MR. GLADSTONE ON SHAKESPEARE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Some years since I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Gladstone at dinner. One of the other guests asked him whether it was true that he had pronounced Shakespeare to be the greatest man who ever lived. Mr. Gladstone at once replied, and I can almost repeat his words verbatim :—" No, I do not think I ever made such a statement. Undoubtedly the three greatest men who ever lived were Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare. Homer created a people, a language, and a, religion. Dante created a people and a language, but not a religion. Shakespeare did not create any of the three, but I am inclined to think that his reputation will increase, and that in another century he may be universally acknowledged re be the greatest man who ever lived."—I am, Sir, &c.,
IGNOTUS.
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