1 JULY 1865, Page 19

St. Thomas A'Becket and other Poems. By John Poyer. (Edward

Moxon and Co.)—The humorous division of this gentleman's verses is certainly not worthy of his more serious efforts, which give proofs of considerable sensibility and even elegance of mind. They are not, how- ever, improved by the assumption of an antique style, so as to admit the frequent use of such expletives as " doth," "did," "she." Mr. Poyer's prose is actually inflated, and makes his very sensible preface almost unreadable. Generally, we fancy, he would write bettor if he estimated his composi- tions a little less highly.