society soon spread, and had its affiliations in various parts of Germany,
giving such uneasiness to Buonaparte, to the accomplishment of whose
projects it exercised an adverse influence, that he despatched a secret
messenger for the purpose of obtaining information as to its projects and
developments. He did everything in his power to destroy the association,
which, however, survived, until his murder of Palm, the bookseller, for
publishing the _Geist der Zeit_, seeming to call for a new and modified
association, led to its extinction, and the creation of a new secret
society, the celebrated _Tungen-Bund_, in its place.

It will be seen that in the foregoing I have confined myself to that part
of your correspondent's Query which relates to "the Brethren of the
Rosy-Cross." I have not ventured to allude to the Alchymists, or the
writings of Paracelsus, his predecessors and followers, which form a
library, and demand a catalogue for their mere enumeration. If MR. E. S.
TAYLOR, however, is desirous of farther information, and will favour me
with his address, I shall be happy to assist his researches in Hermetic
philosophy to the extent of my ability.

WILLIAM BATES.

Birmingham.

The Society of Rosicrucians, or Rosecroix (whom Collier calls a sect of
mountebanks), first started into existence in Germany in the seventeenth
century. They laid claim to the possession of divers secrets, among which
the philosopher's stone was the least. They never dared to appear publicly,
and styled themselves _The Invisible_. {108}

In 1622 they put forth the following advertisement:

"We, deputed by our College, the principal of the brethren of the
Rosicrucians, to make our visible and invisible abode in this city,
through the grace of the Most High; towards whom are turned the hearts
of the just: we teach without books or notes, and speak the languages
of the countries wherever we are, to draw men like ourselves from the
error of death."

The Illuminati of Spain were a branch of this sect. In 1615 one John
Bringeret printed a work in Germany containing two treatises, entitled _The
Manifesto and Confession of Faith of the Fraternity of the Rosicrucians in
Germany_.

H. C. K.

---- Rectory, Hereford.

* * * * *

INSCRIPTIONS ON BELLS.

(Vol. vi., p. 554. Vol. vii., p. 633.)

My note-book contains a considerable number of inscriptions on bells; some
extracted from books,