Royal Arch.

DEVONSHIRE . DEVONPORT . —Chapter of Friendship ( No . 238 ) . —A convocation of this chapter was held at the Masonic Rooms , St . Stephen Street , Devonport , on Thursday , the 74 th inst . The E . Comps . Rogers , Z . ; Fox , J . ; Elphinstone , H . A ballot was taken for two of the officers of Lodge St . Aubin ( No . 1256 ) , the same being perfectly chjar they were exalted to this supreme degree . This being the night for nomination of officers , the following were

proposed Comps . Elphinstone , for Z . ; Fox , H . j Crocker , J . ; March , Scribe E-, and Ellis , Scribe N . The business was brought to a close after receiving a proposition for one joining companion .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

ISLE OF AVIGHT . BoNcnuRcn . —FETE—MEETING OF THE SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL AND VECTIS ROSE CROIX CHAPTER , AT DH . LEESON ' S . A grand / eft . in commemoration of the marriage of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of AVales , took place at Dr . Leeson's grounds , Bonchurch , on AVednesday , the 13 th inst .

Tins fete was a complete novelty , as it included several special elements , and not to break up them entirely , we shall chronicle the proceedings , Masonic and non-Masonic , as they occurred . Tuesday , the 12 th , was a day long to be remembered for its stormy character , ancl as we crossed from Portsmouth to Ryde , it blew a perfect hurricane , so violently that the captain of the

steamboat declared he had not experienced such "dirty weather " since the previous November , hence we believe arose the absence of a large number of high-grade Freemasons who intended to have been present . Wednesday morning , however , brought a change , and with it one of the most lovel y days that- could be imagined . How we reached Bonchurch , or to describe the beautiful views from Ryde thither is no part of our plan , because " the garden isle" is more or less familiar to numbers of cur Order , so suffice it to sav , that about one o ' clock we reached tin .

scene , and a more beautiful one never was presented to mortal eye . Of Dr . Leeson ' s property it will be necessary to attempt some slight description , in order that the events of the day may he fully understood , although nothing like justice can be done to its natural or artistic beauties . Continuing the main road , after a branch of it turns down a hill towards A eutnor , the

road terminates at Dr . Leeson ' s property . This consists of four separate houses , erected in various portions of the undercliff all having communication with each other , yet at same time being entirely separate and distinct . The first is called Rose Mount , the second , Pulpit Rock , the third ( Dr . Leeson ' s residence ) , The Maples , and the fourth St . Boniface

Each of these have most ample gardens and being placed on various terraces , naturally formed by the underclifi , are at different altitudes . Below them tire numerous other villas , and still lower the cliffs which back the beach whilst the sea is open as far as the eye can reach . At the back of all rises the underclifi * itself , to a height of some 800 feet above the level of the sea . This underclifi' is formed of rock covered with earthon

, which the most choice and luxuriant evergreens , trees , and plants grow in tbe greatest profusion . At the top of the undereliff there is a small fort which mounts a flag staf £ and the view from which is most extensive and diversified . This is reached b y steps made from one terrace to another in the face of the cliff , and at the head of each terrace , arid in the walks about themthere are seats of descritionNearlunder the

, every p . y fort , in the grounds above Rose Mount , there is a natural cave , ivhich has been partially hollowed out . and the roof supported by art . This cave has two entrances , two chambers , two passages and a recess , and in it the Vectis Chapters held its Hose Croix meeting , but of that more presentl y . Looking down from the fort the eye naturally catches the reflection of a

glass roof , and descending to ascertain what it is the enquirerpasses in front of the Maples and down a flight of stone steps to an orchard house , in ivhich exotics of the rarest and choicest kinds are in full bloom , the air , hot and damp of course , loaded with perfumes of delicate fragance , and nature in all its tropical beauty is seen to great advantage . Gold and silver fish abound in quaintly constructed aquaria , fruit is rapidly ripening both before and above you , and all that a love

of botany , seconded by a liberal purse , can purchase and secureattention for , is here displayed . Passing on a descent or two lower , ive at last reach the high road , and on the other side of it find ourselves at a stand erected on one of the doctor ' s fields , called Bank Acre , from ivhich point the business of the day may be said to have commenced . The jiroceedings opened hy the Ventnor Companies of the Isle cf Wiht A olunteers forming a parade in Bank Acreamid

g , a concourse of some five or six hundred elegantly-dressed ladies , and civilians . For a time they went through the evolutions consequent on an inspection , and a certain portion of them being told off as an attacking party , proceeded to glide away under the cover of hedges , houses , and every available shelter , towards Dr . Leeson ' s grounds . In the meantime the fort , before referred to , had been garrisoned by six coast-guardsmen ( whowere to serve the three cannon it mounted ) and several

volunteers as its defenders . A few civilians were also on the fort , and had a capital view of the mode of attack . After the attacking party had quitted Bank Acre , they placed in their caps boughs of evergreen and like " Birnam wood coming to-Dunsinane , " then crossed the high road and made their preparations to take the fort , over ground at least half a mile distant from their place of rendezvous , and fully five hundred feet aboveits level . The attacking party having managed to reach the

rear of the Maples unobserved , one of them showed himself for an instant , and immediately he was saluted by the discharge of some six or eight rifles from the fort . The former finding their approach discovered , then returned their fire , the cannon from , the fort opened , and the skirmishing became general . Darklyclad riflemen were to be seen mounting from terrace to terrace ,, sheltering under every cover , forming in sections upon every unexposed landing , and the defenders as quickly giving them a reception from their rifles and cannon . Some judgment may be

formed of the really up-hill work the attacking party had when it was nearly three-quarters' of an hour of hard ascent and firing before they took the fort , drove its defenders over the pallisades on to the highest portion of the under cliff , hauled down the flag , and running up other colours in their place . The captors now stood the brunt of an attack , in turn , from those who , after having been driven out , had been reinforced and formed on the heights above , and who poured in such vollies as

made it too hot for the attacking party to hold , and at last they charged them , cleared the fort , replaced their flag , and drove the enemy back ; the latter defended themselves resolutely during every step of their retreat , and from every " quoin of vantage , " " until they once more reached Bank Acre . They then proceeded , to dine together in Bonchurch , not without having well earned their repast . Dr . Leeson's grounds were then thrown open to a very large

portion of the general public , and tho cave before referred towas densely thronged by ladies and gentlemen anxious to see all they could ; one of the latter actually seizing a brother by the coat and saying— " I say , are you one of these Masonic swells ? If so , tell us all about itj" and some ladies hiding themselves in one of the passages of the cave , when discovered , said , " Oh ! you can let us stay here , we won't interrupt you j we only want to see it all . " A very elegant and abundant

luncheon had been laid out for tbe ladies , under Mrs . Leeson's kind provision , at the Maples , where that lady played the part of hostess with great amiability . At Rose Mount , there was a very recherche luncheon provided for the Masonic brethren , todo justice to ivhich , better than any other description we could , oifer , Colonel Bowyer's words amply illustrate when saying , "the Dr . has invited us here as sovereign princes , and it is evident that he intends actually treating us as such . "

The grounds being pretty well cleared , the brethren assembled began to clothe themselves in the drawing-room of Rose Mount , and assembled at the cave . The chapter-room was hung with banners of the Supreme Grand Council , many private banners and other banners belonging to individuals . It was lighted hy a profusion of Chinese lanterns , which had been made for the purpose by Mr . Leeson , jun ., to whose artistic pencil a very telling and appropriate transparency was also due . There were stars , crosses , and monograms formed of variegated lamps , and