Masonic Notes And Queries.

BRO . DTJNCKEULEY ' API 0 IXT 3 IEXTS . In one of the Avarrants granted to the Royal Gloucester Lodge , No . 152 , Southampton , dated 5 th of August , 1792 , Thomas JDunckerley , Esq ., is described as Prov . G . M . for the counties of Dorset , Essex , Gloucester , Somerset , and Southampton ; the latter is the legal title of Hampshire , commonly so called , and included the Isle of Wight , now masonically separated from the province of Hampshire , and constituted into a province of itself . — , T . EAXKIX STEBBIXG .

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , AND ART .

The Life and Times of Sir James Graham , hy Mr . W . Torrens M'Cullagb , is announced . Mr . Bussell , it is said , is preparing for publication his Americanlefcfcers in the Times , supplemented by passages from his diary and later reflections . Messrs . Parkers have printed an epitome of AValker's

Sufferings of the Clergy during the Great Bebellion , a hook originally published in 1714 . The Louvre has just been enriched by a magnificent full-length portrait ofJPhillip IV . of Spain , by Velasquez . A large grey dog reposing afc his feet , and the background is a landscape . This picture , which cost 23 , 000 f . is placed near the famous "Beggar Boy , " of Murillo .

The common answer of the publishers to our ( Critic ) inquiry for news is , that they will bring out no bo oks until October . They say they never knew a duller season for many a year , and though such complaints aro often a matter of course in the summer months , we yet "believe they are well grounded afc the present time . What is the cause of this state of stagnation in

the world of books we cannot imagine , unless , indeed , it is that reading is largely set aside for visits to the International Exhibition . Of course , some goocl books will come dropping out between this and the end of autumn , but there is little doubt that they will be few and far between .

M . Alphonse Esquiros , whoso papers on English society in the Mevue du Deux Mondes have made him so famous , writes an article about Frenchmen in London in the new number of the Cornhill . The Comhill ' s yellow covers are henceforth to be swelled by an additional article—a review of the literature , science , and art of the month .

The Family Paper contains the opening chapter of the prize tale , for which £ 250 have boon awarded by Lord Brougham , Mr . Matthew Devonport Hill , the Recorder of Birmingham , and Mr . Cassell . The main object of the story is to inspire the youth of our country with a desire for a moral and intellectual self-improvement .

Mr . Colman Burroughs is persevering with his scheme of tho London Correspondent , a newspaper in ivhieh all the events of the -week are to be narrated in the form of letters " tersely and vigorously written . " The prospectus of a joint stock company lor the purpose lias been issued . A series of interesting minutes upon Education in India , from the pen of the late Lord Macaulay , lias been discovered in Calcutta .

A grant of a £ 100 per annum from the Civil list lias been made to the widow of John Cross , the painter . Baron Marochetti , it is stated , is to be entrusted with the execution of the Albert Memorial to be erected at Aberdeen . The monument is to consist of a colossal statue in bronze ; and the site is near Union Bridge , in the principal thorougfore of the city .

Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

The second part of Mr . Blanchard Jerrolcl ' s History of Industrial Exhibitions , lias appeared . It is mainly concerned with the history of foreign exhibitions . The following gentlemen have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society : —Messrs . G . Bentham , H . W . Bristow , Captain A . 11 , Clarke , . T . W . Dawson , P . . T . 0 . Evans , J . B . Hicks , M . D . ;

the Very Eev . W . Farquhar Hook D . D . ; G . Bolleston , M . D . ; C . "VV . Siemens , M . Simpson , B . Stewart , T . P . Teale , Sir J . E . Tennant , I . Todhunter , and C . G . AVilliams . Tm-nev ' s pictures tmd drawings , bequeathed to tiie nation , axe estimated bv tbe Quarterly Bevieio at £ 400 , 000 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible fur the opinions expressed by Correspondents . GRAND LODGE PROPERTY . TO THE EDITOR OE THE EltEEMASOXs' MAGAZINE ___ K __ 3 IASOXIC HIKfcOE . DEAK SIR AXD BROTHER . —It appears to meAvith regard to the Crafb Property in Great Queen-street , that there are two chief poinfcs for consideration , on which the

brethren are divided in their opinions . The first is what alterations should be made , for that some are required , is , I believe , allowed by all ; the second is , ivhence the money should be obtained , which would be required for such alterations , On the first of these points I do not wish afc present to make any observation ; on the latter , I should bo glad if you will allow me to offer a suggestion .

It has been said that the present buildings are a disgrace to the Craft ; they may be , but it ivould indeed be a far greater disgrace if it should ever be said , " See that magnificent range of buildings ; that is the Hall of the Freemasons . It was erected by them with funds originally intended for the distressed , the widow , and the orphan . " I Avould therefore not touch a farthing- of the funds now devoted , or likely at any future time to be devoted to charitable objects . The fund of general purposes amounts

I believe , to about £ 18 , 000 , and if the building would take five or six years for completion , as it probably Avould , Grand Lodge might Avell vote £ 20 , 000 for the Avork , and still have a balance in hand , sufficient to meet any extraordinary calls on its benevolence , similar to the grants to the Crimean and Indian Relief Funds . Could not another such sum be raised if Grand Lodge Avere to pass a

bye-law , that for this purpose a small extra quarterage ( say sixpence per head ) , should be contributed from every lodge in England and Wales . This should bo fixed for five m- six years only , and not allowed to become a permanent institution . It mig ht be left to each lodge to determine whether this extra quarterage should be paid out of its general fundsor by each member individually .

, I do not think that any Mason ivould object to so small a . sum , and—provided only that a plan be determined on , generally acceptable to the brethren , and really worthy of the Craft—I have no doubt that many who haye the means , Avould Avillingly add donations to this building fund .

I hope that if this suggestion meets tho approval of any who possess the confidence of Grand Lodge , they will make a proposition on the subject ai ; the next Quarterly Communication . Of course details would have to be carefully considered , but I think that the principle is correct . We should in this way be enabled to erect a building , ivhieh mig ht be in all respects fitted for our

requirements , and Avorthy of the high position held by the Craft , without trenching too much on money Avhich might be wanted for general purposes , or diverting , from their proper channels , funds which should be appropriated to the assistance of the disabled , the relief of the indigent , or the education of the fatherless . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , JH . C . LEYANDER , P . M ., 915 , 961 , 90 , Petersfield , July 2 nd , 1862 . Prov . G . S . JD ., Wilts .