A Night In The Catacombs Of The Nile.

oreat antiquarian attractions , we hurried towards the adit , and soon found ourselves in the keen , sweet , elastic ; refreshing air ofthe desert . Here we enjoyed a spectacle which threw all the labours of the Egyptians completely into tho shade . This was the dawn which was just then beginning to spread its skirts over tbe Eastern sky . We forgot the dangers we had passed , forgot our

hunger , forgot everything , and climbed the rocky pinnacle of the nearest hill to witness the most glorious show which nature has to present . "Along the line of the horizon , just where the eastern desert comes in contact with the sky , a bright flush , every moment becoming more and more luminous , surged up into the firmament , changing rapidlfrom white to yellowfrom yellow to

y , deep saffron , from saffron to pink , to crimson , to purple , till tdo whole mighty arch ofthe orient heaven becoming one blaze of intermingled colours , flashing , glittering , quivering as if all the auroras of the pole had been suddenly thrown together ; not a word escaped the lips of any one present . In silent astonishment , bordering possibly on adoration , Arab , Nubian , and European

gazed at the precurses of the sun , beautiful beyond description , thrilling , absorbing , overawing , till the last fiery disc , more resplendant than molten gold , and absolutely blinding through its brightness , thrust up its dazzling rira over the edge of the desert , and in a moment the Ml day shone upon the earth . The contrast between the interior of the catacomb

, smelling of bats , coffins , mummies , decaying gums , cerecloths , and wood crumbling under the influence of tinie , and the buoyant , elastic , elysian breezes blowing up the valley , and diffusing themselves softly over the waste , could hardly be surpassed . Yet it is worthy of remark , that there are no deleterious miasmata in Egyptian tombsNo one was ever the worse for

breath-. ing the atmosphere they contain . I have slept whole weeks iu the . midst of coffins , all containing corpses , and never experienced the slightest inconvenience , though the air occasionally appears close , and on that account , ancl that account only , disagreeable . —Chambers Journal .

Reviews. Mr. Beeton's Publications.

REVIEWS . MR . BEETON'S PUBLICATIONS .

Beaton ' s Illuminated Family Bible is rapidly drawing to a conclusion , IS out of the 24 parts of which it is to consist having been published . It is beautifully got up , well printed , the notes excellent , and in every way worthy of an extensive sale , to repay the publisher for bis spirit and outlay . The Englishwoman ' s Domestic Magazine is , as usual ,

full of valuable information , and the patterns of fancy and useful work render it acceptable in every household . " Beeton ' s Dictionary of Universal Information in Science , Art , and Literature is admirably arranged , and certainly the cheapest Encyclopaadia ever produced . " Beaton ' s Booh of Home Gaines is now devoted to chess and draughts , by Captain Crawley , who lays down the rules

with great clearness , and gives plenty of admirable illustrations . The work may be relied on , and every chess player should possess it . But it is for the boys Mr . Beeton appears most to delight to cater , and we accordingly have before us the Boys' Own Library , which is aD present occupied with the curiosities of savage life , admirably illustrated , and well told

. The Boy ' s Own Mor / azine , our old friend , is enlarged » rom a twopenny to a sixpenny serial , and improved to an extent far exceeding the increase in price , there being lew shilling periodicals that could compete with it . "Cressy and Poictiers ; or , the Story of the Black Prince ' s Page , " is well written , and must interest every boy : the " Adventures of Reuben David " is full of

ger excitement . Birds , beasts , and fishes , replete with valuable information , and the other contents of the two numbers before us will well repay an attentive perusal . But having discontinued his twopenny magazine for boys ,

Reviews. Mr. Beeton's Publications.

Mr . Beeton has determined not to lose any customers by the increased price , so he has also brought out the Boy ' s Penny Magazine . The literary matter and the illustratrions , as in all the other publications of this gentleman , are well selected and executed , and we would particularly commend to attention the " Miner and the Pixies . " The Dramatic , Equestrian , and Musical SicJc Fiiiid

Almanack for 1863 . By J . W . ANSON . This is an admirable little almanack , possessing but one fault—it does not say where it is published ; but we Ijelieve Mr . Anson is to found in Bow-street . In addition to all the usual matter to be found in almanacks , it contains a large amount of theatrical information relative to first and last & cwhich cannot fail to

appearances , , interest any playgoer , as well as every actor , be he professional or amateur . Moreover , the object for which it is published—charity—should commend it to all , the profits being devoted to the Sick Fund of the profession of which Mr . Anson is the Honorary Secretary . The whole is beautifully printed by our respected Bro . Arliss , of Great Queen-street .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

HR . THOITAS K 2 OTE . As the queries concerning Dr . Thomas Knipe have led to the very valuable and most interesting communications of Bro . Matthew Cooke , I wish to suggest one or two other points for his consideration , as well as to invite other contributions on this subject . There can be little doubt , as Bro . Matthew Cooke justly says , that Dr . Thomas Knipe was no mythbut a vera . The onlquestion is

, , persona y , was he the writer of that letter or portion of a letter which appears in the preface to the History of Berkshire ? That book was published , if my reference is correct , in 1719 , and Dr . Thomas Knipe died in 1711 . Everything , I think , leads us to the conclusion , that if that letter be authentic , it was written by Dr . Thomas Knipe , of course in or before 1711 . From the peculiar style of the preface and

other internal evidence there seems little doubt but that Aubrey , the writer of the MS . History of Wiltshire , quoted by Mr . Halliwell , was also the writer of the preface to the History of Berkshire . . Is any correspondence known to exist between Knipe and Aubrey , or between Aubrey and Curll ? Is there any collection of Curll ' s correspondence extant ?—A . F . A . WOODEOKD , Swillington , Leeds .

ERA OP CHIVALRIC TEMPLARY . In old Northern Templary , there is a narrative of the career of Peter ; his smiting off the ear of the servant of the High Priest , denial of Christ , & c . From the former circumstance the era of chivalric knights appears to be derived . I can find no authority for the term " Masonic Knight Templar , " which appears to be of southern origin . I am puzzled by the S . G . B . in the old Manchester warrant , contributed by Bro . H . B . White , is it not a misprint for the initials of Simon surnamed Peter ?—A .

E . PAHSLEV . Was It . Parsley a brother?—B . M . —[ We have no means of knowing . He published two volumes of songs under the title of Parsley ' s Fashionable Lyric Companion , containing the favourite songs of the season ( 1787 ) at public places of entertainment , and " a variety of original pieces sung at the several societies , to whom the publisher presumes to dedicate his endeavours . " Tbe

dedication , signed " E . Parsley , " enumerates the " societies , " and commences with the Freemasons , thus : — " To the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , and the Honourable Societies of Anti-Bourbons , Borough Unions , Neptunes , Independent Frierys and Phaetons . " The Masonic songs are , " The Yirtues of Masonry , " "When Earth's Foundation , " "Ye Sons of fair Science , " " Arise , and blow thy Trumpet , Fame , " and many others of a like character . ]