Reviews.

wc can call little else than mere personal abuse of some of our most eminent scholars and most sound philosophers . The late Dr . Whewell is spoken of in terms that we can hardly imagine would be used by any man of education if he were not blinded by the most infinite egotism . As a great portion of this work has already appeared criticism is unnecessary .

The Mail / way , Banking , Mining , Insurance , and Commercial Almanack for 1866 . Edited b y WILLIAM PAGE SMITH . London : ' Simpkin , Marshall & Co ., 1866 . We can confidently recommend this almanack to all connected with commerce or any description of

financial transactions . In it in addition to the usual almanack matters accounts arc given of the principal investments which have attracted public attention . Agricultural machinery , the gas controversy , tea cultivation in India , and Petroleum are dealt with in articles well worth the attention of those interested in those subjects .

Poetry.

Poetry .

CASTLES IN THE AIR . I sat upon the sandy beach One sunny summer day , A-listening to the mystic speech Of a million waves at play . And 'twixt me and the flowing flood I saw a little child ,

Who ne'er a mimic fabric stood Of shells his hands had piled . The tiny tower was all complete , The child , in proud delight , Danced round , witli smiles and tripping feet , The fane so fair and white . But as the tide came flowing past

, He , with a look of sorrow , Went homeward , murmuring as he passed , " I'll come again to-morrow !" The morrow came : be backward hied , Looked for his castle gay ; But while he'd slept the cruel tide Had washed it all away .

The prattler look'd , and ivept , and look'd , But looked and wept in vain : The laughing waves his tears rehuk'd , " Twill never come again !" And thus each day wo gaily build Shell-castles in tlie air ; Our hopes tho mimic fabrics build ,

Witli colours rainbow rare . Each night the ruthless tide of life Eolls onward as we sleep , And u'er tlie wrecks where waves run rife Wo waken but to weep . Indefatigable Lodge ( 237 ) , BfiO . J . C . MAXXIXG Swansea .

On Freemasonry.

ON FREEMASONRY .

When " Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty" raised A temple to our Lord , Wherein his holy name was praised , And piously adored ; Our ancient brethren closer drew Those cords of love divine , Which bound the hearts of Mason true , Since " light" began to shine .

On Freemasonry.

Freemasonry hath since that time Her virtues widely spread—Through every lar . d , through every clime , A moral light lath shed . To us in all their purity Her principles descend , In her we find security .

In her a faithful friend . As then , so now , " relief and truth " Are practised without art , And ive each other ' s sorrow soothe , In singleness of heart : And still do we most highly prize Each mystic word and sign ,

Given by Solomon the wise , To mark the art divine . The " three great lights" of Masons still Their radiance shed around , To guide us to those truths , which will In Masonry be found . Our " Faith" by " Holy Volume" ruled ,

Our actions by " the square , " Unruly will by " compass" school'd , These symbols still we bear . And still may "level and plumb-rule , " Their moral truths convey , May " Temperance" our passions cool , And "Prudence" guard our way ;

May "Fortitude , " in danger hour , Our sinking spirits nerve , May Masons , though possess'd of power , From "Justice" never swerve . May "Faith" in God , and "Hope" in Him , With "Charity" to all , Still give to Masons power to win

Those joys that cannot pall . On " Wisdom" may our Lodge be borne , May " Strength " her walls uprear , Secure that "Beauty" will adorn , While virtue's practised there . —M . M .

Dress Of Freemasons.

DRESS OF FREEMASONS .

In the dress of Freemasons , fit garments for Jove , With the strongest attachment , true brotherly love , We here are assembled , al ! jovial and free , For who are so wise and so happy as we . Then since we're bound by secresy to unity and love , Let us like brethren faithful to every brother prove ; Then hand in hand we'll firmly stand , all Masons in a ring ,

Protectors of our native land , tho Craft , and thc Queen . With justice , with candour , our bosoms are warmed , Our tongues are witli truth and sincerity arm'd , We are loyal , vicr'c trusty , we're faithful to those Who treat us as friends , and smile at our foes . Then since n-e're bound , etc . Though some with ambition for glory contend

, And when they've attained that , despise each poorfiiend ; But a Mason tho' noble , his fame to ensure , Counts each Mason his brother tho * ever so poor . Then since we ' re bound , etc . But not to our brethren alone we confine True brotherly love , that affection divine ; For our kind-hearted sisters in that have a share ,

For as ive admire , we ' re beloved by the fair . Then since we're bound , etc . We stand to our Queen , to onr Master ire bend ; For these are the rulers we are bound to defend ; And when such a Queen , such a Master arise , As Britons , as Masons , we've cause to rejoice . Then since we ' re hound by secresy to unity and love , Let us like brethren faithful to every brother prove ; Then hand to hand we'll firmly stand , all Masons in a ring-, Protectors of our native land , the Craft , and tho Queen .