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Article MASONIC ANECDOTES. ← Page 2 of 2 Article COLLECTANEA. Page 1 of 4 →
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Masonic Anecdotes.
Babastro , a renowned Spanish corsair , who , under the protection ot Bonaparte , did much injury to British small-craft in the Mediterranean , is often mentioned in this work . " Must I ( says Mrs . Broughton ) , whilst the name of Babastro occupies my pen—must I , who ranked the name of Babastro amongst the Jack-the-giaut-killers , ogres , hobgoblins , evil genii , spiteful fairies , and croque mitaines who so prominently occupied my imagination—must Iin justice and in charitytrace
young , , one redeeming trait ? Yes , even so ; I will , in my dear father ' s spirit , who never failed , whenever circumstances led him to speak of this one of his arch-plagues , always to conclude by adding the only palliating circumstance with which he was acquainted , and from whichhe deduced a strong argument in support of one of his most favourite dogmas , viz ., that great benefit had accrued to mankind by the establishment and continuation of Freemasonry , of which he was a most decided admirer
and zealous advocate . After the capture of an English prize by this sooft-named corsair , and whilst his crew were following their usual honorable practice of stripping our unfortunate countrymen ( to which they induced them to submit by holding over them unsheathed knives ) , that they , the gallant captors , might thus exactly ascertain the precise amount of their booty ; it so occurred , that the ' master of one of the luckless English vessels , whose name escapes my recollection , whilst
undergoing this unceremonious disrobing , made use of one of those mystic gestures invisible to all but the initiated brethren of the trowel and apron . Whatever that sign was , it passed not unnoticed , for instantly was his hand clasped in that of Babastro , and an immediate order was given by him to his satellites to release the English captain from their grasp ; and he desired that whatsoever property was ascertained to belong exclusivelto himshould ball be held sacredand
y , y , restored to him . Nor were these professions a mere facon de purler , for most strictl y were they fulfilled , as I perfectly remember hearing the English captain relate to us . All I recollect besides of this chieftain of the privateers which so long infested the coast of Al giers , is , that his master , Napoleon , judged him worthy of being named a member of the legion of honour . "
Collectanea.
COLLECTANEA .
THE RUINS OP EPHESUS . '"'—For about three hours before reaching Ephesus , the road , crossing a rich and beautiful plain watered by the Cayster , lies between two mountains ; that on the right leads to the sea , and on the left are the ruins of Ephesus . Near , and in the immediate vicinity , storks were calmly marching over the plain and building among the ruins ; they moved as if seldom disturbed by human footsteps , and seemed to look us as intruders spot for long time aban
upon upon a a - doned to birds and beasts of prey . * * '"• It was late in the afternoon when I arrived at the little coffee-house at Aysalook ; a caravan had already encamped under some fine old sycamores before the door , preparatory to passing the night . I was somewhat fatigued , and my Greek who had me in charge , was disposed to stop for the morrow ; but the fallen city was on the opposite hill at but a short distance , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Anecdotes.
Babastro , a renowned Spanish corsair , who , under the protection ot Bonaparte , did much injury to British small-craft in the Mediterranean , is often mentioned in this work . " Must I ( says Mrs . Broughton ) , whilst the name of Babastro occupies my pen—must I , who ranked the name of Babastro amongst the Jack-the-giaut-killers , ogres , hobgoblins , evil genii , spiteful fairies , and croque mitaines who so prominently occupied my imagination—must Iin justice and in charitytrace
young , , one redeeming trait ? Yes , even so ; I will , in my dear father ' s spirit , who never failed , whenever circumstances led him to speak of this one of his arch-plagues , always to conclude by adding the only palliating circumstance with which he was acquainted , and from whichhe deduced a strong argument in support of one of his most favourite dogmas , viz ., that great benefit had accrued to mankind by the establishment and continuation of Freemasonry , of which he was a most decided admirer
and zealous advocate . After the capture of an English prize by this sooft-named corsair , and whilst his crew were following their usual honorable practice of stripping our unfortunate countrymen ( to which they induced them to submit by holding over them unsheathed knives ) , that they , the gallant captors , might thus exactly ascertain the precise amount of their booty ; it so occurred , that the ' master of one of the luckless English vessels , whose name escapes my recollection , whilst
undergoing this unceremonious disrobing , made use of one of those mystic gestures invisible to all but the initiated brethren of the trowel and apron . Whatever that sign was , it passed not unnoticed , for instantly was his hand clasped in that of Babastro , and an immediate order was given by him to his satellites to release the English captain from their grasp ; and he desired that whatsoever property was ascertained to belong exclusivelto himshould ball be held sacredand
y , y , restored to him . Nor were these professions a mere facon de purler , for most strictl y were they fulfilled , as I perfectly remember hearing the English captain relate to us . All I recollect besides of this chieftain of the privateers which so long infested the coast of Al giers , is , that his master , Napoleon , judged him worthy of being named a member of the legion of honour . "
Collectanea.
COLLECTANEA .
THE RUINS OP EPHESUS . '"'—For about three hours before reaching Ephesus , the road , crossing a rich and beautiful plain watered by the Cayster , lies between two mountains ; that on the right leads to the sea , and on the left are the ruins of Ephesus . Near , and in the immediate vicinity , storks were calmly marching over the plain and building among the ruins ; they moved as if seldom disturbed by human footsteps , and seemed to look us as intruders spot for long time aban
upon upon a a - doned to birds and beasts of prey . * * '"• It was late in the afternoon when I arrived at the little coffee-house at Aysalook ; a caravan had already encamped under some fine old sycamores before the door , preparatory to passing the night . I was somewhat fatigued , and my Greek who had me in charge , was disposed to stop for the morrow ; but the fallen city was on the opposite hill at but a short distance , and