Notes On Literature, Science, And Art..

Great progress has been shown , particularly in the foreign courts of the Exhibition , which arc rapidly assuming a complete form . The French department is an exhibition in itself , for the catalogue—printed in Paris , ancl just arrived in Londoncontains upwards of five hundred closely-printed pages . It will be sold for one shilling .

The Catholic Publishing and Bookselling Company was incorporated in 1857 with a nominal capital of 40 , 000 shares of 11 . each , for the sale of Catholic literature . They purchased the business of Mr . Charles Dolman , of Bond-street and Paternosterrow , for the sum of £ 5783 Us . 10 c ? ., part of which remained on mortgage ; and also took the premises in ivhich he carried on

his business . The Company has not prospered ancl its affairs have got into the Court of Chancery . The thirty-third annual Report of the Council ofthe Zoological Society , contains an account of the present state of the Society's affairs , ancl of their proceedings during the past twelve months , which will be deemed in every way satisfactory . Afte . t referring to the death of the late Prince Consort , who had been President of the Society since 1851 , ancl to the manner in

which the vacancy hacl been filled up by the selection of Sir George Clerk , for many years an active and energetic member of the Council , as his saecessorin the office , the Report proceeds to recount the numerical strength of the Socieiy , which , at the present time , consists of 1700 Fellows , Fellows Elect , and Annual Subscribers , 175 Corresponding Members , and 25 Foreign

Members . The income of the Society during the year 1 SG 1 , amounted to no less a sum than £ 16 , 072 , which is in excess of the average receipts during the previous six years by more than £ 1000 . The greater portion of tin ' s largo annual increase arises from the shillings ancl sixpences paid by visitors to the gardens in the Regent ' s Park , which forms , as every one knows , one of

the most attractive places of public resort in the Metropolis . The second number of Tinslcg ' s Library Circular is out , ancl shows a marked improvement in matter ancl appearance over the first and promise to be extremly useful . Mr . Harrison Ainsworth has in the press , in three volumes , his novel , The Lord Mayor of London , now running its course

in Bcntley ' s Miscellany . It will be published by Messrs . Chapman and Hall . Mr . Bentley has in press a cheap edition of Mrs . AVood ' s Fast Lynne , in one volume .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . THE GRAND LODGE PROPERTY . TO THE EDITOH 01 ? THE H . EEMASON ' S 1 IAGAZIXE ASD MASOXIC 3 IIIU . 01 I . DEAR SIR ACT BROTHER , —The Board of General Burposes having now under their consideration certain proposed alterations of tho property in Great Queen

Street , belonging- to the Graft , I am anxious to express an opinion on tho subject , my only motive being a desire to promote the interests of the Masonic body . It seems to mo that the first thing- to bo considered is , in what waj' ive can maintain , and even increase our present revenue , for to expend a large sum of money , without an assurance of realizing an adequate return ,

ivould be , I am convinced , objectionable to tho brethren generally . We have , at present , a certain income in tho rental of the tavern ; that income wc cannot afford to throw away ; and our object should be , by necessary alterations and ivcll-adivstd improvements , to increase the revenue thereby [ accruing to the Craft . I have no faith in tho cry " No Tavern ; " for I believe the tavern accommodation to be a principal source of our present success in augmenting the funds of our Charities ; and

Correspondence.

the Junior "Warden reminds us that labour and refreshment are and ought to be eo-existent . The following is a rough sketch of the plan , accordinoto which the Queen Street property might be , in my opinion , advantageously laid out . Suppose it divided into three distinct blocks of buildings— -the separate entrances of each close together , of equal importance , of

noble and commanding appearance , with a grand staircase leading to our present Hall . The first block , next adjoining Bacon ' s Hotel , and now consisting of the Grand Secretaries' Offices , the Temple & c ., should be reconstructed ; the front might then be reserved for the use of the Grand Master and his Officers , and for the meetings ofthe various Boards and Committees , and the

rear for tho Grand Secretaries' Office , and the offices of the charities . The centre block ( now the Tavern ) could be made exceedingly profitable , if the arrangements were on a sufficient scale "; the property being so centrally situated between the City and the AY est End , mig ht , command a very large increase of business . At present , it is quite certain , and the brethren hc ^ ve had painful

experience , that there is nob accommodation for our annual festivals , even if we adhere to the present custom of relegating some of the ladies to an inconvenient part of the Hall and banishing the rest to another apartment .. That our charities ivould be greatly benefitted , that onr festivals would be rendered more attractive , if ladies were admitted on such occasions must be evident to all . To provide accommodation , then , for the

increased numbers which ivould attend the festivals , it is absolutely necessary that we should have a hall capable of accommodating one thousand persons , reserving the present hall for . music for a drawing-room for the ladies to retire to after dinner , leaving the brethren to finish the toast and business of the evening , & c . Of course , I shall be met by the argument that ive

have not sufficient space in . our possession to carry out this project ; but it is within my knowledge that this isnot an insuperable obstacle . The third block shall consist of a reading-room , in the front , and of coffee and smoking-rooms , in the rear , —to be supported in the manner explained iu your issue of the 12 th ulb . I have not entered into the question as to whence the

money is to be derived for carrying out so extensive ancl costly a project . I have nob the slightesb doubt that , should the board decide on a scheme worthy of the growing importance and increasing numbers of the Craft , tho funds ivhich we already possess , and those which we may confidently anticipate , will be quite sufficient to cover oven a greater outlay that that which

will be required for the alterations I have thus hastily sketched . In conclusion , I trust that the Board of General Purposes will lookback to what our Society ivas twenty-five years ago , and look forward to what ive may expect it to ho twenty-five years hence , and will determine on erecting a building aclpafced to meet the actual necessities of the present , and the probable

requirements of the future . I am , Sir and Brother , Tours faithfully and fraternally . CHAKLES SHEEEY , P . M . No . 90 . Winchester , 20 May , 1862 .

Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge.

GLASGOW KILWINNING LODGE .

TO THE IDITOE OI ? THE TI-EE-IASOXS' 3 TAGAZ 1 SE ASD 1 IASOXIC antEOU , DEAH SIE AKD BROTHER .- —Can any of your Scotch correspondents throw light on the case recently before Grand Lodge of Scotland . Glasgow Kilwinning ( No . 4 ) , against the Prov . Grand Lodge of Glasgow . Is ib true that the Dep . Prov . G . Master of Glasgow ( Bro . Donald Campbell ) and otherswere censured for the

, injudicious haste with which they had suspended the old and respectable lodge , Glasgow Kilwinning ? and that Grand Lodge refused to confirm that suspension ? I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , G . GLENCOE .