as a body tender the profession of that devotion to your royal person, and to your government, which it is their boast to cherish, not in their individual capacities alone, but in their peculiar association.

The law, by permitting, under certain regulations, the meetings of Freemasons, has defined the existence of the Society; binding, at the same time, the members of it, by a new obligation of gratitude for the confidence extended toward them, to labour, as far as their feeble powers may apply, in inculcating loyalty to the King, and reverence to the inestimable fabric of the British constitution.

Being so acknowledged, we should think ourselves wanting in the first duty towards your Majesty, and towards that constitution, did we not approach your Majesty with the testimony of our feel ings on this awful occasion.

Your Majesty is therefore implored to receive the bumble congratulations of the GRAND LODGE of FREEMASONS under the constitution of England, (the Representative Assembly of all the Lodges under that constitution,) in the name of themselves and of all their Brethren, on your having been shielded by the hand of Providence from the desperate and execrable attempt of the assassin.

When principles were first promulgated in France, which, to our conception, tended to the overthrow of all peace and order in society, we felt ourselves called upon to depart from a rule which had been till then religiously observed in our association.

As a veil of secrecy conceals the transactions at our meetings, our fellow subjects have no assurance that there may not be in our association a tendency injurious to their interests, other than the general tenor of our conduct, and a notoriety that the door of Freemasonry is not closed against any class, profession, or sect, provided the individual desiring admission be unstained in moral character. To remove, therefore, as far as possible, any ground for suspicion, it has been from time immemorial a fundamental rule, most rigidly maintained, that no political topic shall, on any pretence, be mentioned in the Lodge.

The singular juncture to which we have alluded seemed to call for some positive declaration, which might distinctly exhibit our opinions; we thence ventured to profess to your Majesty the loyalty with which the Freemasons of England glowed towards your royal Person, and their unalterable attachment to the present happy form of government in this country. But as no foresight could devise a motive of equal importance with that which then actuated us, the recent occurrence being of a nature too horrid to be in supposition as a possibility, it was strongly declared that no precedent should be drawn from that step; and that on no future occasion should the Grand Lodge exercise an advertence to events which might entail upon Freemasons the charge of assuming the privilege to deliberate as a body upon public affairs. Hence, Sire, our present address has not been so early as our individual anxiety would have dictated; for it was requisite that a general concur

rence should sanction the Grand Lodge, in a second relaxation of its rules, before we could jointly express that which we severally felt in the most ardent manner on the solemn subject.

We have poured forth to the. Grand Architect of the Universe our humble thanksgiving, that, to the other blessings showered on this country, he has added that of defeating a crime, the sole attempt at which produced universal dismay throughout these realms; and we earnestly confide in his Divine bounty to preserve to us and to our fellow subjects for many, very many years to come, a life so important in its example, and so inestimable in its superintendence over our happiness, as that of your Majesty. WILLIAM WHITE, G.S. GEORGE, P.

Several salutary regulations were adopted this year to liquidate the debts of the Society. On a strict examination of the accounts, it appeared that those debts had considerably increased: that 70001. remained due from the Society on account of the hall and tavern, besides the tontine of 2501. per annum; and that the average income of the hall-fund, after paying the interest of the debt, the tontine, and incidental expenses, left but a very small sum towards the reduction of the principal; and that many years must elapse before the debt could be materially reduced. In order to discharge this debt, therefore, and to render the charity more extensively beneficial, it was resolved in Grand Lodge, that every Lodge in the list, until the debt be extinguished, should pay annually in the month of February to the hall-fund, two shillings for every subscribing member of each Lodge; and that any Lodge neglecting to conform to this regulation, should be considered in contempt, and be subject to erasure from the list. It was also resolved, that a declaration, signed by the master, wardens, treasurer, and secretary, of each Lodge, or any two of them, certifying the number of subscribing members at Christmas, yearly, should be transmitted to the Grand Secretary, with a list of the mem

bers, containing their christian and surnames, age, profession, and residence, when made Masons, or admitted members, in order to be registered in the books of the Grand Lodge; and also the fees prescribed by the regulations to be paid for that purpose into the hall-fund, viz. For every Mason made in London, or within ten miles thereof, ten shillings and sixpence, and in all other Lodges beyond that distance, five shillings; and for every brother made in one Lodge and joining another, two shillings and sixpence; and that no Brother whose name had not been registered, and the fees paid as above, should be entitled to relief from the fund of charity, admission to the benefit society as a member, or have his daughter received into the Freemasons' school. This measure had the intended effect; the Lodges readily concurred in the plan of liquidating the debts; the debts were paid, and the annual subscription ceased.

