6 APRIL 1867, Page 22

Pope's Essay on Criticism, with Notes. By Samuel Neil. (Houlston

and Wright.)—Mr. Neil's notes are copious and well selected. He writes for the use of students and for the University of London B.A. examination. Bachelors of Arts might indeed study Pope with ad- vantage, but they hardly need a* explanation of such words as "like," "wounded," and "drags" in a very famous line. We are glad that Mr. Neil calls attention to one of De Quincey's heresies about Pope—the assertion that Pope proscribed monosyllabic lines and yet employed them. All readers of Pope know that he did not proscribe monosyllabic lines in general, but bad monosyllabic lines, while some of his own are among his pithiest and most forcible efforts.