Victoria College.
Toronto, Ont.
Jan. 18^th 18.

M^r Duncan Campbell Scott,
Ottawa.

Dear M^r Scott,

I am taking the liberty of sending you a little message of appreciation although unknown to you personally. I had the pleasure last week of spending an evening at the home of D^r Edgar, an esteemed friend of yours, and no less beloved of mine. In the course of the evening by the fire, he read to me selections from 'Lundy Lane' [sic], particularly, that magnificent 'Height of Land.' I had known the poem for a considerable time, but its growing beauty was so vividly impressed upon me as he read it, that I asked him if you would not think it presumptuous, were I to write you and express my appreciation directly. He replied that you would be glad to get a line from any lover of poetry, and especially from one who had read and loved your own work. As such conditions are most thoroughly fulfilled in my case, I feel at liberty to write.

Three or four years ago, Arthur Phelps — a college class-mate of mine — and I undertook to make a special study of Canadian poetry, and we soon found our interest mainly centered in Archibald Lampman, Marjorie Pickthall and yourself. The 'Height of Land' and the 'Lines to Edmund Morris' just thrilled us, and I frankly confessed to a slight feeling of jealousy, when Phelps told me that you had written him, and occasionally had sent him some of your poetry. He is naturally enthusiastic over it. Whenever we fall out upon any point, we pay back our grudges by bombarding each other with sonnets, etc., each seeking to inflict upon the other the greater injury, — a phase of ballistics unknown to any theory of militarism.

If your health is good, M^r Scott, could you stand an attack? I should dearly love to submit a few poems under separate cover for your examination. I wanted to send some last year but could not muster up sufficient courage. D^r Edgar, however, gave me a new faith. Most of the verse springs out of the sea-faring life of Newfoundland, my native home.

And could you once in a while send me a poem of your own, — a new one? I should indeed be very proud.

Sincerely yours
E.J. Pratt.