The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE OCEAN FLOWER ; a Poem. Preceded cy a
Descriptive and Historical Account
.of the Island of
Madeira. By T. M. Hughes, ALtAor of " Reveations
of Spain."

That Mr. Hughes is a shrewd and sensible ob:erver,
and an accurate and lively delineator of the manners and
Customs of foreign lands, has been sufficiently proved by
his " Revelations of Spain." He now appears before us
as a poet ; and the present volume proves that he has a
just right to the title. "The Ocean Flower" is the poeti-
cal name which our author gives to the island of Marleira.
and his poem, which consists of ten short cantos, is de-
scriptive of the scenery of the island and of the history
of its first discovery. In detailing the history of its dis-
covery and settlement our author introduces, by way of
episode, many of the romantic! legends of Portugal and
Madeira. These are all treated with true poetic feeling,
and the old ballad metre has been in many instances
adopted with great elf, ct. The introductory stanzas to
each canto are of a reflective character, and remind us,
not so much by the construction of the verse as by the
train of thought pursued, not unfrequently of " Childe
Harold." Some of the lyrics with which the poem is in-
terspersed are very spirited. The following ,s Sow, of
the Bell-ringer,:at the Consecration of the Church of
Lady of the Strand," would, if set to music by some
popular composer, become the song at bell-ringing
festivities :

SONG OF THE BELL-RINGERS.

Swing the bells bravely
With true triple peal,
Lightly, yet gravely,
Until the brain reel.
Bell-ringers boldly
In musical chime
Swing, never coldly,
But sweetly in time.
From the earth bounding,
Next instant descend;
Be the peal Sounding
The same to the end.
Lusty bell-ringers,
How shakes the tall tower;
Sway, nimble fingers,
A mammoth in power !

Oh, it is glorious
The monster to quell,
Grandly, uproarious,
And terrible bell !
While he is swinging,
No cannon more strong ;
While the peal's ringing,
Like thunder his tongue 1
When he booms loudly
In fast growing speed,
Rein him in proudly
Like galloping steed.
Fresh as Aurora
With vigour still rise ;
Nossa Senhora
Is Queen of the skies !
The poem is preceded by an historical and descriptive
account of the island of Madeira. This account is
delightfully written. It not only gives a clear, yet con-
cise view of the history of Portuguese discovery, but it
conveys every information relative to the island of Ma-
deira that the invalid about to take up his abode there
can desire. Indeed, no one should think of visiting this
island without making Mr. Hughes's book his vade
mecum. He likewise gives us a delightful essay on Por-
tuguese literature. May we venture to suggest to Mr.
Hughes the propriety of giving us a history of Portugal,
including, of course, a history of its literature. Such a
work is much wanted, and we know of no author so
-qualified to undertake the task as Mr. Hughes.

Pembroke Royal Dock-yard is just now in most
active operation. An addition of an inspector and two lead-
ing men was this week made to the shipwrights recently
entered. sTwo beautiful roofs capable of containing line
of-battle ships constructed wholly of iron are nearly
completed. Others of similar materials are shortly to
be taken in hand, as likewise a line of seasoning sheds,
so as to avoid as much as possible the risk of tire. Iron
poles are being driven for the erection of a building to
contain Nasmyth's patent hammers adjoining. the black-
.Bll-all's shop, which also is being greatly enlarged. In the
shipbuilding department all is bustle- and excitement.
Steamers are building by task work, and, in fact, all seems
more like the heat of war than the time of profound peace.
In the. fortifying department there is not less energy dis-
played.. Engineer officers are surveying the extensive de-
fences contemplated, and every exertion is making to fit the
Saturn fur a screw propeller block ship on which a number of
workthen are employed, entered specifically for that service.
—Welshman.
StAmEsE TWINS.—A few days ago, a poor woman
between five and six months advanced in pregnancy, the
wife of a labouring man, and mother of two healthy children,
residing at 7, Gloucester-place, Islington-green, having been
ill for a week, Mr. Dommett, a surgeon near the spot, was
called in, and found her in the pains of labour. She thought
that could not possibly be the cause of her sufferings, but
before many hours had elapsed she was delivered of still-born
female twins; between whom an union exists from the chest
to the abdomen. The above gentleman thus deacribes this
most extraordinna.ry case :—Both children are exceedingly
well formed in every limb and feature excepting that por-
tion constituting the union, and even this is net a deformity.
They measure twelve inches long, and are 21b. 3oz. avoir-
dupois weight ; their features are well made and regular,
with great symmetry in their limbs, and_a fair development
of muscle; there are two umbilical cords entering the abdo-
men together, and united together by a thin membrane,
which to a casual observer appeaiews one, so that, indepen-
dently of the unity, they are externally two perfectly-formed
children, like the Siamese twins, with this exception, that
the union is altogether different from them, as the union
consists of an adhesion of the ribs of the right side to the left
of the other, which is to the sternum above and to the carti-
lages of the false ribs below, the whole covered with the
common integument and muscles from the chest to the lower
part t.f the abdomen. In examining the chest Mr. Dommett
found each distinct from the other, there being no communi-
cation, but separated by its ribs, muscles, pleura, &c., the
contents of each being natural, with well-formed lungs and
heart ; but such was not the case with the abdomen, for
here was found one common cavity for both, with separate
viscera on each side, with the exception of the liver, which
extended from the side of one to the opposite side of the other,
.forming one liver for both. This, with the distribution of the
vessels from the end, were the only deviations observed. The
other viscera were in their usual places and number—namely,
each had a stomach, small and large intestines, spleen, two
kidneys, bladder, uterus, and each in perfect position. They
hate been carefully preserved in spirits by Mr. Dommett.—
Sunday paper.
LAMENTABLE._ ACCIDENT.--A letter, dated Ath-
lone, Oct. 1, narrates the following melancholy accident :
".1. regret much to inform you that on Monday morning
last, at the hour of ten o'clock, Mr. William Gregory, son
of the Rev. Mr. Gregory, and grandson to the late Right
Hon. William Gregory, of Dublin Castle, who was in the
revenue police stationed in this town, went in a boat
belonging to Mr. Levinge from Temple Island, taking
..with him two of the revenue police under his command,
since which no account has been heard of them. There is
now no doubt but all are lost. Every boat has been sent
out, together with persons in different directions along the
lanes adjoining the Ekes from this to Lanesboroup. The
revenue boat has just returned :no account. rho two
men, with Mr. Gregory, were fine young fellows; in fact,
nothing now can equal the anxiety that is felt for their fate.
The officers came here only yesterday to inspect, and if Mr.
Gregory existed, itispresitmed nothing would have prevented
his being present. I have only. time to say that there is
no doubt but that Mr.. Gregory and his two companions have
been drowned."
The late. Colonel John Shelton, when at Calcutta,
and on the eve of embarking for Europe in the Hindustan
steamer, in the year 1843, executed his will, in which, after
leaving 1,0001. to his god-daughter, Miss Fanny Codd, and
other testamentary dispositions, he directs his executors,
F. F. Watson. and E. S. Codd; Et,qrs., to purchase a landed
estate to the fell amount of his property, for his nephew,
Lieutenant' Wi ShOltOn.;: the estate.always to remain. in the
family; 4nd:the:possessor to take the name of Shelton, Be-
sides his property in Ireland, and 110,000 rupees, his per-
sonal estate and funded property in England amounted to
25,0001. The deceased was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding
her Majesty's 44th Foot, and a Major-General in the East
Indies.

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