MR. MONKHOUSE AND MRS. BARBAULD.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR...1
Sin,—In your review of Mr. Cosmo Monkhouse's volume of poems, " Corn and Poppies," you quote three stanzas from a poem called " Any Soul to any Body." It is hardly fair that Mr. Monkhouse should write, or that you should quote that poem, with no acknowledgment to the shade of dear old Mrs. Barbauld, whose poems, by-the-way, are much less known than they deserve to be by readers of that class of literature.
I think Mr. Cosmo Monkhouse must very recently have read the following stanra when he wrote " Any Soul to any Body :"—
" Life, we've been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather, 'Tis hard to part, when friends are dear; Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh—a tear : But steal away ; give little warning ; Choose thine own time : Say not, Good-night; but in some brighter clime Bid me, Good-morning !"—BAnBAULD.
The sentiment of the following four lines is identical with the above, and the method a pretty close copy:— "So we must part, my body, you and I,
Who've spent so many pleasant years together, 'Tis sorry work to lose your company, Who clove to me so close, whate'er the weather."
—Cosmo MONEHOUSE.
"Honour where honour is due," please Mr. Spectator, especially when it is to a " dear dead woman."—I am, Sir, &c.,
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