That 'mid our hills, as wild and free The music of our streams; That when the cloud's rich purple fold Beneath, on couch of pearl and gold, For cloudland who? we bid thee say, And to our Royal Lady say, That this, her green domain, Is yearning for a sunny day— Then shall thy wires, with welcomes quiver, But shalt thou tell how ruin treads Of hungry mouths, and houseless heads? And should'st thou all such tales convey, Of Erin's slothful hands, that waste But whisper gently, as most fit, Alas! our part in Britain's song Some say thy chain was not the first But thou hast made the word accurs'd And love's true type thou surely art; The telegraph 'twixt heart and heart, That, like thee, to the depths goes down, That many waters cannot drown. Like thee, through dark and tangled places, As delicate the touch that traces But, unlike thee, behind it cast, It leaves a brightness where it passed, Not parted would our islands seem, Could love's lost links be found : In one fair pleasure-ground, What lessons England's quickened sight And learn to strike the better part, Twins should they be, and closely joined, With arms around each other twined, Should feel that were that band cut through, And England teach her sister weak With gems, the richest ever set E'en in that glorious coronet. When shall it be? When each torn half Of Erin's self shall join When love hath set its telegraph 'Twixt Wexford and the Boyne; When God is felt, and error fled, And prejudice is lying dead. Then welcome, messenger of power! Tell England how we long to prove, Liz. Kinsale. THE WILD BEE OF LOUGH Derg. I floated at noon, where the sunlight looks leaden, Where sin seeks, with penance, the conscience to deaden, I heard the monotonous beat of low surges, I thought me, how often, when starlight has glisten'd, Have listen'd, if haply some word of forgiving Might soften the brow of the cold crucifix. But lo! on the wave which my shallop was crossing, High up over head flew a wild bee. Blithe hummer, What buds are there here for thy flittings to shake? Hast come from a home where the hill with the heather Drink honey and wine of the dew of the night? Hast come from a chamber all ceil'd with vermilion, He is bound for some flower surpassing his lily, And then to his home to go wearily back. But what if the bells which the wild bee is seeking O, Faith of my country! that brightly and purely Wilt thou die in those flow'rs-the fair and deceiving- I know not, dark Derg! but, at even returning, A self-moving cresset-light starrily burning My heart hail'd the omen, and call'd it the same. I followed it on, to its palaces pendent, Where hush'd are its hummings the summer night through, Till moons, that hang o'er Meena Feargus resplendent, Wax ghostly and wan, in the cold morning blue. O, thus might the faith, that now over this dreary Come back in the light of its eventime weary, M. THE UNIVERSITY COMMISSION. THE Dublin University Commissioners have at length brought their labours to a close. After two years expended in investigating facts, and receiving suggestions from all those whose intimate connexion with the University rendered their evidence or their opinion valuable, they have given the result to the public in a volume, rivalling in bulk either of those which have emanated from the sister universities; and as few institutions have had more reason to complain of ignorant or wilful misrepresentation, all lovers of our Irish University will hail the appearance of this Report as a bright and important era in her history. Ignorance will now be no longer excusable. Wilful misrepresentation can now be easily refuted. How far the University of Dublin has fulfilled or neglected her important trust, whether science and literature have prospered or decayed within her walls whether and how far she has exerted herself to render her education commensurate to the wants of the age; upon all these questions, the public may now satisfy themselves. Whatever be her merits or demerits, they are at least no secret. We need hardly remind our readers that the duty imposed upon the Commission, and which the elaborate document before us is intended to fulfil, was two-fold-namely, in the first place, to give a faithful report of the existing state of the University of Dublin; and secondly to suggest such alterations as might seem to them necessary or beneficial. With regard to the relative importance of these two duties, there can be, we suppose, but one opinion. The recommendations of the Commissioners are undoubtedly entitled to great weight, as opinions coming from men of known ability, who have devoted much time and thought to the question before them, uninfluenced by any other motive than a desire for the welfare of the institution and of the country. They are the opinions of men celebrated in their various pursuits, raised by their position above all petty jealousy, and bringing to their allotted task habits of severe and accurate thought, formed during a long course of scientific or professional life. Still they are but opinions the opinions, too, of men not possessing now any peculiar or exclusive sources of information. They are avowedly based upon those very facts which the Report lays open to the whole world. If they are obnoxious to criticism, the materials for criticism lie close at hand; for the Commissioners have done for the public what parents often refuse to do for an inquisitive child: they have made their readers as wise as themselves. But whatever may be thought of the wisdom of the suggestions contained in the Report, there can be no doubt as to the extreme importance of the facts which are there laid open to the public. The Commissioners have brought together in their Report, a mass of evidence as to the theory and practice of education in the University of Dublin, which leaves nothing to be desired. Every branch of the varied system provided to meet the varied wants of the nineteenth century, has been subjected to a severe and careful scrutiny. Every official connected with its working has been required to give a full account of the manner in which he has discharged his trust; and it is but justice to the fellows and professors to say that no concealment of any kind appears to have been practised or attempted. Their replies to the several queries put to them are made with the full and open candour of men who feel that they have nothing to fear from publicity that their deeds" give them no reason to "hate the light." But on this point we shall allow the Commissioners to speak for themselves :— "Our proceedings in carrying your Majesty's commission into execution, have been greatly facilitated by the spirit in which our communications have been received by the different officers of the college; and by the promptness and courtesy with which they have replied to our inquiries. Their answers, too, contain very full information on each subject of investigation, and the sug |