Bro. Charles James Jefferys.

BRO . CHARLES JAMES JEFFERYS .

This well-knoAvn music publisher expired on the 9 th instant at his residence , 21 A , Soho-square , after a very brief illness . Bro . Jefferys Avas initiated in the Royal Alfred Lodge ( No . 780 ) , Kew Bridge , on the 25 th February , 18-59 , and continued a member for three years . He Avas the first S . W . of the Royal Albert Lodge ( No . 907 ) , and seiwed the office of Master in 1863 , during which year he became a Life Governor of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows .

Literary Extracts.

LITERARY EXTRACTS .

TIIE WAR , AGAINST THE VISCOXTI is peculiarly interesting to an Englishman , not only from its long duration , the persistent energies exerted on both sides , and the vastness of the stake at issue , but from the important part played in it by our countryman , Sir John Hawkwood , and his band of English mercenaries . These men

formed an honourable contrast , by their valour , discipline , and fidelity , to a corps of French auxiliaries under the Count of Armagnac , and their services Avere gratefully acknoAvledgod by the commonwealth . Iiawkwood , or " Aguto , " himself , and his sons Ave re rewarded Avith the citizenship of Florence exempt from ail burdens ; his Avife received a pension of a thousand florins a year , and his

daughters a marriage portion of two thousand florins each . On bis death , iu 1394 , he received a magnificent funeral in the choir of the cathedral , and an eBi ^ y of him on horseback Avas painted by Paolo Uccello inside the west front of the church , Avhich remains to this day ; a marble tomb Avhich Avas decreed him never having boon executed . The honours paid to a man of this kind Avill

be readily understood Avhen Ave examine the Avars of that period in Italy . The armies on both sides Avere commanded , and principally supplied , by captains of free lances , mostly feudal nobles , Avho devoted their small means to equipping a larger or smaller number of men at arms and infantry , and hiring themselves and their bauds out to any customers . It Avas usual for states not

only to employ these men in Avar , but give a retaining fee in time of peace , if the political horizon looked at all black , to such of them as Avere particularly formidable , cither from their military skill , or from the number of men they could bring into the field . When unemployed many of those corps became simply bands of brigands , living by pillage . ' —Trollope ' s Florence .

GHECIAX BiiiGAXD . ? . — The morah of these brigands are , iu their way , very strict . They treat women AA'ith respect , not from chivalry or indifference , but from fear of being killed , because they have a salutary sort of superstitious belief that he Avho injures a woman becomes a prey to the enemy . Brigands never break their word , and they avoid this on principle , from a desire not to lose

the faith necessary for obtaining absolution . Even the most brutal brigand always reserves part of his booty for some church or other , and the Virgin always qomes in for a share . The brigand marries , but first forms plans for carrying off his future Avife . The love of the brigand ' s Avife is like that of a dog for its master . She often follows him in manly attire on his nocturnal

expeditions , and fights by his side Avith a bravery equal to his OAVU . _ These lvomon , apart from the difference of race , are , in every other respect , like their more powerful husbands . The brigand endures hunger , thirst , and fatigue Avith unparalleled patience and stoicism . He allays his thirst by handling lead ( sic ) , and beguiles his hunger by gnaAving a piece of the fat Avhich he always carries with , him to clean bis Aveapons . —Greek National Almanack .

MATUIYIXG A BaoTitEii ' s WIDOAV , —I heard a curious illustration of Arab manners to-day . I met Hasan , the janissary of the American Consulate , a very respectable

Literary Extracts.

good man . He told he had married another wife since last year . I asked , What for ? lb Avas the widow of his brother , who had always lived in the same house Avith bim , like one family , and Avho died , leaving two boys . She is neither young nor handsome , but he considered it his duty to provide for her and the children , and not let her marry a stranger . So you see that polygamy is

not always sensual indulgence ; and a man may thus practise greater self-sacrifice than by talking . sentiment about deceased Avivcs' sisters . I said , laughing , to Omar , as Ave went on , that I did not think the two Avives sounded very comfortable . Oh no ! not comfortable at all for the man , but he take care of the Avoman ; that is Avhat is proper . That is the good Muslim . —Lady Duff Gordons '

Letters from Egypt . ARAB HOSPITALITY—Their open-handedness often springs more from the childish levity of the savage than from true and praiseworthy liberality of character . Like an infant that stretches out its small hands and opens its little mouth for Avhatever comes Avithin its reach , be it a guinea or a cherry , and Avith almost equal readiness lets

its new acquisition drop no sooner than grasped , the Bedouin is at once rapacious and profuse , coveting all he sees , without much distinction of its Avorth , and lightly parting Avith Avhat he has already appropriated , from A ^ ery incapacity to estimate or appreciate its value . To give , to beg , or to pluuder are for him correlative acts , all arising in the main from the same immense

ignorance of Avhat property really is , and what its importance ; and thus he is often scarce more entitled to commendation for the one act than liable to serious blame for the other ; in a Avord , he knoAvs no better . Besides , he has in general but little to offer , and for that very little he not unfrequontly promises himself an ample retribution , by plundering his last night ' s guest Avhen a feAV hours distant on his morning journey . ' —Palgrave ' s Journey through Central and Eastern Arabia .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty left Balmoral on Thursday , the loth , and arrived at . Windsor on Friday . On Saturday Her Majesty held a Court at Buckingham Palace . It was of more than usual brilliancy . Accompanied by the Princess , Her Majesty arrived in town from Windsor shortly before two o'clock , and the Prince of Wales , Prince Arthur , and Prince Leopold were also present . Her Majesty , who looked in

excellent health , received the company , which consisted of foreign ambassadors and the elite of the nobility and baronetage-Tuesday was the anniversary of her Majesty ' s accession to the throne , and there were the usual loyal demonstrations both at Windsor and in London . In St . James ' s Park and at the Tower royal salutes were fired . Her Royal Highness the

Princess Helena held a drawing-room to-day at St . James ' s Palace , on behalf of her Majesty . There Avas a very large attendance both of ladies who have the entree and of those who were to be presented . The general circle was well attended , and this being collar day , the Knights wore the insignia of their respective orders . The Princess , accompanied by the

Princess Louise , travelled from Windsor in a saloon carriage , attached to an ordinary train , on the Groat Western Railway . IJIFEBIAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE OP LORDS on Thursday , 15 th , a good deal of work was done in the way of pushing forward bills which have passed through the Lower House . On Friday the Marquis of Westineath . called attention to the

introduction of the practices of the Roman Catholic religion into the worship of the Church of England , at St . Matthew's , Stoke Newington ; St . Paul ' s , Lorrimore-squaro , Walworth ; St . Alban's , Holborn ; and St . Mary Magdalene , Muuster-