MR. STEVENSON ON POETS AND PAINTERS.
LTO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, Is it not possible to (Heat Mr. Stevenson on his own ground ? Granted that the end of a poet or painter's existence is to please, is not that a nobler and better object than to kill P —which is apparen ly Mr. Stevenson's beau icUa/ of a " manly profession." Surely to please, to promote happiness, should be the great object of life for us all, and poets and painters should be esteemedabeve other men, if they do so to a greater extent. At any rate, Carlyle's opinion can be set against that of Mr. Stevenson. " Conquerors," says he, " are a class of men with whom, for the most part, the world can well dispense
bat a true poet is the most precious gift that can be bestowed upon a nation."-1 am, Sir, &c., P. F. R.
[We entirely deny that the promotion of happiness should
be the great olaject Spectator.]
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