Masonic Literature.

read , and the landmarks that direct the labours of olden times revieived ivith interest and p leasure . Should this condition of things continue , every JIason must become an intelligent man ; and familiarized with the sjmibols and rituals of the Order , he will know all the better hoiv to appreciate the character and genius of the Masonic Institution , and guard and protect it from intrusion by the unworthy . In this elevation of the literary character

of the Craftsmen the Order ivill find its protection and security . The ballot-box- ivill be used in the certain prospect of admitting the worthy and rejecting the unworthy , when ignorance will find itself among the proscribed . Its knocking shall be in vain at the door . It cannot be opened for the admission of men who can neither understand its symbols nor appreciate the profoundness of its mysteries .

Let the good work go bravely on . Let the brethren work up the literature of the craft . Let them draw forth from the arcana of science treasures neiv and old and true , and spread them upon the pages from which they may shed their lustre through the Lodges upon the great confederacy of JIasonic interest ivhich is noiv attracting the notice and the admiration of the world . It is ardently hoped that the light shall be so thorougly irradiated through the temple , that the man who has not the capacity to read the symbols shall never gain admission among the sons of li ght .

Archæology.

ARCH ? OLOGY .

BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION . AT the recent meeting of this society , Dr . J . Lee , vice-president , was in the chair . F . Goderich , Esq ., and II . Algernon West , Esq ., were elected associates . The Rev . E . Kell exhibited a fine specimen of the penny of Offa , the first Mercian king having a coinage . The portrait of the king has great merit , and is conjectured to have been the work of Italian artistsbrought from Rome

, by the sovereign . The specimen varies in a slight degree from that figured in Ruding , plate 4 , No . 10 . Mr . Kell also exhibited an archiepiscopal coin of Coelnoth , obtained from the same locality . It is figured in Ruding , plate 13 , No . 7 . The reverse offers the supposed monogram of Dorobernia Cieitas . The inoncyer was Eadmund . Prof . Buckman forwarded tivo very fine gold coins lately found at Cirencesterthe site of the ancient

, Roman town of Cofmiiim . They were found in tbe Lenses garden , near the south-west corner of the camp of Coriniiun , a little distance within the walls , along with other brass coins , pottery , bones , oyster-shells , & c . The coins are of Valentinianus and his brother Valens . Each presents on the reverse tlie figure of a warrior holding the labaruni in one hand and a figure of Victory in the other . In the exergue of that of Valens is the moneyer ' s

name , ICONS . Jlr . Wills exhibited various fragments of Roman fictilia , glass and other objects obtained by the Rev . T . Wills in a field at Silchester . Among them ivas a third brass Carausius . Jlr . C . A . Elliott exhibited an iron key found at Fulham , of the time of Elizabeth , the boiv of which was of elegant open scroll work . Jlr . Elliott also produced a drawing of the key of Litcham Church , Norfolk , measuring full eight inches long , and the web

designed for a lock of five wards . Although there is engraved on it , " 1 G 97 I . II ., ' ; the key dates from the first half of the 17 th century . Jlr . Elliott also exhibited a picture in embossed appliquee , on white satin , sixteen inches by twelve . It is of the 17 th century , and the subject King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba , in the costume of Charles I . Mrs . White exhibited a German coffret of gift metal , engraved on the top , bottom , and

sides , and having a complicated lock attached to the cover . It is of the end of the 16 th century . Jlrs . AVhite also exhibited a brace , or bracer , to guard the left arm of the archer from the friction of the bow-string . It is formed of a cylindrical piece of ivory , six inches long , with iron studs for straps to secure it to the arm . On the front surface it is engraved with arabesque borders surrounding the martyrdom of St . Sebastianthe patron

, saint of archers . It bears a date of 1589 , and the name probably of a former owner , IEAN HAUTE . It appears , however , to have belonged to an earlier period . Jlrs . AVhite also exhibited the lower half of a sacred Hindu box , of elephant ' s tusk , on which was engraved subjects in Hindu Mythology , the 4 th Avatar of Vishnu , & c . Capt . A . C . Tupper produced drawings of the old key of Albury Churcha foot in lengthand still in use

