A REMONSTRANCE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPROTATOR.1 SIR,—As I should deeply regret that anyone should be led te suppose that I have the slightest intention of adopting the too, common but detestable practice of flattering editors, I really must ask you, as a matter of sheer right, to give me an opportunity of stating that the portion of the letter from me you inserted last Saturday, without declaring it to be only a portion, and which, incidentally contained a frank recognition of the Spectator's positiott. and influence, was preceded by another portion, which you sup..- pressed, and which, though expressed, I trust, with complete- courtesy, was by no means calculated to soothe or propitiate. editorial susceptibilities. I admire the Spectator, within bounds,. but I do not fear it in the least, and I want nothing from it, saver the barest justice.—I am, Sir, &c., [Mr. Austin attaches altogether too much importance to the- value of his compliments. We were profoundly unconscious that he had paid us any, and had we observed it, should have added it to the portion of his letter which we omitted. The reason for that omission was very simple. As he would observe, by looking back to our last number, we had a great pressure of correspondence, and the first part of his letter was composed on a mistaken theory that the criticism on his poem was written by some one who had controversial reasons for a bias against him. It was written by a.
perfect stranger to Mr. Austin, and not a syllable was altered by any one.—En. Spectator.]
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