A Run To The Lakes: Borrowdale.

that , when compared with the rudd y complexions of the Southern peasantry , the laboratory people are , as it were , blanched and etiolated . Although the death-rate of Cumberland is lower than that of England aud Wales ( 21 ) , yet when we consider its sparse population it is relatively hi g h . As far as our limited means of observation served

us , we never saw a population among the lower classes so temperate and frugal in their habits . Indeed , it occurred to us once or twice , that they possibl y " err on the safe side" in this direction ; since we could scarcely conceive of a district in which a proper allowance of good cheer would be attended with so beneficial an effect . Their

cottages are rapidly improving in construction , through the spirited competition of the landed proprietors . But there are still too many of the old-fashioned diminutive , ill-li g hted , ancl uncomfortable habitations in the district . Some of the farm houses are even worse off than the labourers '

cottages . A great many in the neighbourhood of Bassenthwaite ancl Threlkeld bear on their antique lintels dates varying from 1668 to 1724 ; and are constructed on the ground-floors with low oblonglattices , ancl in the upper rooms , with openings about 2 ^ ft . square . It is strange , in a climate where

sunlight is so valuable , that it should be often so ] 3 ersistently shut out ! For the rest there is plenty of fresh air and pure water in the district ; ancl were it not for the natural drawbacks we have referred to , one could scarcely imagine " a better land , " as Mrs . Hainan sings . But even

in these natural circumstances it is p leasing to report a gradual and silent improvement . The snow in winter no longer lies six months on the hills : it is seldom more than two , ancl never exceeds three even at the greatest altitudes . Sometimes in a mild winter there is- no snow seen on the hills at

all . The steady progress of agriculture , ancl particularly of the drainage of the land , has exercised a prodigious influence in clearing the valleys of surplus water ; ancl the rain-fall , it must be observed , is decreasing , except at one or two remote heights . Whether it be that the principle of amelioration which ori g inally reduced the horrible terrestrial convulsions which ive see around to an

equipoise , and produced those scenes of beauty and grandeur , which we all admire , from their very ashes . Whether this princi p le is still at work it would be difficult , and perhaps impossible , to decide ; but there cannot be a shadow of doubt that , from whatever cause , the lakes are rising

perceptibly in the necessary conditions of public health . ( To be continued . )

Ar00801

" FIDEIIO" in English will form a feature at both Opera Houses this winter . In this event we do hope a better translation will be found than at present published . Beethoven set German words ; then a wretched Italian libretto was made ; and from that a still more vague and indifferent Englisb version . In the name of all that is fair and honest to Beethoven ' s fame , let us have English words that convey the sense that the master set . Let this be seen to . — Orchestra .

Masonic N0tes And Queries.

MASONIC N 0 TES AND QUERIES .

A HINT TO ItASOKIC PEOFESSIONALS . Having had some Indian newspapers sent me , I wasamused "b y the following , which I send you , to use or destroy at your discretion , thinking it may prove a . valuable hint to some of our professional brethren . — EDW . C , P . M .

TOW !? HALL , BOMBAY . THURSDAY EVENING , APRIL 30 rn , 1863 ; GRAND COMPLIMENTARY BENEFIT TO THE SAIST FRANCISCO MINSTRELS '

BY THE MASONIC FRATERNITY OP BOMBAY . Tho San Francisco Minstrels have much- pleasure inlaying before the public of Bombay the following correspondence : —

To the San Francisco Minstrels . Tho Sons of Light having , by those means so well , known to the Graft , discovered the Masonic radiance in . the countenances of live of the Sons of Harmony , even through tho darkness in -which their countenances arewont to be enveloped , hail them as brethren of themystic tie , and request that they will favour Bombay

with at least one more musical treat before they migrateto other lands , and that , with the readiness to please ,, which has made them so eminently successful , they will give that entertainment in the Town Hall . GEORGE TAYLOR , Prov . G . M . of Bombay . G . S . JUDGE , D . Prov . G . M . of Bombay ,. and W . M . to Lodge of Truth .

W . TREVOR EorEii , AV . M . Lodge of St .. George . ALFRED KING , W . M . Lodge of Concord . Bombay , April 16 th .

To George Taylor . Esq ., Prov . G . M . of Bombay . „ G . S . Judge , D . Prov . G . M . of Bombay , and W . M . to- . Lodge of Truth . „ W . Trevor Roper , W . M . Lodge St . George . „ Alfred King , W . M . Lodge of Concord . BiiETin-EX , —Yours of the 16 th inst ., requesting us toive an . entertainment at the Town Hall before our

deparg ture from Bombay , has just been received , and in reply beg to thank you most sincerely for the kind interest 3 ou have shown us during our stay in this city , and also for this further proof of your brotherly regard . We have , therefore , great pleasure in naming Thursday evening , April 30 th , for the proposed Concert . We have the honour to remain ,

Dear Sirs and Brethren , Yours fraternally , J . 0 . PIERCE , DJ \ . VE CARSON , T . P . BROWEK , L . P . PALIS , of the San Prancisco Minstrels .. Adelphi Hotel , 18 fch April , 1863 .

MASONIC ANECDOTES . ( From tlie Masonic Record of Western India . ) SiGSOit CKUDELI , a Mason , was imprisoned afc . Florence , by the Inquisition , aud suffered the most unmerited cruelties for maintaining the innocence of the association . "When the Grand Lodge of England was informed of his miserable situation , they recollected that a foreigner , however low his rank , and however