thing about our friend's father; so I shall
add the little I know of the history of James Russell Lowell.

He was born in 1819, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, so that he is some
years younger than our own laureate, and we may hope to get out of him
many another noble work, though we shall get no more "Biglow Papers"--at
least I fear not; for the sort of inspiration which finds voice in this
way comes, I take it, only once in a man's life. And moreover, this is
his own conviction. In a letter which I received from him as to the
present publication, he writes: "Friendly people say to me sometimes,
'Write us more "Biglow Papers;"' and I have even been simple enough to
try, only to find that I could not. This has helped to persuade me that
the book was a genuine growth, and not a manufacture, and that therefore
I had an honest right to be pleased without blushing, if people liked
it." He was educated at Harvard College, Cambridge; and, in fact, has
never lived away from his native place. He read law, but never
practised; and in 1855 was chosen to succeed Longfellow as Professor of
Modern Literature in Harvard College. He has visited Europe twice; and I
am sure that every one who knows his works must join with me in the
hearty wish that he may come among us again as soon as possible.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Should this meet the eye of any persons who may have forgotten to
return American copies of the "Biglow Papers" to their respective
owners, they are requested to forward them to the publishers. The
strictest secrecy will be preserved, and an acknowledgment given in _The
Times_ if required.

[2] See the English Edition of "Letters of Major Downing," published by
John Murray in 1835, pp. 22, 23; and Letters x. xi. xii. and xv.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE v

EDITOR'S PREFACE vii

NOTICES OF AN INDEPENDENT PRESS xxix

No. I.

A LETTER FROM MR. EZEKIEL BIGLOW OF JAALAM TO THE
HON. JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM, EDITOR OF THE BOSTON
COURIER, INCLOSING A POEM OF HIS SON, MR. HOSEA
BIGLOW 1

No. II.

A LETTER FROM MR. HOSEA BIGLOW TO THE HON.
J. T. BUCKINGHAM, EDITOR OF THE BOSTON COURIER,
COVERING A LETTER FROM MR. B. SAWIN, PRIVATE IN
THE MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT