has extended itself to the Dutch Colonies , and its influence has often been exerted for good on

behalf of English Craftsmen in those parts . The Hague where the Royal Court is located , and which is consequently the centre of Dutch wealth and fashion is the head-quarters of Freemasonry in Holland .

An Englishman in Holland cannot fail to remember how intimately the history of his own country has been connected with that of the low countries . William of Orange , " of glorious and pious memory " is still revered by thousands

of Protestant Englishmen to whom Freemasonry is dear , because the Pope has condemned it . Was it not George Canning who wrote the epigram ?—" In matters of Commerce the fault of the Dutch , Is giving too little and asking too much . "

No doubt the Dutch are very " close" in their dealings , but they hold a high preeminence J for commercial enterprise and honour . "As safe as a Dutchman" is a motto well-known among English firms doing business with Holland ,

Tom Hood when he visited the Netherlands ,. wrote some verses to a lady friend in England which we always remember when we find ourselvesamong the Hollanders : — " I gaze upon a city—¦

A city new and strange—Down many a walking vista My fancy takes a range . From side to side I saunter And wonder where I am : And can you , be in England , And I iu Rotterdam ?

Tall houses with quaint gables , Where frequent windows shine , And quays that lead to bridges , And trees in formal line ; And masts of spicy vessels From Western Surinam , All tell me you ' re in England But I ' m in Rotterdam . "

It happened that on the birthday of the King , wewere in Amsterdam , when , notwithstanding the primitive sobriety of the Dutch , we saw many soldiers and others whose demeanour and gaittestified that they had quaffed a good

manybumpers of natives " Schiedam " in honour of their Sovereign . Remarking on this to worthy Mynherr Hardenberg , of the Old Bible Hotel , he enquired with the utmost politeness if the sightof drunken men did not " remind us of England . "

Alas ! it did . When will England cease to take " an enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains ? " a question Shakspere asked and which is still unanswered .

A Dutchman once remarked to us with evidentpride , that " God made the rest of the world bub Dutchmen made Holland . " An idea which wa & expressed also by Oliver Goldsmith : — "To men of othor minds my fancy flies ,

Embosomed in the deep where Holland lios , Mothinks her patient sons before mo stand Whoro tho broad ocean loans against the land And , sedulous to stop tho coming tido Lift tho tall rampiro ' s artificial prido . Onward mothinks and diligently slow The prim connected bulwark sooms to grow ; Spreads its long arms amidst tho watory roar

Scoops out an Einpiro and usurps tho shore : Whilo the pent ocean , rising over tho pilo Soos an amphibious world beneath him smile ; The slow canal , tho yellow-blossomed vale , Tho willow-tufted bank , tho gliding sail , Tho crowded marb , the cultivated plain , A new creation , rescued from his roign . "

The visitor to Holland cannot but feel as he gazes around , how wonderful is the energy , and