Hood  stands  very  liigh  among  the  poets  of  the
second  Order,  He  was  not  a  creative  genius.  He
has  given  little  indication  of  the  highest  imagina-
tive faculty ;  but  his  fancy  was  most  delicate  and
full  of  graceful  play.    His  appreciation  of  the  beau-


Chap.  XXn.]       NOTES  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS.
435


Ues  of  nature  woe  very  vivid ;  and  somo  of  hia  dc-
ficriptiona  cire  models  of  their  class.  His  most
distinfiliTC  mark  was  tbo  thorough  humanity  of  hie
thoughts  and  espresaiona.  Hia  poems  are  amongst
the  most  valuable  contributions  to  English  litera-
ture of  eympathy  with,  and  insight  into,  human  lifb
and  character.  Every  reader  is  fitruck  by  the  sad-
••f'ssnnd  melancholy  always  present  in  his  works.
