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IF there , is one subject more than another about which persons now-a-days seem to have somewhat taken leave of their senses , it is the subject of education , Daring psychologists might with reason divide mankind at the present time into one of the two classes of teacher and teachee , lecturer and lecturee , examiner or examinee , We are not going to assert that education is a bad thing

per se ; but we do not , at the same time , shrink from saying , that We entertain great and grave doubts , not unmingled with apprehension , with respect to the results to be expected from the present rage for what is styled education . All history shows us that an unnatural strain in one direction ever produces , as a

consequence ) an equally unnatural strain in the other . The austere and stern rule of the Puritans bore fruit in the shape of present hypocrisy and wild licentiousness after the Restoration , The proselytising energy of the second James led to his own expulsion from his throne , and the establishment of the reformed part of the Catholic

Church more firmly than ever in this country . What if the present education mania produces nothing but a superficial smattering now , " with the promise of the legacy of a permanent lowering of the intellectual power

of the nation in the next generation ? There was an old gentleman who lived rather more than two thousand j'ears ago in an out of the way corner of Europe—for quoting whom , we suppose we owe some apology , as he labored under the double misfortune of having played his part so very much in the world ' s infancy , and of having written in Greek ; and now-a-days ( so

great is our desire for education !) historical memory , much like legal memory , does not go farther back than the middle ages , and the study-Of Greek and Latin authors is looked upon as a harmless folly—well , this old gentleman , who , although he lived two thousand years ago , and was not an Englishman , still was a man of some little sense ,

in conversing with his friend Theaetetus , assumed that he agreed to the truth of the axiom , that "it was surely better to get through a little well , than a great deal insufficiently . " At present , along with the ancients themselves , we seem to have done away with all their wisdom ; and Sociates' maxim has been replaced b

y another , equally brief , but far more questionable as to its working;— " It is better to know a little of everything , than a great deal of one particular subject . " This is the principle on which we decry the training of the old Universities in order to extol that of their London

rival . This is the principle on which we , in short , teach everybody everything . This is the principle on which it is proposed to . enlarge the education of the girls in our Royal Freemasons' School for Female children , by the addition of Music and French . In the case before us , indeed , we are disposed to think from what is disclosed in the reportthat perhapsif the princile of strict

, , p selection be rigidly adhered to , no great harm may accrue , but on the contrary , good . It would be absurd in the extreme to think of giving accomplishments to those whose vocation in life is to be that of domestic servants , of which class seven are mentioned in the report out of fifty-two . It may be

questionable again , what would be the effect of giving them , or , at all events , Music to needlewomen , milliners , shop-assistants , and dress-makers , of whom twelve are mentioned out of the same total of fifty-two . It is not unreasonable , and indeed may be advisable , to give these accomplishments to those pupils "the position in life of whose parents is or has been such as to warrant the expectation

that a proficiency in them will prove a benefit to them . " If judicious care and strictness of selection be rigidly adhered to—and it might possibly be desirable to make music dependent on a slight extra payment by the pupil —if those pupils and those only whose abilities seem such as to justify the . expectation that they will succeed in

life as governesses , companions , and teachers , be permitted to participate in the advantages now proposed to be added to the work of the school , no great harm will be done . On the contrary , good may be expected to result from the innovation . But if this spirit of selection is neglected or relaxed , let the committee see to it , lest , in

over-educating the daughters of our Brethren for their due position in life , they render them discontented and unhappy , and drive them to seek other and more questionable modes of livelihood , than those for which nature had better qualified them , and for which they should have been educated ..

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THE EXECUTIVE have experienced two signal defeats , upon two questions both of which compromised their position as the supposed leaders of G . L ., within the last fortni ght . And if the present system of backstairs influence is adhered to , they may . expect several more in the course of the next year .

Any one who noticed the feeling of G . L . on Wednesday last ; the cheers with which every allusion to the subject was received ; the childish ebullition of temper exhibited by Bro . HAVERS , in his impertinent observation to Bro . PORTAL upon the question of the provincial returns ; must have seen that the vote upon Bro . FARNEIELB '

salary was as much a vote of want of confidence in the G . M . ' s advisers , as it was one expressive of satisfaction with the services of a faithful Officer of the Craft ; and that it was so felt by the Brethren in question . The secret and sinister influence exercised oyer the G . M . by irresponsible men , who hold in their hands the

whole power of the Throne ; the tricks and dodges resorted to by the Executive to prevent a fair issue boing arrived at upon any ( to them ) disagreeable question ; the entire want of sympathy between the rulers of the Craft in London , and the great mass of intelligent and independent Masons throughout the Country all these

; points , as they influenced the vote arrived at upon Wednesday , so are they the causes of a widely spreading dissatisfaction , upon the result of which no thoughtful person can look without anxiety .

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CAPE OF GOOD HOPE . —The foundation stone of a library and museum was laid in the government gardens , Cape Town , on the 23 rd March , by his Excellency , Sir George Grey , assisted by the various Masonic bodies in the towiu ^