Records Of The Past.

Central Asia has to be reconstructed out of original sources , and a crucial test has to be applied to the contemporaneous histories of Judea and Israel . The same observations apply to philological exegesis . It is useless

to discuss the origin of languages from the later Sanscrit , of which no monument or script is extant older than 400 B . C ., or to speculate , on the language of the Court of Nebuchadnezzar , when hundreds of inscriptions dated in his

reign and made in Babylon remain . These questions cannot be solved by a complacent or safe repetition of the criticism of the last century , and it is A'ain to ignore those new truths Avhich sooner or later must bring conviction

to every inquiring mind , and influence more than is at present suspected the future tendency of reli gious thought . Difficulties which cannot be ignored may be explained , nor does it follow that Assyrian history Avas ahvays riht

g ancl other histories Avrong , though the contemporary statement always must have its A alue . But as to philology , contemporary evidence is simply final and absolute .

Surely such words as these are full of interest to eA ery thoughtful student , Masonic or otherwise , though Ave may be inclined to receive them with some little reserve . We propose in our next number to

give a review of the Egyptian records of the past , which are equally interesting . The Times has indeed done a good service to biblical and archaeological studies by calling attention to these

" English translations from the Assynan and E gyptian Monuments , " published by Bagster and Sons , Paternoster Low , under the sanction of the Society of Biblical Archaeology . We shall hope to give extracts from them in some future numbers of the Magazine .

« , 4 . ? maha P P innocently says « iat night schools are the order of the day at that place .

"Fabella Exoleta Rediviva."

" FABELLA EXOLETA REDIVIVA . "

ACCOUNT OF AN APPAEITION , SEEK AT STAR-CROSS , IX DEVONSHIRE , THE 23 RD OF JULT , 1823 . '" Tis true , ' tis certain , man , though dead , retains

Part of himself ; the immortal mind remains : The form subsists without the body ' s aid , Aerial semblance and an empty shade . POPE .

I am perfectly aware of the predicament in which I am placing myself , Avhen in the present age of incredulity , I venture to commit to paper , in all sincerity of fulness of conviction , a deliberate and circumstantial account of an apparition . Imposter

and visionary , knave and fool , these are the alternate horns of the dilemma , on which I shall be tossed , Avitli sneers of contempt , or smiles of derision ; every delusion practised by fraud or credulity , from the Cocklane host down to the Kev . Mr . Colton

g ancl the Stamford spectre , will he faithfully registered against me , and I shall be finally dismissed , according to the temperament of the reader , either Avith a petulant rebuke for attempting to impose such exploded superstitionupon an enlightened public

, , or Avith a sober andfriendly recommendation to get my head shaved , and to take myself to some place of safe custody ivith as little delay as may be . In the arrogance of my supposed Avisdom , I should myself , only a feAv Aveeks ago , have probably adopted one

of these courses toAvards any other similar delinquent , Avhich will secure me from any splenetic feeling , boAveA r er boisterous may be the mirth , or bitter the irony , with Avhich I may be twitted and taunted for the folloiving narration . I have no sinister

purposes to answer , no particular creed to advocate , no theory to establish ; and writing with the perfect conviction of truth , and the full possession of my faculties , I am determined not to suppress Avhat I conscientiouslbelieve to be factsmerely because

y , they may militate against received opinions , or happen to be inconsistent Avith the ordinary course of human experience . It may not be unimportant to remark , that so far from my being subject to the blue devils and vapours Avith which h-

ypo chondriacs and invalids are haunted , I possess that happy physical organization , which ensures almost uninterrupted health K 2