THE FIELD 
1021 
hardly gone a half-dozen paces before he received a violent blow from a 
whip across the shoulders. The whip partly fell on Lady Wilson. He 
told the servant to get down and to give the defendant into custody. — 
William Brooks, the groom, said, his master's whip hardly touched the 
horse in the waggon, upon which the defendant struck his master over 
the shoulders with his whip. — The defendant said, he had a frolicsome 
horse, and he was rather angry at seeing it struck by the gentleman. 
He now humbly begged both the lady and gentleman's pardon. — The 
complainant remarked, had the defendant said as much at tho time, 
he should not have given him into custody. — Mr. Bingham said, ns the 
defendant had expressed contrition for his conduct, he should fine him 
in the reduced penalty of 20a. 
(Dn c Xfttfr-l'ng. 
WHIPS AND SPURS. 
Sm, — I wrote you a letter some tlmo since, on the above subject, 
which you were good enough to give a place to in your paper ; and as, 
in it, I expressed a wish that some of the fair sex would favour the 
public with their convictions, I am glad to see that that wish has been 
realised by your correspondents " Amy " and " Diana" Every one 
who reads their contributions to your paper will be convinced that 
much weight should be attached to their opinions, as they are evidently, 
from the tone of their epistles, both gentlewomen and horsewomen ; 
so that, whilst, on the one hand, they would not forfeit their claim to 
the former appellation by Ill-using u dumb animal, on the other hand, 
they have sufficient knowledge of equestrianism to be aware tlmt a spur 
is of use in the management of a horse, and consequently they establish 
tho right of their sex both to wear nnd to use thorn when nccosunry. 
I highly approve of the man who takes up his pen to caution the fair 
against the abuse of tho power the spur gives them over their horse, 
but I can’t understand how any one should attempt to debar them from 
the proper use of it. One of your correspondents said it was a beau- 
tiful sight to see a gentle girl controlling a spirited and highly-condi- 
tioned horse, which it no doubt Is ; but she couldn't do so, in many 
Instances, unless she has an Instrument of punishment like the spur at 
command. 
It is one of the advantages of this discussion in your paper that it 
has informed all your readers of tho softer sex that the spur is an 
instrument of punishment, and that, if applied with a will. It does 
cause the object of it severe pain ; but this is no reason why a lady 
should not wear It, and use it ; it is only a reason (and a very sufficient 
one) why she should not use it without cauS3. Very often tho slightest 
touch, to let the horse know that his rider wears a spur. Is sufficient to 
make him do all that can be, with propriety, asked of him : and in these 
cases a gentle lady would give her stud no more than a warning ; hut if 
he is really obstinate, or determinedly lazy, by all means let her give 
him a real taste of the persuaders, till he submits to her will. I know 
women are accused of loving power, and, in some instances, I don’t 
npprove of seeing their wishes indulged, as, for instance, “ when the 
grey marc is the better horse," but when she is placed in the saddle I 
would invest her with absolute power, and to have that dominion she 
must be entrusted with suitable instruments of punishment She must 
have her whip and spur capable of inflicting severe pain if re- 
quired : and I l'ccl sure that most ladies, when made aware, by publi- 
cations such as have appeared in your paper, that the whip and spur do 
cause much pain, will only use them when the case Justifies their appli- 
cation. I hope I may earn some gratitude from the fair, ns a defender 
of the rights of woman. I love horses nearly os much as I do them, 
so I am anxious to do something for both ; to caution the former 
against ill-treating the latter, but at the same time to vindicate their 
right to administer chastisement more or less severe os the case 
requires. I would have ladies put on their spur as they do their 
habit, and to learn not to use it merely beenuse they wear it, but 
to keep it perfectly quiescent till occasion justifies them in bringing 
it into play. — Your obedient Servant, Justus. 
GUNS. 
Sm, — There is a good deni of point and fun, nnd a great deal of truth, 
in the letter of your correspondent, “ An Old Sportsman and Gun- 
makor;" but it is rather too personal, and is calculated to givo pain. 
It is ovident that he, .1. L., and Mr. Bishop, arc nil of one trade, anil 
that they verify tho old adage, that “ tlirco of a trade can never agree,” 
or be over-amiable with each other. Mr. Bishop has been a very 
useful, though perhaps an eccentric, man ; nnd the sporting world 
must not suffer him to be ridiculed I agree with your correspondent 
that learning to shoot by book is quite impossible ; but I know that a 
great many useful hinta on shooting, the results of experience, are just 
as useful when communicated by hook os when given orally. I once 
offered to lend a neighbouring gardener a nunber cl the “ Cottage 
Gardener," wherein he would see the mode of cultivation of a certain 
plant treated upon. He thanked me, but said, “ there was no good in 
book gardening." I agreed with him that books alone would not make 
a gardener, hut said that they were a pleasant and useful aid to the 
science ; and I urged that it was the same thing whether another gar- 
dener told him by word of mouth of some new and useful discovery, or 
whether he told him by letter, or letter-press. 
He must bo a bold man who holds book-learning too cheaply at the 
present day. I never read The Field, or any other newspaper, without 
deriving some amusement and some instruction lYom the perusal. — 
Yours, &c,, Umdra. 
FERRETS. 
Sir, — I n your last weelVa paper is an inquiry from a correspondent, 
as to some practical work on the “ Ferret." Some timo ago, I wrote 
two letters to you on the subject, which appeared in your second 
volume, pages 501 and 0.12. I know of no work that gives n fuller 
account of them ; but, if thero aro any other questions he would ask, 
if he will transmit them to you, with his address, I will send him a 
private letter. 
He also says/they are most delicate animals. There I beg to differ, 
for, at the close of this breeding season, I can say, ns I did before, ” / 
hire never hyst one from disease and, I believe, it is owing to keeping 
them waruh (not hot), clean, and dry. To do so Is very simple ; and I 
have gi\ en my plan in the letters before referred to. My breed, too, is 
white, ’which is considered tho most delicate, and through the last 
seveni winter they were kept in a dry room, the window of which was 
only /quite closed on tho very coldest nights, — I am, Sir, your obedient 
servant Rusncus, 
.frrrinnsniirij nuU 3taonic Siitrllignirf. 
MEETINGS. 
Monday, Oct. 30th. — Pythagorean Lodge, No. 93, Roynl Hill, Green- 
wich. 
Tuesday, Oct. 31st — Lodgo of Faith, No. 193, Gun Tavern, Pimlico. 
Wednesday, Nov. 1st — Grand Chnp. at S p.m., Jerusalem Lodge, 
No. 233, Freemasons' Tavern ; Robert Burns, Chap, of Instruction, 
Sussex Stores Long-acre. 
Thursday, Nov. 2nd. — Strong Man Lodge, No. 53, Falcon Tavern, 
Fetter-lane ; Lodge of Good Report, No. 158, Radley's Hotel; Lion and 
Lamb Lodge, No. 22 7, George and Vulture; Ionic Lodge, No. 2 75, 
George and Vulture (removed from King's Head, Poultry); St. An- 
drew's Lodge, No. 281, Freemasons' Tavern; Yarborough Lodge, No. 
SI 2, George Tavern, Commereial-road-east. 
Fbiday, Nov. 3rd. — Chapter 3, Fidelity, I«ondon Tavern; Robert 
Burns (25), Lodge of Instruction, Union Tavern, Air-strcct, Piccadilly. 
Satuuday, Nov. -Ith. — Com. Boys’ School, at 4 ; London (No. 125) 
and St. Thomas's (No. ICC) Lodges, Freemasons' Tavern. 
Chatter 530. — Royal Union, White Horse In.v, Uxbridge. — 
Tho Companions of this Chapter met on Saturday last, the 20th inst., 
for tho purpose of installing the Principals for the ensuing year, they 
being Companions Z. Benham, H. Adrien, nnd .1. Shopper ; and who 
were Installed by Companion W. Watson, from London, in a manner 
worthy of his high reputation in Masonic matters. 
United Pilgrim Lodge, No. 715. — Tills lodge met for the second 
time this season, at the Horns Tavern, Kuinington, on Wednesday last. 
Brother Thomas, P.M., presiding in lodge for tho W.M. Brother 
Stroud, who was too unwell for the duties of his office, although pre- 
sent. Brother Thomas initiated Mr. Harding into Masonry, and 
raised Brother Edwards to the third degree, in a manner highly credit- 
ablo to the craft. There were present, P.M.'s, Brothers Luckcu, 
Collins, Thomas, &c. ; the visitors being Brothers Goring, Morris, and 
Scomblcr. An excellent banquet was provided for tho occasion, to 
which ample justice was done by the brethren. 
Chapter 778 (Polish). — Our notice of this excellent Chapter Is 
unavoidably postponed until next week. 
Beverley. — Constitutional Lodge, No. 371. — The Provincial Grand 
Lodge of the North and East Ridings will be held In tho Rooms, on the 
31st instant 
Madrigal Party. — Brother G. F. Taylor intends holding, for his 
benefit a madrigal and glee concert, of a convivial character, among 
gentlemen only, at the George and Blue Boar Hotel, High llolborn, on 
the evening of Monday, November the 27th, to commence at eight 
o'clock precisely. Tickets, 2s, 6<L each, to be had of Mr. G. Taylor, 
21, Robcrt-strcct, Hampstcad-road ; at tho Freemasons’ Tavern ; and 
at the George und Blue Boar, Holborn. 
THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY. 
( Continued from page 958.) 
Of a revolution so fatal to the flne arts thero Is littlo danger. The 
standard of taste in architecture, fostered and encouraged by civilisation 
and peace, has been effectually set up. The caprice of the few cannot 
overpower the influence of the many. Nor Is it likely to bo lost till the 
same darkness, which once overspread ancient Greece nnd Rome, shall 
Involve all modem Europe — an event too improbable to be apprehended 
but by the gloomy visionary. 
The history of Freemasonry in Great Britain commences about tho 
year 2 87, when Dioclcsian, nnd Maximilian, Joint Emperors, sent their 
admiral, Camusius, against the Saxon pirates, who, on account of the 
peace with the Piets, had gained a formidable victory ; wherefore, ho 
was made Emperor of the British Isle, and being a lover of the arts, ap- 
pointed Albnnus Master Mason, who built the palace of St. Alban, and 
lortifled the town of that name. 
St. Alban was not only tho first Master Mason In Great Britain, but 
he was the first man who suffered martyrdom, being bchendod In a 
general persecution of the early Christians. In 303, tho Empress 
Helena girt the City of London with a stone wall; and after this period 
Masonry began to be encouraged; but, in 534, a horrid period was put 
to the progress of architecture, by Hengist, King of Kent, who, In his 
bloody congress, murdered 300 British nobles, many of them great 
artists and cncouragers of Masonry. Pope Gregory I., who was a 
great encourager of the art, sent Augustin and a colony of monks into 
Britain, who converted Ethelbert, King of Kent, anil, In return was 
made the first Bishop of Canterbury, the Cathedral of which was first 
built in 600; in G02, the Cathedral of Rochester ; in GO I, tho Cathe- 
dral of London ; and, in G05, the Cathedral of Westminster ; four 
cathedrals in the short period of five years. The clergy, at this timo, 
made architecture their study, and the Mason Lodges, or Assemblies, 
were usually held in the monasteries. In 680, Bonnet, Abbot of 
Wirral, first introduced stone and brick ; formerly, wood was the chief 
material. Many of our ancient worthies filled tho Masonic chair in 
succession. In 857, St. Swithin was Grnnd Master ; In 967, St. Dun- 
stan filled that office. Several of tho Bishops of Exotor, tho famous 
William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester ; Chichcloy, Archbishop of 
Canterbury; Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester; Beauchamp, Bishop of 
Salisbury ; Cardinal Wolscy, and many other dignitaries, wero all Mas- 
ter Masons. 
( To be continued.) 
Correspondents upon Masonic matter are requested to mark their 
envelope “ Masonic." 
SIR BULWER LYTTON'S CHEAP EDITIONS. 
To the Editor of The Field. 
Sin,— We have great satisfaction in laying before the 
public the following letter from Sir Edwanl Bulwer Lytton, 
which, it will be seen, entirely contradicts tho assertion 
put forward by Messrs. S. Low and Co., that the agreement 
existing with that eminent author has been rescinded. 
We are, &c., 
G. Routledge and Co. 
2, Farringdon-strcet, Oct. 23. 
“ Kneb worth, October 21 at, 1854. 
“Dear Sir. — I was as much surprised as yourself by the 
paragraph in the Publishers Circular. Cortaiuly there has 
never been, on cither side, a suggestion to resciud our engage- 
ment, nor tho least hesitation on your part as to the fulfil- 
ment of the contract you have hitherto carried out with 
equal liberality and honour. You say truly that the circula- 
tion of the popular edition of my works is equal to the ex- 
pectations formed when we discussed the subject. And it 
affords me sincero pleasure to learn that vou see no cause 
to apprehend that the ultimate results will leave you a loser 
by your spirited reliance ou the increase of the readin" 
public, and the steady aud progressive demand of cheap 
literature, which Is so distinguishing an attribute of our age. 
“ Yours truly, 
“ E. BuLWEn Lytton. 
G. Routledge, Esq., 2, Farringdon-strcet, City.” 
Houses with the Fronts Off. By Hain Friswell. Illus- 
trated by Wm, McConnell. James Blackwood, Lovell's- 
court, Paternoster-row. 
Among the shoals of shilling volumes with which we have 
of late been inundated, the present book stands pre-eminently 
forth, for its originality, and lor tho healthy and vigorous 
style in which it is written. The author’s purpose seems to 
have been the production of a work which should be .some- 
thing more than a mere kill-time. In carrying out this in- 
tention he has been eminently successful ; for, while 
“ Houses with the Fronts Off” will be found an amusing 
companion, it will also be found to contain much informa- 
tion and wholesome food for reflection. But we will lot tho 
author speak for himself, taking for a specimen tho opening 
sketch, “ The House in Chancery — 
There were three of us houses, w ho fell into this misfortune together 
myself, No. :i next door, and No. 21 further up the street. Tho old 
women who eaine to births and christenings, and sometimes to deaths and 
layings-out, which took place in the days of our prosperity, said we were 
unlucky numbers ; from our present state I imagine they wore right. 
Our owner, ouc fared Stares, was an old gentleman wlio fancied that 
he was forgotten unless he was the talk of tho neighbourhood, and in 
pursuance of Ills plan of filling everybody's mouth, got Into innumerable 
squabbles with his relatives ; he never was at peace with one branch of 
his family but ho quarrelled with the others ; he patronised some of 
the lower members merely to flout and insult the higher ; but as he was 
a rich man, he hail thorn always about him, and lived in great glory and 
to his own enjoyment, being, os ho wished, the principal source of con- 
versation und contention amongst his relations. Thus In this world we 
arrive by porsoveranco at our own ends, even against that which good 
men would Imagine to bo tho will of Providence ; and praying for our 
own Ills, are often cursed with our wishes. I bog pardon for this moral, 
hut I am in Chancery — poor, out of paint, rather out of windows, and 
am sontimental as a natural consequence. 
At lust Jared Stares died, and determining to fill other men's mouths 
still, left a will, wherein wc wero devised to *• William Peterson," a per- 
son upon whoso Identity tho lawyers have not yet determined ; one 
batch of gentlemen, with whom Is Temple Lane, Esq,, Q.C., declaring 
that we are the property of William, the son of Peter Stares, and grand- 
son of Jared aforesaid ; and tho other, whose mouth-piece Is Serjeant 
Littleton Noy, declaring that we belong to William Peterson, a nephew 
of Jared, 
That is how wo came Into Chnnoory. 
After rotating how ono Joahun Eels got posaension of the 
key Hurroptitiously, and came to live in the house, wo are 
told that : — 
Joshua Eels hail also a wife ; such a poor, scared, slatternly, over- 
worked thing, with a mind pre -occupied in gathering up tho threads 
of yesterday’s labour, or In trying to understand how last year s misfor- 
tune fell upon them. She boosted of what she called a Scripture name, 
ns well ns Joshua — It was Patience ! Heaven bless her '. A poor, meek, 
worn-out Christian Putioncotoo! fighting for ever against the thick- 
falling ills, not trying to overcome them; but endeavouring to push 
them by, half looked to, like her children; so that they had accumulated 
so greatly, that Patience Eels lived at the timo 1 am speaking of, at 
least three years behind her time of life ; and sometime* awnkening 
with a frantic plunge, like some hnlf-drownlng creature, and battling 
desperately against tho stream, till she found it too strong for her, and 
so lay still und got borne boek again to her old place. 
As for Joshua, good soul, he was a careless and hnlf Industrious fellow, 
hut a fatalist ; he hud fallen, had his goods seized, and thought It no uso 
to try, and so lie did not. My tho tlino he took up his residence in me, 
he had also grafted on to his character a very fair portion of tho roguo 
— the good-natured rogue, who might bamboozle you a dozen times, 
without, unless you wore particularly sharp, destroying your faith In him, 
he seemed so earnest nnd so helpless. He confessed that he took me to 
ovoid paying rent, and finding after he had remained in quiet poscsssion 
for six months that he was beneflttod thereby, he mode what he was 
pleased to call a ••splash," bought some little furniture himself, and took 
In some lodgers, who brought their furniture too. 
But other people were ns cunning as Joshua Eels ; and the various 
lawyers finding that Joshua In his pride had oven put a now coat of 
paint on my door, wherefrom the hacks of his progeny basking In the 
sun had worn It, and that tho rooms had something in them to seize, 
wnited for another six months, and no longer threatening him sepa- 
rately, Joined Issue nnd mine full swoop upon Joshua, and Ills tenants' 
goods, and having ejected the one and seized tho others, retired in great 
triumph. They were my lust tenants, at least In opou day; It got 
buzzed about that I was In Chancery ; iny shutters were shut up, and 
boys began to take liberties with me ; no second Joshua Eels has had 
the boldness to take mo. 
1 hnve said that tho boys took liberties with me ; first by knocking 
singlo raps at my door and running awuy, then more boldly by thun- 
dering double knocks, and causing such annoyance to the street, that 
one venturous and nervous old gentleman sallied out boldly ono 
morning, and drovo a strong staple which fastened my iron tongue 
down for over; no, not for over — I liopo not, though I am grown lonely 
ami hypochondriacal. 
This did not defeat my old enemies, the boys; they recommenced 
attacks by pitching stones down my area, nml endeavouring to lodge 
them on the sill of tho kitchen window, then upon those of the drawing- 
room ; till at last, by long endeavours bolder grown, they mustored in 
great force, nnd courage being given to numbers, sent such a volley 
through my windows as left but a l’ow panes wliolo In me. Those which 
hnve escaped the slonos arc begrimed with smoke and dirt, but inside I 
faro worse. 
Rats run through my drains and breed l.i glory in my sinks, nnd 
mice by hundreds have taken possession of my cupboards ; the wind 
which sweeps through the crevices of my shutters plays deadly vEollau 
tunes on tho cobwebs which hang in festoons ; but the spiders which 
spin them do not grow fat, for 1 nin far too lonely for a decent fly to 
buzz in. My kitchens are uninhabited save by houseless cals, and 
long, dark, London-bred newts, which have lost their colour and their 
spirits long ago. 
But my drawing-room shows chiefly my decay. I have noted down 
somewhere, an observation which a witty fellow made nt a dinner-party 
which took place in me some years ago. The question occurred as to 
which port of his dross pointed out the fallen man first. The ono said 
his hat, which was always so well worn nnd so carefully brushed; ami 
another, his rusty and buttoned coat ; a third Inclined to the fact of Ms 
wearing Bluchers instead of Wellingtons ; and a fourth told such a one 
by his gloves. But tho fifth, a wit. who hnd had his observation 
sharpened by having been in the same situation himself, said, •• Gentle- 
men. you must look deeper ; 1 tell n fallen mnn by his linen — If he have 
any-" I would look deeper than the paintless door and blistered 
railings, nnd look to the drawing-rooms of such houses os myself. 
I hail not been long lu this state, when my attics, which had suffered 
considerably from the rain, were entered upon one night, and dwelt in 
for some time by two men. These had a quantity of casts of plaster of 
Paris with them, and when with me seemed to be so loud of tho Queen'* 
countenance, that they wero for ever taking impressions (in plaster) off 
a new half-crown. Huddled up to the lirc-plaoe — a miserable place it 
was ; for although I once boasted of bright steel nml ormolu in tho 
drawing-rooms, I was not particularly well set off in places destined 
only for lumber and servants — they would sit for hours over a long ladle, 
feeding the fire cautiously from time to time, till the metal at the top 
grew motive with heat, aud seemed to bestir itself, would part tho 
gathering dross nnd show a vein as bright ns silver. They would then 
as carefully pour It out Into these little casts, and waiting till it was cold, 
take out brilliant new coins, which they would, after testing, proceed to 
rub with cloth and oil, ami otherwise deface till they had ucqitired the 
look of uge ami of circulation. 
Poor wretches ! The anxiety which they experienced when, having 
passed these to their associate*, they wultcd for the fruits of their 
labours, might make olio pity them. 
The time cnino at last. One morning when the coiners were asleep, 
some officers of a certain regiment— the blues— who carry no swords, 
but indulge In oil-skin capes and dark knit horns, entere d inyf. out kitchen 
by the area, and staying for nothing passed quickly andslhmlv up stairs, 
where they lay concealed till night came round again, and tlu coiners 
had begun their work. No sooner were the bright little c .ins taken 
from the plaster than a sudden rush was made, and in y two tenants 
very skilfully captured, with evidence enough against them to convict 
a regiment. The officers then retired with their prisoners, leaving ono 
in charge. 
Then it was that, turning on Id* dark lantliorn, the said officer- wan- 
dered through all iny deserted room* ; and nomctime* startled by tho 
rat*, cumc down tho stairs tVom attic to kitchen— down tire stair* from 
room to room, pooring into empty cupboards, and making the gilt 
moulding, which droppe 1 from the corners of my drawing-room, wink 
and glitter on each shred of gold. 
Down stairs still, to the dining-room, where tho damp ran down it* 
painted walls, ami the rat* made doleful noises behind the skirting. 
Down stairs again, to where the round hole in the kitchen-shutter let 
in n ray of light ujion some dark heap of clothe* which lay huddled upon 
the blackened ami deserted hearth : not like a man — no nor vet a 
women ; yet let the lantliorn shine u moment, and the form grows fami- 
liar to the o.i e, Yes, there alone — her children in the workhouse, and 
her husband driven to some roguery ubove his mark and expiating hl> 
