China.

CHINA .

LONDON , SATURDAY , APRIL 8 , 1865 .

The last mail from China lias brought home a highly-valued member of the Craft—Bro . Eawson , Past Provincial Grand Master Provincial Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch ; and Provincial Grand Commander of Knights Templar .

It is now more than twenty years since Bro . Pawson first began to exercise an active part in Freemasonry in China , and we believe he has now taken of the brethren his farewell—at least , for some time to come . The record of the

jDroceedings at that farewell , which we publish from the jjen of our Special Correspondent in another column , shows how highly esteemed Bro . Eawson is amongst the brethren with whom it has been his lot to serve , ancl how they iu some measure

regret his departure from amongst them . We say in some measure , for however they may regret the loss of a brother and friend , the brethren cannot but feel that no better reason for the return of

Bro . Eawson to his native land could be found than the performance of the filial duty to soothe the declining * years of his aged mother . Let us hope that there may yet be many years of happiness in store for the lady and that the son may

not only contribute too , but share in , that happiness . The return of Bro . Eawson to England may , and we hope it will , materially contribute to the interests of the Craft in - China . He will be

enabled to point out to the Most Worshipful Grand Master , from practical knowledge , of what little utility a Provincial Grand Lodge in Hong Kong is to the brethren of Shanghai and the surrounding districts , and the advantages which

would accrue to the Craft by the constitution of another Provincial Grand district , as , should that not be done , it is clear that , ere long , there will be so many different jurisdictions in the district as to lead to confusion . Already have American

and Scotch lodges been established , and Irish are talked of ; and should not something be clone to join the brethren closer together , before many years are past we may witness the establishment of an independent Grand Lodge , and that merely

because the home authorities have some crotchet as to the number of lodges which are necessary to constitute a Provincial Grand district , and decline to give the advantages of Provincial government

in Shanghai , because the number of lodges in

China.

Hong Kong , the seat of the present Provincial Grand Lodge , are too few to sustain the honour . If that be the case , it may be a good reason for transferringthe Provincial Grand Lodge from Hong-Kong to Shanghai ; but it is certainly none for

depriving * the brethren of Shanghai of the privilege they claim . The truth is , we believe , there is ample room for the two Provincial Grand Lodges , and each would contribute to the prosperity of the other .

Bro . Eawson will be enabled from his position to fully explain the views of the brethren in China upon the subject , ancl we trust ere long one of the fruits of his return home will be the satisfying the just demand of our brethren in Shanghai . In the

meantime , all who know Bro . Eawson will be glad to welcome him home , ancl all will join in the wish that he may long * enjoy " the comfort and repose he has so weil ancl nobly earned . "

Archæologic Items From Rome.

ARCH ? OLOGIC ITEMS FROM ROME .

The first impression of Eome received by the traveller who approaches by the new railway lines that sweep round , the southern , circuit of walls from the Tiber to the breach made in those batllemented structures for the railway ingress near the Diocletian Thermae , is striking , and in some degree novel ,,

even for those familiar with the local aspects . So contrasted indeed is this city with other Italian capitals—in some respects so inferior as to refinement , comforts , civilisation , in others so uniquely and nobly distinguished—that one feels her outward physiognomy to be exceptional , strangely individualised as is her political destiny .

The resources of the Papal Government are even with the unfailing auxiliar of the "Peter Pence , " reduced to lamentable insufficiency ; yet the vigour with which public works , and restorations of the antique , have been carried on during the years ensuing since the dismemberment of

these states , has been beyond the expectations even of friends , if not quite up to the level of deserts inferable from reports that always , in this quarter , partake of the grandiloquent , and almost always exaggerate . One result of the absolute denial of liberty to the' press isthat its official

, organs cannot be trusted in regard to any claims on the gratitude or approval which may , or may not , be merited by authorities from a public only informed within certain limits of truth . The report lately published by the Ministry of Commerce , Pine Arts , and Public Works respecting *

restorations of monuments and civic improvements , from the beginning of 1859 to the end of 1864 , though on the whole satisfactory , indeed honourable to this Government , is of a nature to raise ideas beyond realities , and is drawn up with