De Plurimis Rebus.

available force of England would not amount to onetenth of that of France , or one-tAventieth of the host of Germany . She must be content then to leave Avar alone , and follow peaceful pursuits . Thanks to her insular

position , she is virtually secure from invasion . Further , she owns a navy which she is justly proud in thinking Avould render her position unassailable , even if such a remote contingency were threatening .

We wish wo were able to offer more satisfactory intelligence to our readers of the health of Prince Leopold . His condition , though apparently much the same , does not shoAV altogether hopeful signs of a speedy recovery . We read that haemorrhage has returned , which the London

Medical Mecord regards as a very ominous sign in ordinary cases of typhoid fever . We are glad to learn , hoAvever , that the authority just quoted regards haemorrhage in this case , not as proceeding from the fever , but attributes it to

a natural tendency to haunorrhage m the Prince . Its illeffect , then , will be measured by the extent of debility it may produce , and , having regard to the milder Aveather UOAV prevailing , we hope for some improvement at an early date .

Bro . S . B . Oldham , Secretary to the Girls and Boys ' School in Ireland has been appointed Deputy Grand Secretary and Treasurer to the Grand Lodge of Ireland , in place of Bro . C . J . Walmisby , lately resigned .

A Masonic Temple is to be solemnly inaugurated at Rome next month . It is understood that the occasion will be one of very great pomp .

We have great pleasure in announcing that on Wednesday last Bro . I . Edwards Avas unanimously elected to the office of Town Clerk of St . Albans—a post rendered vacant by the lamented decease of Bro . T . W . Blagg . Bro . Edwards Avas also appointed Registrar of the County Court .

A very pleasant gathering came off at the Criterion , the other evening , on the occasion of a complimentary dinner to Mr . Peter Laird , the late Assistant Secretary at the Agricultural Hall , Islington , which post he had filled from the first opening of the building . During his tenure of

office , Mr . Laird Avas deservedly popular Avith all classes , and his retirement Avas a general source of regret . The estimation in Avhich he Avas held by a large circle of friends found a still more practical expression , on this occasion , in the presentation of a handsome testimonial , consisting of a purse of gold , which Avas suitably acknoAvledged .

Bro . E . P . Albert P . M . and Secretary 188 , and Proxy Master , Isle of Mauritius has been presented Avith a very elegant medal , artistically enamelled in colours , as a mark of honour from the Canongate and Leith Lodge , No . 5 , Scotland .

The story of Whittington and his Cat , no doubt became familiar to most of our readers in the early days Avhen a visit to the Pantomime was one of the events of the season . The following , from a footnote to Mr . Riley ' s admirable preface to his Edition of Liber Albus , may possess ,

therefore , some interest . In tho 14 th and beginning of the 15 th centuries , trading , or buying and selling at a profit , was known to the more educated classes under the French name of " Achat , " which in England Avas Avritten , and not improbably pronounced " Acat . " To " Acat" of this

na-Other solutions have been offered , and among them a suggestion , in a spirit of irony , b y Foote , in his . Mlob % that

ture Whittington was indebted for his wealth , and as , in time , French was gradually displaced by modern English , the meaning of the word probably became lost , and thus furnished an opportunity to some inventive genius , at a

much later period , for building up a new story on the double meaning of an old and effete word . Mr . Riley further tells ns that contracting was also known , in the 14 th century as " Acat , " and to " Acat" of this description Whittington may also have owed some of his wealth

De Plurimis Rebus.

Whittington owed his Avealth to the employment of the ! coal ships knoAvn as " Cats , " is deserving of notice .

Bro . Louis Beck s Fourth Annual Ball will take place at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , on Thursday , 11 th February . An efficient body of Stewards has consented to act on that occasion . Tickets can be obtained at Bro . Beck ' s , 1 A Adam Street , Strand . Bro . Jarvis is the M . C .

On Tuesday evening last a very successful Masonic Ball Avas given in the Royal Pavilion , Bri ghton .

We observe that the death-rate has assumed much more satisfactory dimensions during the past Aveek . We find , by the Registrar-General ' s Returns , that the mortality in the 20 English towns shows the lower average of 32 per

1 , 000 , 34 in Edinburgh , 42 m Dublin , and 44 in GlasgoAv . The rate at Bradford is the lowest , viz ., 22 , while Manchester is unhappily credited with the hi ghest , 42 . In London the rate declined to 29 per 1 , 000 . Altogether we may consider the returns as satisfactory .

On Monday a Grand Conference was held at Birmingham for the purpose of concerting measures throughout tho Midland Counties for the defence of the Church . The Earl of Dartmouth presided , and letters were read from the Earl of Harrowby and Mr . Newdegate , expressing both regret at

their inability to be present and entire sympathy with the objects of the meeting . Amongst the speakers may be mentioned none other than Lord Lyttelton , a prominent member of the Liberal party , Avho was heartily

congratulated by the chairman on the taste and judgment he displayed in handling the question . A large and influential meeting Avas also held in the evening of the same day in the Town Hall , Avhen certain resolutions on the same subject were offered and accepted .

For some days past a Trades Union Congress has been sitting at Liverpool . Many subjects of interest were discussed , and among those who addressed the meeting may be mentioned Mr . Plimsoll , M . P ., in whose favour a resolution Avas passed , expressing the complete sympathy of the

Congress Avith the honourable gentleman in his efforts on behalf of our mercantile seamen . Mr . Plimsoll ' s remarks naturally related to the subject he has so strenuously taken in hand . A resolution was subsequently agreed to , that a memorial should be presented to the Prime Minister , entreating that

the attention of the Government should be given to the subject of the unseaworthiness of our ships . Several noteworthy persons connected with Trades' Unions were present , including the honourable member for the Hole-iuthe-Avall , Mr . Odger , of Republican notoriety .

INSTRUCTION . —The Installation Ceremony will be rehearsed in the Confidence Lodge of Instruction , White Hart Tavern , Abchurch-lane , Cannon-street , on Wednesday evening , the 27 th inst ., at 7 . 30 , by Bro . John Constable W . M . 185 .

Illustrated Guide for Amateur Gardeners . Spring 1875 . Daniel Bros . Norwich . —Contains , among other matters , an excellent "Kitchen Garden Calendar , " Avhich will be found serviceable on the all important questions of sowing , planting , treatment and selection of the best varieties . Then follows an illnstrated table of the various sorts

of vegetables moat in use , Avith notes to guide the amateur inhia choice of qualities . Next comes the " Flower Garden Calendar , " similarly treated to its companion of the Kitchen Garden , and followed in like manner by a long catalogue of plants and seeds , with

the addition of sundry suggestions on the purchase and arrangement of plants in borders and beds . A description of several new sorts of vegetables , and snndry new inventions for the greenhouse , concludes this admirable guide , which we accordingly recommend to the notice of any among our readers who have a taste for gardening .

A Wondrous Tale , and other Poems , by ST . MARIE . London : Charing Cross Publishing Company . THESE little poems , Avhich are all of a serious cast , are evidently written by a ' prentice hand . They exhibit a highly moral and religions tone , and are , no doubt , the work of an earnest soulwho

, seeks to alleviate human woe , * and speak a Avord of hope to tho fallen . In view of the evident intention of the author , we shall restrain our critical instinct , and merely advise her to try again , and yet again , before she ventures upon publishing any additional rhymes . .