Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

lation among official people only . All reasons for keeping tho report secret being now deemed at an end . it will be forthwith published . The volume is entitled a Precis of the Wars in Canada from 1755 to the treaty of Ghent iu \ Sl 4 , wilh Military . i and Political Reflections . The Right Hon . Joseph Napier continues his weekly lectures

on Butler ' s Analogy , to the Dublin Young Men ' s Christian Association , meeting with them an hour before the lecture to talk over the one of the proceeding week . The Athenceum announces that M . Gachard , keeper of the state archives of Belgium , has published a catalogue of the letters and documents , in . French , iu the legacy of Cardinal GranveUa ,

of Madrid . These papers on the history of the Netherlands , Burgundy , Prance , England , Scotland , and Switzerland , are another treasure from the archives of Simancas . The library of Besancon , is in possession of important documents by Cardinal Granvella , referring to the history of the Netherlands ; these have been collected by Abbe Boisot . "

The importance of consolidating and improving the management of the British Mnseuni by making it more responsible has often been discussed , and there seems some likelihood of this being realised . It has hitherto escaped public notice that at the end of the last session of Parliament Lord Henry Lennox , ivho had made himself master of the National Gallery question , and

successfully prevented further expenditure in temporary patchwork of the edifice , gave notice of his intention to bring before the House of Commons the importance of insuring a Parliamentary responsibility for the expenditure of public money hitherto entrusted to trustees of various institutions . He specified in his notice the British Museum , where Parliament contributes about twenty times the amount which the trustees hold as a private

corporation ; also the National Gallery , where the management is divided between the Treasury and the trustees ; also the National Portrait Gallery , where the same system obtains . The year of the International Exhibition is particularly appropriate for the discussion of subjects of science and arfc ; and it is to be hoped that the House will apply some remedy to our present

system . The first step in any reform is to ensure the greatest responsibility , and , in the words of John Stuart Mill , make it " apparent to all the world who did everything , and through whose default anything was left undone . " The Critic says the splendid library of the Middle Temple , it is saicl , has recently shown an ominous crack in its walls , which

is considered to be caused by some defects in the foundation . It may prove of small consequence , and be easily remedied ; but any such flaw in the settlements must be regarded with serious interest by the Templars , and , indeed , by all who admire the Eoble structure .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . THE HAETLEY COLLIERY ACCIDENT . TO THE EDITOR OP THE EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC HIREOR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —I fully approve of the plan

proposed by your worthy correspondent " Shilling , " but I beg to rectify an error he has been led into- The nearest lodge to the accident is Blagdon Lodge ( JSTo . 957 ) , at Blyth , Northumberland , ancl not St . . Hilda ' s Lodge , South Shields . However , ' if tho money is collected there will be no difficulty to get it sent to the Committee of the Hartley Eund of this toAvn . Any

Correspondence.

member of the Craffc , or any Provincial Grand Officer of Northumberland will be very happy to hand it to the committee . In the meanwhile I cannot but thank tho worthybrother for his suggestion , and I am sure that everyone of the recipients of this bounty will bo mosfc grateful to any addition to tho fundlet it come in pounds or

, shillings , or oven pence . I am , dear Sir and Bro ., yours fraternally , YOUE NOETHEEN COEEESPONDENT . Newcastle-on-Tyne , Eeb . 3 , 186 * 2 .

The Late Earl Of Eglinton.

THE LATE EARL OF EGLINTON .

TO THE EDTIOR OE THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sin . —In the newspaper reports of the festival held the other day by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , the name of the late Earl of Eglinton appears among those of brethren whose loss Craftsmen have recently been called upon to deplore . Bro . Dr . Pritchard labours under a misapprehension Avhen he supposes that Lord

Eglinton was a member of the Order . Such was not the case , although he would have been both an honour and an ornament to it . But that his lordship felt interested in Ereemasonry is evidenced bj ^ his having last year presented to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , through the Depute Grand Master , Bro . J . Whyte Melville , a copy of "The Memorials of the Montgomeries , Earls of

Eglinton , " in two handsome 4 vo . volumes , containing some interesting records of the Scottish Craft , and for which the noble Earl received the thanks of the Grand Lodgo . Yours Fraternally , D . MUEEAY LYON . Ayr , Jan . 31 , 1862 . Prov . J . G . W . Ayrshire .

The Charities.

THE CHARITIES .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE EREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Shall I be considered Utopian if , looking somewhat beyond the present ken , I submit—in a rough and unpolished state 'tis truesome notions with regard to our charitable institutions , of which , strive as I will , I cannot divest myself , and which , I have no doubt , I shall live to see accomplished in

some shape or other , provided only that my thread of life bo not prematurely snapped ? Shall I be " written down" as a discontented specimen of the manvais sujet if I venture to urge thafc theselnsfcitutions—I speak more particularly of the Schools—are nofc quite and altogether Avhat they might be , being deficient in accommodation ( the Boys' School sadly so ) , when the

demands upon their resources are considered , and susceptible of considerable improvement , though of late years much in the right direction has been accomplished . Shall I be condemned as less than truthful if I assert thafc the Craft , as a body , is only just being awakened to a sense of its duty in regard to those claimants on its aid and support ? This is my conviction , founded on my

experience ! In hoAV many fertile and beautiful valleys , hitherto uncultivated , are not those who have ploughed and sown already reaping a reAA'ard ? On the sands of how many hitherto arid deserts are nofc the dry bones rapidly quickening into life ? My enquiries lead me to believe that those things are so , and if so , what inducement to further labour ?

Have I not been informed that the largest number of certificates ever issued were sent from tho Grand Secretary ' s office during tho last year ? I do not say that Masonry ever was so insignificant as tho grain of mustard seed , bnfc surely ifc is rapidly becoming a tree beneath whose ample shado nofc only is pleasurable enjoyment to be found by those who share the smiles of Fortune , but amid whose protecting boughs the aged may find shelter and the young protection ; within whose