in the ascendant in the political world. He trusted, however, by the blessing of the Great Architect, that peaceful efforts might yet prevail. The other point of Bro. H.'s address was equally interesting. He ad verted to the newly initiated candidate, a Russian merchant, and by whom proposed, by an officer in the Polish army! These two gentlemen had made each other's acquaintance in England, the happy home of the brave and the free. A native of Poland had that day proved the excellence of Freemasonry by introducing a native of Russia into the Order. May such a happy instance be the prelude to many others! MAJOR BENIOWSKI, the Polish Brother alluded to, on his health being drunk delivered a very impressive address on Masonic principles.

LODGE OF FAITH, (No. 165,) Jan. 27.--The W. M. Bro. J. R. Dudley, after initiating two candidates, installed his successor, Bro. John Mott, in the presence of twenty installed Masters. The ceremony was conducted with great correctness. The banquet lost none of the usual charm imparted by Bro. Rackstraw's attention, and the social hour was enlivened by excellent harmony and pleasing addresses; many absent friends were remembered, and we are desired to assure Dr. Crucefix that he was not forgotten.

ST. JOHN'S LODGE, (No. 107.)-Masonic Ball.-At the meeting of this Lodge on the 5th January, our esteemed Bro. Lee was duly elected for the second time to preside in the East, his conduct as W. M. for the past year having given universal satisfaction. The occasion was celebrated by a splendid Ball and Supper, at which one hundred and thirty were present. The Lodge-room and whole suite at Radley's were thrown open, and the whole affair passed off with great spirit. The supper was served up in excellent style, and all the arrangements were admirable. The health of the W. M. was given and duly responded to, but the toast of the evening was "The Ladies Present;" this, it is needless to say, was given most enthusiastically. Indeed, the fair Sisters present seemed to catch the excitement, and rose simultaneously to acknowledge the compliment. The Grand Sword Bearer was deputed to return thanks for them which he did in a very neat speech. After supper dancing was resumed, and this truly happy party did not separate until five on the following morning. The St. John's Lodge have set a very excellent example, which we hope to see speedily followed. The ordinary Masonic banquets unquestionably partake of a selfish character, how much greater the satisfaction, when, as in the present instance, the enjoyment of the meeting is participated in by those we love. Reunions so delightful as these advance Masonry, by dispelling prejudices which unquestionably in too many instances are indulged in by the fairer portion of the creation, but, from the gratified remarks we heard on every side, we feel convinced that every "Sister" present at the St. John's Ball, will for the future bear with her "the tongue of good report," the harmonious feeling which pervades the whole fraternity, being so eminently conspicuous upon that occasion.

ST. LUKE'S LODGE, (No. 168,) March 2.—It is due to this excellent Lodge to record its palmy state, the working is really good, and we understand that on Good Friday the lectures will be regularly worked.

LODGE OF UNIONS, (No. 318,) Feb. 17.-This Lodge well maintains its character as the parent stem of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement. The Master, Bro. Mountain, assisted by Bro. Marriott, P. M., and the Wardens worked a portion of the lectures in excellent style. Several members of the Bank of England Lodge visited, and were entertained with true Masonic hospitality.

BANK OF ENGLAND LODGE, (No. 329.)-A gloom is passing over this Lodge, caused by the decease of Bro. ROBERT FIELD, P. M., the father of the Lodge. The Lodge is ordered to be put into mourning on the melancholy occasion. In our quarterly obituary we have adverted to this painful event at some length.

ZETLAND LODGE, (No. 752,) Feb. 15.-This new Lodge, constituted last year by Dr. Crucefix, is in full work; the three degrees were practically illustrated to-day to the several candidates, and afforded instruction to a very numerous meeting of the members and their friends.

CHIT CHAT.

A ROYAL MASONIC PRESENT.-Some time since a chest was despatched to London, bearing the royal arms of France. This chest contained a complete trousseau of toilettes:-morning toilette, evening toilette, and two ball toilettes. This present was addressed to the doll of the Princess Royal. King Louis Philippe gave carte blanche to one of the most eminent modestes of Paris, who executed her commission with the utmost good taste. Each gown is a perfect chef d'œuvre, especially the ball dresses, which would excite the envy of our most fashionable duchesses. One is of gros de Naples, the second of pink gauze with velvet flowers, exquisitely made. The small embroidered and trimmed pocket handkerchiefs, the small silk stockings, shoes, slippers, Indian Cachmere shawl, bonnets, muffs, a black lace scarf, &c., have all been made purposely, and with incredible care. There is also a jewel-case with diamonds of the purest water, bracelets, ear-rings, and fillet for the forehead; and all these minute curiosities are carefully arranged in the drawers and cases of a beautifully constructed little wardrobe.

King Louis Philippe is a Mason; Her Majesty, the daughter and niece of Grand Masters.

