Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Keview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . The Constitution and General Statutes for tho Government of the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Freemasonry in aud for the Continent of America , also a Complete History of tho Rite from its

Establishment in America down to tho present time , together with translations of Original Manuscripts . Illustrated . Issued under the auspices of tho Sovereign Secretary , 33 and last degree , as compiled and amended June 187-1 . New York : Tho Excelsior Printing Company , 81 , 83 and 85 Centre Street , 1874 .

THIS is a handsome volume , bound iu maroon and gold , with the portrait of the M . I . S . Grand Master , General of the A . and P . Rite , Alexander B . Mott , M . D ., New York , and various other dignitaries of the Rite ; also ongravings of tho seals , jewels , and decorations . It is printed in superior stylo , on good toned paper , with a red border ,

and altogether does great credit to the Excelsior Printing Company . Attached to tho Constitution is a History of the Rite , and a selectiou of the names of abovo 1 , 500 members , many of them of high Masonic position . Arclncologically wo differ with the writers in somo historical details , they conclude their labours thus : " In conclusion ,

we cannot refrain from stating that , to the Masonic Fraternity , we have presented in this volume mnch valuablo information , heretofore unwritten , which , we trust , will be of service and accepted by the Craft , and , although our beloved Rite is comparatively young in America , it has all the sterling merits that recommend it to the

brotherhood . Its vigour , beauty , and connecting links render it unsurpassed , and its authenticity is undisputablo . It is the only Rite in this country that possesses a bona fide Charter , visdd by the Grand Orient of Franco , the head and highest Masonic authority in the old world . "

Veritas . Revelation of Mysteries , Biblical , Historical and , Social , by weans of the Median and Persian Laws . BY HENRY MELVILLE . Edited by F . Tennyson , and A . Tudor . Loudon : Published for tho Author , by A . Hall and Co ., 25 Paternoster Row . 1874 . THIS work is written , perhaps purposely , in such an obscure style , that it takes no little pains to follow the author and unravol his meaning .

It is a largo sized work , with numerous well executed maps and illustrations , and encloses a smaller pamphlet of the working of tho laws . Tho difficulty of mastering the author ' s views is perhaps one reason why the late Bro . Melville's discoveries have been so unfavourably received ; added to this , tho author has enthusiastically ridden his hobby to death . Bro . M . imagines that ho has discovered in the

triple tau , and double equilateral triangles of a Royal Arch Mason , the keys to unlock the symbolism which the ancient hicrophauts mapped out upon the Celostial Atlas ; wo do not believe these arc Craft Symbols at all , but may havo beeu introduced as such by tho Ashmoloan Astrologers . Nothing is now better authenticated than the fact that the Cusmogonical account of Genesis and the fall of man

are the tradition of old Babylonian Hicrophauts , aud as they did really record such matter in Hieroglyphics , of which tho initiates only had the key , it is quite conceivable that Bro . Melville may have discovered tho key to unlock the hicroglyphical symbolism of the old Celestial Atlas ; but he has made the mistake , wo think , of

carrying his theory beyond all tho bounds of reasonable critiei .-m . Tho work is dedicated to Sirs . Maria Lane , of Frank Fief , Jersey , widow of the lato General Lane , who did so much for Bro . Melville , aud wo sincerely hope a few members of our brotherhood will push tho sale of the work , for the sake of tho widow of Bro . Melville , who is quite dependent upon its sale ; so wc have understood .

Magazines Of The Month.

MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .

WE cannot commend too highly the new serial iu Blackwood , " The Dilemma . " It has reached its third part already , so that enough has becu written to show the charaoter of tho story . The principal personages , as wo have previously remarked , arc admirably drawn , and especially the young Subaltern Yorke , whose bold , yet secret aspirations to the hand of Miss Cunningham receive a , to him , unexpected chock in the present instalment . " A Sketch of Canada as

it now is , " and the conclusion of the "Abode of Snow , " are among the most important of the other contents , save and except Colonel Grant ' s Letter on recent African Discoveries . The growing influenco of Canada is a subject of congratulation , not only to herself , but to the mother country . Thn feeling of loyalty in the colony becomes stronger every yc . ir . Her most pressing need is immigrants- —but of

the rig ht sort—hardy , willing to work , and with something to back them at their first start , and these should bo forthcoming from among ns . We are over thickly populated , and competition in the labour market becomes therefore keener and keener every day . Wo think a homo in Canada—or bo it said , rather in the Dominion , for our North American Colonies are now united into one grand

dependency—mnst be prcfeivblo in the eyes ot a true Briton to a home in the United State ^ or other foreign country . Ho docs not so completely sever himself from all his old associations . He still lives , and in the fulness of time , no doubt , will prosper , under the saino old flag . For other reasons this description of Canada is likely to prove of great service . We have a giiinpse at tho Afghan

Border , iu this concludiiigportiou of the "Abode of Snow , " aud sorry are we to part with a writer whose sketches have been so interesting aud so instructive . Following this are a scries of reviews of current literature , and then comes Colonel Grant ' s letter , iu support of the lato Captain Speke ' s claim to be the true discoverer of the sources of tho Nile . Colouel Grant adduces a number of reasons to sh . ow this

Magazines Of The Month.

and that Dr . Livingstone , for whom a writer in the last issue of the Quarterly claims this honour , was never nearer the region traversed by Speke and himself , than when , in company with Mr . Stanley , he inspected tho northern extremity of Lake Tanganyika . Colonel Grant , of course , does full justice to tho labours of Dr . Livingstone . To students of geography the letter cannot be otherwise than interesting .

