Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

like a face touched me sensibly twice on the left side of my mouth . A head then reclined on mine , the long hair falling over my face and shoulder , and remained until the heat became unbearable . A bright light then appeared , and disclosed a figure with the arm raised over its head . I asked for an explanation of the nature of the drapery , and it was answered by the raps : ' It is a spiritual garment naturalised ; I will bring you the key . ' Footsteps and the rustling indicated a movement towards the door , and the sofa which was against the key was removed , the key turned in the lock , and was then placed in my outstretched hand . "

" There is no cruelty to be found in the wildest romance , " says Proletarius , "but what can be paralleled in the actual dealings of man with his fellow-man . " The following account of an Egyptian tyrant , who would have done admirably for one of the children of Israel ' s hard taskmasters , is given in the new work on Egypt , the Soudan , and Central Africa . One would charitably hope that

the whole was fiction , did not corresponding reports bring it within the region of belief . Even as we write , the daily newspapers inform us , that the king of Dahomey is preparing once more to slaughter two thousand innocent human , beings according to his " grand custom ! " " The treatment of the natives by the Defterdar , his subordinates , and the uncouth troops , was barbarous in

the extreme . Not only were they robbed of every article of value which came under the observation of their despoilers , but the most trivial offence was punished with a cruelty which , for its ingenuity , was as peculiar as it was horrifying . An instance or two will throw sufficient light upon the character of the Defterdar and the sufferings of his victims , and enable the reader to understand what bitter cause the Kordofhnese had to regret their change of master . One of his soldiers , in open day , walked off

with a sheep from the enclosure of a poor man , where he had secured it prior to offering it for sale in the market . 'Taken in the act , he not only persisted in keeping the sheep , but treated the peasant with abuse . He might have reconciled himself to being robbed , which was of too ordinary occurrence ; but , determined to obtain satisfaction for wanton attacks upon his character , he forthwith proceeded to the divan , and laid his complaint before the Defterdar . Listening attentivelwithout interruptionuntil

y , , he heard the case , in a sudden fit of passion he said , ' Dog , do you dare to trouble me with such a trifle ? ' then composing himself for an instant , and catching a fly , at which he was a great adept , and which in his wicked moods was a favourite occupation , he ordered his attendants to take the man before the Kadi . In a few

minutes the poor fellow was blown from the muzzle of a cannon , always ready for summary executions in front of the divan , and which the Defterdar called the Kadi . A man complained that lie had been struck in the market . ' By whom ? ' growled the governor . ' By this man . ' 'Is it true ? ' 'Yes , Excellency ; but ' 'No buts are necessary ; with which hand did you strike him ?' 'With this , the ; right , Excellency . ' 'Then in order to impress upon your memory that you have no riht to take the

administrag tion of justice into your own hands , for which purpose I am here 'giving a nod to his attendants— ' I shall have tho palm of your hand off . ' A couple of attendants rushed on tho unfortunate peasant , and with a fearful iron instrument of the Dcfterdar's invention , the flesh was torn from its ligaments . "That will do ; " -o to your work-. ' ' Work ! ' said the poor victim , maddening with pain , 'how can I , in this state ? ' 'Dog , you contradict me ; cut

his tongue out ; he knows not how to use it ; ' and , in addition to the torture already undergon , he was deprived of the organ of speech . Dreaded not alone by the aborigines , his officers , troops , and household servants trembled when in his presence ; for they well knew that the sli ghtest offence , neglect , or mistake , would bepunisbed with torture or death . After the feast of the Bciram , it . is customary for servants to receive presents from their masters and about

; a score cf the Dcfterdar's grooms , after kissing his hand , and , as is usual , wishing him a long and happy life , im ^ prudently asked him for new shoes . 'Yes / ' was his rcplv ; but judge their astonishment when , on the following day , iron ' shoes were nailed to the soles of their feet . An Arab / unable to poise a couple of small field pieces on a ' camel ' s back , one of which was heavier than the other— ' Let me try , ' said the Defterdar ; and , orderinthe to be b

g man slung y the waist to the li ghter gun , without a quiver of his features , he said . ' That will do ;' ' and there the poor fellow remained throughout the day ' s march , on one daring to relieve him from his painful position . " At the opening converzazione of the Architectural Association the other day , Mr . W . A . Bloomfield wisely advised the members not to " approach the character of a juvenile debating Society , in which the most difficult political questions of the day are gravely

