Society Of German Masons.

sentativo of the society . The members of the committee are capable of re-election , and hold their respective charges without pay , only as honorary offices . A due report and account of the affairs and expenses of the society will be given by the committee at each annual meeting of the members . VIII . —Such members as shall publish any Masonic

work are held to present a copy of the same to the library of the society . IX . —Auy additional change of the statutes only can take place at the general meeting , namely , by vote of a majority of two-thirds of the members present , and after having been previously announced by the Masonic journalDie Baulmttv-considered to be the literary

, , organ of the society . The Directing Committee—Bro . Hud . Seydel , Chairman , Bro . T . G . Findel , Bro . C . van Dalen , Bro . Michels , Bro . Genth .

The Union of Gf-erman Freemasons has since held its meetings afc Wiesbaden , G-lauchan , and Hamm . It consists at present of nearly one hundred members , withfifteen corresponding members , one of Avhichis Bro . the Eev . A . F . A .

Woodford , of Swillingfcon , Yorkshire , and one Bro . Dr . C . Herm . Beigel , a member of the Tranquility Lodge , London . The Union has already got a library , alittle collectionof Masonic medals , seals , ancl othercuriosities of historical value . Every year there is published a little work ( Mitthoilungen ) , containing some lectures and historical researches of the

members and corresponding members . Some months ago , Bro . T . G-. Findel Avas sent over to England to look after the old document , called the " York Constitution . " This brother has Avritten some lectures on Freemasonry at York , on the old Masonic

Constitutions , on the Sloane MS . in the British Museum , & c , published in MiWieilungen , 3 rd part .

Roxburghshire.

ROXBURGHSHIRE .

When a writer has spent thirty-five years in collecting materials for a work , he is entitled to be heard . He is not one of those AVIIO rush into print with the same careless haste as they AVIIO leap before they look . One may conclude that he has had time and acquired taste to winnow his

taste of worthless or irrelevant matter . We may , at all events , give the historian of Eoxburghshire credit for quite this much painstaking . * Mr . Jeffrey j > ublished the first volume of his history in 1836 ; the second in 1857 ; the third in 1859 ; the fourth has just issued from the press , and is by no means the least , either in bulk or value .

It treats of the regahtes of Melrose and Hawick ; the baronies of Galashiels , Wilton , Minto , Hassendean , Cavers , and Bowden ; the town and lands of Tessudden ; the territories of Maxton , Lilliesleaf , and Liddisdale , Avith notices of their antiquities , architecture , manufactures , legends ,

agriculture , roads , eminent men , and indigenous plants . One of the most interesting of these districts is Liddisdale , the tract of country on the Scottish border-land immediately opposed to the counties of Cumberland ancl Westmoreland . It derives its

name from the river Lid , Avhich AOAVS through the vale , or dot , to join the Esk . In Saxon times King Edmund granted the English counties mentioned to Malcolm , king of Scotland , on condition thafc he Avould protect the northern part of England , by sea and land , against all comers , in

testimony of Avhich gift a cross Avas erected afc Stanmore , on the confines of Westmoreland and Yorkshire , sculptured with the arms of England

ancl Scotland . This grant was the origin of a long series of contentions , involving the burning and pillaging of the district over and over again . The question of the rightful oAvnership of these lands Avas contested through the reigns of several sovereigns of both countries , bufc remained unsettled

till the middle of the thirteenth century , Avhen King Henry agreed to assign lands of the yearly value of £ 200 within the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland to the King of Scotland , if lands of that value could be found Avithout the limits of those toAvns Avhere castles Avere erected .

In virtue of this agreement , the baronies of Penrith and Sowerby Avere assigned to the Scottish crown , when Kershope water , a fork of the Liddel , became the limits of the kingdom . Thus early sown with the horrors and barbarities of warfarethe soil seemed capable of bearing no

, other crop . DOAVII to the middle of the sixteenth century Liddisdale Avas a stronghold of laAvless men , and the haunt of freebooters . Duels and assassinations were common occurrences . One of

the earliest atrocities recorded was the murder of Eanulph de Sules , the chief noble of the dale , in Liddel ' s strength or castle , by his domestics . William cle Douglas , a subsequent OAvner of this noble's lands , became possessed of them by slaying an intermediate possessor of them Avhile out

hunting . The same William de Douglas seized Alexander Eamsay , the Sheriff of Tevioldale , and starved him to death in a dungeon of his doubtfully-gotten castle in Liddisdale . He also killed Spens of Kilspendie in a duel . After this last " gentle passage of arms , " Angus said to the

attendant of his slain foe , — " Go thy way ; tell my gossip , the king , that there Avas nothing but fair play . I knoAvmy gossip will be offended , bufc I will get me into Liddisdale , and remain in my castle of Hermitage till his anger be abated . " The contumacious earl , however , did not get off so easily on this occasion as he expected to do ; for