THE MERMAID'S LAST NEW SONG.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 March 1851, Page 2

THE MERMAID'S LAST NEW SONG.

(From "Punch.") The mariners brave tidings bring That they through Dover's Strait who steer, If, of an understanding ear, Thus oft times hear a Mermaid sing j When the blue deep is calm and clear:

" A wonder have I seen below, A marvel new and strange to me Who dwell beneath the rolling sea, Amid the wrecks sunk long ago; The wealth of Ocean's Treasury.

<! There runneth an enchanted wire O'er the sea-bed, from shore to shore. Of nations that were foes of yore; The conduit of a magic fire, Lightning beneath tho water's roar.

" The skulls of ancient enemies Around it, lying, grimly frown, There, where the slain of old went down, Through wars of hoary centuries, In. many an action of renown.

" The flash amid those storms of Death Flits (juick as thought from land to land ; No hostile bolt, no "deadly brand, Nay: but a soft electric breath Warm like the grasp of friendly hand.

" A kindly spirit gnidcs its aim, Benignant science bids it fly, Convoying question and reply; There's language in that social flame, And France and England talk thereby.

" 'Mid antique arms, old gun, and sword, "Which insects of the sea o'erlay. Of those loug fallen in savago fray, The bony lingers with the chord That links the nations, gently play. "And sea-sprites, a« they sport along % That nerve of wire, by human skill { Between two peoples made to thrill, Sing joyously the Mermaid's Song, To England, Ponce !—to Fiance, Goodwill! " Proposed Electric Tklegraph across me Mersky.—Experiments are about to be tried on the Mersey with the view of carrying an electric telegraph line across the river from Liverpool to Biilenhead, and it is hoped the dock authorities will now no longer delay to fulfil their long-entertained idea of establishing wires northward along the shore to Fovniby, &c, and westward to Bidston. No question can

exist of tlie importance of sucli a measure, so largely calculated as it is to render the existing marine telegraph effective in foggy weather. On the occurrence of a mist, or an east wind, Liverpool, under the existing system, is entirely prevented from obtaining intelligence of ships off the harbour, waiting steam, &c. ; and we trust the opportunity will not now be permitted to lie unimproved. The wire to be used will resemble that in use for the telegraph across the British Channel. Ireland.—Progress of Emigration.—The tide of emigration still flows as vigorously as at any period during spring or summer, from Cork, Waterford, and various other ports. Cork seems to be the great port of departure from the south, and there is really quite a mania for emigration. Daily sailing vessels freighted with emigrants, chiefly of the better class of farmers, traders, and country shopkeepers, are leaving for the United States or Canada. One large vessel left Queenstown on Saturday morning with 370 passengers, many of them families who had been in the rank of small gentry or opulent traders, and other vessels are taking in passengers at Cork. Meantime the steamers of two rival companies, plying between Cork and Liverpool, are generally crowded with emigrants of an humble class, who intend to take shipping at the latter port for America, and on some occasions the applicants are so very numerous that the masters of the steamers are under the necessity, from motives of prudence, to refuse , many of them a passage across the channel. When we consider that emigration has been in progress on a gigantic scale since the disastrous potatoe failure in 1846, it is difficult to account for the vast numbers still flying from the country, even at this advanced period of the season, and encountering the hardships of a winter passage across the Atlantic. — Morning Chron.

Symptoms of Improvement.—For the first time since the commencement of the famine there are symptoms of a revival of the Irish corn trade with England. The banks in Dublin are now discounting bills of exchange drawn against consignments of whe it, oats, and barley, to liiverpool and other English ports. This is a most encouraging and important fact, coupled as it is with the tendency to advance in the grain markets, notwithstanding all the alarming predictions of such an influx from all parts of Europe and from America as would completely overwhelm the Irish farmer in his own market. Since the great potatoe failure in 1846, our own produce had been so far below our wants, that importations to an enormous extent have been constantly in progress ; and, instead of exporting a large surplus, the resources of the country were exhausted in paying for foreign food. Most fortunately this drain is at an end —the corn trade is resuming its former healthy course—gradually exports are increasing, whilst food of all descriptions is abundant and moderate in price in the local markets. I have recently noticed symptoms of improvement in our prospects ; but this revival of the corn trade is certainly the most satisfactory indication of a change for the better that has yet occurred. The decided increase in the income of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, enabling the directors to pay a dividend (the first yet declared) of 3 per cent, upon their vast capital, is another encouraging symptom in the condition of the country.— Morning Chronicle. The Queen's College.—The list of the senate of the new university has been completed, and will consist of eighteen members, including the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Wheatly, Chief Baron Pigot, and Lord Boss, with other equally ijualified and eminent men. The Evening Post gives the following as a ' correct list of the appointments of Visitors to the Queen's College. " Visitors to the Three Colleges.—The Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Leinster, the Earl of Fin gal, Mr. Justice Ball, Mr. Richard /Wilson Greene, Q.C., Sir Henry Marsh, Bart., I the President of the College of Surgeons, the President of the College of Physicians, and the Moderator to the General Assembly. "Visitors to Belfast College. — The Most Rev. Lord John G. Beresford,Primate and Archbishop of Armagh; the Most Rev. Dr. Cullen, Catholic Primate and Archbishop of Armagh; Right Rev. Dr. Knox, Bishop of Down and Connor, and Dromore ; and the Right Rev. Dr. Denvir, Catholic Bishop of Down and Conner.

"Visitors xo Cork Coi/lege.—The Most Rev. Dr. Whately, Archbishop of Dublin ; the Rev. Dr. Slatterj, Catholic Archbishop of Cashel ; the Right Rev. Dr. Wilson, Bishop of Cork; the Bight Rev. Dr. Delany, Catholic Bishop of Cork. " Visitors to Galway College.—The Most Rev. Lord John G. Beresforcl, Primate and Archbishop of Armagh; the Most Rev. Dr. M'JETale, Catholic Archbishop of Tuam ; the Hon. and Right Rev. Dr. Plnnkett, Bishop of Tuara ; the' Bight Rev. Dr. O'Donnell, Catholic Bishop of Galway." Dr. M'Hale, and Dr. Slattcry, the R. C. Archbishop of Tuam and Cashel have formally refused to act as visitors.

The Freeman's Journal contains the following ; —" We are enabled to announce, upon authority, that his Grace the most Rev. Dr. Cullen, Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate pf all Ireland, has resolved on declining J:he acceptance of any office or appointment whatever in connection with the colleges and the university proposed to he annexed to them; and we have reason to believe that, but for his Grace's delicate health, and the great pressure of ecclesiastical duties imposed on him during the Synod, he would have already signified such his determination to the Government officials who assumed the liberty of nominating him."

New BobiajSt Catholic Uxiveesity.—The Thurles Correspondent of the Cork Examiner states that a unanimous decree lias been passed by the Synod of Tlinrles for taking" immediate steps to found a Catholic university. Every ecclesiastic in Ireland will be called upon to pay an annual tax of 2 per cent on his income for its support, and a Committee lias already been named for carrying the project into effect. The Primate and Dr. Cantweil, for Ulster; Archbishop M'Hale and Dr. Deny, for Connaught ; Archbishop Murray and Dr. Haly for Leinster; Archbishop Slattery and Dr. Foran, Minister, are to associate with themselves as many priests, and a similar number of laymen are to be associated with both; to form a provisional committee for carrying the project into effect. Dr. Cantweil, Bishop of Meath, it is said, commences by a subscription of 11,000.