230 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 188 1- 



It was the way with the earhest efforts of natural 

 science, as Empedocles and Lucretius ; and when the 

 strictest thinking of science is done, there is still 

 something more of expression and meaning, of 

 which poetry is the natural and only adequate 

 interpreter. 



My acquaintance with your volume is as yet only 

 superficial. But I have been very much impressed by 

 ' Charles Darwin,' and by the ' Dream of Poetry.' It is 

 a very pleasant volume to open, and does not send 

 one away empty and cold ; which means that it is 

 genuine poetry. We do not get on very fast ; but 

 we are better here than in London, and the place is 

 pleasant. 



Please remember us all to Mrs. Eomanes. Mary 

 sends a very special remembrance. 



Yours faithfully, 



E. W. Chuech. 



From the Bt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone. 



Hawarden. 



Dear Mr. Eomanes, — You have sent me an 

 acceptable gift, and a most considerate note ; con- 

 siderate as regards me, but not, I fear, as respects 

 yourself ; for you have made your appeal to an incom- 

 petent judge. I do not think I possess, though I 

 have always coveted, the gift of song, and I am not a 

 qualified judge of those who have it. 



But in your case there can surely be neither 

 difiiculty nor doubt. I came home on Saturday 

 evening and found a book awaiting me with prior 



