MAYFLOWER.—We cannot undertake any criticism by post (_vide_ rules in June and other numbers). There is nothing at all original in your verses, and it would, we fear, be useless for you to think of publication. At the same time they are a pleasant exercise for you in composition, and you appear to have a good ear for rhyme. You should not, however, change your metre in the middle of a poem, as you do in “Past and Present” and “Darkness and Dawn.” In “Spring” you will observe that “The birds are gaily singing” is a line of different cadence from “And the birds so bright and gay,” yet each occupies the same place (second) in the verse. A BLUNDERER.—Spring again! Your letter is modest. Blank verse needs to be exceedingly poetical in order to be satisfactory, as there is no rhyme to help the ear. The fault of your composition is a negative one: there is little in the lines to prevent them from being read as prose, save the fact of their being placed below one another, and being of equal length. “Must needs be always upward sent” is a specially unmusical line. The metre you use is not appropriate to blank verse, and if you wish to try again, we should advise you to write in rhyme. DORA.—Spring once more! We do not wish to be unkind, for it is perfectly natural that this season of the year should inspire a longing to write, and we sympathise with you in saying “Often I try to put my thoughts into words, but they fall very far short of the conception of my brain.” We prefer your poem on “The Seasons” to those we have just been criticising, but it is full of expressions that would not pass muster, _e.g._, “her pearly satin brow,” “the mould of marble cheeks.” The course of education to “fit you for a literary career” must be varied and extensive, comprising an acquaintance with the best literature of your own country, and of other countries also. GWYNETH A. MANSERGH.—You might like _The Bird World_, by W. H. D. Adams, illustrated by Giacomelli (Nelson), published at 8s., J. E. Harting’s _Sketches of Bird-Life: Haunts and Habits_, illustrated (W. H. Allen, 10s. 6d.), or Rev. J. G. Wood’s _Branch Builders_ (Longman, 2s. 6d.). INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. M. ARAPIAN, care of British Post Office, Smyrna, Turkey, Asia Minor, asks MISS ANICE E. CRESS if she would be so kind as to forward her present address. “IDA,” who has for some time been corresponding with FLORENCE JEFFERY of 848, Columbus Avenue, New York, writes to say that the last letter was returned with “not found” upon it. As “IDA” much enjoyed the correspondence, she begs MISS JEFFERY to renew it. She would also like to correspond with another English girl living abroad, aged about nineteen.