s
in an essay is a good form for the purpose. Such a book is from one
chief point a book of instantaneous reference,--it would only, perhaps,
be read _through_ once in a lifetime. For this purpose a well-indexed
current series is best, with any desirable essay prefixed and notes
affixed.... I once conceived of a series, to be entitled,

<center>

THE ENGLISH CASTALY: A QUINTESSENCE:

BEING A COLLECTION OF ALL THAT IS BEST IN ALL ENGLISH POETS,

EXCEPTING WORKS OF GREAT LENGTH.

</center>

I still think this a good idea, but, of course, it would be an extensive
undertaking.

Later on, he wrote:

I have thought of a title for your book. What think you of
this?

<center>

A SONNET SEQUENCE

FROM ELDER TO MODERN WORK,

WITH FIFTY HITHERTO UNPRINTED SONNETS BY

LIVING WRITERS.

</center>

That would not be amiss. Tell me if you think of using the
title _A Sonnet Sequence_, as otherwise I might use it in
the _House of Life_.... What do you think of this
alternative title:

<center>

THE ENGLISH SONNET MUSE

FROM ELIZABETH'S REIGN TO VICTORIA'S.

</center>

I think _Castalia_ much too euphuistic, and though I
shouldn't like the book to be called simply still I have a
great prejudice against very florid titles for such
gatherings. _Treasury_ has been sadly run upon.

I did not like _Sonnet Sequence_ for such a collection, and relinquished
the title; moreover, I had had from the first a clearly defined scheme
in mind, carrying its own inevitable title, which was in due course
adopted. I may here remark that I never resisted any idea of Rossetti's
at the moment of its inception, since resistance only led to a temporary
outburst of self-assertion on his part. He was a man of so much
impulse,--impulse often as violent as lawless--that to oppose him merely
provoked anger to no good purpose, for as often as not the position
at first adopted with so much pertinacity was afterwards silently
abandoned, and your own aims quietly acquiesced in. On this subject of a
title he wrote a further letter, which is interesting from more than one
point of view:

I don't like _Garland_ at all C. Patmore collected a
_Children's Garland._ I think

<center>

ENGLISH SONNET'S

PRESENT AND PAST, WITH--ETC.,

</center>

would be a good title. I think I prefer _Present and Past_,
or _of the P. and P.,_ to _New and Old_ for your purpose;
bu