Among the numerous improvements in the city of London this year, the magnificent range of building at the East India House, in Leadenhallstreet, deservedly claims our attention. The elegance of the structure confers equal honour on the Company for whose use it was built, and on the persons who were employed in its erection.* The architecture is the design of Richard Jupp, Esq., the Company's surveyor, and the work is finished in a very good style.

* The following is a description of the pediment :

COMMERCE, which is represented by Mercury, attended by NAVIGATION, and followed by Tritons and Sea-horses, is introducing ASIA to BRITANNIA, at whose feet she pours out her treasures. The KING is holding the shield of protection over the head of BRITANNIA, and of LIBERTY, who is embraced by her. By the side of his Majesty sits ORDER, attended by RELIGION and JusTICE. In the back ground is the City-Barge, &c.; near to which stand INDUSTRY and INTEGRITY. The THAMES fills the angle to the right-hand, and the GANGES the angle towards the East.

The sentiment of the composition is, 'That a nation can only

The extended progress of the Society of Masons at this period was sufficiently displayed by the erection of some new halls for the Lodges in the country, and the institution of a school in London for the education and support of the sons of distressed Brethren.

On the 20th of August, a new hall, built at Hull by the members of the Rodney Lodge, was dedicated in solemn form, according to the rites of Masonry, in the presence of three hundred Brethren. The great zeal which was manifested by the Lodge on this occasion justly merited the marked dis tinction which was conferred on it by the corporation of Hull, who, with a numerous assemblage of the most eminent characters in the neighbourhood, honoured the Masons with their company. An elegant dinner was provided at the town-hall, at which all the principal civil and military officers attended; and the entertainment concluded early in the evening with the greatest cordiality and friendship.

SECT. XIV.

The History of Masonry from the Year 1800, to the End of the Year 1801.

THE Brethren of Scotland, ever emulous to excel in promoting the benefit and improvement of their country, had an opportunity of displaying their zeal in 1801, by giving their assistance in the erection of the Wet-docks at Leith; a measure

be truly prosperous, when it has a King who makes Religion and Justice the basis of his Government, and a Constitution, which, while it secures the Liberties of the people, maintains a due subordination in the several ranks of society; and when the Integrity of the People secures to each individual the advantages which Industry creates and cultivates.'

well calculated for the convenience and accommodation of the numerous trading-vessels which daily arrive in that port from different parts of the world.

1

The Grand Lodge received a message from the Magistrates of Edinburgh, requesting their company and assistance in laying the foundation-stone of those Docks on the 14th of May, 1801. The Earl of Dalkeith, the Grand Master, being absent, the direction of the ceremony was vested in his Deputy, Robert Dundas, Esq., of Melville, who conducted it in a very able and masterly style.

On the day appointed, the Brethren, amounting to about 1200, met in the Assembly-rooms at Leith, where the Lodge was opened; and from thence they marched in procession to the Docks a little before nine o'clock in the morning, preceded by the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and council of Edinburgh, with the Magistrates of Leith, in their robes; the Engineers and Architects of the proposed building; the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of the Trinity-house; and a number of respectable merchants and inhabitants of the town of Leith.

The Grand Master was supported by Sir James Stirling, bart., the Past Grand Master, and Sir Patrick Murray, bart., who acted as Deputy Grand Master: Lord Downe, and several other respectable characters, were present. The Substitute Grand Master, the Provincial Grand Masters for Peebles, Selkirk, &c., and the Masters of the Edinburgh Lodges, according to seniority, with their officers and members, walked in procession, having a band of music attached to each separate Lodge.

When they arrived at the spot where the stone was intended to be laid, the Lord Provost and