Masonic Notes And Queries.

revelations of which they so much boast , are sometimes to sin , but that cannot be from God ; clo they not dream interpretations on Scripture and when either the JJevil doth delude them or they are distracted , they count their condition happy : they acknowledge no superiority , though commanded and allowed in the scriptures . But our brethren have always had one amongst them as chief and governor to whom they are obedient ; they pit } - such persons whom they finde cheated and often

possessed : lastly as ifc is impossible to separate heat from fire , so it is as impossible to separate virtue from this society : they bestow their time in duty to God , in diligent search of the scripture , in charity , in healing gratis , in experimenting the hidden secrets of nature and art . They have the true astronomy , the true physics , mathematics , medicine , and chemistry , by which they are able to produce rare and Avonderful effects . They are very laborious , frugal , temperate , secret , ancl true . " The foregoing is extracted from a very valuable MS ., formerly in the possession of the celebrated Dr . John Dee .

Literature.

Literature .

EEVIEWS . Clesson and WoodhaWs Miscellany , Nov . and Deo , 1861 . Bombay and London : Saunders and Otley . We have IIOAV before us the last tAvo numbers of this

able and instructive Magazine , Avhich has IIOAV reached its third volume , and furnishes a A'ast amount of interesting information , not confined to the Bombay Presidency , but connected with all matters affecting our Indian empire from the Himalayas to Cape Comoz'in . The recent papers on " G-uzerat and the country of the Guieoroar" the " Notes on Kirleh" the brilliant sketch

, , of " Sir John Laurence ' s career , " are deserving of the highest praise ; and indeed , both in the matter , and the manner of the getting-np of this Miscellany , the enterprising publishers merit the highest commendation . Ifc is entitled to the warmest support both at home and abroad .

Mv . Beaton ' s Publications . * At this season of fche year we cannot better commence a notice of the publications of Mr . Beeton than by calling attention to his Christmas Annual , it being just the book for a long winter ' s evening , Avhen lounging before a good fire . It is full of light and agreeable reading , as specimens of Avhich we will quote 'the " Princess

Eosetta , " a " Dog and his Day , " and "The Euby Bing , " tbe latter of AA'hich is admirably told , whilst the " Hidden Will" gives us a piece of romance of the good old Eadclyffe , or Castle Otranto school , Avhich is sure to be appreciated . Then we have acting charades for the young , condundrums , & c , Avithout number , and as much attrastion as can be well laced in a shilling book . This

p is the second year ' s issue , and if we mig ht be allowed to give a piece of ad' / ice for the future , it is , that the work , Avhich , by-the-bye , is profusely illustrated , should be published in a somewhat smaller form , and AA'ith firmer covers , in order that it may be preserved beyond the season , as at all times a welcome friend to wile aAvay an idle half-hour .

We pass from the light and entertaining to again record our opinion that Beeton s Family -Bt & ie ,. Avhen completed , will be one of the best eA'er issued . All persons know the A alne of , though all have hitherto not possessed a good Eneyclopasdia . Indeed , it is as essential in every library , however small ; but the price is

as a rule , a great bar to possessing , but ib is not likely to be so any longer , Beeton ' s Diciionarij of Useful Information being just the book wanted , whilst as it is to be completed in twenty-four monthly parts at Is . each , neither price or length of time presents an obstacle to its being subscribed for . JZb-iiie BetsNos . eiht aud nine presents

some-, g what of a misnomer , for however interesting the accounts of hawking and hawking birds may be—the Goshawk , the Ger Ealcon , the Merlin , the Sparrow HaAvk , the Butcher Bird , & c , can be scarcely deemed home pets of the present day , however , they may have been considered in the merry days of England , when Elizabeth was Queen . But fashions change , and if these

birds are not altogether " Home Pets " their natural history will always be interesting , ancl the descriptions of hawking at home and abroad are spirited , and worthy oi perusal . The illustrations cannot be excelled . The Boy's Own Magazine pursues the eA'en tenor of its AA'ay—always containing plenty of amusement and instruction . " How I Avon my Spurs , " will Avell illustrate the former element and " Manly Spirit , " tbe latter , Gymnastics , now forming an indispensable portion of the education of every boy .

The Boy ' s Own Library having with its last number concluded the "Wild Sports of the World , " Ave are sure to ^ the regret of all its readers , opens a new volume with a semi-romance by Mr . Wm . Dalton , " Phaulcon , or the Ship ' s Boy who became Prime Minister . " Phaulcon is the son of Greek parents , who having lived in style , have been overtaken bjr misfortune , when our hero , though gently born and nurtureddetermines to restore

, the fortunes of his house , for Avhich purpose he becomes a ship ' s boj r on board of an English vessel , which be saA'es from destruction by some treacherous Malays . Afc first fortune appears to smile upon him , but he has also , as even tho first number informs us , his hardships to go through from the title , there can be uo doubt all comes right at last . It is

just a book of stirring adventure to take the fancy of aboy , Avhilst we doubt not the subscribers' sisters will feel equal interest in tbe fortune of Phaulcon . The coloured engraving of Phaulcon musing Avhilst looking over the sea , rendered beauteous by an eastern sun , is excellentand so , by the bye , is the engraved portrait ofthe authorbut Ave must confess that Ave think the less authors illustrate their work by their OAVII portraits the better . Prom the amusing Ave pass again to the instructive Beeton ' s Garden Management , the present ; number

treating on the laying out and furnishing of gardens , upon Avhich points the editor appears more fully informed than we can pretend to be . If we have left the Fnglishv-oinan ' s Domestic Magazine to the last , it is out of no disrespect to those ornaments of society to whom it is addressed , but because we have so often recommended it to notice that all Ave could now say would be ditto to our former observations . The

number for January , in addition to its usual literary contents , presents its readers with a Avell-executed steel plate of the fashions , a large Berlin pattern for flowers , a sheet of embroidery and other patterns , ancl a pattern for a plain body of a lady ' s dress . If it be true that the Evil One ahvays finds some mischief for idle fingers to do , we are sure he can be no friend to this publication ,

for the fingers which busy themselves in carrying out the numerous directions for Avork it gives can neA'er be idle , and should they be disposed for a little leisure at any time , they have only to lay down the scissors and the needle and pick up the magazine , to afford their owners such an abundance of amusement and instruction—the articles on botany are worth all the money—that their

minds are not likely to roam into mischief , even if so inclined . Every father of" a family should , therefore , present his daughters Avith a copy of the Fnglishu-oman ' s Domestic Maaazine .