THE LATE MEMBER FOR WINDSOR.-Bro. John Ramsbottom, Esq., who died at the Albany, on the 8th of October, had sketched out his will roughly on a scrap of paper in his own hand-writing, on the 2nd of March, 1844, which was duly signed and witnessed, whereby he gave to his two sons the whole of his property, but appointed no executor: at the conclusion there was an obliteration of some half-dozen lines, which, from that part of the will being turned down at the time of signing, was not observed by the witnesses. The opinion of the Court was taken. The will was to this effect:-"1 hereby declare, that in case of anything occurring to me, and I should be unable to make a regular will, this is my disposition. I give my two silver salvers which were presented to me, to my son John: my silver tea-kettle and appurtenances to my son Somerville; the silver trowel to my daughter Mary -her fortune places her above any necessity for assistance from me; the silver tea-pot formerly belonging to the Duke of Wellington, to my daughter Susan; 1000l. to Mrs. Sarah Townsend for life, and at her death to her daughter Sarah absolutely; the residue to my sons equally. [The remainder was obliterated.] The judge, observing that it being expressly declared to be a temporary or provisional will, in case the testator made no other, and from the appearance of the signature it would seem that the obliteration and signing were contemporaneous acts, decreed

VOL. IV.

administration, with the will attested as it now stands within the lines expunged; and the same was granted to the deceased's eldest son, as one of the residuary legatees.

AMERICA..-"We have received the very gratifying intelligence from the United States, that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has paid an expressive but justly earned tribute to the merits of those distinguished Brethren of our Grand Lodge, the Rev. Dr. Oliver, and Dr. Crucefix, by unanimously conferring on the former the rank of Past Deputy Grand Master, and on the latter, that of Past Senior Grand Warden. This compliment comes with greater force from the circumstance of its being the first occurrence of the sort on the part of the Grand Lodge referred and affords very conclusive evidence of the great moral effects which these eminent and exalted Brethren exercise, even in a distant hemisphere. Their names run parallel in Masonic history, the one as the unrivalled expounder of doctrine and illustration, the other as the most accomplished proficient in discipline and practice. As Freemasons we cordially concur in the propriety of this act, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and very sincerely wish that our estimable Brethren may wear their well-earned honours through many a year of utility and happiness."-(From the London and Provincial papers.)

to;

DISSENSIONS AMONG THE JEWS.-A disruption has taken place among the Jews of London, which promises to be productive of momentous results. It appears that for some time past a feeling has been growing up among the more enlightened and liberal of the English Jews that very great reform ought to be made in the ritual of the synagogue, and that they are not bound to abide by the interpretations given by the rabbis, but are at liberty to put their own construction on difficult passages. As a necessary consequence they repudiate the authority of the Talmud, and resolve to acknowledge no other standard of truth than the law and the prophets. The result has been that great divisions have occurred among the Jewish congregations in the metropolis. A number of the seceders have opened a new synagogue for themselves in Burton-street, where they statedly meet for worship. Mr. Goldsmid and several of the most influential persons belonging to the Jewish persuasion have joined the

new sect.

THE JEWS.-At Athens the splendid Jewish synagogue was destroyed by fire, with all which it contained; the heaviest part of the loss being the Sacred books, many of which were of the greatest antiquity. The collection of the Sepher-Thora (Book of the Law) was composed of forty-rolls of parchment, and was one of the richest in the world. This book contains a MS. of the Pentateuch; and, to shew the value of a copy, we were informed that it is at Jerusalem only that the rabbins may devote themselves to this labour. Years are consumed in the production of one of these copies; for the slightest error, the smallest erasure, the most minute imperfection or inequality in the letters, necessitates the recominencement of the work. The letters of the book are counted, and are two millions in number. With the exception of that at Bordeaux, the edifice destroyed is said to have been the finest Hebrew temple.

A NOBLE JEW.-The sudden death of Mr. Isaac Cohen, the brother of Mrs. Rothschild, long a leading and highly respectable member of the Stock Exchange, has produced a considerable sensation amongst the elder class of his associates, and universal regret amongst the Hebrews. Mr. Cohen is supposed to have died worth about half a million sterling, and for many years past, we are credibly informed, he made a rule to

distribute twenty-five per cent of his current annual expenditure in unostentatious charity. The loss sustained by the recipients of his bounty by his sudden demise may therefore be better conceived than described. Mr. Cohen had also rendered himself conspicuous for assisting unfortunate members of the Stock Exchange when their conduct merited such support; and many individuals owe their success in life to the interest he took in their welfare. Mr. Cohen sat down to dinner with his family in apparent good health, when he was suddenly seized with an apopletic fit, and survived only a few hours.

THE JEWS. The Berlin Jews have made an appeal to the Jews of Europe generally, in order to raise a fund by shares for the foundation of a Jewish colony in America.

