Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

house or place near Wj-clifl ' e which bore the name of Spreswel m the fourteenth century , and that the Reformer might have been born on that spot , though still a Wycliffe , of the family sustaining that name at AVyclili ' c . Dr . Whitaker , in his History of Richmondshire , finding no place named Spreswel , near Richmond , happens to find a place named Ilipswcl , in that neighbourhood , and as

I-Iipsivel and Spreswel sound somewhat alike , the Doctor imagines that this Ilipswcl may have been Lelaud ' s Spreswel . But , to mo , this way of getting out of a difficulty was very unsatisfactory . Not long since , Bligh Peacock , Esq ., a gentleman in Sunderland , known to be fond of antiquities , favoured me with a letter stating that there is a spot about three miles below the parish

of "Wycliffe called Old Richmond , set down as such in the local maps , and which the traditions of tho neighbourhood describe as more ancient than modern Richmond ; and that at ' a good mile ' from this Richmond there was , in the last century , ' a poor village , ' or chapelry , called Spreswel . I applied for further information , and Mr . Peacock sent me the following statement from a friend : —• ' Spreswel , or Speswel , stood close to the River Tees , half-a-inilo

from WycHffe , and on tho same side of the river . There was a chapel there , in which were married William Yarkor and Penitent Johnson ; and their son John related the occurrence to me , his grandson , many times . The above couple were the last married there , for the chapel soon after fell down . The ploughshare has since passed over its site , and all is now level . ' The signature

to this statement is that of 'John Chapman , ' a gentleman of respectable position , in Gainsford , a parish adjoining the spot called Old Richmond , and whose ancestors , as tho above statement indicates , have been resident in that district through several generations . Mr . Chapman further states that Francis Wycliffe , who died at Barnard Castle thirty years ago , and who was the last descendant of

the AVycliifes , bearing that name , always spoke of the Reformer as being , in the belief of tho WycliiVes of Wycliff , a member of their family , and as born at Spreswel . " Wo are glad that this long lost Spreswel ( lost at least to authors ) has been found at last , and found too very much after the fashion in which William Howitt discovered the real meaning of the dewberries with which learned Shaksperian commentators had so long bothered their brains to worse than no purpose .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The IZditoi' is not responsible Jar the opinions expressed ui / Correspondent !! . BRO . EYANS—A CASE OF DISTRESS . TO THE EDITOR OF TIIM FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIItKOU . Dear Sir and Brother , —On behalf of Mrs . Evans I bog to acknowledge the following sums of money sent to me for her use .

It came not an hour too soon , for poor Evans died last night , after great suffering , borne with tho resignation of a true Christian . I now appeal to the Craft to assist the widow and the fatherless , and am assured my request will be responded to . Heartily thanking those brethren who have come forward in the case , I remain , Sir , yours fraternally , JOHN MOTT THEAELE .

Money received by Pro . Thearle on account of Mrs . Evans , daughter-in-law of the late AA ' m . Evans , Masonic Jeweller , of Great Queen-street : —• £ . s . d . Pro . Sontligato 0 10 0 ., C . 11 . llopwood 0 10 0 . S . AV . llopwood 0 10 0

... , „ R . Spencer 100 M- Miliary 0 10 0 jN * ' S 21- 0 10 0 Lodge of Instruction Q \ o . 110 ) 3 0 0 0 10 0

Correspondence.

Bros . Cox and Newall inform mo that they have each received small subscriptions , which with your permission will be acknowledged in your next number . J . M . T .

10 THE EDITOR OS THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . MY DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —I have this day forwarded to the Rev . J . E . Cox , on behalf of Mrs . Evans , a checpie for £ 5 , collected by myself in SHILLING subscriptions . Perhaps a few words in your excellent paper may induce others to do the same . Yours very truly and fraternally ,

CHAS . ISAACS , Chatham , April 30 , 1861 . Prov . G-. Sec . for Kent TO TIIE EDITOR OP TOE TREEMASONS MAGAZINE AST ) MASONIC JUSROR . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE . —At our Lodge of Instruction last Saturday eveningthe attention of the brethren present

, was directed to the melancholy case of Bro . Evans , as published in the MAGAZINE of that day . Deeply commiserating with the case , we at once agreed to raise a subscription to assist in alleviating the immediate wants of the sufferer , and a small sum from each brother made up a trifle , which is about to be forwarded to Bro . Thearle , and we sincerely hope the lodges in general will offer their mite in the same

good spirit and promptness . We know nothing of Bro . Evans beyond what we learn in the letter , but the names of the other parties mentioned , must be admitted as a sufficient guarantee of the claims of the sufferer and his family . Trusting to find many other lodges of Instruction giving their help in this case . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , Winchester , May , 1 , 1861 . A P . M . of No . 90 .

Masonic Hall At Brighton.

MASONIC HALL AT BRIGHTON .

TO IDE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —In your MAGAZINE of March 23 rd , 1861 , there appeared a very excellent letter from " Progress , " on the extreme apathy displayed by tho Committee appointed to report upon the advisability of a Masonic Hall in Brighton . For my own part , I cannot conceive the reason for such neglect , having so many good

ancl tried brethren in that large ancl influential town , where all must acknowledge Freemasonry flourishes—at least , I should imagine so , from the repeated proofs we have of the liberality of the Brighton brethren . Is there a charity that is not supported by the Masons of Brighton ? Were they not tho first to afford a day ' s treat and recreation to those interesting children , the girls ? Did not Bro . Wood . P . G . S ,,

take to the Girls' Festival , in 1857 , a list of subscriptions amounting to £ 151 ; to the Benevolent Festival in 1859 over £ 60 ; and in 1860 , to the Boys'Festival , £ 62 . Lastly , did not Bro . Pocock , P . G . S . B ., in I 860 , take up the handsome sum of £ 1 ( 10 , for the Girls' School , and , in 1861 , £ 121 for the Boys' School . Then why , after such proofs of liberality , is that object which certainly ought to be part of the duty of

every true and good Mason , viz ., to provide a proper place for the performance of those sublime ceremonies , which at the present time are often marred by not having a Hall properly dedicated to Freemasonry , coolly shelved . Again , it cannot be said that there arc not brethren of influence

who do not stand high in the Craft ; on tho contrary , there is a good working Prov . G-. Lodge and several who have filled office in the Grand Lodge of England . Why , then , cannot the Brighton brethren add one more laurel to their name ? Why should so worthy an object be so grossly neglected ? ft is indeed strange . Can it be , as * " Progress " hints , the committee appointed arc afraid to bring up their

report ? No , I cannot imagine that . Then why not at once lay it before the whole of tho brethren , and say , if so , that it is not desirable to proceed further ? That , I am convinced , Avould only rouse that feeling , which I am epiite sure the majority of the Brighton brethren hold , that we ought to have a p lace for ourselves . Again , if such a report was sent to tlie different lodges , would tbe brethren of Brighton allow such a stigma to lay at their doors ? Thoy would at