Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

On dit that a new journal is to appear in Paris under the title The Message , and with the following epigram : — " Nothing is changed in France ; there is only another Message . " The Courrier cVOrient states that , by the labour of Midhab Pacha , a palace has been discovered beneath the ruins of ancient Babylon fulled with archa _ ological

treasures . Among the most curious objects is a library built of bricks of extraordinary composition . The characters with which these bricks , or rather pages , are covered , are in a perfect state of preservation . A scheme for communicating with the inhabitants of the planets by means of light signals was laid before the Paris Academy of Science last week . A very intense

light reflected from parabolic mirrors will , M . Cros believes , be seen in Venus or Mars as a luminous point ; and by making the light intermittent , he thinks it possible to construct a code of signals which might be understood by planetary beings .

The London papers give long accounts of the opening of the Netherlands Exhibition at Amsterdam . There are fourteen countries represented industrially at it . Holland has 928 exhibitors of her skill and enterprise ; Belgium , 338 ; Prance . 308 ; Great Britain , 201 ; Austria , 144 ; North Germany , 129 ; out of a sum total of 2 , 325 ; and the affair , though much inferior to the gigantic

displays o England and France , is considered on all hands as very creditable . The Atlienceum states that the system of annual international exhibitions at Kensington , the details of which the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 are engaged in maturing , will embrace several new principles . The exhibitions will be of objects selected beforehand

for their merits , like the pictures , & c , at the Royal Academy . The exhibitions will be choice rather than great . The classes of industrial objects to be admitted each year will be different ; only about three classes at each exhibition .

Mr . H . A . Churchill , C . B , her Majesty ' s consul at Zanzibar , who has just arrived in this country on medical certificate , speaks with confidence as to the safety of Dr . Livingstone , from whom he has had letters of a date more recent than that of his reported murder . It is Mr . Churchill ' s opinion that Dr . Livingstone , having heard of the discovery of the northern portion of Lake

Albers Nyanza by Sir S . Baker , has directed his route in search of tbe southern boundary of that lake , and that in the course of a few mouths it is probable that further news will be heard from Dr . Livingstone himself .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE CHAPTER AND ITS AYORK . " 31 OST EXCELLENT 3 IASTER ' S DEGBEE . " To live and to labour , with hearty good will , We present you a companion o £ Most Excellent skill , With a view of their duty , to keep yet impart , To Craftsmen around the light of our art .

This noble degree , of which now I write , Is marked by its beauty , and increase of light ; It alludes to the Temple where Jehovah was praised , By those " Excellent 3 Iasters" -when the capstone was raised . None bnt the worthy th degree can attain , And solemn those pledges to keep and retain ; The secrets imparted by this ancient degree , And are made b y tho candidate willing and free .

Poetry.

Should events ore rise his honour to test , Ho would suffer tho vitals torn out of his breast ; Before ho , a 3 Iost Excellent Master would break , Those 2 > ledges ho counted on honour to make . Being thus well secured on tho candidates side , He is fully informed and hears it with pride ; That his present attainments secures him a store

, Of knowledge exceeding what ho ore knew before . It is now ho discovers what glory and grace , Filled tho toruple "when Dioty honor'd the place ; AYhen tho Craftsmen o'orcomo by tho wanderous sight , Eaised their hands to high heaved with perfect affright . But now soo that fire , how it comos from above ,

Sure token to them of approval and love ; And true Craftsmen can sing both now and over , For Ho is good , and his mercy onduroth for ever . And thus satisfied that there work is well done . That the honour is clue to Jehovah alone : With reverence and awe they bow to the ground , And worship while incense is floating around .

Then hail ! tho glad morning that bids us rejoice , The capstone well laid , high raise each voice ; The tomplo thus finished , our labour now o ' er , Tho sound of tho gavel shall hail us no more .

List Of Lodge, &C. Meetings For Week Ending 7th August, . 1869.

LIST OF LODGE , & c . MEETINGS FOR WEEK ENDING 7 TH AUGUST , . 1869 .

( Abbreviations . —F . M . H , Freemasons' Hull ; 3 LIL , 31 asonic Hall ; 31 . T , Masonic Temple ; Tav , Tavern ; Ho , Hotel ; B , Booms ; L , Lodge ; St , Street ; Sip , Square ) . 3 lETEoroMTA _ r LODGES AXD CIIAPTEES . Monday , Aug . 2 nd-LODGE . —Joppa , Albion Tav , Aldersgate-st .

Tuesday , Aug . 3 rd . Coloninl Board at 3 . LODGES . —St . John , Hollybush Tav , Hampstead . CHAPTEHS . —Temperance , AA'hite Swau Tav , Deptford ; United Pilgrims , Horns Tav , Kennington . Wednesday , Aug . 4 th . LODGES . —Stability , George Ho , Aldermanbury ; 3 Inc Donald ,

Head Quarters 1 st Surrey A olunteer Corps , Brunswick-rd , Camherwell . GBAXD CHAPIEB , at 7 . Thursday , Aug . 5 th . LODGES . —Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney ; Crystnl Palace ' Crystal Palace , Sydenham ; Victoria Rifles , F . M . H . ; Excelsior * Sydney Anns , Lewisham-road ; Perfect Ashlar , Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey-rd . CHAPTEES . —AVesthourne , New Inn , Edgen-are-rd . ; Crystal Palace , Crystal Palace .

Friday , Aug . 6 th . CnAPTEB . —High Cross , AVhite Hart Ho .. Tottenham . Saturday , Aug . 7 th . Gen . Com . Boys' School , at 4 . LODGES AI * D CHAPTEES OF I-VSTIUJCTIOI * .

Sunday , Aug . 1 st . LODGE or IS - STBTJCTIOI * . — Joppa , Rose and Crown , Fort-sfc ., Union-st ., Bishopsgate . Monday , Aug . 2 nd . LODGES OP INSTHTTCTIOS . —Union AA aterloo ( for 31 . 31 . ) , King ' s ArmsWoolwichTempleOld GeorcreSt . 31 nry Axe ; Justice

, ; , , , Eoyal Albert , New Cross-road , Deptford ; St . James ' s Union , Swan Tav , Mount-st , Grosvenor-sq . ; Industry , Dick ' s Coffee House , Fleet-st . ; Salisbury , 71 , Dean-st ., Soho ; ^ Camden , Adelaide Tav , Haverstock Hill ; AVesthourne , Running Horse , Duke-st , Grosvenor-sq . ; High Cross , AAliite Hart Ho , Tottenham .