a very vile school of poetry, though himself a man of elegant genious.
...I do not know what European told you that I had a great contempt for Bengali, but that was a fact. But now—I even go the length of believing that our Blank Verse “thrashes the Englishers” as an American would say! But joking apart, is not Blank Verse in our language quite as grand as in any other? —পৃ, ৩০৯-১৫।
২। ১৫ মে ১৮৬০ তারিখে মধুসূদন রাজনারায়ণ বসুকে—
Tilottama is printed, though the Printer has not yet sent it out. You shall have a copy as soon as possible. As I believe you are one of the writers of the Tattwabodhini Patrika, will you review the Poem in the columns of that Journal? That would be giving it a jolly lift indeed. If you should review the work, pray, don’t spare me because I am your friend. Pitch it into me as much as you think I deserve. I am about the most docile dog that ever wagged a literary tail!
I feel highly flattered by the approbation of your wife. She is the first lady reader of Tilottama and her good opinion makes me not a little proud of my performance. I did not read that part of your letter to Rangalal, who is often with me, for we were boys together at Kidderpur and he used to call my mother (God rest her soul!) mother. He is a touchy fellow, but, I have no doubt, is ready to allow that, as a versifier, I ought to hang my hat a peg or two higher than he. My opinion of him is—that he has postical feelings—some fancy, perhaps, imagination, but that his style is affected and consequently execrable. He may improve. Tilottama seems to have created some impression on him, as you will find in his very next poem.
...By the bye, can you induce the Educational Superintendent of your side of the world to take Tilottama by the hand for the higher classes of your school? With you for a teacher, the book is sure to make a tremendous impression....
P. S. Your good wife, by the bye, is not the first ladyreader of Tilottama. The author’s wife claims to have read it before her—পৃ. ৩১৭-২০।
৩। ২২ মে ১৮৬০ তারিখে যতীন্দ্রমোহন ঠাকুর মধুসুদনকে—
I know not how to thank you adequately for the very valuable present of the manuscript fe in the Poet’s own
