New Curiosities of Literature. By George Soane, B.A. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1849. [In vol. ii. p. 135. is an able and interesting essay entitled "_Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry_," in which the author, with considerable success, endeavours to show that _Rosicrucianism_ had no existence before the sixteenth century, and is a mere elaboration of Paracelsian doctrines: and that _Freemasonry_ is nothing more than an offspring from it, and has, consequently, no claim to the antiquity of which it boasts.] Swift's Tale of a Tub. [In Section X. of this wonderful book will be found a caustic piece of satire on the futility of the _Rosicrucian_ philosophy.] Butler's Hudibras. [Grey's notes to part I., _passim._] Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions. By Charles Mackay, LL.D. 2 vols. 8vo. [In the section devoted to the _Alchymists_, is a carefully compiled account of the _Rosicrucians_.] Chambers's Papers for the People, No. 33., vol. v., "Secret Societies of the Middle Ages." Idem, No. 66., "Alchemy and the Alchemists." The Guardian, No. 166. The Spectator, No. 574. Idem, No. 379. [This number contains Budgell's _Legend of the Sepulchre of Rosicrucius_.] The Rosicrucian: a Novel. 3 vols. 8vo. Zanoni. By Sir E. L. Bulwer. After the slumber of a century, with new objects and regulations, _Rosicrucianism_ (so to speak) was revived in the country of its birth. A very curious volume was published fifty years ago, entitled _Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe, carried on in the secret meetings of Freemasons, Illuminati, and Reading Societies_, by John Robinson, A.M., &c., 8vo., London, 1798. This volume is chiefly occupied by a history of the origin, proceedings, and objects of the _Illuminati_, a sect which had rendered important services to revolutionary interests, and laid the foundations of European propagandism. Much curious matter relative to this sect will also be found in George Sand's _Comtesse de Rudolstadt_, vol. ii.; upon, or just before, its extinction, a new political association was formed at Baden and Carlsruhe, under the auspices of Baron van Edelsheim, police minister of the Elector, under the title of _Die Rosenkrietzer_. This society was called into existence by a reactionary dread of that republicanism in politics, and atheism in morals, which seemed at that time to prey upon the vitals of European society. The 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