Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

have been Mr . Ross ' s labour to bring together such a valuable mass of materials , Avhich makes one long for the remainder of his Biogrdphia Eboracensis , AAdiich will be one of the most valuable literary productions connected Avith his native county . Mr . Ross is a trustworthy author , capable of stating clearly AA'hat he knows—and that is muchand it is to be hoped that he Avill be spared to see his more important work in the hands of the public . I for one am anxious to possess it , as many more must be .

Dioscorides , the wise old Greek botanist—Avho not only towelled through his OAVU country to study and describe the herbs and their uses , but also visited Italy , Asia Minor , and some parts of Gaul , for the same good purpose—knew that the male shieldfern , in doses of four drachms , " drives out the broad worm , " or Avhat we now term the tape-Avorm ; and for some two thousand years it has remained the best and safest vermifuge knoAvn to the faculty ; tin and other substitutes being injurious to the

constitutions of most patients . The Americans , hoAveA'er , for some years , have been usmg an oil pressed from putnpkin seeds , it is said not Avitkout success . Under the title of Lyrits , Sylvan and Sacred , the Rev . Richard Wilton , M . A ., Rector of Londesborough , has published a neat little A olume , full alike of poetry and piety , which he commends " to the Reader " in the folloAving appropriate A'erses : —

" In wood and lane I wander free , Arid gather flowers from bank or tree ; And with a loving hand entwine The hawthorn , rose , and eglantine ; And hero I bring the wreath to thee . Thy happy lot it may not be To see the lark spring from the lea ;

Or breathe the deAvy odours fine In Avood and lane . But there are other fields divine , Which in dim city may be thine ; Where thou the FIOAVCI- of Flowers mayst sec , And catch the Spirit ' s melody ; Nor thine alone , but also mine In wood and lane . " -

As might be expected from a Church of England Clergyman , the religions sentiments in the volume are all orthodox ; but there is a catholicity of feeling about the pieces which speaks volumes for the heart and head of their author . Mr . Wilton handles the sonnet with a grace which few haA * e done since the days of Wordsworth , who had truly learnt to " scorn not the sonnet's poAver . " Such subjects as Ignatius , Polycarp , Justin Martyr , Tertullian , Irenams , Origen , Eusebius , and Athanasius , are too ticklish to criticise in the literary organ of an Order that seeks to range under its banner , in one firm phalanx of brotherhood , good men of the most discordant theological opinions . Here , in a sonnet on the HaAvthorn and the Wild Rose , is a teaching which none can object to : —¦

' ' I learnt a lesson from the floAra-s to day : As o'er the fading haAvthorn blooms I sigh'd , Whose petals fair fay scatter'd far and Avide Lo I suddenly upon a dancing spray I saAV the first wild roses cluster'd gay .

What though the smile I loved so soon had died From one sweet floAver—there , shining at its side , Tho blushing Rose surpass'd the snoAvy May . So if , as life glides on , Ave miss some floAvers , Which once shed light and fragrance on our lvay , Yet still the kindly-compensating hours WeaA'c us fresh AA-reathes in 'beautiful array ; And long as in the paths of peace Ave stay ,

Successive benedictions shall be ours 1 " Mr . Wilton would evidently enjoy the fine teaching of our Speculative Masonry as the folloAving sonnet on the Swallow will show : —