, , ; also one of Shere Church ; and he exhibited a lock and key of the fifteenth century , ivhich had belonged to a convent at Frome . Dr . Keudrick sent an impression of the seal of the Endowed Grammar School at Tewkesbury ; and Jlr . Syer Cuming read some notes descriptive of it . Jlr . Dollman exhibited three drawings of the Gueston Hall at AVorcester , which formed part

Archæology.

of the domestic buildings of the ancient Priory . A paper descriptive of the examination of a large Anglo-Saxon barrow on Boivcombe Downs , Isle of AVight , drawn up by Dr . AVilkins , llev . E . Kell , and Mr . John Locke , was read , and drawings of the several antiquities that had resulted from the excavation—spearheads , knives , bosses of shields , buckles , fibulai , beads , urns , & c , were submitted to the meeting .

A Shakspearian Banquet.

A SHAKSPEARIAN BANQUET .

THE birthday of Shakspeare was recently celebrated in New York with high carnival by the Century Club . The company included many distinguished for station , talent , and culture ; and a bust of Shakspeare croivned ivith laurel looked down upon the festival . Jfany brilliant speeches were made , but the feature of the evening seems to be the bill of fare , ivhich is entirely unique : FESTIVAL

Commemorative of the birth of the immortal " BAUD OV AVOX , " held at the rooms of The Century , Monday , April 23 rd , I 860 . BILL OF I'AEE . " Have a care that your bills he not stolen . ' ' First Course . " Continue in courses , till thou know ' st what they are . " Oi / sters on the Half Shell . —The East Ilk er

" Sends This treasure of an oyster . " " Set a deep glass of Ithenish wine . '' Gumbo Soup . The Sanderson Soup . "—expect spoon-meat . " " Something too crab-bed . " " Thou lack ' st a cup of canary . " Kennebec Salmon , boiled with lobster sauce . "Th' imperious seas breed monsters ; for the dish ,

Poor tributary rivers as siveet fish . " North River Shad , broiled , sauce reiiioniade . "Avery fresh-fish here . " JBermuda Potatoes , boiled . " Let the sky rain potatoes . " " From the still vex'd Bermooth . es . " Fresh Cucumbers . " For this , be sure , to-night thou shalt have cramps . "

Second Course . " great nature ' s second course , Chief liourisher iu life ' s feast . " Spring Lamb , roasted , with mint sav . ee . " innocent As is the sucking lamb , " Roast Capons , stuffed with truffles . " You caunot feed capous so . " Veal Sweetbreads , larded , with tomato sauce .

"' Veal , ' quoth the Dutchman - . ' is not veal a calf ?'" Spring Chicltetis , broiled , with Steicard's sauce . " You ivould eat chickens i' the shell . " Livers of Geese , with Madeira sauce . " This is the liver vein , ivhieh makes flesh a deity , A gveon goose a goddess . " Wild Squabs , slewed , with vegetable sauce . " ivhich he AA'ill put on us ,

As pigeons feed their young . " Asparagus , with buller sauce . " AA ho comes so fast in silence of the night ?" Green Peas , with sugar . " I had rather have a handful or tivo of pease . " Sweet Com , Indian style . " The gods sent not corn for the rich mon only . " Onions , stciced , with gravy . "An onion will do Avell for such a shift . " " Daylight and champagne discovers not more . "

' Third Course . " AVhate ' er the course , the end is tho renown . " English Snipe , broiled on toast . " I should time expend wifch such a snipe . " Jjlne-winged Teal , roasted . " Oh ! dainty duck . " " AVith Avings as swift as meditation . " A Wild Four's Head , garnidtcd with spears . d

"Like a full acorn'boar , a Gorman one . " Boston Lettuce , with mayonnaise sauce . " AVe may pick a thousand salads , " " Ere AA ' light on such another herb . " " Run nothing but claret wine . " Fourth Course . " ¦ the fruits are to ensue . " " And pretty little tiny kickshaws . "

any Rum Pudding . " ¦ blcss'd pudding , " " The more thou clam'st it up , the more it burns . " Quince Pies . " They call for quinces in the pantry . "