Travelling Notes.

enough to ensure " an ample supply and quick , " on the part of theproviditor .

" Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love , But why did you keep the cold beef from us . " Belligerent rights would have been soon enforced against neutral rights , Avhen at length the tardy provisions came in sight . But every one was iu

a good humour and speedily forgot the defective commissariat department , remembering that it Avas much worse in the Crimea . Brother Binckes thought it necessary to apologise for these shortcomings , and washed his hands of cold lamb and

salad . The Avhole of the confusion , from first to last , seemed to arise from incomplete arrangements and undue haste , perhaps unavoidable . Certainly an immense amount of preparation had already been accomplished . Brother Binckes , the active ,

the laborious Secretary , must have slept with his harness buckled like the knights of old , but his energies were not used up , for , at the Banquet , on his health being proposed , in graceful terms with a Avell deserved eulogy , he had strength to

announce Avith the voice of Boanerges , that the aggregate amount collected and presented that day Avould fall little short of £ 6 , 500 towards £ 10 , 000 required to liquidate the cost of the building and fittings , and by the next Annual

Festival m March he hoped that not only Avould the Institution be free from debt , but the Treasurer Avould commence to re-invest the funds which had been drawn out . Certes , the Avorthy Secretary must have Gyges' ring , or the receipt of fern

seed , or some talisinanic influence , to extract contributions , for at the Annual Festival in March last I believe he collected no less than £ 4 , 600 . In the remote ages of my steAvardship £ 1 , 200 AA'as considered a large collection at the Festival .

After the banquet , Brother Manockjee Cursetjee , a well-informed Parsee , made some very appropriate observations on the objects and scope of Freemasonry , which Avere much applauded . A balloon Avas announced to ascend , but , like

the telegraphic despatches in the days before electricity careered along the wires , the ascent Avas interrupted by the state of the Aveather , and fortunately so , for in the afternoon the heavens were opened , and a storm ensued .

Thus came to an end a very pleasant day , and everybod y shook hands Avith everybody else . One word of recognition of the services continuall y rendered to the cause of Masonic Charity by those representative men and brothers who are

Travelling Notes.

always prominent Avhere the active exercise of benevolence is required ; I mean Bros . J . S . Hop-Avood , EdAvard Cox , William Toung , William Paas , and others , for it seems invidious to select among the many . Bros . B . Head and G . Creaton ,

and the embodiment of kindly feeling , Bro . John . Udall , must not be left out of the charitable host , or Bros . G . Cox and W . P . Scott ; to each and all of Avhom , on this special occasion , the hearty thanks of the Craft are due , for . their unwearied exertions to promote the success of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

The Convention Of French Masons.

THE CONVENTION OF FRENCH MASONS .

The "Legislative Assembly" of the French Order of Freemasons was held in Paris from tho Sth to the 10 th of June last , the object of the session being the appointment of a new Grand Master , in lieu of Bro . Marshal Magnan , deceased ,

aud the revision of the fundamental statute of the brotherhood : 240 lodges Avere represented by 218 delegates , mostly belonging to the high degrees , as denoted by their red and black ribbons , the modest " blue Masonry" being

entirely eclipsed . The following is an abstract of the transactions of the Assembly : — FIRST SITTING , JUNE 5 . —Formation of the

Divisions [ bureaux ) . —Nine divisions Avere formed , presided over respectively by Bros . Arronsohn , Heullant , Herniitte ( of Bordeaux ) , Marchal ( of Nancy ) , Massol , Laflise ( of Nancy ) , Andre Rousselle , Trouillc ( of Vienne ) , and Caubet .

A preliminary night sitting took place at Temple No . 2 , Bro . Massol -in the chair . Bro . Mittre ( of Marseilles ) Avished to come to an understanding -with those present as to the candidates to be proposed for Grand Master . The names of

Bros . Mellinet , Alfred Blanche , Prince Napoleon , and Regnault de St . Jean d'Angely were successively proposed . The meeting adjourned at 11 p . m .

SECOND SITTING , JUNE 6 . ( Bro . Lengle in the Chair . ) Bro . Massol moved the Assembly to resolve itself into committee to study the question of reform and name reporters . This motion Avas opposed by Bro . Hermitte , and negatived by 140

Noes to 79 Ayes . A discussion arose with reference to the first clause of the Constitution * Bro . Massol advocated the suppression of all and every religious affirmation at present embodied in the fundamental laAvs of the Order . Bros . Riband