Memoirs Of The Freemasons At Naples.

these fourteen were taken by surprise , and many other arrests followed . Those who were at liberty hoped for safety in a general insurrection ; they passed the word to the branch societies in the island , kept themselves concealed , and wandered in the woods , Avaitingthe opportunity of an outbreak . But the Governmenthaving

, obtained information or suspecting their proceedings , increased in severity and j > assed measures of security or precaution . * ( 2 b le continued . )

Masonic Adventure.

MASONIC ADVENTURE .

( Continued from page 2 * 14 , vol iv . ) The times were too stirring for long continued repose . Scarcely had Charles Johnston recovered from his fatigue before he Avas again on active service ; nothing , however , of importance except a slight wound occurred till the January of 1813 Avhen the Americansencouraged by

, , their successes at Tork ( Toronto ) and Port George , determined on siezing Detroit . Eor this purpose two corps , under Generals Whiuchester and Harrison , were despatched by different routes . Whiuchester , under whom Charles was serving , arrived first , and the British , under Colonel Proctorseizing the opportunitygave

, , battle , and succeeded in gaining a complete victory , capturing General Whiuchester and many of the Continentals . General Whiuchester was captured by a Wyandot Indian , who stripped him of his uniform , adorned his own . person , with it , and was with difficulty induced to make restitution of the coveted dress .

Charles , finding all was lost , turned his tired horse and made for the neighbouring forest , where , under the friendly shades of night , he soon arrived , and having tethered his horse , sought that repose which the fatigues of the day had so justly earned . Awakened hy the singing of the birds at the break of dawn , he arose and pursued his journey . He had not proceeded far before lie perceived before him a party of armed men , who , by their dress and equipment , he at once recognised as

fugitives from the American army ; on coming up with them he found his friend Arthur Grimwood and two men of his troop . Charles ' s joy at this meeting was greatly damped by finding that Arthur was severely wounded ; all that was possible to be done in their destitute condition had been clone , but the continual exertion caused by

riding occasioned the wounds to reopen , and Charles saw with anxiety that his friend grew rapidly weaker . The day had been hot and sultry , and it was with a grateful sense of refreshment that the travellers , as Avell as their tired steeds , found themselves gradually penetrating the deep and tangled thicket and the hi gh wood that hung

over aud darkened the channel of a small stream that rippled through the glen . The fatigues of the previous day , anxiety , and want of food and sufficient rest , with the increasing weakness of Arthur Grimwood , rendered it necessary to halt . Accordingly , having tethered their horses , the two Americans , leaving Charles and Arthur ,

departed Avith their rifles in search of game . Charles , haA-iug rendered Arthur as comfortable as circumstances would permit , kindled a fire , and soon the report of a rifle was folloAved byjthe appearance of the hunters , bearing a duck between them ; this was broken up , and they all enjoyed the refreshment of a plentiful meal ; after which they disposed themselves to repose—Charles offering to keep the first watch . The heat and anxiety of mind had made Arthur so much worse that he felt himself

rapidly sinking , and , calling his friend to his side , he told him he thought his end was approaching , and confided to his trust his sister and the few articles of value he had about him . Arthur Grimwood , like Charles , vt-as an orphan ; his father had been an opulent merchant , and possessed a plantation adjoining that of Charles ' s father .

There their early intimacy had begun ; from the fluctuations of fortune and the failure of some houses with Avhich the elder Grimwood Avas connected , he suffered considerable losses , ancl the rascality and bankruptcy of an agent completed his ruin , which was soon followed by the death of himself and his wife , leaving , with but

scanty provision , Arthur and a sister some years his junior . Arthur early sought the army as his profession , and his sister was placed under the care of an elderly lady , a distant relation of his mother ' s . Willingly did Charles promise what his friend required , ancl in vain tried to cheer his spirits ancl assuage his pain . Whilst thus intent upon his kindly offices , they were surprised by a sudden discharge of musketry , which proceeded from a party of British soldiers . Starting up , they

at once made for their horses . Charles would have rescued or remained with his friend , but he bid him fly , as he felt he would not move and that all would soon be over . Eor some time they rode on in silence , their precarious situation , the necessity of caution , and sorrow for the loss of Arthur , who was beloved by all , casting a

restraint over them . In most new countries , the change of scene , habit , and absence of the artificial restraints of society , with the knoAvledge that thews and sinews are capital , ancl a strongarm power , produces an equality of feeling amongst the populationnowhere found in the Old World . One of

, the most remarkable instances of this is found in America , where the grades which in England separate the different ranks of society are the most nominal . Thus it is by no means uncommon to find a judge keeping an inn , and a colonel selling sugar , pins , or whiskey behind the counter of his store . The only superiority arises from

education , honesty , and a Avell-informed mind , which is in truth the only real superiority one man can possess over his fellow man , for the adventitious circumstances of rank and fortune are nothing-.

" Tlie rank is but the guinea s stamp , The man's the gowd for a' that . " Thus it was that , after riding swiftly along for about an hour , as they lessened their speed , one of Charles ' s companions , Old Hickory by name , first broke silence . Beared in the country and transplanted to a large town ,

where the superior " cutcness" of the townsmen soon stripped him of his little Avealth , he speedily felt the sorroAvs of poverty aggravated by the sense of ingratitude from one whom , in his better days , he had assisted , but who Avas one of the first to plunder and deride him in adversity . With a mind thus soured by

disappointment he forsook the town , and being naturally of an adventurous ancl wandering disposition , took to a hunter ' s life ; such was Old Hickory , as he Avas commonly called , who now addressed Charles . "Waal , Cap , I just calculate Ave may take it easy UOAV ancl breathe the horses a bit ; they ' 11 have a

longjourney yet . " "Yes , Hickory , they certainly have a long journey before them , but it is better to risk knocking the horses up than to risk being taken prisoners . " " Waal , I kinder guess there ain't much fear of that last , anyhow . " ' ¦ ' How so ? " " Why , you see , Cap , them ere Tories must have pulled a hot foot to come up with us , so their cattle will