Colonial Masonry.

derived in furthering in any way tbe interests of an Institution to which , in all its branches , he was so deeply attached . Tbe brethren then separated .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

OXTOHD . —The members of the Apollo University Lodge ( No . 460 ) , gave a grancl ball afc the Town Hall , on Monday night , June 30 th , under the patronage of the Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire , Lieut . Col . Atkins Bowyer . Tho arrangements were under tbe direction of a board of Stewards , of which A'iscounfc Adare was president . The stewards were sixty in number , and included A'iscounfc Ingestre , M . P . ; A'iscounfc Hamilton , M . P . ;

Earl of Lincoln , Viscount Newry , Lord Skelmorsdale , Hon . A . J . "Morgan , Hon . W . H . North , Sir M . Hicks Beach , Bart . ; Sir E . J . Buxton , Bart . ; Sir G . Macnherson Grant , Mr . AV . AV . B . Beach , MP . ; Sir J . 11 . Bailey , Bart ., Mr . J . AV . Malcolm , M . P ., & c . Five hundred invitations were issued and accepted , mid as fche hall was decorated in tho same style as when the Prince , of Wales attended the Masonic ball during his residence at the university , ancl the brethren appeared in full Masonic

costume , the effect , heightened by the splendid dresses of the ladies , was brilliant in the extreme , The company began to arrive between ten and eleven o'clock , anditwasnearly oneo'clock before all were set down . A spacious pavilion was erected iu the Town Hallyard as the supper-room , and at about two o ' clock the company withdrew there , and found an elegant ¦ entertainment awaiting them . Everything was on the most liberal scaleand it was very evident that tho Apollo Lodge

, were determined to maintain the reputation they have acquired of carrying out in the most spirited manner everything ivhieh they take in hand . Woippert ' s band was engaged for the occasion , and the company , which consisted of the principal -visitors now in Oxford , and the elite of the county and university were highly gratified with their night's enjoyment . MAXCHESTER . —The members of the Caledonian Lodgo

¦( No . 247 ) , Manchester , and their friends to the number of hundred ancl thirty , paid a visit on AA'ednesday , Juncl 25 th , to Studley Park , near Ripon . The party started by special train from the Lancashire and Yorkshire station afc eight a . m . ancl arrived at Ripon at eleven . They visited the seat of the Earl de Grey and JRipon , the Grand JMaster of AVest Yorkshire , at Fountains Abbey , where they spent a pleasant day , returning to Manchester at 10 30 p . m . Tbe arrangements of the railway comnany gave very general satisfaction .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

" Israel ' s Deliverance from Babylon , " the Oratorio by Hen-Schachner , founded on Moore's Sacred Melodies , which has been performed more than once in Germany , is to be performed afc Exeter Hall on the 30 th of the month , with a strong cast of singers , a chorus of four hundred i-oiees , and Mr . Mellon to conduct—for the benefit of tho British Columbia Female Emigration Society . Some statistics , furnished on authority , will form a fitting

pendant to the great commemoration of the Handel Festival . The orchestra , now a permanent addition to tho Crystal Palace , has cost , wo are assured , no less than £ 12 , 000 . Although it may be , as to exact detail , premature to calculate the receipts of the present festival , it will probably not bo far wrong to place them at about £ 25 , 000 . In 1857 j the receipts were £ 23 , 372 . JFor the Commemoration Festival in 1859 they woro £ 31 , 913 ; making a total receipt from the three festivals of nearl £ 71000 .

y , Of this sum the Sacred Harmonic Society will have received as surplus , beyond their expenditure , from £ 9000 to £ 10 , 000 , besides the acquisition of a considerable stock of music . Tho Crystal Palace Company carried into account as profit from the Handel Festival of 1857 tho sum of £ S , 700 , and in 1859 £ 11 , 500 . They will probably have a surplus from this festival of from £ 7000 " to £ 8000 subject to the cost of tho roof of the

