4 JUNE 1932, Page 18

AMERICA AND THE DEBTS [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

" America, although she does not boast

Of all the gold and silver from this coast, Lent to her sister EUROPE'S need, or pride, (For that's repaid her, with much gain beside In one rich Pearl, which Heavens did thence afford, As pious Realm-ter kayo his honest word)

Yet thinks, SHE in the Catalogue may come, iVith EUROPE, AFRICKE, Aso. for ONE Tonne."

These lines are not a contribution to the subject of Tran Atlantic War Debts. They are front the preface to A Survey of the Somme of Church Discipline. Whereby the Way of the Churches of New England is warranted out of the Word, by Thomas Hooker, the New England Puritan, published in 1648, and are in memory of the author, who died a year before the book appeared.

The verse is oddly topical, though the position has changed, alas ! since all our debts to America could be more than repaid by the gift of one Puritan divine !—I am, Sir, &c.,