The Royal Benevolent Institution And Mrs. Piper.

EAELY ALLUSION TO MASOSRV . Robert Fabyan , one of the English Chroniclers , Avas a draper , citizen , and Alderman of London in the XVIth contury , ancl Avas likeAvise one of tho resident gentry of Theydon Gernon , in Essex , where he had an estate . Ho Avas born in London , but in AA'hat year is uncertain ; this much , hoAvever , is knoAvn that ho served the office of Sheriff in 1-193 , and resigned that of Alderman in

1502 . Of the date of his death there appears to be no accurate information , but his will was proved July 12 th , 1513 , and dated July llth , 1511 . His work , from AA'hich the folloAving extract was made , is entitled by himself , The Concordance of Histories , and Avas first printed by Pynson in 1516 ; it is noiv popularly known as Fabyan ' s Chronicles . In his Inci pit Prologue , consisting of twentyeight stanzas—he tells us hoAv difficult it is to arrange his materials properly , ancl in the Sth ancl 6 th stanzas thus makes an early allusion to Masonry : —

"And I lyke the Prentyse that liCAvyth the roAvgth stone , And bvyngeth it to square , Avith harde strokes and many , That the niayster after may it ouer gone , Ancl pi-ynte therein his fygures ancl his story ; Ancl so to Averke it after his propornary , That it may appere to all that shall it se , A thynge ryght parfyte and Avell in eche clegre . " So haue I IIOAVO sette out this rude Averke

, As rough as the stone nat comen to the square . That the lerned and the studyed clei-ke May it oure polysshe and clene do it pare ; EloAvrysshe it Avith Eloquence , Avhereof it is bare , And frame it in ordre that yet is out of ioynt , That it Avith old Auctours may gree in euery poynt . " Believing there are hosts of similar testimonies to the

working of the Craft , both speculative and operative , to be found in our earlier authors , I communicate the preceding note in tho hope that other brethren Avill folloiv with similar quotations , properly A'erified by titles and . —1 $ « MATTKEAV COOKE , 30 ° .

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , AND ART .

The neAV poem , or rather play , St . Clements Eve , by Mr . Henry Taylor , the author of Philip Tan Artwelde , will certainly add to his reputation . Here is a pretty little soliloquy put into the mouth of one of his characters : — " Poor forsaken Elos ! Not all her brihtnessspoi-tfulnessancl bloom

g , , , Her sweetness ancl her Avildness , and her Avit , Could save her from desertion . No , their loves Were off the poise : Her boundless flood of love Swept out his pretty rill . Love competent Make better bargains than love affluent , Ancl his was beggarly ancl " hers ivas rich . "

M . Guizot ' s account of his Embassy to the Court of St . James ' s in 1810 will be published in the course of the mouth . The volume will contain sketches of Lods Melbourne , Pahnerston , Aberdeen , Russell , Grey , Lansdoivne , Lyndlmi-st , Holland , Duke of Wellington , Sir Eobert Peel , Macaulny , Jeffrey , Dr . Arnold , Hallam , O'Connell , Croker , Whately , Mr . and Mrs . G-rotc , Lady

Durham , Lady Jersey , Mrs . Fry , ancl other celebrities of tiventy years ago . In the Exhibition of the Koyal Academy , the lady artists have attained a position this } ear in every respect higher than has ever been awarded to them . In all gallantry Ave are not disposed to look for any ofthe great deeds in art from this source ;

but it must be admitted that in certain delicate perceptions of "beaut y of colour and expression of sentiment of the romantic order there are some pictures by women , IIOAV to be seen in

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

London , AA'hich surpass anything by their rivals or ths opposite sex . A cartoon in colour has been completed by Mr . Hook , Sov one of the mosaic pictures intended to he placed in the alcoA' . S' recesses in tlie Cromwell-road front of the Exhibition building . This is noAv exhibited inside the entrance to the picture galleries . The subject is "Fishing , " and it is represented by two fishermen

of the sort Mr . Hook delights to paint , hauling the net in a boat tossed by the AA-aves . It is a very clever design , and would , we imagine , suit the style of work in AA'hich it is intended to be executed .

An Association , to be called " The Inventors' Institute , " has been inaugurated , for the purpose of uniting and organizing the influence of inventors and patentees—facilitating the progress of science in connection with inventions—obtaining a simple and efficient administration of the Patent L IIAV—and generally to protect the rights ancl promote the interests of inventors .

Mr . Egg , theacadamecian , has returned from Algeria in excellent health ; the climate having proved the smost complete restorative . Morelli , one of the most distinguished of the modern Italian school of painters , is represented in the International Gallery by one of his best pictures— "The Iconoclasts . " We are sorry

to see this fine easel picture hung about 30 feet from the ground —the subject almost unrecognisable , ancl all the beauty of the picture thus ignoraiifcly lost . A Pictorial History of the current Great Rebellion , by Mr . Benson J . Lossing , is about to be published by Mr . G . W . Chilcls , of Philadelphia . It will be issued in tiventy monthly shilling parts , and Avill be crowded with steel and AA'ood-engravings of battle-fields and distinguished soldiers . The American Publisher ' s Circular does not feel kindly

toAvards White and Kiddle's new Latin-English Dictionary . This great Avork , just published by Messrs . Longmans , is founded on the Latin-German Dictionary of Dr . Freund , and Freund's work was first translated into English by Dr . AndreAA'S , an American . That it should be reckoned possible to revise and improA'e Avhat " a great American scholar like the late Dr . Andrews left finished , " is deemed " someAA-hat ungracious /'

Mr . Kelly , Avho some time ago AA-rote a readable book of Australia experiences , is preparing a volume on British Columbia for Messrs . Chapman ancl Hall . There is a prospect of the Koh-i-noor being seen to very great advantage at the International Exhibition . An exhibitor in the class of philosophical instruments has devised mechanism

Avhich Avill give it a gentle rocking motion , the effect of AA'hich Avill be to expose the facets to the light , ancl thus cause them to flash Avith a brilliancy now unknown . Crowds of ladies flutter all the day round this and other gems .

The Eev . Joseph Wolff died a few clays since at his living near Taunton , at the age of sixty-seven . His many changes of religion , his curious travels , and , to some extent , his linguistical attainments , made him , afc one time , a sort of lion of the season . The fate of all lions speedily overtook Dr . Wolff , ancl for seventeen years past lie has lii-ed in obscurity . The "Journey to Bokhara " is a curious book , and Avill maintain a certain interest

for readers of the episodes in our Indian story . The number of visitors to the British Museum last year reached 6-11 , 886—a considerable increase over the previous three years . Of course , this year Avill bring a very different number . It Avas above 2 , 500 , 000 in the Exhibition years 1851 . The number above mentioned does not include the visits paid last

year to the reading-room for the purpose of study—130 , 410 , a small increase over the preceding year . The reading-room Avas open 290 days , and the readers averaged 450 a day .