1890 THE POEMS 229 



idea of putting them into type for private circulation, 

 when they might serve at once as the required 

 wedding-present, and as a preliminary to publication 

 at any future time either by myself or, more probably, 

 by her or someone else. So I got an estimate from 

 the printer, and with an awful rush he set up the 

 whole in a week. Proof corrections occupied another 

 week, and the binding of a grand presentation copy 

 the third week. Thus I only had my present ready 

 a few hours before it had to be presented. Binding 

 the other copies occupied the time till I sent you 

 yours. In Ethel's copy (which is awfully swell) I 

 have written a special sonnet, as I did in yours. 



These poems, or rather a selection from them, 

 will be published, in accordance with the author's 

 wish. 



Of his poetry, his sonnets (which were privately 

 printed) seem the most successful. Various friends 

 saw the privately printed book, and the present 

 Professor of Poetry at Oxford gratified Mr. Eomanes 

 very much by his own kind words respecting them, 

 and also by submitting them to Lord Tennyson, who 

 spoke of them in kindly terms, as did also Dean 

 Church, Mr. Edmund Grosse, Mr. George Meredith, 

 and others. Two letters he received about his poems 

 are here given : 



From the Dean of St. Paul's. 



Ettenheim, Torquay : February 26, 1889. 



My dear Mr. Eomanes, — Thank you very much 

 for your kindness in thinking me worthy of your gift. 

 I am always glad to see science and poetry go together. 



