Weekly Summary Of News.

The news from India of the probable famine in portions of Bengal , has naturallycreated no little anxiety at home , as the records of the last famine have for ug all

so painful a memory , but it is hoped , that , the authorities by timely precaution and preparations ¦ will alleviate , if they cannot hinder the alarming visitation .

News has arrived from the Gold Coast , by which ] it seems that , owing to local difficulties , it is impossible to ' make the proposed railway there . For railway operations the

railway plant will , therefore , not be sent ! The other preparations are actively being pushed on , and we doubt not soon to ^ hear [ of successful operations , and a happy peace .

Some controversy bas recently arisen about the discovery of the North-West passage , the credit of which is claimed for that good officer Sir R . McClure , recently deceased . It seems ,

however an undoubted fact , that , the primary discovery is due to Sir John Franklin and the gallant crews of the " Erebus" and "Terror , " who , as Sir John Richardson very truly

said , " forged the last link with their lives . " And in admitting this " double discovery" there is no detraction from the merit of Sir R . McClure , and his officers and men . We were glad to read a characteristic letter from that eminent

seaman , Sir Leopold McChntock , on the subject , and to be also reminded of the gallant services of our energetic brother , Captain Bedford Pim .

The Foreign Intelligence is in some respects , and to some extent , a little more stirring , and certainly a good deal mere sensational . In France much doubt and debate still continue

as to the present and future form of Government ^ In all probability the result of the present political dead-lock will be , the re-appointment of that gallant soldier Marshal McMahon , Duke

de Magenta , to the supreme authority for a specified term of years . Any day may bring the solution of a question which is of vital necessity for France , as that fair land is like a person

recovering from a long fever , and requires quiet and repose . The Bazaine trial continues , and is likely to last for some time longer . In Germany , Prince Bismarck is

reappointed Premier of the Prussian Cabinet , and Count Von Roon , the good old soldier , and long War Minister , and lately Premier , retires apparently into private

life . It is said General Von Kameke , a very distinguished officer , succeeds him as Minister of War . In Austria the Exhibition has closed , with it

is said , and which we are very sorry to hear , a considerable deficit . The undertaking deserved success , as it was admirabl y planned , and still more efficiently carried out in all its

many and difficult details . In Spain the civil war continues , with successes and defeats claimed and asserted by both sides , butnothing , so far , appears actuall y decisive ,

or as significant of a probable termination of the present untoward state of things . The execution of 39 of the crew andjpassengers ofthe Virginius ,

including the captain , by the authorities of Havannah , is , in our humble opinion , an act of unexampled barbarity , and , as the American

Weekly Summary Of News.

Government truly saj-s , " an outrage on civilisation and humanity . " We should not be at all surprised to hear thafthis ^ most high-handed proceeding has led ' to summary action on the part

of the United States Administration . The American navy and army seem to be rapidly gathering up , and any hour may bring us intelligence of a decisive step .

If it be true that sixteen of those executed are British subjects , it is not off the cards , that , the "Union Jack' \' and ' the "Stars and Stripes " may yet float side by side , for , as Flag-officer Tatnall , of

the American navy , once very truly observed , when his men would somehow or other help our bluejackets in the famous action under Admiral Sir James Hope in the " Peiho , " " Blood is thicker than water . "

The Poet Burns And Freemasonry.

THE POET BURNS AND FREEMASONRY .

In a little work , intended for private circulation , an author , concealing himself under the title of " A Son of the Rock , " has given some interesting facts regarding the Masonic career of the poet Robert Burns , which deserve a place in the pages of The Freemason . The author starts

by stating that Masonry was the " Great propelling power of the poet , influencing his thoughts , inspiring his muse , and nurturing that stern love of independence and brotherhood which are universally acknowledged to have been predominant characteristics of his

manhood . " With few exceptions , the poet ' s patrons , associates , correspondents , & c—in fact all whose names are made memorable by his genius—were linked together in the Masonic chain . On the 4 th July , 1781 , when Burns was in his 23 rd year , he was initiated at St .

David ' s Lodge , Tarbolton—a memorable event for him , who was so full of human nature and brotherly earnestness . Inthe following year a disruption took place , when the separating portion reconstituted the old lodge of St . James , Tarbolton , which had formerly existed , and to which Burns adhered with all tbe fervour of new

love and light . Major-General Montgomery , a scion of the noble house of Eglintoun , was the first W . M . ; and though the poet removed to Mossgiel , about three miles distant , he never missed attendance at any of the meetings . In the St . James ' s Lodge began his acquaintance with Gavin Hamilton , whom the poet thus describes . —

" The poor man ' s friend in need ; The gentleman in word and deed . " Amongst others , he then became intimate with Dr . Mackenzie , who married one of the celebrated " Mauchline Bells . " John Ballantine , to whom "The Brigs of Ayr" were inscribed , and

by whose exertions was erected the new " brig , " opened on the 22 nd November , 1786 , when a grand Masonic demonstration took place ; William Wallace , Sheriff of Ayrshire , respecting whom the poet wrote . " Heaven bless your honoured , noble name .

