By degrees, as the intimacy between the two friends and neighbors grew
closer, we find the publisher asking his opinion of certain
manuscripts. I have no means of knowing who was the author of the
poems frankly described in the following note, [Footnote: The name of
the writer has been sent to me kindly. He was George H. Miles,
Professor of English Literature at St. Mary's (Catholic) College,
Baltimore, Maryland.] but one can only wish that writers, especially
young writers, could sometimes see themselves in such a glass--not
darkly!
8 MONTGOMERY PLACE, July 24, 1857.
MY DEAR MR. FIELDS,--I return the three poems you sent me, having read
them with much gratification. Each of them has its peculiar merits and
defects, as it seems to me, but all show poetical feeling and artistic
skill.
"Sleep On!" is the freshest and most individual in its character. You
will see my pencil comment at the end of it. "Inkerman" is
comparatively slipshod and careless, though not without lyric fire and
vivid force of description.
"Raphael Sanzio" would deserve higher praise if it were not so closely
imitative.
In truth, all these poems have a genuine sound; they are full of
poetical thought, and breathed out in softly modulated words. The
music of "Sleep On!" is very sweet, and I have never seen heroic verse
in which the rhyme was less obtrusive or the rhythm more diffluent.
Still it would not be fair to speak in these terms of praise without
pointing out the transparent imitativeness which is common to all
these poems.
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