ful practitioner, and a generous, warm-hearted man, ever ready to help needy artists and men of letters. Henry Crabb Robinson's Diary contains many pleasing reminiscences of him.

Aytoun.

WILLIAM EDMONDSTONE AYTOUN, 1813–1865, son-in-law of Professor Wilson (Christopher North), and Professor of Literature and Belles-Lettres in the University of Edinburgh, was for many years also a contributor and finally editor of Blackwood's Magazine.

Prof. Aytoun's publications are numerous. The following are the principal: Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers; Firmilian, a Spasmodic Tragedy; Poland and Other Poems; Bothwell, a Poem; Ballads of Scotland; Norman Sinclair; Life and Times of Richard I.

Prof. Aytoun's ballads are highly commended by all the critics. "They possess fluency, vigor, and movement, with an elevation of mind which is historical, if not poetical; they have the polish and the skill in the use of figures which might be expected from the professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres; they are animated by the sentiment of Jacobinism which is arising among a certain class of well-minded subjects of Queen Victoria; and they not only display the common knowledge of history, but show, in the prose introductions, that Mr. Aytoun has investigated and thought for himself."- London Spectator.

"The Spasmodic Tragedy is designed to criticize some modern manifestations of a most false and extravagant taste in poetry; and although the parody is somewhat long and elaborate, there runs throughout such a happy vein of humor, and the harmony of the verse is so full and flowery, that the reader's interest is never allowed to flag." Westminster Review.

The "Lays" is by far his most popular work. Seventeen editions of it had been issued in 1865.

RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES, 1809

poet.

is favorably known as a

Mr. Milnes was raised to the peerage in 1863, as Baron Houghton. He is a prominent English politician, a liberal conservative, but rather noted for his independence. Mr. Milnes has contributed several articles to the reviews, chiefly the Westminster, and published several volumes of poetry, and sketches. His principal works are: Poems of Many Years, Poems for the People, Palm Leaves, (a sketch of travel in the East,) Life, Letters, etc., of Keats, etc. "The poetry of Richard Monckton Milnes possesses very considerable elegance and taste, a philosophic sentiment, and a graceful tenderness, but is deficient in individuality and power."— Moir.

EDWARD MOXON, 1858, is chiefly known as a publisher of choice editions of the poets. He wrote and published, however, two volumes of his own productions, Christmas, and a book of Sonnets. The latter was severely criticized in the London Quarterly Review.

ELIZA COOK, 1817

is the daughter of a London tradesman, and

is very favorably known as a poet.

She began while still young to contribute to the higher class of London periodicals. In 1840, a volume of her poems was published, and met with favor. It has been fre quently reprinted with additions. Some of the pieces which are general favorites are: The Old Arm-Chair, The Old Farm-Gate, The Last Good-Bye, Home in the Heart, etc. In 1849, she began Eliza Cook's Journal, which attained a wide popularity, and was continued until 1834. In 1864 she received a literary pension of £100 a year.

CHARLES SHIRLEY BROOKS, 1815-1874, a dramatist and novelist of some note.

Works: Plays, Honor and Riches, The Creole, Our New Governess, The Lowther Arcade; Aspen Court, a Novel; Miss Violet and Her Offers; Letters of Travel in Russia, Asia Minor, and Egypt, published originally in the Morning Chronicle and afterwards in Longman's Travellers' Library. Mr. Brooks was originally intended for the law, and went through the usual studies, but found a literary life more congenial.

COVENTRY PATMORE, 1823 present day.

is one of the favorite poets of the

Among Mr. Patmore's minor poems are: The River, The Woodman's Daughter, Tamerton Church Tower, Faithful Forever. His chief work, however, is The Angel in the House, pronounced by Ruskin "a most finished piece of writing, and the sweetest analysis we possess of quiet, modern, domestic feeling." Complaint has been made of Mr. Patmore's poetry that it is occasionally careless and perverse in its style. For a number of years past, Mr. Patmore has been Assistant in the Library of the British Museum. He is also a steady contributor to the reviews.

JOHN STRUTHERS, 1776-1853, a poet of considerable note and merit, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Mr. Struthers was the son of a shoemaker, and began life by following his father's trade. Afterwards he learned printing, and was for thirteen years a proof-reader and corrector of the press, and for fifteen years keeper of the Stirling Library, Glasgow. His publications are: The Poor Man's Sabbath and Other Poems; The Peasant's Death, a Poem; The Winter's Day, a Poem: The Plough, a Poem; Dychmant, a Poem; Poems, Moral and Religious; A History of Scotland, 2 vols., 8vo.

