Here must I pause with reverential awe, I'd make the bold essay---for whoe'er saw The splendid pomp of pageantry appear Thy charter granted to old Theige M'Thule Where cockles courted in their " verdant mud." How gorgeous thy regalia! Thy gold chains Swiftly we fly---and get a passing view Of old Dundannian castle and demesne, Bless'd with such gifts from Nature, but how few From man! nor are we suffer'd to remain To gaze on beauteous Lota---but pursue Our course, to where upon the watery plain Old Blackrock castle with majestic height, Salutes by day, and guides our boat by night. "Stop Tom," the Captain calls---at his desire 'Tis stop'd---two Blackrock passengers draw near. And now, thy rich romantic hills, Glanmire, Thy sloping woods, and winding stream appear In open landscape---while the distant spire Hallows the ripening glories of the year--- Now in Loughmahon's open gulph, the grand Yet none forgetting in the general bustle, Now pass we Passage; and its echo, age In every art for navigation's weal, Some of our company now go ashore To join their families at prayers and dinner; The first at one---the second about four Or five,---just as it suits each hungry sinner. Meanwhile some walk for appetite---some more Go see the Guardship, and stay lounging in her 'Till the young Midshipmen so smug and civil Disturb'd from dinner, wish them to the devil. We pass the Giants' stairs, where never step'd And Monkstown's old grey castle heaves in sight; Like "goblins dam'd" who rode upon the "blast--- By Soldiers,---and the cottages below Smile sweetly, shaded by the lofty grove Now Cove at length its azure front displays, With ship dismasted, and from toil half dead: High heaves each pitying breast, as passing by Of wretched human sufferers, who lie Chain'd on their hard and narrow bed, and bow'd Down with the weight of misery---each eye Drops tears---and our stout Captain cries aloud- "Look, look John, damn it, where d'you mean to put her, Quick, quick man, go to leeward of that cutter." "Ah bother," lowly mutters John, “ go teach "Your granny to lap ashes"---then, in strain The Captain's hearing---" where, sir, do you mean Then, we are told, that in about an hour Takes leave and ticket of each person landing. "Captain, I'll send my man down”---“ Very well ma'am"- " I've brought some bread down."---" Sir, you acted wisely"--- "My brother near"--" Oh, spare, ma'am, spare my blushes." Here end the Canto and the Tale together, The boat arriv'd, the passengers ashore--- Permitting me to launch my barque, once more-- Or with les metaphor---if health, and time--- THE ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY. The Royal Hibernian Academy for the promotion of the Fine Arts in Ireland, held its first Exhibition this season. The Academy house has been erected at the expence of ten thousand pounds, by Mr. Johnston, the eminent architect, and has been presented by him A FREE GIFT to the Society. A charter has been obtained, and the Irish Artists are now organised, and members are elected when their talents and industry entitle them to be enrolled. The present members of the Royal Hibernian Academy are:Honorary Members.-Sir Thomas Lawrence, President of the Royal Academy, London, and principal painter in ordinary to his Majesty.Martin Archer Shee, Esq. R. A. London.-Andrew Johnston, Esq. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Professor of Anatomy.— Paul Twigge, A. M. Professor of History. Academicians.-Francis Johnston, Esq. President.-Henry A. Baker, Esq. Sec. pro-tem.-Thomas J. Mulvany, Esq. Keeper.-William Cuming, Esq. Treasurer.-Martin Cregan, Esq. Auditor.-Thomas Kirk, Esq.-William Mossop, Esq. Sec.-John G. Mulvany, Esq. Auditor.Joseph Peacock, Esq.-Thomas C. Thompson, Esq.-Robert L. West, Esq.-Henry Kirchhoffer, Esq.-James J. Russell, Esq. Associates.-Richard Rothwell, Esq.-John Smyth, Esq.-John Williamson, Esq.-John Haverty, Esq.-George Petrie, Esq.---J. R. Maguire, Esq. It could not be reasonably expected that the first exhibition of the Irish Academy, should equal the fifty-eight of the Royal Academy of England ;---but our first exhibition did wonders. It was respectable and attractive, and possessed many works that would do honour even to Somerset House, and those were the productions of young and unnoticed Irish Artists. The rooms were open each day from 10, until a late hour in the evening, and at every hour were well attended. In consequence of the number of visitors it was found necessary to print three editions of the Catalogue, The hall of the Academy contains a cast of the Barbarini Faun, presented to the Academy by Sir Thomas Lawrence---Kirk's fine collossal statue of Thomas Spring Rice, executed for the citizens of Limerick---and collossal Busts of Canova and Thorwalden, sent from Rome to the Academy by Henry Hamilton, Esq. The Anti-room contains some fine Busts by Kirk, and a cast of Westmacotte's Houseless Wanderer, presented by the Artist to the Academy. There are some fine Miniatures in this room, by Robertson, Lover, Kirchhoffer, &c, and some interesting drawings in water colours, by Petrie, Kirchhoffer, Baker, Lover, &c. and by Mr. Brennan of Cork. The great majority of Pictures in the Exhibition are, necessarily, Portraits; many of them are spirited and true, and reflect great credit on the Artists, We could give a long list of interesting and attractive Pictures, but have only space, in our present Number, for the titles of a few: 63.---The little Armoury of Sir Walter Scott, at Abbotsford. Major Henry Stisted. Among the many interesting objects in this Armoury are the following, viz: Rob Roy's Gun; Claverhouse's Pistols; Lock and ponderous Keys of the Old Tolbooth, or Heart of Midlothian,-a -a great variety of Dirks, Daggers, Broad Swords, Spears, &c.-The Armour of Charles V. inlaid with gold, and bearing the insigna of the golden fleece; Napoleon's Pistols, and many Waterloo Trophies. 65.---Sketch-of a Tree. Miss Newenham. H. 72.---View in Poulona Glen, Co. Wicklow, H. Kirchhoffer, R. H. A. 76.--The Mitcher, John G. Mulvany, R. H. A. 84.---View of the Villa D'Este, the residence of the late Queen Caroline, on the Lake of Como, from Nature. A Lady, H. 86.---The Road out of Georgia, by the borders of the Terek. Lieut. Col. D'Arcy. 93.---View in the Dargle, T. S. Roberts, R. H. A. 97.---Fishermens' Houses at the entrance of Dieppe,---scene, loading a Waggon with fish for the Paris Market. Thomas J. Mulvany. R. H. A. 118.---The Entrance to Rostrevor, from the Newry Road. John G. Mulvany, R. H. A. 125.---Recovery of the intercepted Love Letter. 147.---The Painter forgotten. 174.---Fortune Telling. 182.---Domestic Quarrels. C. D. Leahy. Richard Rothwell, A. 274.---Design from the Pirate, Norna working her spell. E. D. Leahy. T. Foster, A. S. Lover. 'Brenda gazed at Minna, who sat in that rude chair of dark stone, her finely formed shape and limbs making the strongest contrast with its ponderous and irregular angles,-Norna next undid the fillet which bound her grizzled hair, and shaking her head wildly, caused it to fall in disheveled abundance over her face and round her shoulders."Pirate, Vol. III. Chap. 1st. YERUKA. The splashing plunge of the light canoes, And their laugh has the tone of deep rude glee: On the wide Savannas, there is a fresh bloom, The scarlet cardinal swells its fat throat, And plumes its red wing, and smooths its red crest, Ere it leaves the retreat of its winter nest. The ephemera awaked at last, From its long, long sleep, is fluttering past; |