They rebuked the young bard; but he was not to be deterred from his favorite pursuit; and he wrote a Vindication of Poetry; in the exordium to which he thus addresses one of these obtrusive friends :

"Go! dotard, go! and if it suits thy mind,

Range yonder rocks, and reason with the wind;
Or if its motions own another's will,

Walk to the beach, and bid the waves be still;
In newer orbits let the planets run,

Or throw a cloud of darkness o'er the sun!
A measured movement bid the comets keep,
Or lull the music of the spheres to sleep!
These may obey thee, but the fiery soul

Of genius owns not, brooks not their control."

"At length he was able to indulge without obstruction in his love of literature. Mr. Jameson, a man of enlarged and liberal views, gave him a confidential situation in his distillery, which did not, however, engross his whole time. He now began to essay the hill

"Where Fame's proud temple shines afar;"

published the Misanthrope, a didactic poem, and contributed largely to the New Monthly Magazine. In 1822, he projected the New Irish Magazine ; and, in 1825, when the Morning Register was started, Furlong wrote a number of clever parodies, which, though addressed to local subjects, generally found their way into the columns of the London journals. In the same year he became a contributor to Robins's London and Dublin Magazine. His reputation now stood so high, that his name was often coupled with that of Moore at convivial meetings in Dublin; the Irish literati courted his society, and his countrymen in general spoke loudly in praise of his talents. His lyrical compositions attained great popularity--they were sung at the piano, and chanted by the unmusical syrens of the streets. At length it was his good fortune to be

engaged on a work of more decided importance. Mr. Hardiman, author of the History of Galway, &c. having projected the publication of the remains of the Irish bards, Furlong undertook to translate the songs of the celebrated Carolan. These he completed; and by the kindness of Mr. Joseph Robins, the intimate friend of the deceased, we are enabled to give the original of the far-famed song of Molly Astore, as translated by Mr. Furlong, from the Irish Minstrelsy, now in the press.

"Oh! Mary dear, bright peerless flower
Pride of the plains of Nair;

Behold me droop, through each dull hour,
In soul-consuming care.

In friends, in wine, where joy was found,
No joy I now can see ;

But still where pleasure reigns around,
I sigh, and think of thee.

The cuckoo's notes I love to hear,
When summer warms the skies,
When fresh the banks and brakes appear,
And flowers around us rise;

That blithe bird sings her song so clear,
And she sings when the sunbeams shine;
Her voice is sweet-but, Mary, dear,
Not half so sweet as thine !

From town to town I've idly stray'd,
I've wander'd many a mile;

I've met with many a blooming maid,
And own'd her charms the while;
I've gazed on some that then seem'd fair,
But when thy looks I see,

I find there's none that can compare,

My Mary, dear, with thee!"

"Mr Furlong had also in the press when he died, a poem of some length, entitled the Doom of Derenzie, which, we understand, will be published immediately. The MS. was warmly eulogised by Maturin.

"Mr. Furlong was a man of the most amiable

and inoffensive manners. Every one who knew him loved him; and though many in Dublin felt, on some occasions, the keenness of his satire, his death was lamented by all, and his funeral attended by the first characters among the opposite parties."

Since the foregoing was written, a handsome monument has been erected by his friends over his grave, which lies next to that of the antiquarian Grose, in Drumcondra church-yard.

The Irish Minstrelsy, which is on the eve of publication, it is hoped will establish sufficient character for Mr. Furlong to induce some competent friend to select his "Literary Remains" from the oblivion into which many of them have sunk from being scattered through various magazines and newspapers. 26.-ST. ANNE.

This festival, in honor of the mother of the Virgin Mary, is discontinued in the Protestant church, but is still celebrated by the Latin church.

26.-1820.-FIRST CHAIN BRIDGE IN GREAT BRITAIN

OPENED.

This day may be regarded as one worthy of remembrance from the success which has attended several similar constructions since the above. This bridge extends across the river Tweed, near Berwick. The extreme length of the suspending chains from the point of junction, on each side of the Tweed, is 590 feet; from the stone abutments 432; and the height above the surface of the river is 27 feet. The weight of the chains, platforms, &c. is about 160 tons; but the bridge is calculated to support 360 tons, a greater weight, in all probality, than it can ever be subjected to. In the centre on each side is the inscription, Vis unita fortior. This elegant structure is the invention of Captain Brown of the Royal Navy, and cost only £5000. whereas the expense of a stone one in the same situa

tion, would have exceeded £20,000. The bridge was opened in the presence of Lord Howe, Professor Leslie, and several scientific men, who were preceded over the bridge by Captain Brown, and followed by an immense concourse of spectators.

The chain bridge at Bangor Ferry and the suspension pier at Brighton, are the most prominent objects that have been since erected on a similar plan.

The construction of chain bridges did not originate in this country. Turner, in his Voyage to Thibet, mentions a bridge at Ichincheiu, near Chuka, which is 140 feet length supported by five chains, covered with pieces of bamboo, over which men and horses pass.

No doubt bridges of this construction originated in South America, where they are very common and were made long previous to the arrival of the Europeans. Humboldt, in his Travels in South America, gives a description and representation of a suspension bridge in that country, which, however rude, no doubt gave the idea of the splendid erections which have of late years been made.

Chambo, near the village of Penipe. It is 120 feet long, and seven or eight wide, and formed of ropes three or four inches in diameter, and made from the fibrous root of the American agavey. They are attached to rude scaffolding, composed of the trunks of several trees, erected on the shore, on each side of the river; and upon them are small round pieces of bamboo laid transversely. As the weight of the bridge causes the trees to bend towards the middle of the river, and as it would be imprudent to strain them with too much force; steps or ladders are constructed at the two extremities of the bridge.