The Savans In Scotland.

away ; and the history of their imprisonment , ofthe indignities to AA'hich [ they were exposed and tho insults they suffered , has already become a matter of tradition . The port of Hiogo is situated in the bay of Ohosaka , opposite to the celebrated city of that name , from w'hich it is ten or twelve miles distant . The Japanese government have expended vast sums in their engineering efforts to improve its once dangerous

anchorage . A breakwater , ivhich was erected at a prodigious expense , and ivhich cost the lives of numbers of workmen , has proved sufficient for the object for ivhich it was designed . There is a tradition that a superstition existed in connection with this dj'ke , to the effect that it ivould never be finished , unless an individual could be found sufficiently patriotic to suffer himself to be buried in it . A Japanese Curtius was not long

in forthcoming , to whom a debt of gratitude will be due in all time to come from every British shi p that rides securely at her anchor behind the breakwater . Hiogo has now become the port of Ohosaka and Miaco , and will , in all probability , be the principal port of European trade in the empire . The city is described as equal in size to Nagasaki . When Ka-mpfer visited it , he found three hundred junks at anchor in its bay . The Dutch describe Ohosaka as a more attractive resort even than l ' edo .

While this latter city may be regarded as the London of Japan , Ohosaka seems to be its Paris . Here are the most celebrated theatres , the most sumptuous tea-houses , the most , extensive p leasure gardens . It is the abode of luxury and wealth , the favourite resort of fashionable Japanese , who come here to spend their time in gaiety and pleasure . Ohosaka is one of the five Imperial cities , and contains a vast population . It is situated on

the left bank of the Jedogawa , a stream ivhich rises in the Lake of Oity , situated a day ancl a half ' s journey in the interior . It is navigable for boats of large tonnage as far as Miaco , and is spanned by numerous handsome bridges . The port of Hiogo and city of Ohosaka will not be opened to Europeans until the 1 st of January , 1 SG 3 . The foreign residents will then be allowed to explore the country in any direction , for a distance of twenty-five

miles , except towards Miaco , or , as it is more properly called , Kioto . They will not be allowed to approach nearer than twentyfive miles to this far-famed city . Situated at the head of a bay , or rather gulf , so extensive that the opposite shores are not visible to each other , Ycdo spreads itself on a continuous line of houses' along its partially undulating , partiall y level margin , for a distance of about ten miles .

Including suburbs , at its greatest width it is probably about seven miles across , but for a portion of the distance it narrows to a mere strip of houses . Any rough calculation of the population of so vast a city must necessarily be very vague and uncertain ; but , after some experience of Chinese cities , tivo millions does not seem too lii gh an estimate at which to place Yeclo . In consequence of the great extent ofthe area occupied by the residences ofthe princes , there are quarters of the toivn in ivhich the inhabitants are very

sparse , ihe citadel , or residence of the temporal emperor , cannot lie less than five or six miles in circumference , and yet it only contains about forty thousand souls . On the other hand , there are parts of the city in which the inhabitants seem almost as closely packed as they are in Chinese ( OAATIS . The streets are broad and admirabl y drained , some of them are lined with peach and plum trees , and AA'hen these are in blossom must present a gay ancl lively

appearance . Those ivhich traverse the princes' quarter are for the most part as quiet and deserted as aristocratic thoroughfares generall } ' are . Those ivhich pass through the commercial and manufacturing quarters are densely crowded with passengers on mot , in chairs , and on horseback , while occasionally , but not often , an ox waggon rumbles ancl creaks along . The houses are only of IAA-O stories , sometimes built of freestone , sometimes

sun burnt brick , and sometimes wood ; the roofs arc either tiles or shingles . The shops are completely open to the street ; some of these are very extensive , the showrooms for the more expensive fabrics being upstairs , as with us . The eastern part of the cit y is built upon a level plain , watered by the Toda Gaiva , Much flows through this . section of the toivn , and supplies with Water the large moats ivhich surround the citadel . It is spanned

y the Nipon ; has a wooden bridge of enormous length , celebrated as the Hyde Park Corner of Japan , as from it all distances throug hout the empire are measured . Towards the western quarter of the city the country becomes more broken , swelling mis rise above the housetops richly clothed with foliage , from out ie waving masses of which appear the upturned gables of a temple , or the many roofs of a pagoda . It will be some satisfaction to foreigners to know that they are

