History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

was in the negative . An improved attendance of the members on Feb . 1 st , 1 S 20 , is recorded hy the Secretary , who states that " the usual Masonic toasts were given at the close of the meeting , and drank in silence , as a mark of respect to the memory of a

beloved brother , our revered monarch , His Majesty George HI .. No songs were sung , and the lodge was closed after the usual questions in due form , and the meeting adjourned to the next regular lodge night . " On the 7 th March the W . M ., Bro . John Ellis , and

several of the members assembled , and the minutes of the last lodge having been read and approved , he read a letter from the D . Prov . G . M . for the county , acknowledging the receipt of his communication dated the Gth ult ., and expressing his approbation of

the proposal that the members of the Lodge of Love and Honour , and the fraternity at Falmouth , might join the Mayor and Corporation on the joyful occasion of proclaiming our royal patron , His Majesty George IV . king . The next minute records a practical

exhibition of the advantages of Freemasonry . { To le continued . ')

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

THE NEMESIS : A TALE OF THE DAYS OF TRAJAN .

By BRO . A . ONEAL HAIE , Kill ., K . Gal ., Corresponding Memher ofthe German Society , Leipzig ; Knight Templar , Scot . ; Author of "The History of the Knights Templars ;" . " Vara Queer ; " " Gatherings in Wanderings ; " "Songs and Ballads ; " "Poemata ; " "Legends of ' Edinburgh . " S fe ., fyc ., Sfc . ; Poet Laureate of the Canongate , Kikuinning ; P . M . St . Stephens ; P . P . Z . of St . Andrews , B . A .

Chap . ; § -c . ; fyc . ( Continued from page 288 . ) CHAPTER XXX . EXECUTION OF BALBUS . " Now his son . . . lifehonournameanel all

, , , That made me happy , at one stroke has talceu 3 ? or ever from the world . "—ShaJcespeare . Caius , the sun of life eclipsed Avithin his bosom , wandered sadly by the Tiber ' s banks , the memories of the happy hours that had ceased to be

glimmering * darkly on the river of woe , and over all a quiet light rising , in a new faith , which if it did not console him for his loss , at least in time made him bear it , at times forget it . In that dark hour , with the blood coursing Avikily through his veins ,

the river had a strange attraction for him . He looked into its yelloAV tide rushing eagerly to the sea , and he felfc tempted to hide his sorrows beneath its wave ; but cowards only flee from the perils and AVOCS of life , and Caius was brave . At

length he re-entered the city . Even great griefs , the first agony spent , longs to look upon the face of man . In crowds there is felloAvship as well as

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

solitude , and the sight of people can distract the thoughts from a great grief . Caius had neared the Forum , Avhen an officer of the Emperor ' s household accosted him . " Noble Caius , I have been in search of you

everywhere . The Emperor desires your immediate presence . " Caius bowed , and accompanied the officer . Trajan looked stern and gloomy as he entered the apartment , and on seeing him , the Emperor

Avaved his hand , and they were left alone . " Caius , I have sent for you to do you what you will- in time consider a service . Yon know

Balbus ?" " Balbus . Yes ; -what of him ?" " He dies within the hour . " " Dies ! " cried Caius , in horror ; " Avhat is he guilty of ?"

" First , he is proved by the evidence of Marenna to have been the leader of these accursed Bacchanals /' "He !" "Aye , none but he . That alone would

condemn him-to die , for that crime ostensibly shall he die , but there is a more terrible charge against him , a charge , for which , had he a hundred lives , he would die . You remember the disappearance of Sempronia the Vestal . You cannot have forgot it , for all Rome rang with the tidings . " " I remember . But she Avas droAvned in the

Tiber . " "Ah ! so it Avas reported . Balbus set that report afloat , but ifc ivas false . She never * quitted Rome . " "Are you assured of that , " answered Cains ,

gravely . " Remember it is Sempronia you speak of . " " I am assured of it , Caius . It is Sempronia I mean . I knoAV Avhat you would say . Sempronia comes of a stock whose sons Avere all

valiant , and Avhose daughters Avere all chaste . Is that not the proverb ? Well , she has stained her virgin Vestal robe , and from the night she left Testa ' s fire , she has lived Avith Balbus . " Trajan then detailed the discovery of

Sempronia , her death , and the murder of Cenna . Caius listened in terrified horror ; the details were so revolting , the proof so clear . " Others , " said Trajan , " are mixed up in this terrible society of Bacchus , but the death of one will awe them—your intended father-in-laAV , Murtius . Am I not right?—Yes , Murfcius was a