American Ideas for English Readers

The Hon. J. RUSSELL LOWELL, formerly the United States representative at the Court of St. James, was the special guest on Wednesday night, November 23, 1888, at a banquet of the Liverpool Philomathic Society, held at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. In response to the toast, "The Guest of the Evening," Mr. LOWELL, who met with a cordial reception, referred at the outset to what he termed a rather pathetic incident of his literary history. He said:

It is connected, with the first volume which introduced me to the English public. It was not the "Bigelow Papers" or "Biglow Papers" -- I beg pardon -- (_laughter_), but it was a little volume of rather immature poetry which some enthusiast on this side of the water reprinted privately. He was good enough to send me a copy. Perhaps it is known to you that we have a protective system. (_Laughter_.) The book was accordingly liable to duty as coming to its author, and for the information of whomsoever it might concern there had been written on the outside "Value 6d. " (_Laughter_.) I laid it to heart at once, and I said to myself, "Here is a piece of criticism you can appreciate, and which, perhaps, may do you a great deal of good. " (_Laughter_.)