30 MARCH 1867, Page 21

Earnest and the Pilgrim Poet. By A. Gordon Middleton. (Edinburgh

: W. P. Nimmo.)—According to an advertisement of this book, the first poem in it was written when the author was too much imbued with the spirit implied by the title to pay proper regard to artistic effects. The second poem was written in utter ignorance of even the rules of rhythm. We see no reason to dissent from these statements.