14 MARCH 1896, Page 14

"VERIFY YOUR REFERENCES.

(To THZ EDITOR OP ams "Brscrwroa."]

SIR,—The writer of an article on Quixotry, in the Spectator of March 7tb, observes that "Pope, that marvellous genius who c mid produce platitudes almost as easily as m,odern writers make epigrams, has told us that great wits to madness are near allied." Such a disadvantageous com- parison of our great satirist with the unnamed modern writers who are no doubt infinitely superior to him, would probably be more forcible if the particular platitude used as

an instance did not happen to be the work of Dryden

(" Absalom and Achitophel ").—I am, Sir, &c., MAITRE.

[The writer regrets his inadverteney, and admits the 'cogency of Dr. Routh's well-known advice; but it must be remembered that it is only extreme youth that claims to be infallible.—ED. Spectator.]