Masonic Facts.

In reparacione instrumentorum cementariorum cum aliss neeessariis de ferro factis per Johannem Harp ham fabrum , per annum , £ 4 12 s . 205 . The following is a list of Mater Masons at York Cathedral , during the 14 th cent . Magister Simon le Masoundied 1322

, „ Thomas Londham admitted Feb . 8 1347 „ Thomas dePacenham orPatenham „ William de Hoton , Sen . „ William cle Hoton Jun 1351 Eobert de Patrington 1368-1371 " ., Hugh de Hedon 1399

A Ramble Through Lincoln's Inn.

A RAMBLE THROUGH LINCOLN'S INN .

It is a remarkable feature of London how much in special districts different classes and pursuits are concentrated . "We haA-e an artist ' s district , a theatrical district , a district for foreigners , a Aveaver ' s district ; and other crafts have their peculiar places of abode in which they congregate . In Kensington , at the time of the taking of the last census , there resided , all persons

over twenty years of age , male and female , of the professional classes and of clergymen , barristers , solicitors , physicians , surgeons , authors , editors , painters , architects , men of science , music , school , and other masters , 3103 , in a population of 73 , 205 ; the number in every thousand being 42 ' 4 . At Whitechapel , in a population of 45988 of the some class of personsthere Avere onl

, , y 381 persons , —8 " 3 in each thousand of the population , — of the above class , and a large portion of those would , be medical men . In Eofcherhifcho there are only three barristers and solicitors ; in Kensington there reside a powerful army of 722 . The total number of those professional persons within the metropolitan limits Avas over 47 , 000 , and they constitute nearly cue-fifth of the

entire intellectual class distributed throughout Great Britain . Of these there are 5863 lawyers , 5631 doctors ' 2393 clergymen and ministers , and 11 , 210 subordinates " ' making altogether 22 , 097 persons belonging to tho learned professions , besides persons not generally recognised as of the above class , of Avhom there ivere 1195 literary men 17241 teachers 156 professors of sciences

, , , , and 4057 artists and architects . Ab the present time there is an average of more than 50 , 000 persons , the chief portion of them devoted to mental and intellectual pursuits . Varied and marked are the different localities AA'hich

the chief bulk of tho Londoners , ivith both brain and hands , occupy for tho purpose of residence , or for carrying on business . None of these , koAvei r er , are more remarkable than the inns of law , which stretch , Avith but little interruption , from Gray ' s-inn-Ianc to tho Temple . In tho Temple , in Gray's Inn , Lincoln ' s Inn , ]? urnival ' s Inn , Staple Iun , Serjeant's Inn , Clifford ' s Inn , Clement ' s

Inn , Lyon ' s Inn , _ Symond ' s Inn , Barnard's Iun , and Thavies Inn , and in the streets and passages adjoining , are carried on the chief operations of tho English laiv , and although its dignity is undoubted , there is carried on within this small but important district of tho metropolis a vast amount of loiv and knavish practice . Quaint and dingy-looking , and in several instances

without any architectural features of note , are those precincts in Avhich , in the midst of the roar and bustle of the City , a sort of monastic silence reigns . In most , even of the smallest there arc trees and other attempts at greenery , Avhich look pleasant in their season . In the buildings of most of the Inns of law , as in tho chapels and halls , there are subjects of interest , Avhich , although of no great age , would repay the visit of tho antiquary : there are heraldic windows , memorials of

A Ramble Through Lincoln's Inn.

departed lawyers , furniture , and other matters of past times ; and it is not unpleasant , when leisure allows , to stop aside from the crowded thoroughfares into those sanctums of the law;—from Chancery-lane , for instance , to Lincoln's-inn , where the Lord Chancellor of England may be seen sitting , with the mace and great seal of the kingdom before himand surrounded by his officers and

, some of the most cunning in this formidable department of the law . There are also the Courts of the Yice-Chancellors , and other judges—generally , in the interiors , of indifferent Tudor design , but wanting in stately or noble appearance . They are also inconvenient , and not too well-ventilated ; although , next after the places of reliionthose in which justice is administered should

g , be most cared for . If the interiors of the courts of Lincoln ' s-inn are deficient of good appearance and state , the exteriors are much worse : chvarfed and miserable they look , even in contrast with the Tudor entrance from Chancery-lane . "We will , hoivover , walk to a more pleasant portion of this inn , and look with pleasure at the turreted entrance from Lincoln ' s-inn-fieldswhich has

, been improved by tho footpath now running round the railings of the enclosure , —an example of ivhich might be usefully followed in other squares of the metropolis . Some of the stone devices of this gateway are admirably designed and executed ; the fine new hall , library , & c , form a structure creditable to the skill of this age ; but marks of decay in the stonework are already evident .

The gardens surrounding tho hall , the terraces , trees , flowers , and green slopes of lawn , are pleasant to look on . Stone-buildings , which abut upon part of this green , with its long range of rusticated basement , Grecian capitals , and other good features , are remarkable for their extent and someivhat stately appearance . The part below Avhat should have been the actual base is of unsightly

brickwork ; the ground which shows this , however , has been sloised away for the purpose of supplying- light and air to the lower chambers -. this is necessary from the bottom to the top of this great building : busy ivork is here going on ; and in all directions may be seen bewildering piles of papers and parchments . Much care has evidently been taken here of the vegetation ; ancl it

is pleasant to see the daisies , in such a situation , growing amongst the grass . Old-buildings , ivhich reach southward from Stonebuildings to a considerable distance , contrast with Stonebuildings and the IsTew Hall : here in parts , the gables , highly-pitched roof , and diamonded brickwork , show that they aro as old as the gateway in Chancery-lane : some

of the leadened glazings of the windoivs still remain : there are , however , evidences of extensive alterations which have been made , probably soon after the time of the Great Eire : in parts the lead frames have been replaced by those of thick ancl heavy woodivork . On one of the buildings is a sun-dial , of bold proportions and design , on which is

inscribed"T . B , t Hon W . P . 1794 . Cua redit nescilis Iloram . " This has been restored in 1848 . In the pediment at the top is a shield of arms .

There is another sun-dial on which is inscribed" T . W . S . 1840 . " And the motto , " Fo ; hoc momenta Pendet JEternitis . " In part of Old-buildings the doomed

bell-towersur-, mounted by a vane of good iron work , the gables , chimneys of strange shapes , the uncouth devices of the smoke doctor , who seems to have been kept in good practice in all parts of this inn , present an appearance Avhich cannot be considered either picturesque or beautiful .