Here And There.

HERE AND THERE ,

WHEN George 4 th was Prince Regent , he commissioned tho famous architect Nash , and the result was the Pavilion at Brighton , at a cost of about two hundred and fifty thousand pounds , which building was , in 1850 , acquired by the Corporation for exhibition purposes , <& c . Upon one occasion Thackeray was desirous of engaging the Banqueting Room for his lectures on the "Four Georges , " when it was suggested to him that it was hardly etiquette for any one to abuse a man in his own house . Tho novelist recognised the humour of the situation , and the town hall was taken instead .

A short time ago , I came across a work written by the Rev . James Griffin , some time pastor of the Congregational Chapel , Rusholme Road , Manchester , and upon perusal was vory much struck with certain references to the sister of our great novelist Charles Dickens . It appears that during the early part of his ministry at Manchester , attention had been directed to two

genteellooking young people who attended tho chapel for some Sundays in succession . They occupied the same pew on each occasion , and seemed to take great interest in the proceedings . At last they introduced themselves , and were at once invited to the house of the pastor , which invitation they subsequently availed themselves of . It transpired that they were husband and wife , by name Burnett , tbo lady ( Fanny ) being sister to Charles Dickens .

Mr . Burnett had for some years been engaged as an operatic singer , but having abandoned the lyric stage , he was anxious to find other scenes and associations , mainly on his wife ' s account , she having decided religious tendencies . Hence their desire to join the flock under Mr . Griffin ' s charge . At that time Charles Dickens was in the height of his popularity , being received with eclat in the highest circles of society , and noticed by the Queen with marked distinction .

Mr . and Mrs . Burnett became valuable acquisitions to the chapel , and very prominent in the musical portions of the services . The former , as a boy , had ( displayed great vocal talent , having at tho ago of ten been introduced to the Pavilion at Brighton as a distinguished young siuger . Being placed upon a table in tho drawing-room , he sang a solo before the Court , and remembered

seeing old George IV ., who was sutfering with gout , wheeled into the lOom , covered with flannels and bandages from head to foot . Mrs . Burnett also possessed a voice of great power and brilliancy , and it was no wonder that both husband and wife speedily became favourites with the Rusholme Road congregation .

About seven years after their introduction here , Mrs . Burnett ' s health began so to decline that she consented to go to London to consult the eminent physician Sir James Clark . Mr . Burnett had been a good husband , and her great anxiety was with regard to her children , one of whom , Harry ( according to the novelist he was the original of " Paul Dombey" ) , was deformed . Harry had been taken to Brighton , as " little Paul" is

represented to have been , and had there , for hours lying on the beach with his books , given utterance to thoughts quite as remarkable for a child as thoso which are put into the lips of Paul Dombey . Little Harry was fond of perusing the Bible , hymns , and various religious books . In spite of his deformity , he was a bright little fellow , and always happy . Ho died in the arms of John Griffin , a nephew of the Rev . James Griffin .

Upon the death of Mrs . Burnett , the Manchester pastor , in compliance with her dying request , went up to London to officiate at her funeral . Her grave was selected in a secluded and picturesque nook in Highgate Cemetery , all the male members of her family being in attendance .

It was a solemn and affecting scene , and one which impressed Mr . Dickens very deeply , who afterwards spoke to the minister in terms of great respect for his departed sister . Mr . Dickens kindly offered the use of his brougham to the cleric , and accompanied him to the house of Mr . Griffin's brother .

The pastor pays the following tribute to Mrs . Burnett ' s memory : — " Our congreation mourned with unusual sorrow the loss of their friend , for she had been greatly beloved by them , and by a very large circle of acquaintances besides . I preached her funeral permon from the words , ' Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God , who also hath given unto us the earnest of the spirit . ' 2 Cor . v . 5 . "

No doubt the early influences surrounding Mr . Burnett , together with the exceeding religious fervour of his wife , had tbe effect of making him discontented with his own particular calling , and of developing the reverent tendencies of his nature . While a mere child , he was sent to live with a relative at Gosport—his grandmother—a lady of exemplary piety . Richard Knill , who afterwards became celebrated as an earnest and zealous

missionary , was then a student at Gosport , and lodging at the same house . He became so attached to little Henry that when about to leavo this country for India ( he afterwards went to Russia ) , he said to tho boy , " Now , Henry , I am going away , and may never seo j ou again ; I want you to make me one promise , and that is , that you will pray for me every day as long as you live , if I am alive . "

