A POETASTER DISSATISFIED WITH A CRITIC'S
VALUATION.
FROM a kindly feeling, we should not have published the following ill- advised communication from Mr. ROBERT Alas Wfwiorr, had he not expressly required it. His threat of procuring the parallel to be in- serted in another journal, in case we declined, was quite uncalled-for : if Mr. WILLsiorr has no objection to the appearance of his epistle, no one else can have any-unless it be Sir EDWARD LYT'roN BULWER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Trinity College. Cambridge. 27th May 1841. Sm-Yon are said to be fond of the philosophy of politics : will you accept the following contribution to the philosophy of criticism ?
AN UNKNOWN WRITER IN THE SPECTATOR SIR E. I.. BULGIER, IN THE NEW MONTHLY NEWSPAPER. MAGAZINE.
'Moon s Poems. On the Same.
"A small collection of occasional verses; •• We cannot refrain from entreatine the elegant and harmonious enough, but not of reader, who in these days seldom vulun. such novelty in their subjects, or of poeti- eerily turns to verse, to notice. in despite cal excellence in their execution. as to re- of a few occasional affectations, the exceed= quire notice. or perhaps tube worth publica- iag beauty of some of the following verses." tion in a Volume."
The verses alluded to by Sir E. L. BULWER were those on a Child Sleeping, and the First-born ; both written soon after 1 had left Harrow, and much im- proved in the Collection which was sent to your journal. I think you ought to print this note ; but I have no hope that you will pass such a vote of cen- sure on yourself; and in that case 1 shall endeavour to preserve the parallel in another journal. Your critic probably conceives his taste to be more accurate than Sir E. L. BULWER'S : I shall not disquiet his opinion. But would it be impossible for a weekly journalist to speak with modesty ? I could wish this attempt were made.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, ROBERT ARIS WILLMOTT.
Had Mr. WILLMOTT been a constant reader of the Spectator, he would some time since have found out that our " philosophy," whe- ther in " politics" or " criticism," is of quite a different school from that of Sir E. L. BuLwErt-as Sir EDWARD, if a friend of his, would doubtless inform him. Had Mr. Wrimstorr scanned the Whig baro- net as closely as we have done, he would also have found out, that turn- ing compliments is a trait in his character ; which we, not caring for payments in kind, do not care to imitate.
• Sic, I believe, in the Note.
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