To Masonry and Scotia dear . " and John Rankine , of Adamhill , who was also a member ofthe lodge , was a great humorist and great companion of the poet . After settling at Mossgiel , the poet held lodges at Mauchline , and in July , 1714 , he was elected Depute Master

of St . James ' s Lodge , signing the minutes "Robert Burness" till the ist March , 178 * 5 , when his name appears as it was afterwards known to the world . Professor Dugald Stewart , who visited the Masonic lodge at Mauchline , where Burns presided , thus speaks of him , " He had occasion to make some short unpremeditated

compliments to different individuals , from whom he had no reason to expect a visit , and everything he said was happily conceived , and forcibly as well as fluently expressed . In the early part of 1786 , Burns went to Kilmarnock , to arrange for the publication of the first edition of his poems , when he visited St . John ' s Lodge , where he was surrounded by the brethren of the mystic tie ,

The Poet Burns And Freemasonry.

who were friends and patrons of the forthcoming volume . One of the most eminent of these was Bro . Thomas Samson , seedsman , hero of the well-known " Elegy , " at whose house the poet was welcomed with genuine cordiality , and

whose sterling worth was thus immortalised after his death . " The brethren of the mystic level , May hing their heads in wofu bevel , While by their nose the tears will revel ,

Like ony bead j Death ' s given the lodge an unco devel , Tam Samson ' s dead . ' , Before leaving Kilmarnock , Burns was admitted an honorary member of St . John ' s Lodge , on the 26 th October , 1786 , and he left them his

parting benediction , full of brotherly affection . One stanza is certainly worth being quoted and remembered by every brother : — " Ye powers who preside o ' er the wind and the tide , Who marked each element ' s border ,

Who formed this frame with beneficent aim , Whose sovereign statute is order j Within this dear mansion may wayward contention , Or withered envy ne ' er enter , May secrecy round be the mystical bound ,

And brotherly love be the centre . The 28 th of November , 1786 , is the supposed date of the poet ' s memorable arrival in Edinburgh , where Masonry was in the highest repute at the time , eleven or twelve lodges held monthly meetings , and the officials of the Grand Lodge

were in the habit of visiting each lodge once a year . Amongst the officers at that time were the Duke of Atholl , the Earl of Balcarras , Lord Haddo , Sir Wm . Forbes , Col James Murray , Sir . James Hunter Blair , Earl of Buchan , Lord Napier , Lord Banning , Earl of Morton , & c . On

the 7 th of December , Burns attended a meeting of the Cannongate Kilwinning Lodge , where he was introduced to the Hon . Henry Erskine , Dean of Faculty . On the same evening the " Kilwinning " was visited by the Grand Lodge and eight Craft Lodges , and the poet was in a

blaze of excitement as he returned to his lodgings in the Lawn Market , after he had been lionised during the evening . Two days afterwards , Henry Mackenzie ( "JThe man of Feeling " ) a brother Mason published in The Lounger a review of Burns' Kilmarnock poems , in which it was first

declared that " a poet of no ordinary rank had been born among the peasantry of Scotland , possessing the spirit as well as the fancy of a poet . " On the 13 th the Courant printed a complimentary espistle in which Burns was spoken of as

" The prince o poets and o" ploughmen . On the same day the poet wrote to a brother Mason— " I have been introduced to a good many of the noblesse but my avowed patrons and patronesses are the Duchess of Gordon , the Countess of Glencairn , with my Lord and Ladv

Betty ( Cunningham ) , the Dean of Faculty , Sir John Whitefoord , & c . I have likewise warm friends among the literati , Professor Stewart Blair , and Mr . Mackenzie , the " Man of Feeling . " The publication of the poems was pushed forward and warmly supported by the eminent

brothers whom he met . On the nth of January , 1787 , the Grand Master visited the ancient Lodge Mary ' s Chapel , and Burns , who was present , wrote to Ballantine at Ayr : — " I went to a Mason lodge yesternight , where the Most Worshipful Grand Master Charteris and all the Grand

Lodge of Scotland visited . The meeting was numerous and elegant ; all the different lodges about town were present in all their pomp . The Grand Master , who presided with great solemnity and honour to himself as a gentleman and Mason , among other general toasts , gave '

Caledonia and Caledonia ' s Bard , Brother Burns , ' which rang through the whole assembly with multiplied honours and repeated acclamations . As I had no idea such a thing would happen , I was downright thunderstruck , and , trembling in every nerve , made the best return in my power . "

On the ist February , sixteen new members were initiated in the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , some from Forfarshire , all of whom became Masons to meet Burns , who was then made an honorary member . On the 6 " th of February the Prince of Wales was initiated , and on the same