Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

ill conformity with and under aud subject to certain regulations , orders , directions , and conditions , and tlio single rate of postage for tho transmission of such packets shall be three-pence . A progressive increase of rate will be charged when the weight exceeds four ounces . No packet can bo sent through the post , which shall exceed two feet iu length , breadth , or height . Should any packet be posted which shall be beyond these dimension ? , or not in conformity with the usual regulations , it

may be detained and opened , and , at the option of the Postmaster General , shall be either returned or given up to the sender thereof , and every such packet on being so returned or given up shall , at tho option of the Postmaster General , be either free of postage or be charged with any rate of postage he may think fit , not exceeding the postage to ivhich ifc would have been liable as a letter .

Ihe Eoyal Society met on the 22 nd ult ., when Lord Belper was elected a Fellow . Sir Benjamin Brodie presided as usual . The following papers were read : — " On the Theory of Compound Colours , and the Relations of the Colours of the Spectrum , " by J . C . Maxwell . " Ou the Insulating Properties of Gutta Percha , " by F . Jenkins , Esq . " On Scalar and Cliuant Algebraical Coordinate Geometry , " by A . J . Ellis , Esq . At the last meeting of the Asiatic Society , Colonel Sykes was in the

chair , and the proceedings were highly interesting . Professor Dowson exhibited a variety of specimens of fche arts and manufactures of Japan , brought from Jeddo by Capt . Creagh , of the 8 Gth Regiment , who hacl kindly lent them for the inspection of the Society . These articles excited a great deal of interest , not only by their excellence and novelty , but by the suvprizlngly low prices at which they were purchased . Capt . Creagh , having been one of the first who visited Jeddomade his

pur-, chases at something like the real price , before it was unduly raised by the demands ancl ignorance of foreigners . Among the articles exhibited was a cabinet , beautif u lly inlaid with different woods ; a very good telescope , ivhich cost about Is . ( id . ; a very neat little clock , worked by a weight , the index being a small pin , which , as it descends , marks the time upon a scale forming the front of the clock . As the length of the Japanese hour differs in various seasons , the clock is furnished with a

series of scales , or figure plates , for accommodating it to these changes . The cost of this clock was 9 s . There were also several specimens of illustrated books , the woodcuts of which were very neatly executed , and exhibited a good knowledge of perspective , as well as of drawing ; also a large number of prints in colours , somewhat roughly executed , but spirited . These are sold at an exceedingly low rate , and show thafc the art of printing in colours is well known in Japan . The paper used for pocket handkerchiefs , and various other kinds of paper , attracted a great deal of notice for their fineness and extreme tenacity of fibre . There was also a very showy fabric , the woof of ivhich was of silk and the

warp of gilded and coloured paper , forming an excellent material for the decoration of rooms , tents , & c . Sir Roderick Murchison presided at the meeting of tlie Royal Geographical Society on Monday last . Tho papers road were one by Dr . Livingstone on Lake Nyinyosi or Nyassa , and Shirwe , Eastern Africa communicated by Lord J . Russell , F . R . G . S . Tho doctor and his party traced the river Shinvd up , to its point of departure from Lake Nyinyosi

or Nyassa ; thirty-three miles only of cataract exist above Murchison cataract , from the sea of Kongone , 200 miles , to ivhich there is at all seasons of the year a channel of from five to ten foet ; after this the river continues smooth right into the lake , and it is stated that but little labour will be required to construct a road past the cataracts . Not only has a cotton and sugar producing country been thus opened up , but one that presents facilities for commanding a large section of tho slave

market on the east coast . Beyond Mount Zouiba the land contracts into a narrow isthmus between the lakes Shirwe and Nyassa , the length of the former of which lakes is ninety miles , while that of the latter remains undetermined , though believed to be considerable ; as they both lie parallel with the sea coast , tho trade from the interior must cross the Shirwe at certain fords , thus supplying the means of stopping tho slave trade , which was found to be rife in several of the districts

traversed . A paper by the Baron de Bode , entitled " A Sketch of Hilly Daghestan , with an account of the Lesghi Tribes of the Eastern Caucasus , " was exceedingly interesting , as a description of the people so lately connected with the names of Schamyl and Bariatinski . The chairman , Captain Spoke , Consul Potheriek , from Khartum , and General Monteith having addressed the meeting , it was adjourned to tho 23 rd

of April . ' ' . oLast Saturday the annual festival of the Artists' General Benevolent Fund was held at the Freemasons' Tavern . Tho Right Hon . W . E . Gladstone presided , ancl the number of gentlemen present was about

Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

two hundred—a larger assemblage than has taken place for several years past . Tho company included Sir Charles Eastlake , Sir R . Murchison , the Earl of Stanhope , Charles Landseer , T . Creswick , F . Taylor , Mr . G . Hurlstone , and many other celebrities connected with the artistic world . The report stated that the income of the institution , which was founded in 1814 , amounted last year to . £ 1 , 893 , and the sum of £ 1 , 028 was distributed during that period among the widows ancl orphans of deceased

artists . Mr . Gladstone , it need hardly be said , received a most cordial welcome . His speech , on proposing the special toast of the evening ' , elicited fervent applause . He dwelt feelingly on the position of those whom it was tlie object of the institution to assist , and eloquently enlarged upon the elevating influences of art , the characteristics of its professors , and their peculiar claims on the sympathy and appreciation of the public . The right hou . gentleman ' s health , as chairman of the

evening , was proposed by Earl Stanhope , and appropriately responded to ; a variety of other toasts were , in the course of the evening , proposed aud acknowledged . The subscriptions , in the aggregate , amounted to about £ 750 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

<* . , [ T HE EDITOR does not bold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ' ] MASONIC CONDUCT . TO THE EDITOE 01 ? THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR .

DEAU SIR AND BROTHER , —Allow me to offer congratulations on the accession to your staff of some able and learned writers since the commencement of the present series of the Freemasons ' Magazine under its new form , by ivhose assistance j-ou are able to publish series of papers interesting not only to members of the Craft , but to all who take delig ht in tracing to their origin , in bygone agesmany of the influences which even at the present

, clay seriously affect mankind in an infinite variety of forms . Among these may especially be enumerated those on " Classical Theology ; " " Freemasonry and its Institutes ; " " Masterpieces of the Architecture of different Nations ; " to ivhich may be added sonic valuable selections from American writers , aud an original and most instructive lecture on "Ancient British History , " by Bro . G . II . Whalley , M . P . I frequently lend my copy to a

nonmasonic friend , a clergyman , who , though unwilling to concede all that I could wish as regards our Craft , is nevertheless able to peruse some of the articles with much pleasure , and to appreciate many of the beauties and advantages of our system . So much for your general , ancl , if I may so style them , unprofessional papers . Especially do I rejoice in the series—of which TSTo . o appeared in your last number—entitled" Cursory Remarks on Ereeinasonry . "

This is peculiarl y suitable , and ought to be eminently useful to the brethren , especially to those who have been recently initiated . I trust , therefore , that it will be continued , ad infinitum , in a variety of forms , even at the risk of some repetition , as there arc constant additions to the Craft of men who cannot but benefit bv

the passing hints you furnish , and who have not the time , opportunity , or inclination , to turn back to what has appeared before the commencement of their interest in the subject . I believe it is generally admitted that English Freemasons cannot lie considered as a reading class of men , of which , in many ways , others , in common with myself , have hacl good proof ; indeed some assert that even now too much is written upon the subject

of Freemasonry . For them this may be the case , for I think they will generall y be found to be mere ritualists , many of them , doubtless , charitable , well disposed men on the whole , willing to render support to our benevolent institutions , and assistance to distressed Freemasons , as well as to maintain good order and working in the Lodge , but fond of the dinner and of the sociability it induces , ivhich they regard as prominent features in the

advantages of the Craft . This is much to be deplored , and is most discouraging to such as have time and talent to devote to illustrations ancl expositions in especial works on the subject since , however disinterested they may be , they cannot bo expected to render themselves liable to pecuniary loss—a result which , excepting under peculiar circumstances , is almost sure to attend Masonic publications . Your oivn serial has been a case in pointthough

, it is manifestly much less liable to failure than other works , because so many Masons arc interested either in the dissemination or in the acquisition of a knowledge of passing Masonic events . This circumstance then offers a means of enforcing a due observance of our principles and practices on a large class of the brethren