" In the previous century
the great poets had rarely been Laureates. But since Sir Walter
Scott declined the bays in favour of Southey, for whom, again, the
tale of bricks in the way of Odes was lightened, and when Wordsworth
succeeded Southey, the office became honourable. Tennyson gave it an
increase of renown, while, though in itself of merely nominal value,
it served his poems, to speak profanely, as an advertisement. New
editions of his books were at once in demand; while few readers had
ever heard of Mr Browning, already his friend, and already author of
Men and Women.
The Laureateship brought the poet acquainted with the Queen, who was
to be his debtor in later days for encouragement and consolation. To
his Laureateship we owe, among other good things, the stately and
moving Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington, a splendid heroic
piece, unappreciated at the moment. But Tennyson was, of course, no
Birthday poet. Since the exile of the House of Stuart our kings in
England have not maintained the old familiarity with many classes of
their subjects. Literature has not been fashionable at Court, and
Tennyson could in no age have been a courtier. We hear the
complaint, every now and then, that official honours are not
conferred (except the Laureateship) on men of letters. But most of
them probably think it rather distinguished not to be decorated, or
to carry titles borne by many deserving persons unvisited by the
Muses.
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