Notes On Literature, Science And Art.

lime precepts of Freemasonry , by doing which we will most assuredly benefit both ourselves and the whole human family . Some curious antiquities , of the Merovingian epoch , have been recently discovered in pulling down the remains of the old belfry at Vertonin the department of

, Loire Inferieure , which had been built in the eleventh century . They consist of friezes , capitals , portions of sculptured cornices , tablets , & c , from the ancient church founded by St . Martin towards the beginning of the sixth century , and

destroyed by the Normans in the ninth . They were found indiscriminately mixed together under the arches , with part of a white marble Gallo-Roman sarcophagus , ornamented with the figure of a gryphon in bas-relief . They will be deposited in the Archaeological Museum of Nantes .

A small volume , entitled " Moments of Musing , by John Bryson , " is before me ; in a preface to which , by Mr . John Dawson , we are told , truly enough , that '' as good verse might be written to-day on the subject of the railway-train as was on the subject of its predecessorthe stage-coach

, , at a day gone by . " I remember the first time that T met January Searle , he asked me if I had ever written a poem on the steam-engine ; to which I could only reply , " No ! but I feel nevertheless that there is much poetry in it—far moreI fearthan

, , , I shall ever be able to express : for he is a great man who can faithfully and clearly tell to others all his feelings , and can realize his own noblest conceptions . " Mr . Bryson has not attempted to give us the poetry of railways , but then , as Mr .

Dawson kindly reminds us , that "this is a young poet ' s first book , " and " it may be remembered that it is a first-born , and treated accordingly . " One of the best pieces in the little volume is " The Past Year and the Present , " which I quote , and

which would have been better for publication in a book had the mention of " Seventyfive " been changed to the New Tear , with corresponding rhyme , of course , so as to nave done for the beginning of any year , as well as that of 1875 . But here is the poem itself : —

You are dead and gone for ever , Olden year ; And we mourn to think you'll never Re-appear ;

With your changes and your crosses , Sob and sigh : With your gaining and your losses , Year , good-bye ! With the happy hours you brought us , Held so dear ;

With the lessons you have taught us , Faded year ! With your smiles ancl frowns , —we falter Unto you : Here on Memory ' s sacred altar , — Year , adieu !

Year , but one brief day departed , Notes on Literature & Science No . 2 . Tears bedew Brows of those who broken-hearted Think of you ; Fond relations who are sleeping

In the dell ; Brave hearts sadden'd , bright eyes weeping , Year , farewell !

You have come , 0 baby , newly Born to life ; Whether tranquil or unruly , — Peace or strife Shall predominate your hours , None do know : You may bring us thorns or flowers , Joy or woe .

May we never know disaster Thro' your time ; All our sinful passions master , — Stifle crime 1 May the God who lives above us , So we pray , Watch us , guard us , ever love us , Night and day .

Welcome then , 0 , welcome to you , 'Seventy-five ! May the people who live thro' you Prosper , thrive ! And the year that follows after Better be ; Glowing more with mirth and laughter , So say we . "

J . Charles Cox , of Chevin House , Belper , Esq ., F . R . H . S ., had long contributed to the Derbyshire Times , " Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire , " without the slightest idea of their reproduction ; but in course , of time , the deep research displayed therein caused many interested in