THE TWO BAPTISMS.—We find the following affecting incident in a Hamburgh paper :- "A few months ago we were informed by some papers of the baptism of a company of Russian soldiers, Israelites by birth, into the Russo-Greek Church, on which occasion the neophytes were marched into the river, near which the regiment was encamped, and were thus converted as one man, with all the prompt precision of a military exercise. Here is another instance of a Russian baptism, as copied from the Grenzbote, a German periodical :-' At a naval review, lately honoured by the presence of the Emperor himself, two sailors evinced so much skill and boldness in the execution of various nautical manœuvres that his Majesty on the spot raised one to the rank of captain, and gave the other a lieutenancy. The rear-admiral in command hereupon modestly dropped the remark, that the two honoured subjects were both Jews. The Emperor, unwilling to retract his word, now called on the two seamen to enter the Greek Church; but no reply being made, the Czar addressed them harshly; whereupon the seamen having previously contrived to interchange a few words unintelligible to those around, requested leave of their sovereign to exhibit another and still more astonishing feat of seamanship, in which they fancied themselves most expert. A sign of approbation having been vouchsafed, the two Israelites grasped each other firmly round the waist, made a sudden plunge into the Baltic, and were seen no more.'

THE PAWNBROKER'S WINDOW.-There is more philosophy of life to be learned at a pawnbroker's window than in all the libraries in the world. The maxims and dogmas which wise men have chronicled disturb the mind for a moment, as the breeze ruffles the surface of the deep still stream, and passes away; but there is something in the melancholy grouping of a pawnbroker's window, which, like a record of ruin, sinks into the heart. The household goods-the cherished relics-the sacred possessions affection bestowed, or eyes now closed in death had once looked upon as their own-are, as it were, profaned; the associations of dear old times are here violated; the family hearth is here outraged; the ties of love, kindred, rank, all that the heart clings to, are broken here. It it a sad picture, for, spite of the glittering show, its associations are sombre. There hangs the watch, the old chased repeater, that hung above the head of the dying parent, when bestowing his trembling blessings on the poor outcast, who parted with it for bread; the widow's wedding-ring is here, the last and dearest of all her possessions; the trinket, the pledge of one now dead, the only relic of the heart's fondest memories; silver that graced the holiday feast; the giltframed miniature that used to hang over the quiet mantel-shelf; the

flute, the favourite of a dead son, surrendered by a starving mother, to procure food for her remaining offspring; the locket that held a father's hair; or more gloomy still, the dress, the very covering of the poor, is there, waving like a flag of wretchedness and misery. It is a strange sight. To those who feel aright, there are more touching inemorials to be seen at a pawnbroker's window than in all the monuments in Westminster Abbey.

PRUSSIAN HEROINE.-We find in the Prussian papers some particulars of interest, relating to a heroine of a remarkable description, Grace Darling enlarged into gigantic proportions, residing in the town of Pillau. This woman, Katherine Kleinfeldt, is the widow of a seaman, with whom, for upwards of twenty years, she made the long-sea voyages; and since his death she has devoted her life, for his memory's sake, to the noble and perilous task of carrying aid to the drowning. Whenever a storm arises, by day or night, Katherine Kleinfeldt embarks in her boat, and quits the harbour in search of shipwrecks. At the age of 47, she has already rescued upwards of 300 individuals from certain death. The population of Pillau venerate her as something holy, and the seamen look upon her as their guardian angel. All heads are uncovered as she passes along the street. The Prussian and several other governments have sent her their medals of Civil Merit; and the municipality of Pillau has conferred on her the freedom of the town. Katherine is of athletic form and strength; of masculine physiognomy, softened only by its look of gentleness and goodness; and better furnished, in all save courage and humanity, for such wild scenes and high deeds as make their common fame, than the frail girl who has for years filled a grave far from the scene of her generous daring in the Fern islands.

HEROICS." Blanchard and Jerrold had serious thoughts of joining Lord Byron in Greece; they were to become warriors, and to assist the poet in the liberation of the classic land. Many a nightly wandering found them discussing their project. In the midst of one of these discussions they were caught in a shower of rain, and sought shelter under a gateway. The rain continued; when their patience becoming exhausted, Blanchard buttoning up his coat exclaimed, 'Come on, Jerrold; what use shall we be to the Greeks, if we stand up for a shower of rain?' So they walked home and were heroically wet through."Lytton's Blanchard.

DEATH OF ONE OF THE FEMALE IOWAY INDIANS IN PARIS -The Ioway Indians have sustained a severe loss. O ke-our-mi, the wife of Little-Wolf, died of an affection of the lungs, brought on by grief for the death of her young child in London. Her husband was unremitting in his endeavours to console her and restore her to the love of life, but she constantly replied, "No, no! My four children recal me. I see them by the side of the Great Spirit. They stretch out their arms to me, and are astonished that I do not join them." The Little-Wolf had not appeared at the exhibition for some days, not having quitted his dying wife for a minute, watching over her night and day, and suffering no one else but himself to perform the offices of tenderness which her condition required. She charged him to make her acknowledgments to the physicians who had kindly attended her, directed the dress she was to be buried in, and requested that a medal of the Virgin Mother of the Great Spirit of the Christians, which she wore