MR TENNYSON'S NATIONAL SONG.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 607, 9 May 1882, Page 2

MR TENNYSON'S NATIONAL SONG.

The following is the Poet Laureate's " English and Colonial National Song," which was sung for the first time in public at the St James' Hall on March 15. A sufficiently popular and impressive tune to which the words are set has been arranged by Mr Villiers Stanford for a solo voice and chorus, the latter taking up the burden at the end of each stanza. Mr Santley declaimed the Laureate's lines with due emphasis, and the song was received writhe loyal demonstratidns which might have been expected under the circumstances : — Hands All Round. First pledge our Queen this solemn night,

Then drink to England every guest, That man's the best cosmopolite

Who loves his native country best! May Freedom's oak for ever live,

With larger life from day to day : That man's the true conseivative Who lops the moulderei branch fiway.

Hands all round! God the traitor's hope confound ! To the great cause of Freedom drink, my friends,

And the great name of England round and round.

To all the loyal hearts who long To keep our English Empire whole I To all our noble sons, the strong New England of the Southern Pole ! To England under Indian skies, To those d irk millions of her realm! To Canada whom we love and prize, Whateve r statesman hold the helm. Hands all round ! God the traitor's heart confound!

To the great name of England, drink, my friends, <* And all her glorious Colonies round and round.

To all our statesmen so they be True leaders of the land's desire I To both our Houses, may they see Beyond the Borough and the shire I We sailed wherever chip could sail, We founded many a mighty State, Pray God our greatness may not fail Through craven fears of beinggreat. Hands all round ! God the traitor's hope confound 1 To the greal cause of Freedom, drink, mv friends, And the great name of England round and round.

Tbe Government by the last English mail have received copies of the Laureate's song and music from the agent general, accompanied by a request from tbe Royal Colonial Institute that Mr Tennyson's wish be carried out, viz., that it be publicly sung on ihe Queen's Birthday.