Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

The foundation stone of a new Mechanics Institute at Stockport was laid by James Kershaw , Esq ., M . P . for the Borough , on Saturday last . The worship which is noiv generally offered to Tom Sayers is one of the sorrowful sights which the philanthropist is called upon to endure . We laugh at the simplicity ofthe poor felloiv who , having

travelled several miles to gladden his eyes with a sight of the " hero , " paid half-a-crown for the glass from which Tom hail drained off a drop of brandy ; ivhat are we to say , then , when we find a gifted bard like Gerald Massey prostituting his muse to write an ode to the prize-fighter ? " It was a gallant stand , Tom ;

Give us your hardy hand , Tom ; Eor love of the old land , Tom , "We grasp it with good will : Although you Heroes of the Fist , May tliink more of the golden grist You bring to such a mill . * ' 'Twas brave to see you dash onTom

, , And Avith your one arm lash on , Tom , In that true English fashion , Tom , Which never will wear out ; The only fashion that would do At Inkerman and Waterloo , And many a bloody bout . * ' Thro' all that punching time , Tom

, The big heart rode sublime , Tom , As we have seen it climb , Tom , On many famous fields : The temper beaten out with blows ; That when to give in never knows ; And so it never yields .

" Valour shall have its crown , Tom 1 In your plain way you ' ve shown , Tom , That we can hold our own , Tom , Against all comers still ; With not one feather of white in us ! But game , and lots of fight in us ; A heart and a half up hill .

" The belt ; with which ive are bound , Tom , Is yon blue Ocean round , Tom ; If any foe be found , Tom , Who thinks to take it—then , He must fight for it till all ' s dark ; And one shall go doivn red and stark , Never to rise again .

" We won our English land , Tom , And keep it hand to hand , Tom ; Like you at need can stand , Tom , Clench hands from shore to shore , And clasp it . Touch it ivboso dares ! Our England has ten thousand Sayers , And each as brave a Doer . "

An excellent likeness of our brother the Lord de Tabley , painted by F . Grant , E . A ., and which cost five hundred guineas , ivas presented to his Lordship , on the 6 th inst ., on the Eoodee , Chester , by the non-comniissioned ofiicers and privates of the Earl of Chester ' s regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry , who are at present up for their annual training , and of which regiment our noble brother is

Lieutenant-Colonel . His Lordship is represented in full uniform , and in the background are shown the troops drawn up in line , and his Lordship's horse held by an attendant . On a silver plate attached to the frame is the inscription : — " This portrait of the Ei ght Hon . George AVarren , Lord de Tabley , Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Earl of Chester's Yeomanry Cavalry , is presented to his Lordship by the non-commissioned officers and privates , as an

affectionate tribute to his valuable services for many years to the regiment , in maintaining its discipline , and preserving its harmony and fellowship . Juno 6 , 1 S 61 . " William Charles Macready , Esq ., has become president of tho fund noiv being raised for the purpose of erecting a national monument to Shakspere , to bo inaugurated at the Tricentenary of his birth , April 23 rd , 1861 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

BEO . LAWEENCE , SECOND BAEON DUNDAS . In THE MAGAZINE for October 15 th , 1859 , it is stated that" It is worthy of remark that his lordship's family have ever taken great interest in tho prosperity of the Craft , and that Lord Dundas , grandfather of the present Grand Master , was appointed Deputy Grand Master bhis Eoyal Hihness the Duke of Sussex

y g on the day of his first installation as Grand Master in succession to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent . Lord Dundas continued in that office until the 21 st of April , when he was succeeded by his son Lawrence , the second Lord Dundas . Upon his lordship going abroad , in 1822 , be was succeeded in his office by General Sir John Doyle . On the 27 th of April , 1825 , his lordship was appointed Deputy Grand Master , and continued to hold the office until the

30 th of April , 183-1 , when he was appointed Prov . Grand Master , which office he held until his death , in 1839—he having in the previous year been created Earl of Zetland . " Am I to understand by this that Bro . Lawrence , second Baron Dundas ( who in 1838 was created Earl of Zetland ) , was appointed Deputy Grand Master of English Ereemasons ; that he resigned the office in 1822 ; and was arjain appointed in 1825 ?—Bito . PETEE .

TUB 3 . IAEIC DEGEEE IN CANADA . Is the Mark Degree at present worked in Canada ? And , if so , is it acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of that colony?—GEORGE MAEKIIAM TWEDDELL . — [ It is acknowledged by tho Grand Chapter of Canada . ]

PROVINCIAL GEAND MASTEE . When , and-by whom , was the office of Provincial Grand Master first instituted ? And who wera the first Provincial Grand Masters ?—P . P . BEO . PETER LA 7 , LBEEI DE LINTOT . Can Bro . Matthew Cooke , whose highly interesting communication appears under fche above heading , inform ns the date when tho inventory was made , or the year when Bro . De Lintot died?— .

EETEE GOWEE . Who was the Peter Gower mentioned in the old MS . of the Bodleian library , printed by Preston ? Ifc seems ridiculous to suppose this name to bo a clerkly error for Pythagoras , as the notes led ono to infer . —0 . A .

NICHOLAS STONE ' S JISS . Is anything known of tho contents of Nicholas Stone ' s Masonic MSS . which were burnt in 1720 ? The aforesaid brother was Warden to Inigo Jones , Grand Master from 16 ' 07-lS . —A . C . E . ST . 3 IAEY-LE-STEAND CHURCH . This church , designed by Bro . Gibbs , is said to have been

built by Ereemasons . Certain ifc is thafc the first stone was laid by the Craftsmen in the presence of the Bishop of Salisbury , on March 19 th , 1721 . Is there any engraving extant of this ceremony ?—HENEY B .

BEO . DE . EAWLINSON . Some doubt has been expressed as to Dr . Eawlinson having belonged to the Craft-. To thoso who are sceptical on the point , I beg to say that Eichard Eawlinson , LL . D ., and F . U . S ., was one of the Stewards at the Grand Feast , hold at Mercers' Hall , on the 30 th of March , 1734 . —Ex . Ex .

BEO . THE HON . AND EEV . GODFEEY DAWNAY . Of what family was tho Honourable and Eoverend Godfrey Dawnay , a brother in 17-11 . —fit-CHAl'T APRONS LINED WITH BLUE . When , and under what authority , did the practice commence of aprons being lined with blue as at present ? Late

in the last century " the members of particular lodges , if they choose to line ' their white leather aprons , are to do it wifch white silk ; and the officers aro to wear their jewels pendant to white only . " Which were the particular lodges so permitted to indulge in white , and is such a thing ever seen now as a white collar to which is attached a jewel ?—COSTUMIER .