The Rev . Mr . Griffin tells us that in after life he thus questioned him regarding the incident , " That was a promise you would not bo likely to keep . " " Yes , " was the reply of Mr . Burnett , " I have never broken it . I never omitted it for a single day . Once or twice I was so tired after being late at tbe theatre , that I thought I might say my prayers in bed ; but my conscience would not let me rest , so I got out to kneel down at the bedside . "

While upon the Dickens topic , I may mention that Maunsell B . Field , in his " Memories of Many Men , " tells a story of Charles Dickens and Washington Irving , the latter of whom he is pleased to call tho " gentle Goldsmith of American literature . " Mr . Field says : — " I never saw Mr . Irving betray any excitement but once in my life , and that was upon an occasion when I dined with him in Madrid . The name of Dickens happened

to be introduced , and he became very heated in telling me about his relations with that author . Finally he could no longer contain himself , and , jumping from his seat , he walked up and down the floor in great apparent agitation He told me that he had corresponded with Dickens long before they ever met . That both from his writings and his letters he had formed the highest conception of his personal character . That under these circumstances Dickens

arrived at New York , and he , Irving , called upon him at his hotel . That immediatel y after sending in his card he was invited to Mr . Dickens's parlour , and , as he entered the room , that gentleman met him , napkin in hand . He had been dining , and the table was covered with a vulgar P . . ° . ' . c'i food , and the table-cloth was stained with gravy and wine . Wringing his hand , Dickens's first salutation was , ' Irving , I am delighted to

Here And There.

see you 1 What will you drink , a mint julep or a gin cocktail ? ' ' The idea of inviting mo to drink juleps and cocktails I' naively exclaimed Mr . Irving . He found Dickens outrageously vulgar—in dress , manners , and mind . " o o o Surely the " gentle Goldsmith of American literature " must have been terribly and unjustly incensed against his fellow novelist , on account of the

" American "Notes , " which I believe Irving never forgave , or Mr . Field was misinformed . At the timo when Dickens was giving his readings in this country I met him frequently , and certainly never noticed , or heard of any characterisic which could be described as " outrageously vulgar " either in drdss or manners , and as to his mind—well , what do his writings prove ? STREBO .

The Attack On Freemasonry.

THE ATTACK ON FREEMASONRY .

THE following further letter has appeared in the " Weston Mercury , " in answer to that we reproduced last week : SIR , —The machinations of evil are so intrinsically and miraculously interwoven that volumes would be required in any way adequately to expose the subtlety brought to bear , but a careful study of Mons . Dillon's " War of Antichrist , " or Greville's " Memoirs " ( which latter may be had at your free library ) , would , to a great extent , elucidate the Masonic intrigue . The very

School Board system was by these planned as early as in the year 1826 with the expressed object of substituting Atheism in the place of Christianity ; and we see how stealthily it haa been carried out ( see Mons . Dillon ' s " War of Antichrist , " page 100 ) . At the same time , knowing so many most exemplary men who are Freemasons , I readily admit their ignorance of the plots so cunningly devised , and so far exonerate them from any wilful design ;

yet nevertheless , as a friend would warn another who knew burglars were in his house , so would I entreat all the honest Freemasons to study these works , and to bo hoodwinked no longer . It may well be called a secret society . The secrets are deep and designing , so deep that thousands of the Brotherhood absolutely know not of their existence . Nothing honourable and laudable needs secrecy . England is not yet ripe enough for the development

of their true colours , as in many foreign States , but the School Board system was expressly designed for rapidly preparing the way . Ever since Satan's temptation of our Lord there have been ( through the free will of man ) two rival powers contending against each other—Satan and this world's treasures , and Jesus Christ with eternal glory . Man must decide whom he will serve . Yours faithfully , THOS . H . SHAW .

We shall be glad if our readers will send us particulars of the meetings of Lodges of Instruction with which they are associated , as we are desirous of giving more attention to this important section of Craft work .

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GAIETYEESTAURANT, STJEZjjmmlXjD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in fche GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , afc 1 / - per head ; served from £ till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5 * 30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 6 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the Viennese Band performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7 * 45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PEIVATE DIKING EOOMS TOR LABGE AND SMALL PAETIBS .