Wo havo so often spoken of tho merits of the serial fiction in Tinsley ' s , as being above tho usual standard , that we may safely leavo our readers to follow their progress . But this is not the only conspicuous feature in this magazine , the poetry is invariably fluent and graceful , and of poetical contributions , not tho least deserving are the " Troubadour Songs " of Dr . Maurice Davies , of which

one" Tho Persuasive Parrot , closes this number . In his Social Status Quo , too , ho writes chattily , and his criticisms are generally sound . " Tho Last Sixpence , " and " Mabel , " are both pathetio stories , but the latter is painful in its denouement , and , seemingly , without assignable reason . Why might not Mabel and her husband , Ernest Grey , have lived happily ever afterwards ? The tale , as told , is more

dramatic , perhaps , though truth is often stranger than fiction , but we fancy real live people , as a child would say , would have taken such crossings in life somewhat less demonstratively and less violently . Of the other articles , Mr . W . W . Fenn ' s " Speaking Walls , " and the account of Prince ' s , are worth reading . We transcribe " To a Robin , " by D . G . Potter ; it reads so prettily .

Dear Sweet Robin , porchod upon a tree , To me so near ; Yon seem to love , yet , being free , You seem to fear . Who gave yon intimation kind That mortals love—Reciprocate where love they find Like souls above ?

You sing—as heralding some theme Wo should conceive With greater ease than what a dream Makes men believe . We cannot yet translate your words , Though centuries old ; But one great truth your lifo affords As rich as gold .

It is that Nature , sometimes hard , Gave high behests Of love she never will discard On which faith rests . It is interesting to watch the steady progress of Jabez Clcgg towards fortune iu tho " Manchester Man , " tho first of the current

serials in Casscll ' s Family Magazine . But the progress , though steady , is far from being uneventful , and Jabez evidently has many serious difficulties to ovorcome ere tho position intended for him is achieved . But pleasant as aro this and Mr . Gift ' s " Pretty Miss Bellew , " we value those papers , which are of purely domestic interest far more highly . A Navy Surgeon ' s "Curefor Sea-Sickness" will bespccially welcomed by thoso who are about holiday seeking on tho Continent . "How to

keep things Bright , " is an important clement in kitchen economy . "Savoury Dishes" contain some very sensible suggestions for what mny be described as seasonable feeding . The ladies will find much to interest them iu "Chit-chat on Dress , " while the items which "Tho Gatherer" has picked up by the way , are readable and sensible . The other contents aro equally attractive , but the interest attaching to them is somewhat more ophemoral .

Belgravia takes a high rank , and justly so , among our light poriodicals . The serial fiction is invariably good , as evidence of which wo may draw our readers' attention to Miss Braddou ' s " Hostages to Fortune , " which has been current for some months past . "Hugh Melton , " concluded in the present number , is another case in point , as also is "Sea-Bank Farm , " of which wo have eight chapters , and in

which is manuest a considerable power in depicting characters , both male and female . Bnt it is not to the fiction only that praise is due . The short tales and articles aro always lively aud interesting . Mr . Sala , for instance , is a writer whose style is j ustly popular , and his contribution this month— " Left behind at Sigueza , "—is written more suo ; need we say more to show our appreciation of its merits ? Tho

author of "Tom Bulkley of Lissington" describes in his paper , headed " Tommy Atkins , " the daily routine of life of a private soldier in the British Army . The picture is well drawn , and Tommy now-a-days , at all events , is not the least happy of mankind . Ho lives well , works hard , and has just leisure enough on his hands to enjoy himself like a reasonable being . Of course " Tommy Atkins "

is not always a reasonable being , and not unfrequently come 3 to grief through his own folly . But there is no just cause or impediment to his getting on well . He is respected b y his officers , if not always by the British public , and only a little more is needed to reconcile him perfectly to tho conditiou of life ho has chosen to follow , " Predatory Instincts , " and Mr . Compton Rcade ' s "Art in the Universities , " are both articles worthy of commendation .

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CHSMESE CARVING . FOR Sale , au elaboratel y carved Set of Ivory Chessmen . The Kings stand 85- inches high , the other pieces in proportion . Knights awl Pawns on horseback , all mounted on stands , with concentric balls . Can bo seen , anrl full particulars obtained , oa application to W . W . JIOROAK , B / Barbican . —Add . Ctrii HOUSB PLAYtira CARDS . —Hogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , 14 s per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen packs . If by post ljd per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , B