ROYAL ARCH-ORDER OF MIZRAIM. 501 land, but in every other reformed country; it being very naturally supposed that they continued in existence only as societies for plotting the restoration of papal supremacy. An alarm of this nature was very general, and to do away with such unfounded impressions, a convocation of nearly all the masonic institutions in Christendom was held in France, whither a delegate was sent by the ancient lodge of Edinburgh, (now of Mary's chapel,) as also from London. A manifesto, shewing the inoffensiveness of masonic meetings, was then put forth, which was signed by Melancthon, Coligny, and others. It appears from the books and records of Scottish masonic bodies, that the whole underwent a sort of revolution shortly after the reformation, and were re-constituted with new charters and regulations. There is another exalted class of masons in Scotland, called the Supreme Grand Royal Arch chapter. Of this order, there are at present about fifty chapters in the kingdom, which are under the jurisdiction of the supreme chapter. The next order to be noticed is the highest of all, and comprehends, as we are told, nearly all the usages of the different masonic bodies in the world. It is called the order of Mizraim, and was instituted in the course of this century in France, by an association of enthusiastic masons, who bethought themselves of gathering together all the fragments of ancient masonry in existence. For this end, they sent delegates into different countries in Asia, Africa, and obscure parts of Europe, to search out, and bring home, a knowledge of every kind of masonry they could pick up in the proper quarters. In a short time, they thus embodied no fewer than eighty degrees, in which St John's and nearly all others were comprehended, and named the order after the celebrated Mizraim. About eight years ago, it was introduced into Scotland, and being in its infancy, it has only a supreme conclave, and two subordinate chapters. The number of its members is very limited. 502 RESTRICTIONS ON LODGES. The last of these pre-eminent orders, is called the Royal Order. It was first instituted by Robert Bruce, and has three grades, two of which are the same as those in the order of Mizraim, and are evidently of an Eastern origin; having been most probably introduced by the crusaders from Palestine. It has no subsidiary lodges in Scotland, but possesses a parental authority over some societies in France. Its place of meeting is also at Edinburgh. The free-masonry of Scotland has never been prostituted to seditious or irreligious purposes, as has indisputably, and very naturally, been the case with the various classes of Carbonari, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati, and other secret bodies in Germany, Spain, Italy, and other ill-governed continental nations; and while the lodges in England, from their political tendency, fell under the ban of the state, about the period of the French revolution, the Scottish lodges were complimented by his Majesty's government for the innocency of their meetings. With all other British lodges, they were, however, (at their own request,) placed under similar restrictions as to the notices to be given to magistrates, of the times and places of meeting, and the swearing of two members of each association, that the intents of the bodies to which they belongéd were not in relation to politics. These regulations are still in force. The only instance of a persecution of masonry in this country in modern times, was in a case wherein a body of presbyterian dissenters (whose name we forbear to mention out of pity to the descendants of the sect) about the year 1757, in their ductile intolerance, commenced a crusade against masonry in general, and a persecution of members of its own persuasion who were masons in particular, whom they conceived to be in too close a correspondence with the powers of darkness. After various disputes, and the excitement of no small degree of ridicule, they ceased insisting on members divulging the mysteries of the craft, and subsided into their ordinary state of stolidity. APPENDIX. ARTICLES of UNION agreed on the twenty-second day of July, in the fifth year of the reign of her most excellent Majesty, Anne, by the grace of God, Queen of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and six, by the commissioners nominated on behalf of the kingdom of Scotland, under her Majesty's Great Seal of Scotland, bearing date the twentyseventh day of February last past; in pursuance of the fourth Act of the third session of her Majesty's current Parliament of Scotland, in the fourth year of her Majesty's reign; and the commissioners nominated on behalf of the kingdom of England, under her Majesty's Great Seal of England, bearing date at Westminster the tenth day of April last past; in pursuance of an Act of Parliament made in England, the third year of her Majesty's reign, to treat of, and concerning an Union of the said kingdoms: Which Articles are in all humility to be presented to the Queen's most excellent Majesty, and offered to the consideration of the respective Parliaments of both kingdoms, pursuant to the said Acts and Commissions. I. THAT the two kingdoms of Scotland and England shall, upon the first day of May next ensuing the date hereof, and for ever after, be united into one kingdom, by the name of GREAT BRITAIN; and that the ensigns armorial of the said united kingdom be such as her Majesty shall appoint, and the crosses of St Andrew and St George be conjoined in such manner as her Majesty shall think fit, and used in all flags, banners, standards, and ensigns, both at sea and land. II. That the succession to the monarchy of the united kingdom of Great Britain, and of the dominions thereunto belonging, after her most Sacred Majesty, and in default of issue of her Majesty, be, remain, and continue to the most excellent Princess SOPHIA, electoress and dutchess dowager of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, being protestants, upon whom the crown of England is settled, by an Act of Parliament made in England, in the twelfth year of the reign of his late Majesty King William the Third, entitled, an Act for the further limitation of the crown, and better securing the rights and liberties of the subject and that all papists, and persons marrying papists, shall be excluded from, and for ever incapable to inherit, possess, or enjoy the imperial crown of Great Britain, and the dominions thereunto belonging, or any part thereof: and in every such case, the crown and government shall from time to time descend to, and be enjoyed by such person, being a protestant, as should have inherited and enjoyed the same, in case such papist, or person marrying a papist was naturally dead, according to the provision for the descent of the crown of England, made by another Act of Parliament in England, in the first year of the reign of their late Majesties King William and Queen Mary, entitled, an Act declaring the rights and liberties of the subject, and settling the succession of the crown. III. That the united kingdom of Great Britain be represented by one and the same Parliament, to be stiled the Parliament of Great Britain. IV. That all the subjects of the united kingdom of Great Britain shall, from and after the Union, have full freedom and intercourse of trade and navigation, to and from any port or place within the said united kingdom, and the dominions and plantations thereto belonging; and that there be a communication of all other rights, privileges, and advantages, which do, or may belong to the subjects of either kingdom, except where it is otherways expressly agreed in these Articles. V. That all ships belonging to her Majesty's subjects of Scotland, at the time of signing this treaty for the union of the two kingdoms, though foreign built, shall be deem'd, and pass as ships of the built of Great Britain, the owner, or where there are more owners, one or more of the owners, within twelve months after the Union, making oath, that at the time of signing the said treaty, the same did belong to him or them, or to some other subject or subjects of Scotland, to be particularly named, with the places of their respective abodes, and that the same doth then belong to him or them, and that no foreigner, directly or indirectly, hath any share, part or interest therein: which oath shall be made before the chief officer or officers of the customs in the port next to the abode of the said owner or owners: and the said officer, or officers, shall be empowered to administer the said oath; and the oath being so administered, shall be attested by the officer or officers who administered the same: and being registrate by the said officer, or officers, shall be delivered to the master of the ship, for security of her navigation, and a duplicate thereof shall be transmitted by the said officer, or officers, to the chief officer or officers of the customs in the port of Edinburgh, to be there entered in a register, and from thence to be sent to the port of London, to be there entered in the general register of all trading ships belonging to Great Britain. VI. That all parts of the united kingdom for ever, from and after. the Union, shall have the same allowances and encouragements, and be under the same prohibitions, restrictions, and regulations of trade, and liable to the same customs and duties on import and export and that the allowances, encouragements, prohibitions, restrictions, and regulations of trade, and the customs and duties of import and export settled in England, when the Union commences, shall, from and after the Union, take place throughout the whole united kingdom. VII. That all parts of the united kingdom be for ever, from and after the Union, liable to the same excises upon all exciseable liquors and that the excise settled in England on such liquors, when the Union commences, take place throughout the whole united kingdom. VIII. That, from and after the Union, all foreign salt which shall be imported into Scotland, shall be charged, at the importation there, with the same duties as the like salt is now charged with, being imported into England, and to be levied and secured in the same manner. But Scotland shall, for the space of seven years from the said Union, be exempted from the paying in Scotland for salt made there, the duty or excise now payable for salt made in England; but, from the expiration of the said seven years, shall be subject and liable to the same duties for salt made in Scotland, as shall be then payable for salt made in England, to be levied and secured in the same manner, and with the like draw-backs and allowances as in England. And during the said seven years, there shall be payed in England for all salt made in Scotland, and imported from thence into England, the same duties upon the importation, as shall be payable for salt made in England, to be levied and secured in the same manner as the duties on foreign salt are, to be levied and secured in England; and that, during the said seven years, no salt whatsoever be brought from Scotland to England by land in any manner, under the penalty of forfeiting the salt, and the cattle and carriages made use of in bringing the same, and paying twenty shillings for every bushel of such salt, and proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity, for which the carrier. as well as the owner, shall be liable jointly and severally; and the persons bringing, or carrying the same, to be imprisoned by any one justice of the |