Shady Hill, 31 December, 1861.
. . . Lowell has been spending the evening with us, and
brought up to read to us his new Biglow Paper. It is one of the best things
that he ever did, — it is a true Yankee pastoral and lyric; — not another
letter of B. Sawin, but a poem or rather two poems of Hosea's own, — the first
a dialogue between Concord Bridge and Bunker Hill monument, — the last a lyric
about Jonathan
and John, with the most spirited refrain. I am sure that you will be as
delighted with it as I am. There is no doubt but that it will touch the popular
heart.
I entirely agree with you as to the masterly manner in which
Seward has treated the Trent case. If his paper has too much the character of a
legal plea for strict diplomatic usage, it is to be remembered that it is to be
in reality addressed to the American people and not to Lord Lyons. Shall we yet
have to fight England? With all my heart I hope not, — but if need be, I am
ready. . . .
SOURCE: Sara Norton and M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Letters
of Charles Eliot Norton, Volume 1, p. 250
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