2 JANUARY 1915, Page 24

POETS AND SEA POWER.

[To ma Emma or ma "Brecraros..”1

81'4—It is seldom in recent years that full justice has been done to James Thomson as a thinker and patriot, who had a truly rhythmic, if sometimes turgid, awing of utterance. His long poems " Liberty" and " Britannia " have their bases or fountains in the some feelings and ideas which condensed in "Rule, Britannia." Admiral Mahan could hardly have improved that final line :— " They rule the balanced world who rule the main." Mallet's version of the national hymn from Alfred is far below that of Thomson, and the stanza— "Still more majestic shalt thou rise

Triumphant from each foreign stroke, As the loud blast that rends the skies

Serves but to root thy native oak "- is as hearty and breezy as Tom Campbell himself. Fighters must be no half-hearted, .elf-analysing Hamlets. James Thomson is the poet of no "Dreadful Night," but of joyful day. William Collins did well to salute his memory by the Thames in hie lovely ode.—I am, Sir, &c.,