was dressed in blue, with a scarlet collar, wearing the insignia of his office as Grand Master, a pair of gold compasses set with brilliants and other jewellery, and a white apron bordered with purple, and fringed with gold, appeared in high health and spirits. Proceeding, uncovered, with his suite, through a railed platform spread with superfine broad green cloth bound with scarlet and yellow, forty dismounted life-guardsmen, who were Masons, without arms, lining the sides of the railing, the company all rose as his Royal Highness passed the platform to the marquee, and gave him three cheers; when the united bands immediately struck up, 'God save the King. His Royal Highness, as he passed, smilingly bowed to the ladies with the most fascinating affability.

The Grand Officers had previously placed the Masonic instruments on a table in the marquee. A plan of the building, with its sections and elevations, was now presented to his Royal Highness, by Robert Smirke, Esq. the architect; and a gilt silver trowel by Mr. Copeland, the builder of the edifice. Having paused a short time in conversation with the proprietors, and with the Grand Masonic Officers in the marquee, his Royal Highness proceeded to the ceremonial. On a signal given, the corner-stone was raised about four feet; the hod-men, in white aprons, instantly conveyed the necessary quantity of fine cementing mortar, which was neatly spread on the base-stone by the workmen of the building, similarly dressed. His Royal Highness now advanced, uncovered, to the northeast corner of the stone; when John Bayford, esq. as Grand Treasurer, deposited, in a space cut for it in the basement-stone, a brass box, containing the British gold, silver, and copper coins of the present reign. On a part of the stone was, "Long live George Prince of Wales,' and To the

A

King,' with a medallion of the Prince. There were also deposited two large medals, one of bronze, bearing a head of his Royal Highness on one side, and on the other, the following inscription:

The other medal, engraved in copper, bore, on one side, this inscription:

1

Under the Auspices of

His Most Sacred Majesty GEORGE III.
King of the United Kingdoms of Great
Britain and Ireland,

The Foundation-Stone of the Theatre of
Covent Garden

Was laid by his Royal Highness
GEORGE PRINCE OF WALES.
MDCCCVIII.

. On the reverse is engraven :

ROBERT SMIRKE, Architect.

His Royal Highness now, as Grand Master, finished the adjustment of the mortar with his trowel; when the upper stone was lowered in the sling to its destined position; all the bands playing Rule Britannia,' a discharge of artillery being fired, and the people with the most animating cheers applauding the spectacle. The junior and senior Grand Wardens, and the acting Grand Master, the Earl of Moira, now severally presented his Royal Highness with the plumb, the level, and the square; and the Prince, having applied them

to the stone, pronounced the work correct, and gave the stone three strokes with his mallet.

Three elegant silver cups were then presented, successively, to his Royal Highness, containing corn, wine, and oil, which he scattered and poured over the stone, all the bands playing God save the King.' His Royal Highness then restored the plan of the building into the hands of the architect, approving that specimen of his genius, and desiring him to complete the structure conformably thereto. Then graciously turning to Mr. Harris and Mr. Kemble, he wished prosperity to the building and the objects connected with it, and success and happiness to its proprietors and managers.

The ceremony being finished, the band played Rule Britannia:' and the Prince, the Duke of Sussex, and the Earl of Moira, were escorted back to the Prince's carriage by the managers and the Grand Officers under a second royal salute of twenty-one guns.

Thus passed a ceremonial, which, by the excellent pre-arrangement of its managers, and the gracious yet dignified manner in which the illustrious chief actor performed his part, exhibited an interesting spectacle, that excited general admiration and applause. All who had the honour to approach the Prince speak in raptures of his polite and captivating manners on the occasion. Although the neighbouring houses were covered to the rooftops, and many thousands of people were assembled in the street, it is with great satisfaction we state, that not a single accident happened to interrupt the splendid termination of the ceremony,

The Masters and Wardens of the Masonic Lodges then returned in procession to their hall in Great Queen-street; when the Grand Lodge was closed, after making a formal minute of the pro

ceedings, and receiving, through the mediam of the Grand Treasurer, the thanks of the Prince for the favour of their attendance. T

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The Brethren, after the Lodge was closed, sat down to a splendid dinner at Freemasons' Tavern ; when mirth and conviviality closed the meeting.

The proprietors of Covent Garden Theatre soon afterwards received a letter from Colonel M'Mahon, dated from Carlton-house, in which he stated, that he had it in command from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to express his high approbation of the very great order and regularity with which the whole arrangement of the ceremonial had been formed and conducted.

On the 12th April, 1809, it was resolved, That this Grand Lodge do agree in opinion with the committee of charity, that it is not necessary any longer to continue in force those measures which were resorted to in or about the year 1739, respecting irregular masons; and do therefore enjoin the several Lodges to revert to the ancient landmarks of the Society. This measure was carried into effect by the appointment (with the sanction of the Grand Master) of an occasional Lodge named The Lodge of Promulgation,' which will appear to have been a step preparatory to the so-much-desired Union of Masons Ancient and Modern.

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do It appearing from the Grand Treasurer's account, that the liquidation fund for discharging the debts of the Society had effectually answered the purpose for which it was established, and that all the principal demands had been discharged, on the 7th of February, 1810, the Grand Lodge, being desirous of relieving the Fraternity from the payment of a contribution which a pressing emergency at the time rendered necessary, ordered, That the payment of two shillings per annum, from every mem

ber, to the liquidation fund for the discharge of the debts of the Society, imposed by the Grand Lodge on the 7th of February 1798, should, from and after the 21st day of December next, cease and determine. It was further resolved, that the thanks of the Grand Lodge be given to the Fraternity at large for their ready compliance in the measure of the liquidation fund, which had been the means of relieving the Society from its difficulties.

The Grand Lodge, however, recommended the London Lodges to continue the subscription till the expenses of the Lodge of Promulgation were discharged.

SECT. XVI.

History of Masonry, from 1812 to 1813.

ON the death of Sir Peter Parker, Baronet, Admiral of the Fleet, Dec. 21, 1811, his Royal Highness the Grand Master was pleased to confer the office of Deputy Grand Master upon his Royal Brother the Duke of Sussex, Master of the Lodge of Antiquity.

To no person had Masonry for many years been more indebted, than to the Earl of Moira (now Marquis of Hastings). Toward the end of the year 1812, his Lordship was appointed Governor General of India: and it was considered by the Fraternity as only a just mark of respect, to invite his Lordship to a farewell banquet, previous to his departure from England; and to present him with a valuable Masonic Jewel, as a memorial of their gratitude for his eminent services.

The 27th of January, 1813, was the day appointed, when a most sumptuous dinner was served up in Freemasons' Hall, to above five hundred Brethren, including six Royal Dukes; viz. Sussex,