27 MAY 1905, Page 15

[TO THE EDITOR OP PITH "SPECTATOR."]

SIE,—}razlitt in "The Sick Chamber," his last essay, written but a few weeks before be died, says : "A book is the secret and sure charm to bring all [pleasing] associations to a focus" after having been bed-rid. "I should prefer," he continues, "an old one, Mr. Lamb's favourite, the Journey to Lisbon, Stc." Am I right in my impression that this favourite book is never referred to anywhere in Lamb's essays or letters P If so, is it not a strange psychological fact that an author so discur- sive should have seemingly so kept his literary luxury to