Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

and alarmed , saw France and her ruler in anew light . At the sound of the fusillade of Alncennes , Prussia , who had formed a solemn alliance with France , drew back , became silent , and renounced au intimacy that had ceased to be honourable ., Austria , more calculating , made no display of feeling , but profited the opportunity to keep no measure in the execution of the reeez of 1803 . The young Emperor of Russia , Alexander , honest , and full of honour , alone daredas a guarantee of the Germanic Constitutionto

de-, , mand an explanation of the violation of the Baden territory . Napoleon replied by an insulting allusion to the death of Bins I . The Czar held his peace , wounded to the heart , and determined to avenge the insult . Thus Prussia , chilled in friendship—Austria encouraged in her excesses—Russia insulted—all became auxiliary , from different motives , to the commencement of our struggle with England . "

In the recently , issued-Travels and Adventures of the Rev . Joseph Wolff , p . D ., LL . L ) ., the Oriental missionary traveller , Ave have the following amusing anecdotes of our late gallant brother , General Sir Charles Napier . The Doctor being in quarantine , Sir Charles says to him : — " I shall come to-morrow with the Jews and Greeks , to whom you may preach . You may tell them that there is no difference between Jew and Greek—for they are both rogues alike 1 "

Sir Charles was , nevertheless , a great lover and friend of the Greeks . 'Next day he actually came ivith a great crowd of both Jews and Greeks , and said , " Now ! here I am come to stand by you . If you cannot convert them , they shall get a d d licking ! " AYolff reproved Napier for swearing , to which he answered , "I deserve the reproof , for I swear like a trooper . " But notwithstanding our gallant brother's bad habit of swearing , he had a heart in ivhich flourished many Masonic virtues : —

" However , in spite of that , he gave AA olff six days' grace , and took him into his house ; and AA ' olff maintains that he never in his life saw a more affectionate father and tender husband , or a man who set a better example by having daily family prayers in his home ; and , on Sundays , AVolff held Divine service and preached 'there . For Sir Charles assembled in his house all the Jews , and to those Avho knew how to read he gave the Bible . One of the Jews Avanted a Bible . Sir Charles Napier immediately asked— ' Do you

know how to read ? ' The Jew said ' yes . ' Sir Charles Napier then said , 'Read , ' and put a Bible into his hand . But the man did not know IIOAV to read , on which Sir Charles Napier exclaimed , ' I have a good mind to give you a d d licking !—the soundest licking you ei-er got . '"

The author of A Summer Ramble in the Himalayas gives the following description of a singular tight-rope performance of ivhich he was a witness iu Upper India : — "At one village I delayed the camp half the day toAvitness an extraordinary performance , which deserves describing in detail . It consisted of a man sliding down a rope nearly half a mile in length , and is called in local parlance a hurt . The rope extended from an eminence on the hill side above

the village , over a ravine and down to a green knoll in the fields below , and ivas drawn as tight as several hundred men with their united strength could effect . They had just finished stretching it Allien we arrived , and I could scarcely believe a man was actually going to slide down it , the feat appeared so utterly impracticable with any chance of safety . Imagine a rojie extending from the top of a rock at least 500 ft . high , to a pole some 2000 ft . from its

base , and some idea may be formed of the undertaking . A great concourse of people of both sexes ivere assembled , all in their holiday garb , and the man ivho was to slide Avas swinging round at the end of along plank fixed on an upright pole as a pivot . Every few moments he called some person amongst the crowd by name , and swinging round several times to the individual's honour , received from him a trifling gratuity . He no sooner noticed me than I was included in this category , and being told it ivas in no

way a religions ceremony , ! gave him a rupee . When this was over , he was escorted to the eminence above , amidst the loud lamentations of his family , and the discordant music of the village band . AVitls the glass I saw him placed on a kind of saddle on the rope , two individuals busied fastening something to his legs , ivhich I saw afterwards were bags filled with earth . The spectators , amongst Avhom I stood , were assembled in groups near the pole to ivhich the lower end of the was attachedall intentlivatching for the

rope , y descent . Presently he ivas let go , and came down several hundred yards with terrible velocity , a stream of smoke following in his wake . Ashe approached us , the incline beinggradually diminished , his career Avas less rapid , and became slower and slower towards the end , where the rope being sufficiently near the ground he was taken down , amidst the shouts and congratulations ofthe villagers . The ride , ivhich was over in few moments , did not appear to have at all distressed him " .

Poetry.

Poetry .

MASONIC ODE . BY BRO . G . M . PASSEXG _ ,-AA . M . No . 152 . In days of old , the Mason ' s hand Did high on Mount Moriah raise A temple , solemn , vast , and grand , To echo forth his Master's praise .

So let each hand and heart unite , To raise a superstructure here Of goodness , till the sons of light Shall everlasting wisdom share . Great architect and God divine , Rend thou the veil of passion's right ;

In truth and love each heart enshrine , And robe in universal light , Each child of earth , till Adam's seed , From strife shall cease , and fruitful toil , To ev'ry colour , clime , and creed , Bring peace and plenty , wine , and oil . And Avhen this templeformed by Thee

, , Shall fling its portals open ivide ; And this poor erring spirit flee , To seek what Thou dost wisely hide ; Free and accepted may ive prove , As at Thy throne Ave suppliant wait , And stand in Thy grand lodge above , Our last sublime degree to take .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

L TIIE EDITOR does not hold himself responsible for any opinionentertained by Correspondents . ] LODGE ALMONERS . TO THE IDITOH ' Or- THE E 11 EE 3 IASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MMItOH . SIR AND BROTHER , —A short time ago , I think , a letter

appeared in the MAGAZINE from a brother who wished to know AA-hat lodges had an officer specially appointed to dispense the charity of his lodge to such strange brethren as might proA-e themselves reall } to need and deserve such assistance . The AViltshirc Lodge of Fidelity , No . 9 bl , Devizes , has for some time had such an officer ; and , a few months ago , the brethren of that lodge adopted , at my

suggestion , a plan AA-bich I think might be advantageously carried out in many other places . Every member is supplied Avith some printed cards ( one of Avhich I enclose ) , addressed to the Almoner , Avith blank spaces for a signature , date , anci tho name of the applicant . On being applied to for relief , the brother has only to fill up a card , give it to the person ling for assistanceand refer him to the Almoner ,

appy , Avhose duty it then is , after due examination , to give such aid as is required by the exigency of tho case , and permitted by the state of the lodge funds . The applicant has to ivrite his name on the back of tho card , and add , if relieA-ed , the amount given him . This seiwcs both as a tost of his signature , and as a A oucher to the Treasurer for the money expended by the Almoner .

I am , Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , H . O . LEY ANDES , No . 90 , W . M . No . 915 , Prov . G . S . B . Wilts , See . and Almoner No . 961 . ( COPY OF CASH . J WILTSHIRE LODGE OF FIDELITY , NO . 961 . 186

MiLIKVE THE BEAIVEll , after due Examination , if the Lodge . Funds will permit . To the Almoner of the Lodge . N . B . —This ticket must be presented between tho hours of 12 and 3 , or 5 and 8 p . m .