The Savans In Scotland.

not to he excluded for ever from this most interesting city . By the treaty concluded in it b y Lord Elgin , on the 1 st of January , 1862 , British subjects shall be allowed to reside there , and it is not improbable that a great portion of the trade may ultimately be transferred to it from Ranagawa . There is plenty of water and a good anchorage at a distance of about a mile from the AVestern suburb of Linagaiva . The onlother port which has

y heen opened hy the late treaty in the island of Nipon is the port of Nee-e-gata , situated upon its western coast . As this port has never yet been visited by Europeans , it is stipulated that if it be found inconvenient as a harbour , another shall be substituted for it , to be opened on the 1 st of January , 1860 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MASONRY IK STOTDEKLAND . " A QUERIST" inquired through your columns ( vol . vi ., p . 1121 ) , if the composer of the ode , "Bring me , ye Sacred Choir , " used at the dedication of the Phoenix Hall , Sunderland , was William Shield , of musical notoriety ? No answer having appeared , may I venture to repeat the question , and also beg the further information as to the authorship of the words ?—II . W . MOORE . —[ The

William Shield was Shield the composer , one of the happiest dramatic musicians that this or any other country has produced . The author of the words was Tipping Brown , M . D ., one of the Masonic notabilities of Sunderland . Whilst on this subject it may he interesting to some , if not all , of our readers to know something of the history of Masonry in Sunderland , and we shall , therefore make no apology for extracting from George Garbutt ' s

Historical and Descriptive View of the Parishes of Monlcwearmoutli and Bishojnvearmouth , and the Port and Borough of Sunderland , which appeared in the year 1819 , and being locally printed aud published , is' of very rare occurrence . There is , at p . 287 , a heading specially'devoted to " The Masonic Lodges , " ivhich is as follows : —

" The origin of Freemasonry is very ancient , some of its advocates carrying its antiquity to the time of the building of Solomon ' s temple . Its introduction into England has been fixed at the year 1704 , when Benedict Biscopius brought from the continent , to assist in the erection and decoration ofthe monastery oE Monkwearmouth , ' painters , glaziers , freemasons , aud singers ; ' * and it appears that from that period many buildings wore erected by men in companies , who are said to have called themselves freebecause they were at liberty to work in any part of : .-

, England . " - . - The account then goes over the history of the Lodge at York and its foundation , and coming doivii to the time of the Hanoverian dynasty , we are told that : — " ¦ Freemasonry was established in Sunderland in the year 1755 , AA'hen a constitution for that purpose was granted by the Marquis of Carnarvon . It is dated Octthe 7 th in that and is directed to James Smithson

. year , , Provincial , who constituted the Lodge , then Ho . 207 , though now from different intermediate erasements , N " o . 146 . " : ! : " The first officers wo find on record are John Thornhill , Esq ., Master ; Jacob Trotter , S . W . ; John Rowe , , T . "W . ; and the first ML wlio carried ou tbe business of . the Craft for many years was George Ogilvie , a man from every account profoundly skilled in all the secrets and mysteries of Ereemasonry .

Tbe Lodge was held at- the house of Adam Turner , Church-street , and . was soon composed of the most respectable characters of tho toivn and neighbourhood . Tho Masters who succeeded were Dr . Isaac Brown ; William Gooch , Esq ., comptroller of the customs ; Robert Inmau , Esq . ; and many others of equal importance . ' ' After many fluctuations , and somo changes ol place , tho Lodge fell under the direction of Captain George Thompson , who held the chair seven and under whose ices the number of members was

years , ausp sensibly and respectably augmented . He built an elegant ball for them , the first stone of ivhich he laid with the accustomed ceremonies and honours , the brethren having accompanied him to the site of the building in solemn procession , and it being the anniversary of his majesty . - ; accession , the loyal brethren , in honour of the day , gave to their bodge for the first time ' a local habitation and a name , ' calling it from hence the King 'Lod The building being finished in due timewas

Georges ge . , solemnly dedicated on the 16 th of June , 177 S . On that occasion the Grand Lodge of England favoured the brethren with the music performed at the dedication of the Freemasons' Hall , which ivas admirably supported on the present occurrence by the principal vocal and instrumental performers round the country . Erom the hall the brethren proceeded to the assembly room , whore tho presence of above one hundred and twenty ladies added elegance and interest to the scene .