Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

of his "favourite liar and servant "—turned him adrift , as he rightly deserved , according to the irritated author ' s version of the story , and we shall probably never hear the other—why rush into print about it ? AVe have alwayspitied those would-be-ladies , who , when they meet together , have no higher theme for conservation than the doings of their servants . Thackeray shows no better taste in

the paragraphs we have quoted . He may he all the soul of goodness he there paints himself ; but we fancy that he would have " cut up , " without remorse , any of the humourists of the eighteenth century who had indulged in such garrulous self-laudation .

A Ctiiide to the Art of Illuminating and Missal Painting , by AA and G . Audsley , architects , has recently been issued , in which they remark : — " The great principle in all decorative ornamental art is conventionalism ; and it must be followed in illumination , or failure is certain . The most brilliant period of art in any nation's history was when conventionalism was most strictly adhered to , both in design and colouring—the most certain sign of decay , when natural

forms were copied , and nature ' s pervading hue most liberally used . It is a fact worty of remark , that the frequent use of green in decorative works has ever heralded a prostration of decay in art . Our readers must not think that we countenance a decided departure from the laws and forms of nature ; conventionalism can only be worthy in proportion as it adheres to those laws which govern the vast empire of the visible world . In illumination , it is imperative on us to have resort to conventional ornament in all designs , great

or small ; for , whenever we observe natural forms depicted , we likewise observe poverty of design—au attempt ending in a failure . It may appear strange and contradictory on our part , after what we have said , that , should we be asked by the eager student where and from what source may conventionalism be studied , we should tell him that nature must be his school , from it he must ever derive inspirations—yet so it is . Conventional art is founded upon natural laws and natural forms ; the former cannot in any way be departed from with impunity . It must be obvious to every one

that two leaves growing from one stalk , yet starting from that stalk in opposite directions , would be quite absurd and hideous , be they natural leaves or conventional ones . But suppose the leaves to be conventionalised , ancl placed true to nature as regards their connection with the stem , the result would be a pleasing conventional composition , true to nature's laws . It is somewhat difficult to describe what is meant by conventionalism . It may be said to be a departure from the detail and treatment of the natural

form it expresses or embodies—a formal ancl severe treatment of nature's free and ever-changing forms . Conventional art aims not atcopyism ; while its greatest strength exists in expression and symbolism . In conventional ornament , the greatest display of colour may he indulged in . Having no copy to chain us down , we need only he governed by the laws of harmony and contrast . The inventive powers are also brought into play of conventional art , while they become cramped and torpid , if naturalism be alone

restored to . In all the illuminated works of the best periods , and indeed all prior to the 15 th century , conventional forms were almost entirely employed , while from that date , decay is to be observed proportionate to the amount of realism infused into the designs which decorate the manuscripts . Let us impress our readers with the fact that no success can ever attend an illumination if it professes to imitate natural forms ; it is not possible for it ever to be considered other than an attempt , and as such it must be a failure . "

The Rev . C . B . Gibson , in the first volume of his History of ihe County and City of Corli , just published , gives the following account of the present state of Kilcolman Castle , once the unfortunate property and residence of Edmund Spenser , the great English poet : — " It stands on the side of a small hill , about two miles from the town of Doneraile , and eight from Mallow . The

castle is clothed with ivy to the top of the tower—the only tower which now stands , and which is about forty feet high . Among the ivy , points out here and there , the friendly looking little flower , ' forget-me-not . ' Judging from the few names inscribed on the old stones , I should conclude the ruin is very seldom visited by strangers , or indeed by any one . The district

around is greatly impoverished . Near the base of tho castle is a stagnant lake , and on the margin of the lake stand a few desolate cabins . The people living on the estate and in the neighbourhood appear never to have heard of the poet ' s name . " Of the ignorance of Spenser's name amongst both the English ancl Irish peasantry generally , unfortunately , there is no room to doubt ; hut we trust

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

that the bulk of the pilgrims to our historic sites do not belong to what Proletarious terms " that despicable class of visitors who carve out the dimensions of their vile hands ancl feet on the leads of our cathedrals , and disfigure our ancient ruins with their ignoble names , " and for whom he prescribes the better employment of teasing oakum . Mr . Henry Arthur Tilley does not appear to be very sanguine of

our driving much trade with Japan , judging from the following extract from his Japan , the Amoor , and the Pacific , recently published : — " The great hope of political economists in looking towards this country was that the cottons ancl woollens of England would find purchasers among the thirty or foity millions of its people ; but it is a hope not at all likely to be fulfilled ; for what has Japan to give in exchange ? She cannot furnish those two

important commodities which China does—raw silk ancl tea—in themselves more than sufficient to balance the imports of our manufactured goods . She has now no abundant supply of the precious metals , apparently not enough to maintain the currency of the country , and the produce of her soil cm only be very little over and above her own consumption . Besides , as I before said , the Japanese have their own cottons and linens , cheap and abundant

and their thick wadded cottons are used in the place of woollen garments . Japan has probably in the bowels of her mountains wealth enough to balance almost any amount of importation , but that wealth can never be available until European art assist Japanese industry in working the rich mines , which , though said to be nearly exhausted , are probably only so in relation to the imperfect way hi which they are worked . Free trade , free intercourse , and time will alone show how far this country can answer the country answer the

expectatations which have been formed ; the people , it is true , are willing , but the government is averse to such a state of affairs , ancl it will only be when the same policy has been enacted against it as against China , that there can be any chance of success . But the interests at stake in Japan are trifling compared with those connected with China ; and even though compulsion were crowned with success , the object attained would not be found to compensate for cost of securing it . The only real benefit of the

treatiesthere-, fore , is the opening of ports in various parts of the empire , where ships , ancl especially whalers , can refit and victual in safety . Of these there are at present five—Nangasaki , Hakodadi , Simoda , Yokohama , and Nee-e-ga-ta . The latter , however , not being a safe anchorage , and having a shallow bar at the entrance , is to be . changed for another more suitable . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents CANDIDATES UNDER AGE . TO THE liDITOIt OE TJIE FltEEJIASOXS 2 IAGAZIXE AND JIASOJ'IC MIEROE . DEAR . SIE . AND BEOTUEK , —Let me remind your correspondent , " Verex " that coarse language and invective does not constitute a gentlemanancl that if I were to repl

, y that the falsity is on his side , it would be but meeting his own observations . I beg however , to assure him that I am perfectly conversant with the Book of Constitutions , as well as our traditional customs and ceremonies , ( of which he seems to be utterly ignorant ) , and again assert , that to " initiate candidates under the age of twenty-one years , unless duly qualified , " ( i . e . unless he be a " Lewis / ' ) is

decidedly wrong and unconstitutional , and at variance with what we are taught in our ceremonies and lectures . " "V erex" may probably be a Provincial Grand Master , who having done wrong , is desirous of defending himself by a legal cpdbblo . If I am right in my conjecture , I know him well , ancl believe him to be well disposed , although , somewhat egotistical , and shall adopt his recommendation

and " attend to my oivn duties , " ancl not shrink from a comparison of our relative positions and credibility if in the discharge of these' duties I should have occasion to cite him before the Grand Lodge . Let me refer " Verex" to the { . Freemasons Quarterly Review for 184 .-9 , page 369 , where he will find that the M . AA . G . M ., the late Duke of Sussex was indisposed to the introduction of very young men as

members of our Order , even in the case of a " Lewis , " but it seems that the opinion and authority of "Verex" is in his own conceit , much greater than that which I have named . Tho Craft , however , will no doubt decide as to who is right . Yours fraternally , VEKITAS . Gravesend , July 9 .