New Materials For The Life Of John Flaxman, R.A.

accuracy of the above prevailed at New York , as the Government had furnished nothing officially ' . There is no news from the armies in the west and south-west . The Federals were again advancing on Kingston , in North Carolina . Orders had severally been issued by Federals and Confederates as to the non-release of captured officers . President Lincoln had signed

the bill for a further issue of Treasury notes to the amount of 100 millions of dollars , for the payment of the army ; and a bill had been reported to the Senate to authorise the issue of letters of marque . The most important piece of news is in reference to the operations of France in America . Resolutions had been introduced into the Senate to the effect that the attempt by

Prance to subjugate Mexico is hostile to the United States ; that it is a violation of international law ; and that it is the duty of the Federal Government to require the withdrawal of the French forces , and to assist Mexico in resisting European intervention . The premium on gold was 4 A . Later items of news show that General Burnside " took nothing by bis motion "

across the Rappahannock . The condition of the roads , it is said , delayed the transportation of the pontoons and heavy artillery ; no troops therefore crossed , and the whole army returned to its former position . The City of Baltimore and Jura have brought us New York advices two days later in . date . It Avas stated that another Federal expedition had left Memphis for the purpose of attacking Vicksburg . The Federal gunboats

which had ascended the White River , in Arkansas , had taken several Confederate posts , and were more thau 300 miles abov the mouth of the river . About etSOO Confederate prisoners , captured at Arkansas Post , had arrived at Cairo . Several of the New York journals urged a reconstruction of President Lincoln's Cabinet ; and the New YorJc Tribune , while urging the most

vigorous prosecution of the war , was beginning to speak of the possibility that " if some malignant fate has decreed that the blood and treasure of the nation shall always be squandered in fruitless efforts , " a time may come when the North ynust "bow to her destiny , and make the best attainable peace . "

METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL . —A most interesting cere , mony took place in this establishment on Thursday the 29 th ult ., in the presence of a large and influential assembly . The occasion Avail the opening of two New Wards which have been prepared for the reception of Jewish patients . At three o ' clock the Rev . the Chief Rabbi , attended by several of his reverend

colleagues , proceeded to inspect the several apartments , including the wards ( male and female ) , the kitchen and recptacle for the dead , with all of which all present expressed their entire satisfaction and approval . Some appropriate Psalms were then ' intoned by the Rev . A . Bamett , ov the Great Synagogue , and the responses by the choir of the same place , after which the

Rev . the Chief Rabbi offered up a most beautiful and impressive prayer for thje prosperity of the Institution , and for the blessing of God upon all connected with it ; and after partaking of some slight refreshment in the board-room , the company separated . GEOAIETRX . —The science of geometry was first cultivated in Egypt , according to the testimony of Herodotus , which historian

dates its origin from the following circumstance : —Sesostris , the King of Egypt , shared the brads at Thebes and Memphis between his subjects , and each portion wsis marked out by different landmarks ; but , owing to the inundations of the Nile , these boundaries Avere frequently destroyed , and it became necessary as often as this was done , to restore them hy measurement . hence a system Avas invented which was termed geometry . Meeton's Dictionary of Useful Information , Article , "Geometry . "

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

T . L . —Honorary members are not acknowledged by the Book of Constitutions . AVe will ansiver the other points fully hy letter . T . D . —AVe do not know the address of the writer of the Masonic "Auld Lang Syne" which appeared in THE FREEAIASOITS MAGAZINE of October 4 , 1862 . Perhaps he will be good

enough to forward it to us . B . B . B . —The following by-law Avould be illegal , and any brother excluded under it Avould have his remedy on appeal to the Prov . G . M . ; and should he decide in favour of the bylaw , to Grand Lodge : " Any member of this lodge joining any other lodge in the town shall cease to be a member of this

lodge . " You cannot , however , compel an old lodge to recommend the establishment of a new lodge . The desirability of so doing may naturally be a matter of opinion . H . E . —The report of the last meeting of the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 170 , did not come to hand , though a letter relative to a correction in it was received .

AV . AV . NEWPORT . —The brother alluded to takes no part in the management of the magazine . G . R . C . —Get the Freemason's Treasury , by Bro . Dr . Oliver lately published by Bro . R . Spencer . S . B . —AVe will direct our attention to the subject at an early date .

ROBERT BURKS' LOD & E ( NO . 25 ) . —Our report of the anniversary meeting of this lodge is postponed , owing to the nonreceipt of a list of the officers and other promised information . The report of Lodge of Independence ( No . 1023 ) Chester , and other lodges , are unavoidably held over through press of matter .

Grand Lodge Property.

GRAND LODGE PROPERTY .

AVe have been recmested to again publish the following : — The committee on Grand Lodge Property , with the desire to give every Brother an opportunity of expressing his views on the important subject entrusted to them , will he perfectly ready to consider suggestions from any Brethren , whether in London or the Provinces , who may have interested themselves in the subject of the appropriation of Grand Lodge Property and are desirous of cxpvessing their

opinion thereon . It will , of course , he understood that the Committee do not , by this , invite suggestions as to details of plans or designs , because these will hereafter come legitimately within the province of architects , hut suggestions as to the general principles to he borne in mind in considering the whole subject ; and especially—First . The nature and form of the buildings which shall include the accommodation requisite .

a . For the Grand Lodge , the Grand Master , and the Executive generally . b . For Private Lodges and Chapters . c . For individual Members of the Craft ; e . g . Library , Reading Rooms , Coffee Room , & c . d . For the Tavern purposes . Second . The maximum amount of cost which it would he prudent

and justfiable to incur , ^ To these may , with advantage , be added any suggestions as to the best means of making the Maosnic and the Tavern portions as separate and distinct as possible , and as to the returns for outlay which may rersonably be expected for the increased accomodation provided under the heads b , c , and d . All communications should be made in writing and addressed to the Grand Secretary , and as the work of the Committee is now actively progressing , it is most desirable that they should be sent in on or before the 7 th February . :