Masonic Facts.

Por this class of people and their attendants , the honour of the privileges granted to them , Avas sufficient to make them always ready , without any other inducement , because their privileges were always hig hly esteemed ; but Avhen actually employed , they were paid their ordinary Avages besides .

Tig- 60 . —The Batlialha , Portugal . 200 loot = 1 inch . Near the entrance of the church are the names of the following workmen - who are there interred . .,- " -First Master Workmen . " Mestre Matheos—Portuguese 1515 .

, . Mestre Gongiate , a Stranger . , „ Conrado „ First Master Workmen for the Avindows : Mestre TJgado , a Stranger . Whitaker

„ „ ' ¦ ' . ' —Mur-pJiy ' s Batalha , 1795 . Fi g .. 65 . Plan of the Church of Batalha . Fig . 6 G . ' Masons' Marks from different parts of the church .

A NICE CLIMATE . —A correspondent of fche Morning Post , writing from Xiee , May 9 , says : — " Our season has been a gay oue ; an immense increase of visitors , ancl an introduction of Parisian habits and customs , which makes everything more expensive , if more luxurious , than when Nice was Italian . It is now getting very hot , but what a garden ! Such gigantic roses —large as saucers . There are yellsw roses too . The orange flowers

are being gathered ; so delicious the smell is , I go every clay where the market is helcl , ancl where there sacks of them at three saus the kilo . AVe have been eating peas , asparagus , and new potatoes for weeks past . We have now the large , fresh strawberry ; cherries are coming in ; also the nejle de Japan , anil the green figs . Do you know the former fruit ? AVe have had gooseberry puddings ancl tarts , ancl almost every clay I have my five sous ice . These are the cheap things of Kice .

Architecture Of Palestine From The Earliest Times To The Crusades.

ARCHITECTURE OF PALESTINE FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE CRUSADES .

The Sepulchral Valley of the Jews at Jerusalem . In close proximity with the sepulchres of the Jews , on tho north , lies a A'alley , Avhich must he traA'ersed to reach Neby Sam nil , the ancient Ramah , the-dwellingplace of the prophet Samuel , A short distance from valley , eastward , are found portions of a wall , composed of large rectangular stones hlput together

, rougy , Avithout ceineiifc , mortice , or iron . Among them exists a doorivaj ' , 6 feet Avide and 12 feet high , the sidoposts of AA'hich are each composed of a single stone , ancl support a monolith architrave , 3 feet high , resting upon them Avithout cement . Ifc bears a resemblance , on a very small scale , to the door of the Treasury of Atrcus , at Mycente . Of such constructions no trace is found after

the period of Solomon . Throughout the Avhole of Palestine nothing is to be scon so ancient as those I haA-e just described , ancl which I believe to be anterior to Solomon . The Avorks transmitted to us by tho patriarchs are necropolises , hewn out of the rock to serve for receptacles for the dead , as afc Hebron ; monuments erected

over graves , like those of Rachel , at Ephratha , and Joseph , at Sichem , formed of simple stones ancl Avithout inscription ; mausoleums , like that of Absolom , at Jerusalem ; the level surfaces used as threshing-floors , as at Ramah and Gibeah ; and , finally , the A'asfc reser-A'oirs , as on the Avay to Hebron . In ail these works , perseverance and strength to overcome the resistance of the stone are plainly apparent ; but the taste and genius of art totally Avantinp-.

Sepulchre of Samuel , in Bamah . Ifc ivill not be out of place here to describe the construction of the Sepulchre of Samuel , in Ramah , AA'hich I have minutely examined . In ancient Ramah , now a village called in Arabic Neby Samuil , exists a mosque , which AA'as formerly a church , built by the Crusaders . The Avails of this building are far from corresponding

Avith the magnificence of its foundations , formed of enormous blocks of stone , Avhich , though defaced , still shoAV traces of careful and elaborate rustication . On the soufch-Avest side of this building stands another of fche same period . This contains , or rather covers , the rock in which is the prophet ' s sepulchre . By a door , formed of iron gratingopened for me bthe devcrish in charge

, y , I entered a chamber cut in tho rock . In the centre of this chamber is an enormous sarcophagus , Avhich I recognized at a glance as a specimen of Moslem architecture , and AA'hich is the same thafc is exhibited with so much pretension and mystery through a hole traversing the entire thickness of the rock , to persons not permitted to set foot upon the rock overlying the tomb of tho prophet ,

hut who aro obliged to be concent Avith remaining in the upper room , Avhere there is another sarcophagus of wood . This sight did nofc , however , suffice for me . Upon examining the court , I perceived an opening 10 inches in diameter , running through the rock and communicating- with a lower chamber , Avhich Avas utterly dark . Besides that , I . saw a passage railed oft ' Avith iron

bars ; aud inferred , from the rusty state of tho gate , that the dervish himself never ventured to A'isit the old prophet , whom the Mussulmans declare to be still alive . All my endeavours to induce my guide to open this gate Avere fruitless . Though he persisted in seeking to compel me to retire , I accomplished my investigationas Avell as I couldAvithout him . By means of

, , lighted paper thrown doAvn the whole to Avhich I have alluded , I discovered the existence , in the centre of the cavern , of a sarcophagus of Avhitish stoue , of rectangular form at its base , surmounted by a triangular prism , without ornament or inscription . The Avails of the sepulchral chamber Avere smooth , like those of the one in Avhich I Avas . The smoothness retained the appear-