, orchestra , ivhieh , assumed to bo £ 5000 , ivill leave a cash surplus of from £ 2000 to £ 3000 . The Alhenccnm says unexpected discoveries of a very interesting character havo been made in excavating tho site of Shaksperc ' s New Place . Not only have the entire foundations of the house , as altered by Sir Hugh Clopton early iu the last

Notes On Music And The Drama.

contury . como to light , but portions of the basement , of Shaksperc ' s own residence towards the east and south have been discovered , the latter intersecting the more recent design . It seems that Shaksperc's house extended a few feet into tho present Chapel Lane at the corner opposite tlit Guild Chapel , its frontage in Chapel-street being about fifty-four feet , taking in a small part of what was lately Dr . Rice ' s residence . When Sir Hugh Clopton re-built Noiv placeho diminished it a little on the north

, side , the adjoining house thus gaining a small space , in the inside of which , as was discovered by Mr . JE . Gibbs , still remain distinct traces of the gable end of the old Now Place . We can thus attain a pretty tolerable idea of the dimensions and form of the poet's last residence . More interesting still , in the opinion of many , ivill be Shaksperc ' s original ivell , wliich has boon discovered , with its ancient stone quoining , at the back

of the site of the house . BI . Fechter ( says the Illustrated Times ) is making occasional trips to the principal provincial towns , looking out for promising recruits for the Lyceum company . AVhen the list of that company is published it will bo found to contain'two or three names , not merely goocl , but of first-rate reputation , whoso coalition with M . Fechter is little expected . Rumours regarding coming theatrical changes aro still

current . Among thorn aro Mr . Webster's proximate retirement ; Mr . AA'igan's occupancy of tho Princess's ; and a division of the company at tho Strand , some of whom—notably Mr . Rogers and Miss Marie AVilton—ifc is said , are , with the aid of Miss Oliver , about to establish themselves afc the Royalty . Mr . Benjamin AA ' obster announced a new drama , "Joseph Brown , " for immediate production at the New Adelphi .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

MADAME TUSSAUD'S . Prom the number of foreigners who have visited this gallery , during the last six weeks , it may be inferred that the reputation of Madame Tussaud and her representatives is European , and what is much in favour of its fame is , that they all appear well satisfied with what they see and are continually renewing their visits . The Napoleon room , and the vast number of historical

mementoes , records , and various remains of the republic , the monarchy , and the empire attract peculiar attention , ancl they deserve to be minutely examined . Few things will fix attention , and illustrate events better than these historical accessories . The "Chamber of Horrors , " has not by any means lost its attractions . Those who delight in " model" villains can here be gratified to their utmost content . The effigy of Dnmollard is but of a foreign caitiff , who has claimed kindred with the monsters home bred of this island , ancl had his claim allowed without hesitation or cavil .

JULIA PASTRANA . Afc the Burlington Gallery , 191 , Piccadilly , arc being exhibited the most extraordinary specimens of humanity ever seen . Julia Pastrana ( now embalmed ) , about four years ago astonished all London with her close resemblance to a gorilla about the head , whilst her body and limbs were as symmetrical ancl graceful as possible . The lady died in confinement about two years ago , in Russia , where her body , together with her child , were embalmed ,

to suell perfection , that they may now be seen standing as if alive ; the features retaining all their life like appearance , as when breathing . This exhibition is certainly interesting , and in a scientific point of view , most successful .

ALHAMBSA . At this establishment in Leicester-square the most extraordinary feats imaginable are nightly gone through . Mr . Wilde , the proprietor , has certainly catered for the public amusement in a manner seldom , if ever , surpassed , and fche public are well rewarding him for his spirited and enterprising perseverance . The place is nightly crowded , ancl tho clay performances which take lace on Wednesday ancl Saturday are attended by some of

p the first jfamilies in tho land , one of the great attractions being the wonderful little artiste , Nathalie , whose marvellous feats are of tho most astounding character ever witnessed . Mr . Steve Ethair goes through a most elegant and graceful per formmice ; a family called the Fine Little A ' okes are very entertaining : and the graceful little Miss Batson is nightly encored . Then there is Mrs . Brian , whom they designate a buffo singer , keeps