would afford an interesting and representative selection, though assuredly not such as would all take the rank of classics by any means. The number of sonnets now extant, written by poets who did not exist as such a dozen years ago, I believe to be almost infinite, and in sufficiently numerous instances good, however derivative. One younger poet among them, Philip Marston, has written many sonnets which yield to few or none by any poet whatever; but he has printed such a large number in the aggregate, and so unequal one with the other, that the great ones are not to be found by opening at random. “How are they (the poets) to be approached?--” you innocently ask. Ye heavens! how does the cat’s-meat-man approach Grimalkin?--and what is that relation in life when compared to the _rapport_ established between the living bard and the fellow-creature who is disposed to cater to his caterwauling appetite for publicity? However, to be serious, I must at least exonerate the bard, I am sure, from any desire to appropriate an “interest in the proceeds.” There are some, I feel certain, to whom the collector might say with a wink, “What are you going to stand?” I do not myself think that a collection of sonnets inserted at intervals in an essay is a good form for the purpose. Such a book is from one chief point a book of instantaneous reference,--it would only, perhaps, be read _through_ once in a lifetime. For this purpose a well-indexed current series is best, with any desirable essay prefixed and notes affixed.... I once conceived of a series, to be entitled, <center> THE ENGLISH CASTALY: A QUINTESSENCE: BEING A COLLECTION OF ALL THAT IS BEST IN ALL ENGLISH POETS, EXCEPTING WORKS OF GREAT LENGTH. </center> I still think this a good idea, but, of course, it would be an extensive undertaking. Later on, he wrote: I have thought of a title for your book. What think you of this? <center> A SONNET SEQUENCE FROM ELDER TO MODERN WORK, WITH FIFTY HITHERTO UNPRINTED SONNETS BY LIVING WRITERS. </center> That would not be amiss. Tell me if you think of using the title _A Sonnet Sequence_, as otherwise I might use it in the _House of Life_.... What do you think of this alternative title: <center> THE ENGLISH SONNET MUSE FROM ELIZABETH’S REIGN TO VICTORIA’S. </center> I think _Castalia_ much too euphuistic, and though I shouldn’t like the book to be called simply still I have a great prejudice against very florid titles for such gatherings. _Treasury_ has been sadly run upon.