Notes On Literature, Science, And Art.

state of his health , along Avith the great uncertainty of any beneficial result , precluded the idea of performing any operation , " Again : — " Passing one day through the tea-gardens , I observed a man from the Shantung grain junks exhibiting some kind of curious fovfl to a crowd of admiring people . He had fixed a number of sticks in a circle into the ground , attaching them by a cord , Avith AA'hich to keep the throng at a distance , who stood

gaping in amazement at the strange bird . Crossing over the cord to see AA'hat the animal Avas , it appeared to be of some remarkable breed , combining the peculiarities of a gallinaceous cock ancl of a common duck . On getting near , however , I round it to be a cluck , dressed up in the skin of a cock , with the feathers on . This had been neatly draAvn on like a jacket ancl trowsers in one , and partly sewn , and partly glued to the feathers of the duck , so as to look from a distance like a cross betweena cock and a duck . "

The recently discovered manuscripts , which are affirmed to he from the hand of "Voltaire , contain , it is stated , a eomody never performed in public , and a second part of the famous satirical romance , " Candide . " The newly discovered works are to be immediately . published , and we should think there can be little difficulty in deciding as to their genuineness . If

anybody ever lived who could successfully imitate the satirical style of Voltaire , he has certainly succeeded in keeping his existence so far a mystery . Literary readers will be interested in an announcement that some volumes of essays are about to be published AA-hich AA'ere written by the late King of Portugal . They are described as

treating chiefly of political subjects , and are said to breathe a liberal and enlightened spirit . A decree , published in the Moniteur , deprives a professor of French literature in Lyons of his professorial office , in consequence of his having published in a journal a poem containing what M . Rouland , Minister of Public Instruction , terms "injurious allusions to the Sovereign , -who has arisen from universal suffrage , and the nation ivhich he gloriously governs . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The 3 Sdtior is not responsible for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents THE GRAND LODGE PROPERTY . 10 THE EDITOR 01- THE inEEJIASOiTS' MAGAZIKE AND HASOSIC MIEHOH . DEAB SIB , AMI BEOTHEB , —As an old Past Master , and

one who feels thedeepest interest in the prosperity of the Craft , I trust you will allow me to avail myself of your columns to make a few observations upon the present management of the affairs of the Order at head quarters . The members of the Masonic body have for the last two or three < been kept in a state of ivith

years suspense regard to certain contemplated alterations and improvements in the property belonging to them in Great Queen-street , and whilst certain of their number have been discussing theories , the operation of natural causes and the expansion of Freemasonry have been teaching them lessons of . practical utility , showing plainly what are the requirements , and what will tend to promote

and extend the true interests of the fraternity . I will take the case of the Charities ( charity being the very keystone of the Order ) , . and contrast the state of the Charitable Institutions belonging to the Order as they were , and as they now are . The statistics of the various foundations show , that" a few years ] past the subscri ptions were of a comparatively limited amount , and the number of Stewards and brethren . tending the

festivals equally small , many causes have tended to change this state of things , and tho system introduced by that most excellent Mason and efficient Secretary of the Girl ' s School , Bro . Crew , produced a most beneficial change , by his practice of visiting the provinces , and making known to the provincial brethren the privileges and advantages which the Charities offered to them .

What has been the consequence ? One of the best replies to this question was given by that noble Masonic province , Yorkshire , the brethren of which sent up in 1859 one contribution exceeding in amount any before collected , showing the brotherly spirit by which they were actuated . Look again in Warwickshire ? The noble Lord Lieutenant and Provincial Grand Master of which

county , when he has taken the chair at the next festival of the Boy ' s School , will have filled the chair of Masonic charity three years in succession , and his call for support has been nobly responded to by the brethren of the province rallying round him for the third year , giving promise , that with the contributions already given to the Girl ' s School , and the Asylum for the Aged and Decayed

Freemasons , an amount will be collected from one province unequalled in the annals of Masonry . In former years , from 20 to 25 Stewards was the usual average ; they have now increased to three and nearly four times that number , whilst the accommodation for such numbers remains of the same limited character ivhich has subsisted for years , Freemasonry having , within the

recollection of even young members , doubled its numbers . This extension and expansion of the body ( doubtless in some measure attributable to the privileges and advantages of the Charities becoming better known , and extensively supported by the provincial brethren , was wisely forseen by the late estimable Grand Secretary , and ' other officials of the Order acting with him , and the desirability of

purchasing property to meet the circumstances which have gradually arisen , was seen and acted upon accordingly ; and the all important opportunity now presents itself of making the property worthy of its great uses , and by the erection of a larger room running parallel with the present Hall , supplying that which has become an absolute necessity for the use and development of the Charities ; and a very grave responsibility will rest with the authorities should they allow any opposition to defeat this measure , the inevitable consequence of which would

be great loss and injury to those Charities , and this will appear manifest if the brethren reflect that the present beautiful hall is not large enough to give that comfortable accommodation which they require at- the Festivals , great complaints being made , especially by brethren from the provinces , of the . discomfort to which they are subjected by the crowded state . of the room . Why should not the

Board of General Purposes put an end to this state [ of things ? The newly-purchased property is unoccupied and profitless , and has remained so for a long period , although possessing all which is required to accomplish the alterations , and all which was contemplated by those who wisely advised its purchase . A largo room might , as before observedbe erectedrunning parallel with the

, , present Hall , ivith space to dine in comfort a much larger number than than the present Hall will accommodate , devoting that beautiful apartment to the use of the ladies at the several Festivals , the result of which , it must be apparent to every reflecting Mason , would be largely increased subscriptions , and a wider extension of the benefits of the Charities . The front part of the

ground might be occupied with proper dining-rooms , and provision be made on the ground-floor for a commodious coffee-room , library , and reading-rooms for the use of members of / the Craft . All this may be commenced in a short time , if the talented gentleman at the head of the Board of General Purposes , with his coadjutors , will take up the matter in an earnest and practical spirit . The rooms in the present building may then be arranged so as to form convenient lodge rooms . A grand and imposing entrance to the present Hall may be made , and