GERALD MASSEY, 1828

poets of the day.

is among the best of the second-class

Mr. Massey is a native of Herts, the son of very poor parents. He received in his youth no education, and came to London in his fifteenth year as an errand-boy.

After attracting some attention by his poetical contributions to the newspapers, he published, in 1854, The Ballad of Babe Christabel, and other Lyrics. This has been followed by two other volumes, War Waits, and Craigerook Castle. Massey's poetry is striking for its exuberant fancy, but lacking in depth; his versification is musical but often careless. His general style of thought is strongly Tennysonian.

"Robert Burns taught Scotchmen that poverty and hard work are unable to stifle genius; Massey has taught the same lesson to Englishmen. The future career of one who has drawn beauty from poverty, and strength from privation, is one on which all

men must look with interest, and some, perhaps, with a little anxiety. That it will be a brilliant one, we have little doubt. He is yet young, and may reasonably expect a long life. . . . We hope that when he dies he will leave many songs behind him in the hearts of the people of England, - songs which will assist them in the work of the day, and help to make the night beautiful"— Alexander Smith.

CHARLES MACKAY, 1814 is the author of a large number of sketches and poems, and is one of the most popular song-writers of this century.

Mr. Mackay is a native of Scotland. He studied in London and on the continent; and has been on the staff of the Morning Chronicle, and editor of the Glasgow Courier and of the Illustrated London News. Among Mr. Mackay's best known works are: The Salamandrine, a Poem; Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions; Legends of the Isles, a poetical collection; Voices from the Crowd; Town Lyrics; Egeria. Mr. Mackay has written one hundred Songs for old English melodies, and published twenty-five with his own melodies. One of his songs that has spread far and wide is The Good Time Coming.

"In his Songs, as in all his writings, he has one great purpose at heart, from which he never deviates for a moment, the promotion of human virtue and human happiness. Free government, equal laws, liberal institutions, an enlightened spirit in the ruling powers, the diffusion among all classes of the best feelings and charities of social and domestic life, these are the objects which he pursues in every line of his writings... His verse is exceedingly sweet, flowing, and melodious; and his skill in the musical art has given him a command over the resources of rhythm which few English songwriters possess. In his happiest effusions he has combined the force of Burns with the elegance and polish of Moore.” — Luropean Times.

Sheridan Knowles.

JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES, 1784-1862, a native of Ireland, was an actor and a playwright of celebrity.

After a long and successful career as an actor, Mr. Knowles retired from the stage and entered the ministry of the Baptist Church. His principal plays are: Virginius, Caius Gracchus, The Beggar's Daughter, The Wife of Mantua, The Hunchback, etc. He is also the author of an admirable Course of Lectures on Dramatic Poetry. The chief objection raised against Mr. Knowles's plays is that they are deficient in unity of plot. On the other hand, the characters are life-like and vigorous, the scenes are well grouped, and the language is impassioned.

WILLIAM ALLINGHAM, 1828 —, is an Irish poet of good repute. His works are the following: Poems; Day and Night Songs; Laurence Bloomfield in Ireland. A pension was granted him in 1864, on account of his poetical merits.

THOMAS KIBBLE HERVEY, 1804, is an editor and a poet of repute. Mr. Hervey studied at Oxford and Cambridge, and afterwards read law, but abandoned that profession for the more congenial one of letters. He was editor of The Athenæum from 1846 to 1854. Hervey has published several poems: Australia; The Poetical SketchBook; The English Helicon; The Devil's Progress (a political satire), etc It has

been the subject of general regret that one who shows such talent should have writ ten so little.

RICHARD HENRY HORNE, 1803 -, is a native of London. He entered the Mexican navy as a midshipman; settled in London as a man of letters; and, in 1852, emigrated to Australia. Mr. Horne has published a number of poetical and critical writings. The best known of his poetical pieces are Gregory VII., a Tragedy; and Orion, an Epic Poem. This last was originally published at a farthing a copy, as a sarcasm upon the low estimation into which epic poetry had fallen at that time.

F. W. Faber.

FREDERICK W. FABER, 1815–1863, was a poet of rare excellence, and also a writer of most exquisite prose.