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

discussed and decided by an assembly of beardless youths . " Tho following extract from the report of the " Castlecroft Young Men ' s Mutual Improvement Society , " read at tho annual soiree of the society on the 11 th inst ., we copy from the Bury Times -. — " With respect to the debating- class , they were able to say better things than of all the other classes put together ; though some members had made it a means of venting their spleen against others , and at

times a great deal of dust had been thrown about , so that for the time they had been most of them blind ; yet they had not missed once holding their class since it was first fairly formed , and the interest still continued with unbated vigour . They met fortnightly fjr discussion , and during- the fifteen months that they had been a society , about thirty' subjects had been discussed , some of them twice over , amongst which were the following : — ' Ought government to prepare a secular education for the people ? ' ' Is the

doctrine of eternal punishment consistent with the idea of a just God ? ' ' Is universal suffrage just or desirable ? ' ' Who was the greatest benefactor to his country—Alfred the Great , or Oliver Cromwell ? ' ' Ought capital punishment to be abolished ?' * Whether is male or female education most important ? ' ' Are ignorance and intemperance the chief causes of crime ? ' ' Ought the grant to Maynooth to be withdrawn ? ' ' Are trades' unions , beneficial to working men ? ' ' Is woman mentally inferior to

man ? ' Some of them had been discussed with much warmth , particularly , tho last one ; some of the gentlemen , having an eyeto tho fact that they were tbe lords of creation , were not wishful to lose the palm of superiority . Connected with tho association there was also a conversation class . Essays had been read fortnightly by the members . In connection with the society they had also a manuscript magazine issued monthly , and of which four numbers have already appeared . Some of the articles which had

appeared exhibited much merit , both in the style of composition , and in tho subjects treated of . Although the scheme is a new one with them , they thought they should not be ashamed of putting their Castlecroft Magazine in the hands of a stranger . "—It must be borne in mind that the above is intended as a sort of model society , being connected with a dissenting chapel , the minister of which is reported at this soiree as speaking of our immortal Bro . Robert Burns , as though he had been one of the reprobates of his . day !

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . 10 TUZ IDXTOIt Or TKE FREEMASONS MAGAZIXE AXD ItASOXtC ItlKKOH , . SIR , —In your publication of Saturday last , there is a letter from a " Grand Officer of Scotland . " In that letter there is a list of prices charged by that bodycalling

them-, selves " Early Grand , " for eleven degrees succeeding those of E . A . and K . T . Your correspondent is partly right , such is the nominal price of these degrees ; but you will perhaps be astonished when I tell you that no less than seven degrees , viz ., from Knights of the Blue to Eed Cross , or Princely Order , inclusive , have been conferred on individuals for the sum of 2 s . 6 d .

The name of the individual who conferred these degrees , and also tbe names of those who received them , I cau at any time produce . He states that their obligation binds them " not to be present at the exaltation of anyone to the E . A . degree , where tho fee is more than 7 s ., and to the Temple , more than 10 s . 6 d . "

I am of opinion that your correspondent has made a mistake in this ; at least , if ' it is so « o « -, itmust have been lately altered , as I . am almost confident that the meaning was , that they will not be present , eve . where the fee is less than 7 s . for E , A ., and 10 s . lid . lor K . T . However , having as great an abhorrence , not only of spurious Masonry , ' but also of those who go about giving- it

to the world ( oven though it was pure , at the scale of prices here mentioned ) , as any "Grand Officer" can be , I hope ho will speedily have that law passed in Grand Lodoe which ho mentions , for the protection of our Eoyal Order . I am , yours fraternally , G-. Mossend Iron Works , by BeflshiTf , Nov . 26 ' .