Knights Templar.

Grand Expert , Prov . G . A . Lancashire , Treas . and Reg . ; Sir Knight Jackson , G . of Lines , and the rest of the Sir Knights . The minutes of last regular meeting were read over and confirmed . A letter was received from the G . V . C ., announcing the meeting of Grand Conclave on 6 th December , for the first time . This encampment will be represented either by the E . C . or a past E . C . The rest of the business before the conclave being finished , it was closed with solemn prayer .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTLE . —Royal Kent Encampment . —This encampment was opened at the Freemasons' Hall , Newsate-street , on the 22 nd inst ., by the M . E . C ., H . G . Ludwig , assisted by P . M . E . C . Sir Knt . H . Hotham , as 1 st Captain ; C . J . Banister , 2 nd Captain ; P . M . E . C . Gillispie , 2 nd Grand Herald , as Expert ; Rev . S . Atkinson , Prelate ,

and the rest of the officers . The minutes of last conclave were read and confirmed . Companion Benjaman Levy , of Chapter 114 , was proposed and presented by the Expert , and exalted to this illustrious order by P . M . E . C . Sir Knight C . J . Banister , 1 st Grand Aid , and P . G . D . C . for Lancashire . Comp . Swithenbank was proposed as a candidate for installation . The letter from the G . V . Chancellor was read , and the E . C . stated that he should not be able to attend Grand Conclave , but that he hoped that this encampment would be represented by one of the Sir Knights present . After the conclave was closed the Sir Knights adjourned to refreshment , and spent a very happy hour .

ANECDOTE or GENERAL JACKSON . —At the time of Jackson's elevation to the Presidency , there was an old man in office at Washington , who was a strong Adams man . He had a large family of ¦ children , all depending on him for support—his oldest son ( and who now gives the facts ) , being a lad of some twelve or thirteen years . The old man anticipated removal from office by the new Administration , but was too proud to use any influence to bo retained by a

man whose election he had so strenuously opposed . His residence was some distance beyond the Presidential mansion , on the Georgetown road . A few days after the inauguration , the President , walking out alone in the warm evening , passed the house of the old gentleman—who happened to be sitting on his porch . On his return the President halted in front of the house , asked some common-place question of the old man , and passed on . The next day , on his walk , he stopped again , offered the old man his hand ,

and as it was grasped each countenance was seen to light up with a peculiar smile . The two men greeted each other heartily when , seating themselves on a rude bench under the trees , an hour was spent in conversation—to the great wonder of the old man's family . And almost daily after that , in the cool of the evening could these two men be seen sitting on that rude bench , engaged in a free and animated converse . Although so widely differing in politics from the President , the old man was not removed from his office : he had learned to admire the President as a man , and

neither reviled him himselfj nor suffered it to be done in his presence without rebuke- In 1 S 35 the old gentleman died , leaving a large family comparatively destitute . In a few days afterward Amos Kendall called at the house and said to the oldest boj ' , then approaching ro manhood , "The President wants to see you ; " at the same time requesting the widow to give herself no uneasiness , as the President would see that she should not want . On the young man presenting himself before the President , the latter

remarked , " My son , if yon were alone in the world and had none depending upon you , I would recommend you to take an axe on your shoulder and go to the West . I do not like the plan of giving you an office in Washington , but at present I know of no other resource ; I shall give you a place ; ever be faithful to the precepts of your father , and you will do well . " The next day the young man entered one of the Departments as a clerk , and by strict attention to his duties he was gradualladvanced to a hih position— -until

y g removed by an administration who " knew not Joseph . " The young man , in narrating the circumstances to our informant , added : "I was puzzled to know the secret ; I knew my hither was a Royal Arch Mason , and finally learned from him that Jackson was also . I then determined that , as soon as old enough , I too would apply to become a Mason . " He did so , and is at this writing- a Grand Master , and a wealthy and highly respected citizen . —American Paper .

