Freemasonry In France.

Council , and 7 were officers on his personal staff ; so that the number of independent votes given for him was ludicrously small . Prince Murat , before tbe election , wrote a letter to

his cousin , couched in terms exceedingly lively— -indeed , if all that is said be true , it is impossible they could be more so—and with epithets which were far more expressive than agreeable . Prince Murat having added that he was not the man to avoid the responsibility of any

strong language he nsed , invited him to name his friend . Prince Napoleon knew of course what was meant by all this : so he accepted the courtesy which his cousin tendered to him . Murat ' s friend was , we believe , Baron Heckeren ; Prince Napoleon applied , in the first instance ,

* o M . de Persigny , Minister of the Interior , to do a similar service for him . M . de Persigny , however , pointed out the impropriety of a Minister of the Interior accepting the charge of second in a duel , seeing that his first dutj * would be to send the police to arrest the

party , principals , seconds , and all , on the very ground if necessary . The Prince , apparently , was satisfied with those reasons ; he addressed himself to Marshal Magnan , who accepted , ancl proceed forthwith to confer with

Baron Heckeren . "While the jia-i'ties were deliberating about the choice of weajjons , M . cle Persigny went and told the Emperor what was going on . The Emperor sent for Prince Murat . Ho entreated him , and at length laid his commands on him , to proceed no further in the

affair , and to withdraw the offensive letter which lie had written to his cousin . The Prince hacl no alternative but to obey . He wrote to Prince Napoleon , stating that by command of the Emperor he withdrew the strong expressions he had used , expressed regret that in a

moment of passion he hacl employed them , and wished that they should be considered as not liaving been used at all . Prince Napoleon accepted the apology , ancl so the matter ended as between the two princes , but a new authority has since stepped in . In Prance , all mutual

societies are under tho surveillance of the police , but the Preemasons have always declined being jilaced in that category , yet , it is presumed by order ofthe hi ghest authority , tlio Prefect of Police lias issued Iiis order to close all the lodges until October next . Prince Napoleon

has resigned the oflice of Grand Master to which he was elected ; and in the meantime M . Doumet , member ofthe Corps Lcgisktif for the Department of Hera ult , is to act as Provisional Grand Master .

The periodical I''Initiation liaving been suppressed by the foregoing decree , Bro . Eiche-Gordon lias commenced . 1 new monthly , under the name ofthe Journal des Inilies , whose next issue will , most probably , further acquaint us with the proceedings that have since taken place ; and whilst we deplore , as every true Mason must , the

Freemasonry In France.

mingling of politics with questions relating only to the order , we , as English Masons , ought to feel the blessings we enjoy in living under a Government so happily framed that every individual has the utmost latitude allowed

him for the full expression of his particular opinions , and that we are members under a Grand Lodge in which the principle is fully laid down , recognised , and acted upon , that politics are utterly , and most properly , excluded from Masonry .

Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS OF NAPLES .

( Continued from p . 402 . ) The Carbonari stdl increased in numbers and in power , and headed by General Pepe ancl General Carascosa , in 1819 commenced dictating to the Sovereign and the Government the form of a new constitution and the

rejection of the Pope ' s authority throughout the kingdom . An English eye-witness , writing at this time on the subject , describes the Carbonari to have greatly improved iu their morals and patriotism , but that they were hi ghly superstitious ancl ascetic ; that the ceremonies attending the installation of every new member were stamped with the most reliious ancl even superstitious

g colouring ; that the formula read at their meetings bore a similar character ; that they hacl chosen for their patron a saint ( St . Theobald ) " whose legend is particularised by more than an ordinary ] iortion of miraculous deeds ; ancl that even the distinctive colours which they selected , and which each member assumed on his

initiation , were supposed to bear some mystic reference to their relisnous dogmas . In every department of the State , in all the local municipalities , and all the petty tribunals , their members were to be found . Into reli gious as well as lay communities they had penetrated ; but above all , in the provinces and the provincial militia they were in the greatest

force ; indeed , one-half of the kingdom appears at this time to have taken oaths binding themselves to each other ; and in Calabria , Capitanata , and Salerno , constant meetings and neiv demands upon the Government were weekly occurrences . The King now placed confidence in Lui gi di Medici , who was then Minister of

State , ancl lie endeavoured to punish them and suppress their meetings ; but the police did not dare to carry out the Government orders . At length the Carbonari rose in one great body , and demanded certain ri ghts , which were acceded to them ; but their great aim ' was to revolutionise the country and obtain a new constitutionand for

, this end they had persuaded the greater portion of the army to throw off their yoke of obedience to their Sovereign and join their society . This great change was to be affected without going through the form of a law , by ordinances which were to be issued almost without

any previous notice . But an unexpected event occurred at this moment that suspended their intended meeting , and the rising of the Carbonari ; the army was ordered to assemble in the plains of Sessa , and the King tools ; up his abode there , though it was well known that he was aware of the intended mutiny . To order them thus to assembleancl then to walk amongst

, them and converse ivith them , was thoug ht a noble act of courage on his part , ancl his grey hairs and withered form excited their sympathy ; the Carbonari , therefore , filled with awe and admiration , suspended their operations . The King was always cheerful iu the camp ; a smile was fre-