sider on the most suitable means of paying honour to the memory of this great man, who ranked first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen; it was also resolved, that the house should wait on the President of the United States, to express their condolence on the mournful event: that the speaker's chair should be covered with black, and that all the members and officers of the house should appear in deep mourning during the session. Thus was demonstrated the warmest testimonies of affection of a grateful people, to the memory of their truly benevolent chief, who justly merited the esteem of his country, his brethren, and his friends.

Under the auspices of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the indefatigable exertions of the Earl of Moira, the progress of the Society in England far exceeded at this time that of any former period. The Lodges not only considerably increased in numbers and consequence, but were in general better regulated; and, the principles of the Institution being more clearly understood, the Brethren both in town and country vied with each other in promoting the useful purposes of the Society.

On the 24th of September, 1793, the Lodges in the County of Durham made a grand procession through the town of Sunderland, on laying the foundation-stone of the bridge over the river Wear, which was afterwards opened on the 9th of August, 1796, in the presence of his Royal Highness Prince William of Gloucester, the magistrates, a numerous assemblage of Masons, and a vast concourse of spectators. On this occasion, a grand triumphal arch, decorated with flowers, was raised, through which the procession passed, and proceeded along the bridge, to the north side of the river, up to the limekilns, and returned by the low road through

the dry arch of the bridge to the Pan Ferry, thence to the centre of the bridge, where the Lodge was formed, and an oration delivered by the Rev. Mt. Nesfield. The whole ceremony was conducted under the patronage of Rowland Burdon, Esq. M.P. Provincial Grand Master for the county. The Lincoln militia attended, and fired three vollies on the occasion.

The Brethren then proceeded to church, where an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Brewster. From church the procession was resumed to the Assembly-room, where the evening was concluded with the greatest harmony.

On Monday the 25th of November 1793, the Prince of Wales laid the first stone of the New Chapel at Brighthelmstone. His Royal Highness was accompanied from the Pavilion to the appro priated place by the Rev. Mr. Hudson the vicar, Mr. Saunders, &c. On coming to the ground, Mr. Saunders addressed his Royal Highness, and said, that, as constructor of the building, the high honour was allotted to him of pointing out to the Prince the situation where the stone was intended to be placed; and he respectfully requested that, as Grand Master of the Masons, he would be pleased to signify whether or not it met with his approbation. On receiving assurance that it did, the stone, with the following inscription, was laid in due form:

"This stone was laid by his Royal Highness GEORGE PRINCE of WALES, November 25, 1793."

On Mr. Saunders covering it with a plate of metal, he desired leave to say, That however late the period might be before it was again exposed to the face of day, and he sincerely wished that it might be a very distant one, he hoped that the

descendants of his Royal Highness's august family would be found, as now, happily governing a happy people.

Mr. Hudson then respectfully addressed the Prince, and desired permission to return his most sincere and grateful thanks to his Royal Highness for the honour he had that day done, not only to him in particular as proprietor, but to the town at large; and he hoped that God would give his blessing to the undertaking thus begun, and long preserve his Royal Highness, their Majesties, and every branch of the royal family, to superintend our invaluable, unequalled, and long-envied Constitution in church and state.

The day proved fine, and the acclamations of the surrounding crowd showed how much they were gratified with such an instance of goodness in the Prince, who, at the same time, was both a resident in, and protector of, their town and liberties.

The Prince ordered a handsome distribution to the workmen, &c. The promenade gardens were laid open, and the company was entertained with refreshments. A party of gentlemen dined at the Castle, and some lines were composed and sung on the occasion.

Among the masonic occurrences of this year, it may be proper to mention the publication of a periodical Miscellany, entitled, The Free-masons' Magazine; or, General and Complete Library: the first number of which appeared in June, 1793, and a number was continued to be published monthly till the end of December, 1798, when its title was changed. Independent of this Magazine being a general repository for every thing curious and important in Masonry, it contained a choice selection of miscellaneous and literary articles, well calcu

lated for the purpose of general instruction and improvement, and was for some time honoured with the sanction of the Grand Lodge.

On the 4th of June, 1798, the Shakspeare Lodge at Stratford on Avon was opened, and dedicated in solemn form, in the presence of a numerous assembly of Brethren from different Lodges. The ceremony was conducted with the greatest order and regularity, under the direction of Mr. James Timmins, D. P. G. M. for the County of Warwick.

On the 28th of July, 1794, the Royal Brunswick Lodge at Sheffield was constituted in due form. The Brethren made a very elegant procession to St. James's church, where an excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. Brother Chadwick: after which the procession was resumed to the Lodge; when the ceremony of dedication took place. Several anthems and psalms suited to the occasion were sung, and the whole was concluded with a liberal subscription to the poor girls Charity

School.

On the 31st of July, 1794, the Lodge of Apollo at Alcester was constituted in due form, in the presence of 121 Brethren. At ten in the morning, a procession was made to the church, where a sermon was preached before the Lodge by the Rev. Brotber Green. After which the Brethren returned to the Hall; when the ceremonies of consecration and dedication took place, according to ancient usage.

The Prince of Wales's marriage with the Princess Caroline of Brunswick having taken place on the 8th of April, 1795, the Grand Lodge on the 15th of that month unanimously voted the following Address to his Royal Highness on the

Occasion:

To his Royal Highness the PRINCE of WALES, Grand Master of the most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons under the Constitution of England.

Most Worshipful and Royal Grand Master,

UPON an event so important to your own happiness, and to the interests of the British empire, as the late nuptials of your Royal Highness, we feel ourselves peculiarly bound to testify our joy, and to offer our humble congratulations.

To affect a degree of gratification superior to that professed by others, when all his Majesty's subjects exhibit such heartfelt satisfaction at the union which you have formed, would, perhaps, be in us an undue pretension; we cannot, however, but be proudly conscious, Sir, that we possess a title beyond what any other class of men can advance, to approach you upon an occasion like the present with a tender of our particular duty. When your Royal Highness deigned so far to honour the Craft as to accept the trust of presiding over us, the condescension not only authorised but demanded from all and each of us a peculiar sensibility to whatever might concern your welfare: and the ties of brotherhood, with which you invested yourself in becoming one of our number, entitle us to express, without fear of incurring any charge of presumption, the satisfaction we feel in contemplating such an accession to the prospects of the nation, and to those of your own felicity. That the interests of your Royal Highness and those of the British people may ever continue as strictly united as we feel them in this most auspicious occurrence, is the warmest wish, and, at the same time, the confident trust, of those who hold it the highest honour to have your name enrolled in the records of their Institution.

To the obligations which the Brethren already owe to you, Sir, it will be a material addition, if you will render acceptable to your royal Consort the humble homage of our veneration, and of our prayers for every possible blessing upon your union.

By the unanimous order of the Grand Lodge,
MOIRA, A. G. M.

(Countersigned)

(Signed)
(L. S.)

WILLIAM WHITE, G. S.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Moira having, at the request of the Grand Lodge, presented the above Address to the Prince of Wales, his Royal Highness was graciously pleased to return the following Answer:

THE Grand Master has received with great satisfaction the Address of the Craft; which he regards as not indicating solely their entiments towards him, but as also repeating those declarations of