12 DECEMBER 1908, Page 3

The tercentenaryof Milton's birth was celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday, and

Thursday. On Tuesday, the eve of the birth- day, Dr. A. W. Ward delivered an address before the British Academy, which organised the celebrations, and Professor Gollancz recited a poem specially written by Mr. George Meredith. On Wednesday the Bishop of Ripon preached at a service in Bow Church, and the Lord Mayor gave a banquet at the Mansion House. The Italian Ambassador in his speech at the banquet, remarking that Milton had a profound knowledge of the Italian language, expressed his belief that when Milton was in Italy he was deeply impressed by his visit to the Vatican, and that the pictures of Michelangelo coloured a large part of the imagery of " Paradise Lost."