Literature.

Clive and AVarren Hastings—two ofhis most brilliant productions . Mr . Macaulay ' s subsequent political career in England was somewhat less active than that previous to his departure for the East ; but he still contributed—as M . P . for Edinburgh , Secretary at AVar , and Paymaster of the Forces—to tho stores of our parliamentary eloquence . The loss of his election for Edinburgh , in 1 S-17 , owing to his views on the Maynooth question , induced him to retire and to devote his time to literary pursuits .

AVhile his admirers Avere deploring the fact of a man known to fame as a poet , essayist , and orator , being thus displaced by a constituency so important and intelligent , they derived no small consolation from the rumour that he was to devote his leisure to the grand project of -writing a History of England . His peculiar qualifications for the task , his parliamentary career , his official knowledge , his social experience , his historical information , his familiarity with ancient literature , and the art

he Avas known to possess of Avriting what people like to read , as Avell as dealing skilfull y AA'ith the less attractive parts of a subject , raised high expectations : and when , in 184 S , an instalment of two volumes appeared , AA'ith the title of " The History of England from the accession of James the Second , " they met ivith an enthusiastic reception , and elicited universal praise . In the majestic sentences Avith which he introduced ' Ms -work to the publicMr . Maeaulay stated that he Avould cheerfull

, y bear the reproach of having descended below what is called the dignity of histoiy , if he could succeed in placing before the English of the nineteenth century a true picture of the life of their ancestors . He made the sacrifice , and accomplished his object . By a judicious selection and arrangement of materials ; by retaining only Avhat Avas interesting of itself , or could be rendered so by the artifice of style ; and by adorning his pages with biographical sketches of the principal actors in the scenes

ho treated of , Mr . Maeaulay succeeded in producing a book ivhich few can peruse without gratification . In 1848 , Mr . Maeaulay was chosen Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow , aud delivered au inaugural address , memorable for its abilit y . In 1849 he ivas nominated Professor of Ancient History in the Royal Academy . In 1852 , when a general election occurred , he was by his friends put in nomination for Edinburgh . Mr . Maeaulay , Wwever , stood haughtily aloof from the stirring contest ; neither

issuing an address , nor appearing as a candidate on the hustings . Nevertheless , the electors restored themselves to the good opinion of the world by replacing him in his former position ; and going northward in the autumn , he delivered a speech that did much to clear a way for tho coalition government , which he subsequently supported in the House of Commons , by two orations deemed not quite Avorthy of his ancient reputation . In 1 S 53 Mr . Macaulay ' s various speeches were collected

, and published . In 1855 , the third and fourth volumes of his " History of England" were hailed with an enthusiasm Avhicli marked them out for a popularity hardly less extensii-e than that which attended thenpredecessors . In 1856 , Mr . Maeaulay resigned his seat for Edinburgh , and on September 10 th , 1857 , he Avas raised to the peerage ; but a chronic cough , Avhich of late years preventing his speaking for more than short

a time , probably induced him to refrain from e \ 'er addressing the Upper House . The author had expressed a hope that he might be enabled to bring down the history of his country to a date Avithin the memory of living men ; but unhappily this hope is very far from beingrealized . For some time it has been currently rumoured that the fifth and sixth volumes of the work were about to appear , but we believe , whatever materials may have been accumulated , no such extensive addition to the history is ready for the press .

THE LATE HOWARD WRIGHT . AVE extract the following graphic sketch from tho columns of the Alheneeum : — " Alter a quarter of a century of hard labour—the labour of being perpetually eomie before a London audience—Mr . AVright of the Adelphi has 'shuffled off this mortal coil . ' He has left many an older brother actor Avho commenced his career of player before Mr . Wright was born ; but the latter had been rendered old blong suffering

y , and he died last week : —according to dates , in the forty-sixth year of his age—according to constitution , a very much older man . Like Murphy ' s " Apprentice , " Mr . AVright ivas stagestruck at au early period , ancl left " commerce" ( otherwise the " counter" ) for tho "boards" when he was barely out of his teens . His course shoivs ivhat may be effected by study , perseveranceand self respectHe Avas a actor

, . very poor when the curtain first rose for him , but he became the first in his peculiar lino before many years had passed . That line was "farce , " iu all its varieties , from the lightest aud airiest to the very broadest ; but even the latter never ran into vulgarity , and his lowest humour had a touch of refinement in it , His vocation was commenced five ancl , twenty

years ago at the Queen ' s Theatre , a little house which , in the days of the Beverleys , was a nursery for growing players , and where , ivith very small resources , pieces were put upon the stage with remarkable care and neatness . There AVright proved himself Avoak among tho inefficient , buthe abandoned tho latter that he might become strong . In a few months ha ivas the pet of Birmingham ; andin 1837 when Brabam

