Masonic Notes And Queries.

TEE CAEBOXAEISTS . THE JPHIIiAJDELPHIASS . The Carbonarists . — -To a correspondent's first question , the following passage taken from an anonymous work , published at Paris iu 1 S 35 , affords the answer , " Cette soeiete ( Carbonari ) politique et secretedont l'oriine date de fepoyue de la dissolution

, g ¦ des nouvelles , republiques Italieunes , s ' etait d ' abord ¦ formee sur le plan des Phihulelphes . Elle avait le meme-but , eteu avant adopte le mode d'initiation . Elle etait pour le Midi cle l'Burope ce qui le Tugendiuncl etait pour le Nord . Les Carbonari furent pen nombreux tant que dura l'Empire . L ' opiniou les

confondait avec les Prancmacous , et cette erreur les sauva . Si le veritable but de leur association , essentiallement politique , eut etc soupconne , nul dont-e qu'ils n ' eussent pu echapper au sort des Philadel phes . Le torn qu'ils avaient adopte ne pouvait les compromettre ; e ' etait celui d'une Soeiete Maoonique fort

repandue en France et specialement , en Franche-Comte . " To "A Correspondent ' s" second question I can give no answer , except that it has been often said , and often written , that the Emperor Napoleon III-, was a Carbonarist in . his youug , republican days .

The Philadelphians . —Respecting the famous Secret Society , the Philadelphians , mentioned in the foregoing extract , it is my intention , on a future occasion , in compliance Avith the request made some time ago by another correspondent , to communicate a few lines to the PEEEIIASOXS' MAO-AZIXE . —CHAELES PUETOX COOPEE .

1 ' THE TELESCOPE . Brother . . . The telescope unmistakeably shoivs the Great Architect of the Universe in the starry heavens . Whose wilful blindness , then , is the greatest ? That of the ancient Atheist , Avho knew not this wonderful instrument , or that of the modern Atheist who uses it ?—CHAELES PTJETOX COOPEE .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

tVhe Editor is not responsible foi-the opinions expressed by Correspondents . SHAKESPEARE AND FREEMASONRY . TO THE EDITOR 01 ? THE FHEEHASOSS' SUGAZiXE AXD 1 TAS 0 XIC HXnEOIi . DEAR SIE AXD BEOTHEE . —X am not going again to ask the question—Was Shakespeare a Freemason ? a question which has alreadbeen replied to in your

y columns by myself , wheu I gave it as my conviction that he was not an initiated member of the Craft . Notwithstanding that expressed conviction , however , ( which , in my mind , has not been shaken ) , I forward you the folloiving passages from that beautiful play , ' •' Antony ancl Cleopatra , '' and shall leave it to the

judgment of others as to whether they lead to an inference that the great bard Avas a Mason . Certain it is that he was cognisant of some of the terms used by the brethren . At the same time , I do not wish it to be understood that I consider that the passages which follow have a direct bearing upon the princi ples of

-or practice Mason . The triple , pillar of the world , Tu Nature ' s infinite book of secrecy A little I can read . The fear of us Kay cement their divisions .

Correspondence.

Bead not" my blemishes in the world ' s report ; I have not kept my square ; but that to come , Shall all be done by the rule . Let not the piece of virtue which is set Between us , as the cement of our love , To keep ib builded , be the ram to batter

The fortress of it . No practice had In the brave squares of war . Mine honesty and I begin to square . [ Enter tvjo Soldiers . ' ] Brothergood night . —

, Heard you of nothing strange about the street ? -Notluus ;' . -what news ? Belike ' tis but a rumour . Good night to you . Well , sir , good night . The time of universal peace is near . Prove this a- prosperous day , tho three-nooked world

Shall bear the olive freely . Young boys and girls Are level now with men . Aprons , rules , and hammers . . 0 , eastern star . Doncaster . G . JB .

How PAPISTS ESTIMATE JFREEJIASOXKY—There is noiv an Italian lodge at Salonika , called the Macedonia , consisting of about forty members , against ivhieh a systematic persecution is carried on by the Jesuits . Lately the lodge got up a theatrical representation , for the benefit of the charities of the city , and tendered a portion of the proceeds to the Roman Catholic sisters of charity . The Bishop however , told them to refuse it , and not take the " devils money . "—MXSTIC STAE .

THE PEESE >" T HOUSE OP COSMOS ' S . —We learn from JDebrett ' s recently published " House of Commons , " edited by P . obert H . Mair , Esq ., that 169 members ivere educated at Eton , 81 at Han-OAV , 32- at Rugby , 29 at Westminster , 18 at Winchester , 11 at the Charterhouse , 2 at Merchant Taylors ' , 1 at St . Paul ' s , 19 at Military or Naval Schools , 7 at King ' s College , London , 4 at University College , London , and 42 by private tutors ; the remainder being alumni of grammar or private schools . One

hundred and sixty-nine graduated at the University of Oxford , 124 at Cambridge , 28 at Dublin , 15 at Edinburgh , 4 at Glasgow , 1 at St . Andrew's , and 7 at the London University . The legal profession is represented by 128 members , 95 of whom have been caiied to the English , oar , IS to tiie bar in Ireland , and 6 to the Scottish bar ; while 9 are , or have been , in practice as attorneys . . Five are Sergeants at Law , and 30 are Queen's Counsel . Forty-seven were Students at the Inner Temple 36

, at Lincoln ' s Inn , 9 at the Middle Temple , and 3 at Gray ' s Inn . Commissions in the Army are , or have been , held by 112 members , in the Navy by 13 , in the Yeomanry by 65 , in the Volunteers by 68 , and in the Militia by G 3 . Fifty members are Privy Councillors , 3 are Irish Peers , 70 are Baronets , 10 are Knights , 16 are Lords-Lieutenants of counties , 38 are heirs apparent to Peers , and 9 to Baronets , 65 are younger sons of Peers , and 15

of Baronets ; 11 are heirs presumptive to Peerages , and 2 to Baronetcies ; 97 have held , or are holding , official Government appointments , 8 are sons of members , 81 are authors or editors , 128 are directors of public companies , 109 are bankers , manufacturers , merchants , or in business , 3 are , or have been , medical practitioners , 93 have served the office of Hi gh Sheriff , 487 are Justices of the Pence , 363 are Deputy Lieutenants , 117

have changed their constituencies , and 40 have changed , ou added to , their patronymics . The eldest member is Sir AA illiam Verner , born 1782 , and the youngest , Lord Newport , born 1845 . Fifty-three members were born in the last century , and 25 have been born since the year 1840 . In the years 1 S 05 and 1815 , 21 members in each year were born , and iu 1813 and 1825 , 23 were born in each year . The next most prolific years were 1809 , 1816 , and 1817 , when 19 members in each year were born , and 1811 , 1812 , and 1 S 2 G , when 18 members were born in each year .