[BNP/E3, 34 – 22a]

Dear Man, — I read with great amusement the opinions of “C. H. H.” on Mr. Hillier, and of “Fairplay” on both, and confess to have been delighted by the magnificent crescendo of absurdity. The translation was sensible, but not good: “C. H. H.’s” effort was somewhat witty, but far worse; “Fairplay’s” is absolutely senseless. The worth of the three contributions may be summed up in the following little poem, written on the spur of the moment: —

       Hillier did first usurp the realms of rhyme

       To parody the bard of olden time;

       Haggar then follows, and, in shallow verse,

       Proves that to ev’ry bad there is a worse;

       Some nameless critic next, in furious strain,

       Causes the harmless reader cruel pain:

       While after meter pure seems to thirst,

       But shows how ev’ry worse can have a worst.

                                                             C. R. Anon.

               “The Natal Mercury” —