, , produced him at the St . James ' s , he became a favourite , and soon the familiar friend , of the London public . His home was at the Adelphi ; but ho served under two dynasties at the Princess ' s—those of Medex and Kean , —rendering the last memorable by his creation of the character of QneenBee , in Douglas Jen-old ' s charming play of "St . Cupid . " ^ Wright ' s musical voice and knoivledge , and his graceful , dancing , ivere advantages

of which be knew how to make admirable use ; but , like an accomplished artist , lie could turn defects to profit , and render a certain hesitation of speech available for the expression of laughter from his audience . Many other ' merits were his , but we will specify but one more—his identification with his part—as , for instance , in the old retired coachman in soma screaming farce , when the veteran John tottered on his weak limbs

taking permanently the form into Avhich they had been shaped during fifty years' occupation of the box seat . This appearance he never forgot for a moment throughout the piece . For a brief period he ivas at the Lyceum , where he Avas shelved , as he was at the Princess ' s . " AVright of the Adelphi "exactly indicates his home and his style . Itwas ho Ai'lio made screaming farces not merely endurable , but enjoyable . The

fun of them he carried away from the stage to his house and garden at Surbiton , where the same servant dressed his ivigs and reared his cauliflowers . Let us add , that the mirth he raised was legitimately produced , Honest fun was tbe result . He lived before the clays when the stage ' became profane by burlesques of the most sacred stories of the affections and mockeries of the greatest patriots in history . He died , on tbe 22 nd instant , at Boulogne , exhausted by continued disease . To such complexion had the great comic actor come at last . "

A MASONIC LIFE OF AVASHINGTON . —AVe have known for a considerable period that a Avork of this character Avas in tbe course of preparation by the skilful hand of Bro . Sidney Haydeu , of Athens Pa ., but did not feel at liberty to announce it until specially permitted by the author to do so . To gather material for so important a ivork , Bro . Haydeu has expended much time and money in a personal examination of old Lodge records in Neiv York , Pennsylvania and Virginia , ancl is _ yet engaged in with old Lod in

such researches . He has corresponded extensively ges different sections , to gather up notes from their records and archives relative to the subject of his ini'estigations . To make bis personal Avritten appeal more effectual he has , in many States first obtained tho approbation of Grand Masters for solieiting ' sueh notes , & e . This sort of investigation is indeed laborious , but bas been in its results successful . Much good matter has been secured , both from Masons ancl non-Masons , the latter looking ivith interest his labours as promising a

contriupon bution to American history . This is a correct i-iew to take of the subject . AVe have an object in alluding to Bro . Hayden's labours beyond that of furnishing a paragraph ; we havo to request on his account , and for the sake of the institution iu general , that ei'ery person Avho is in possession of incidents or items relating to AVashington as a Alason , or the old military Lodges , will communicate them to him at Athens , Pa ., as soon as possible , that they may be incorporated in his forthcoming work . All such matter -will , we guarantee , be personally ancl duly acknowledged .

AVe are sure that this book ivill be a real addition to the literature of-Masonry and to American history . Too much has been advanced by orators and writers as reliable Masonic facts , ivhich has no solid foundation . Such stuff ) as Bro . Haydeu Avell observes , is like the bubble Avhicli has just substance enough to exhibit colours of reflected light and please the fancy for a moment , and then to burst . Masonic history , to be worthy of the present age , should be like the diamond , Avith its ( fabled ) eternal light . AVe sincerely hope that Bro . Haydeu will build up this work , a monument of honour to himself and to us all . —Rob Morris's ! Voice of Masonry .

A TOUCHING INCIDENT . —At the Masonic festii-al in Medina , Ohio , on the 24 th June , 1858 , there wns a banquet in the evening . Among those present ivas Ossian li . Dodge , Avho , of course , was called ' on to sing . The song he selected to sing ivas the " SHOAV Storm , " Avritten by Seba Smith . Mr . Dodge , before singing the song , narrated the- incident to ivhich it related . In the vear 1821 , Mrs . Blake , ivith her husband ancl child , were crossing thoGreen Mountains during a SBOAV storm , and lost their Ai-ay . AVhen discovered by some persons iu search of them , Mrs . Blake

was frozen to death , and Mr . Blake almost unconscious . Near the dead body of Mrs . Blake AVUS a little hillock of snow , on removing which ivas found a bundle , which , when unwrapped , was found to contain the babe alive and well , wrapped in the cloth i ng tbe mother had taken from her own person . During the singing ' of the piece a gentleman and lady were deeply affected . The gentleman was the Hon . H . G . Blake , son of her ivho had perished in the snow and brother of the babe , and the lady was his Avife . — American Paper .