21 NOVEMBER 1891, Page 31

" AND THERE WAS LIGHT."

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the Spectator of November 14th, Mr. Flavell speaks of a clergyman having recently " completely spoilt the beauty " of the above passage by laying stress " on the very last word." It was long since pointed out—I think by Coleridge, but I have no means of reference at hand—that the magnificent modulation in Haydn's oratorio, The Creation, gives this as the true reading. The effect of that modulation would be completely lost if transferred from " light " to " was."—I am,