1 FEBRUARY 1957, Page 16

THE HORSE'S MOUTH

SIR,—In his review of Professor Auden's inaugural lecture at Oxford Mr. Quennell writes that 'not since 1857, when Matthew Arnold held the chair, had this key position been held by a well-known modern poet.'

This is an astonishing remark considering that Professor Auden succeeded another 'well-known poet' of the same generation, C. Day Lewis.—Yours faith- fully,