Mr. Faber was a nephew of the distinguished theologian, George Stanley Faber. He was originally a clergyman of the Church of England, but became a convert to the Catholic religion, and a priest in that church. Works: Cherwell Water-Lily and Other Poems; Styrian Lake and Other Poems; Sir Lancelot, a Poem; Rosary and Other Poems; Jesus and Mary, a Catholic Hymn; Tracts on the Church and the PrayerBook; Sights and Thoughts in Foreign Churches and Foreign People; Essay on Beatification and Canonization; Oratory of St. Philip Neri; Catholic Home Missions; Spiritual Conferences; All for Jesus; Growth in Holiness; The Blessed Sacrament; The Creator and the Creature; The Foot of the Cross; The Immaculate Conception; Ethel's Book, or Tales of the Angels.

HORATIUS BONAR, D. D., 1808 -, is a religious poet of singular sweetness and beauty, many of whose sacred lyrics have already found their way into the hymnals of nearly every Protestant church.

Mr. Bonar has written in prose as well as verse, all his writings being leavened with a strong religious feeling. Works: Hymns of Faith and Hope, 3 vols.; Bible Thoughts and Themes, 4 vols.; God's Way of Peace; God's Way of Holiness; Night of Weeping; Family Sermons, etc.

"Bonar is one of the sweet singers of Israel. His genius as a poet is essentially lyrical. As a hymnist he resembles Watts; there is something of the same fire and devotion and poetical rhythm. Some of his hymns are real gems." - Lutheran Ob-.

server.

REV. EDWARD HENRY BICKERSTETHI, son of the Rev. Edward Bickersteth mentioned in a previous chapter, has become widely known as the author of an epic poem called Yesterday, To-day, and Forever.

Mr. Bickersteth was educated at Cambridge, where he was distinguished for scholarship and taste, and repeatedly bore off the prize for poetic merit. "He exhibits the broad sympathies and deeply religious spirit of his excellent father, with richer gifts of genius. He is just in the full vigor of manhood, of polished yet simple manners, frank and genial in spirit, with a face that seems to glow with active thought while suffused with the serenity of goodness."— Ray Palmer. Mr. Bickersteth visited the United States, and made a most favorable impression wherever he went. His publi tations also have been received in this country with great favor.

Besides the large poem already named, Mr. Bickersteth has published a number of other volumes, of various sizes, both prose and verse. One of these, The Two Brothers and Other Poems, was reprinted in the United States, in 1871. Twelve other publications are enumerated in the London catalogues.

Charlotte Elliott.

CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT,

1871, is known among all Englishspeaking Christians by her beautiful hymn, Just as I Am.

Miss Elliott was a grand-daughter of Rev. John Venn. She lived during the greater part of her life at Torquay, but spent her last years at Brighton. She published Hours of Sorrow, 1836; Morning and Evening Hymns for a Week, 1842; Poems, 1863. She was through life an invalid and sufferer, and much of her own experience is breathed into her hymns. She edited The Invalid's Hymn-Book.

DORA GREENWELL, 1821

born at Greenwell Ford, county of

Durham, is a poetess of much merit.

She published a volume of Poems in 1848; a second volume of Poems, entitled Stories that Might be True, in 1851; Christina, a Poem, in 1860; a volume of essays on religious and social subjects; two prose works, The Patience of Hope, and Two Friends, etc. Her poetry has been received with much favor in the United States, as well as in England.

CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI, 1830, resides in London. She is the author of Goblin Market and Other Poems, and The Prince's Progress and Other Poems, both volumes being comprised in the volume of her poems published in this country. She has also written a volume of prose stories for children, called Commonplace and Other Stories, and a book of nursery rhymes for children, called Sing-Song.

Jean Ingelow.

JEAN INGELOW, 1830 writer of tales and sketches.

is favorably known as a poet and as a

Miss Ingelow was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, but has resided most of her life in London. Her first volume of poems was published in 1863, and at once gave her rank as one of the greatest living female poets. Her second volume of poems was published in 1867, and her last in 1870. She has written five volumes of prose stories for children, which have had a large sale. Within the few years in which she has become known to the literary world, her various works have had a sale of 100,000 volumes. One of her poems, High Tide on the Coast of Lancashire, has been a great favorite with American readers.

Swinburne.

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE, 1843

poet, who has very recently risen to distinction.

is a young English

Swinburne was born at Holmwood, near Henley-on-Thames. His early education was begun in France, and completed at Eton. He then entered the University of Ox