Literary Extracts.

LITERARY EXTRACTS .

OoairosiTiON or THE AMERICAN CHARACTER . —The North American people haA'e been bred from the most restless and combative class of Europe . "Whenever , during the last ten or tAvelve generations , a political or religious party has suffered defeat , its prominent members , whether they were the best , or only the noisiest , have been apt to emigrate to America , as a refuge from persecution . Men fled to

America for conscience sake , and for thafc _ of unappreciated patriotism . Every scheming knave and every brutal ruffian , Avho feared the arm of the law , also turned his eyes in the same direction . Peasants and ¦ artizans , whose spirit rebelled against the tyranny of society and the monotony of their daily life , and men of a higherposition , Avho chafed under conventionalrestraints , all

yearned towards America . Thus the disposition of the parents of the American people have been exceedingly varied , and usually extreme , either for good or for evil . But in one respect they almost universally agreed . Every head of an emigrant family brought with him a restless character and a spirit apt to rebel . If we estimate the moral nature of Americans from their present

social state , we shall find it to be just what we might have expected from such a parentage . They are enterprising , defiant and touchy , impatient of authority , furious politicians , very tolerant of fraud and violence , possessing much high and generous spirit , and some true religious feeling , but strongly addicted to cant — Macmillan .

NUBIAN WOMEN . —It is worth while going to Nubia to see the girls . Up to twelve or thirteen they are nearly dressed in a bead necklace , and a lether fringe , four inches wide , round their loins ; and anything so absolutely perfect as their shapes , or so sweetly innocent as their look , cannot be conceived . The women are dressed in drapery , like Greek statues , and their forms are as perfect ;

they have bard , bold faces , but very handsomehair , plaited like the Egyptain sculptures and soaked Avith castor-oil . The colour of the skin is rich sepia-brown , as of velvet with the pile , very dark , and the red blood growing through it , unlike negro colour in any degree . My pilot ' s little girl came in the dress mentioned above , carrying a present of cooked fish on her head , and some fresh eggs .

She ivas four years old , and so clever ! I gave her a captain ' s biscuit and some figs ; and the little pet sat with her little legs tucked under her , and ate it so daintily ; she was very long over it , and when she had done , she carefully wrapped up some more biscuit in a little rag of a viel to take home . I longed to steal her , she Avas such a darlingOne irl of thirteen was so lovelthat

, g y even the greatest prude must , I think , hare forgiven her SAveet , pure beauty . But the women , though far handsomer , lack the charm of the Arab women ; and the men , except at Kalabsheh , and those from far up the country , are not such gentlemen as the Arabs . —Lady Gordon ' s Letters from Egypt .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Meyerbeer ' s "L'Africaine" is shortly to be produced in Vienna . The Bra finds fault with the custom now prevalent among actors of growing their moustaches . The Orchestra has received private intelligence from Fano to the effect that poor Giuglini is quite given up . Ernest Eossi , the distinguished Florentine actor , is

about to come to London , and play in Italian versions of some of the tragedies of Shakespeare . Mr . John Brougham , of the Princess ' s Theatre , is going to leave England for America . Mr . and Mrs . 0 . Kean have been playing to crowded houses at the Broadway Theatre , NCAV York . They are to be succeeded by Madame Celeste , who will perform

Notes On Music And The Drama.

there for two weeks , and then go a farewell tour through the country . Mr . Sims Beeves , Avho has been staying at Malvern "Wells to try the Avater cure , very kindly got up an amateur concert , and himself sang in it , for the purpose of raising funds to buy a neAV organ for the church . The proposal came from him , and he gave his services

gratuitously . Miss Kate Terry and Miss L . Foote are playing alternate nights the part of the heroine in Mr . Tom Taylor ' s drama of "The Serf . " The English Opera season at Covent Garden is to commence on Monday , the 22 nd of October , with an English version of "L'Africaine . "

A romantic opera by Mr . Balfe , and a grand historical opera by Mr . Vincent Wallace , are announced as being prepared for publication . The Vaudeville is preparing two new pieces , the "Nouveau Cid , " by M . Hegelmann , and " L'lvresse , " by M . Althon-Shee , formerly a peer of France . Miss Berrywhose execution of our native ballads

, Avon honourable mention in many quarters during the London season just concluded , has been lately staying in Paris . She has received the most flattering marks of distinction from musicians , Rossini having given her bis portrait and autograph , and Auber tbe same , with the addition of an album . M . Gounod also wrote a piece of music expressly for her .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MASONIC CTPHEE . In my Masonic researches I have come across the following , and shall be glad if any of your numerous readers can furnish a key . There are no . points , and the letters are all of one uniform size : —L E A L _ P XETQTIICQTPFXOCXLCNEW QGESE ¥ ODSE ¥ IHTICCZRPE T IT TJ A H . —A .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , PEEEMASONEY IN JEESET . TO THE EDITOR OS THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIKEOIt . DEAU SIE Aim BEOTHEE , —It is now about two years since mention was first made in your columns

of the establishment of a lodge in Jersey , under the title of " Les Amis de 1 'Avenir , " holding a warrant from the " Grand Orient du Eite Ecossais , " in Prance . This proceeding having been very properly pronounced irregular by the Provincial Grand Master , the English brethren who took part in it were , after many

preliminaries , suspended , and formal notice was g iven to the Masters of the several lodges in the province to forbid their members visiting the new lodge , and to report any breaches of the mandate which might come to their knowledge . An appeal was laid before the Grand Lodge in December , 1863 , which resulted

in a confirmation of the suspension inflicted by the local authority . This matter has been repeatedly noticed and discussed in your columns , which affords a reason for again troubling your readers Avith a few remarks on the subject , a very sore one among the Masons of Jersey ; so long a time having elapsed , one might fairl y suppose that further measures would be taken , but in fact , nothing has been done , beyond an