"Beloved, my beloved, when I think That thou wast in the world a year ago, What time I sat alone here in the snow, And saw no foot-print, heard the silence sink No moment at they voice; ... but link by link Went courting all my chains, as if that so They never could fall off at any blow Struck by thy possible hand.... Why, thus I drink Of life's great cup of wonder. Wonderful, Never to feel thee thrill the day or night With personal act or speech,--nor ever call Some prescience of thee with the blossoms white Thou sawest growing! _Atheists are as dull, Who cannot guess God's presence out of sight._ "First time he kissed me, he but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write, And ever since it grew more clear and white; How to world greetings ... quick with its 'Oh, list,' When the angels speak. A ring of amethyst I could not wear there plainer to my sight Than that first kiss. The second passed in height The first, and sought the forehead, and half-missed, Half falling on the hair. O, beyond meed! That was the chrism of love, which love's own crown, With sanctifying sweetness, did precede. The third, upon my lips was folded down, In perfect purple state! Since when, indeed, I have been proud, and said, 'My love, my own.'" * * * * * The candidateship between Lord Palmerston and the historian Alison for the office of Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, resulted in a majority for the latter, on the gross poll, of 69. As, however, of the "four nations" into which the students were distributed, each of the candidates had two, the election should have been decided by the vote of the present Rector, Mr. Macaulay; but he declines the duty, and would not go to the university during the contest. * * * * * The Official Gazette announces that "the Queen has been pleased to appoint ALFRED TENNYSON, Esq., to be Poet Laureate in ordinary to her Majesty, in the room of William Wordsworth, Esq., deceased." There have been poorer poets than Tennyson among the laureates; but this appointment does not and ought not to give much satisfaction. Mr. Tennyson had already a pension from the government, and was in no need of the salary of this office, as one or two others, and as we conceive, greater poets, are; and it had been hoped that the queen would appoint to the place the _greatest poet of her own sex_ who has lived in England--Elizabeth Barrett Browning. * * * * *