THE Critic , in noticing the publication of the Life , and correspondence of our late gallant Bro . Admiral Sir Charles Napier , K . C . B . says -. — " We are glad that this book lias appeared , for tbe sake of the memory of the brave old sailor who closed a long life , nobly spent in doing what he conceived to be his duty to his country , by a vain and vexatious struggle with powerful and prejudiced enemies . "

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

A series of concerts is to be held in the building of the International Exhibition of 1862 , of which Mr . Alfred Mellon has been appointed conductor . A suitable room will be constructed for the purpose . We may also state that Professor Sterndale Bennett is engaged upon writing an " Ode , " probably for voices only , to words of the Poet Laureate , for the inauguration festival . Meyerbeer will contribute an overture , and Auber a march . Signor Verdi ,

who will represent Italy , has not yet made known his choice . There is a talk that among the sights and sounds of next year will be an English opera at Drury Lane Theatre , to combine , it is added , Mademoiselle Tietjens and Mr . Sims Reeves . The plans for improving the sonority of the orchestra in the Crystal Palace for the Handel Festival of 1862 are complete , and , so far as a judgment can be passed on them , satisfactory .

Mr . Macfnrran is said to have made great progress in another opera on an English subject . The receipts of all the theatres , concerts , balls , and other public entertainments in Paris , during the months of October last , amounted to l , 507 , 671 f . During the month of September they were less by 291 , 657 f . The sisters Marchisoat present engaged at the Italian O in

, pera Berlin , will shortly arrive in England , and make a tour of the provinces , under the auspices of Mr . Willert Beale , accompanied by M . A'ieuxtemps , Arthur Napoleon , the pianist , and Signori Ciampi and Cosselli . Berlioz , it is said , is writing an opera , which will bo brought out at the inauguration of the new theatre now being built at Baden-Baden by M . Benazet . The poem , likewise from the pen of j & I .

Berlioz , is founded on a subject from Shakespeare . M . Grisar ' s new opera , the book by St . Georges and de Leuven , called "St . Joailler de St . James , " is in rehearsal at the Opera Comiquc in Paris . "AnnaEolena" will be revived at the Paris Italian Opera , after having been laid on the shelf for more than twenty years . The production of Mercadante's " Lecnora " is also spoken of .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

DEURY-LANE THEATRE . Mr . 1-1 . J . Byron ' s new burlesque , "Miss Eily O'Connor , " which was produced on Monday , was received with marks of enthusiastic approval by a very crowded audience . Mr . Byron has plentifully besprinkled the text with his usual humorous dislocations of the Engliah language ; moreover , much of the dialogue displays wit of a quality considerably above the level of mere word twisting , and

some of the parodies are eminently happy and mirth-provoking . The author has done his work well , and has no reason whatever to be ashamed of the fruits of his labour . But he has expended it upon decidedly impracticable material . " The Colleen Bawn , " upon which he has founded his burlesque , spite of its almost unprecedented run , is by no means a powerful drama , and a piece which lacks intensity affords meagre food for travestie . The Cave Scene is the only really strong situation in itand this was rendered

, fairly effective in the comic version by the numerous conceit of causing tho two principal personages concerned in it to appear alternately above the water to the melody of " The Cure . " Miss Louise Keeley played Myles Macoppaleen with infinite spirit , genial humour , and artistic finish , and her impersonation was iu every respect worthy of the warmest praise . Mrs . Selby , too , with the exception of a trifling extravagance in the last scene , was judicious and effective as Mrs . Cregan . Mr . Byron was called for

at the end of the piece , which , as we have already stated , was received with clamorous applause . OLYMPIC THEATRE . A little comedy , entitled " Court Cards , " was produced at this theatre on Mondayand experienced the favourable reception now

al-, most invariable accorded to new dramas from the French . Of the parts in which the play abounds , the most interesting is the princess , whose character and career bear a slight resemblance to those of that famous Lady Arabella Stuart , who , unfortunately for herself , lived in the reign of James I ., and the narrative of whose romantic adventures in search of her husband , William Seymour , may bo