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JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

IGH among the names of America's poets and authors, stands that of James Russell Lowell. The two samples of his work given in GEMS, demonstrate his capacity. He was born at Cambridge, Mass., February 22d, 1819. He graduated at Harvard in 1838, studied law, opened an office in Boston, but soon abandoned this pursuit and devoted himself to literature. His first volume of poems appeared in 1841. He was active in magazine literature, as well as in producing volumes of his works. He traveled extensively; lectured frequently; became Professor at Harvard; edited the "Atlantic Monthly," the "North American Review," and many incidental publications. He is now (1883) "American Minister to the Court of St. James."

SAMUEL LOVER.

ROBABLY no writer of songs did more for his department of art, than did Samuel Lover, author of "The Angels' Whisper " (p. 277), and many other equally popular and meritorious ballads. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1797. His first distinction was won in 1818, when, at a public dinner in honor of Tom Moore, Lover sang a song of his own production, both in its words and its music. Lover was a portrait painter, as well as a poet and musician. He wrote several novels also, as well as plays and operas. He was finally pensioned by the government. In 1847, he visited the United States, and was enthusiastically received. He died at his home, July 6th, 1868.

ROBERT LOWRY.

Ew writers of sacred songs and music for use among juveniles, are more widely known, and more favorably, than Robert Lowry, D.D., now (1883) resident of Plainfield, N. J. He was born in 1826, at Philadelphia. He early displayed a marked poetic and musical genius, which ripened with his years. He has edited many of the most extensively circulated music books of the day. He has served several prominent Baptist churches as pastor, and been Professor of Belles Lettres at Lewisburg University, Pa. The two poems of Dr. Lowry's, given in this volume, well illustrate his felicitous style. He is a ready writer, producing his best works as the result of an inspiration, rather than as the cool pursuit of a purpose to do the thing. He is also a composer of music, and has won an enviable fame by work in that line.

THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY.

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LORD EDWARD BULWER LYTTON.

DWARD GEORGE EARLE BULWER (best known as Lord Bulwer), was born in May, 1805. He graduated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1826. He took the Chancellor's medal in 1825, for a poem on

'Sculpture." Bulwer entered the House of Commons 1831, and joined the reform party. He represented the city of Lincoln from 1832 to 1841. In 1838, he was created a baronet; and in 1844, he succeeded to the Knebworth estates, and assumed the surname of Lytton. He re-entered Parliament in 1852. He was chosen Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow in 1856. Re-elected to Parliament 1857; and in June, 1858, became Secretary of State for the Colonies. On July 14th, 1866, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Lytton. Died in London. January 18th, 1873. He was successful in every department of literature.

THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY.

IESTERSHIRE, England, is the birthplace of Macaulay, and October 25th, 1800, was his birthday. He graduated at Cambridge in 1822. He twice took the Chancellor's medal for poetry. His general knowledge was so broad that he was called the "Omniscient Macaulay." He entered Parliament in 1830, and soon became a strong debater. He held many other prominent government positions, and in 1857, was created a peer of England with the title Lord Macaulay. His literary work began early. It covered ballads, histories, and essays, and was gathered finally into eight octavo volumes. Four selections from Macaulay are given in GEMS, which well illustrate his splendid style.

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GEORGE MACDONALD.

HIS favorite Scotch author was born at Huntly, Scotland, in 1824, and graduated at Aberdeen. His intent was to follow the ministry, but he retired from this calling to follow literary pursuits. He has written many poems, romances, novels, and books for the young. He was head of a young ladies' school in London for some years. He was pensioned in 1877. "Baby," on page 82, is an exquisite gem.

LETITIA E. MACLEAN.

ETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON, a popular English poetess, was born near London in 1802. She wrote verses when about the age of thirteen, and in 1820, became a contributor to the "Literary Gazette," un

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der the signature, L. E. L. Thus she won a wide reputation. She produced, anonymously, two novels and several poems. Her poems

are chiefly of romantic or sentimental character. In 1838, she married George Maclean, Governor of Cape Coast Castle, Africa, whither they went to reside. She died in 1839. "The Ruined Cottage" (p. 96) is a gem.

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JEAN BAPTISTE MASILLON.

HIS famous French pulpit orator was born at Heires, in 1663. He was educated and became a priest. In 1699, he preached the Lent Sermon at Paris. The same year he was chosen to preach the Advent at Court, on which occasion Louis XIV. said to him, "I have heard many great orators and been pleased with them; but, after hearing you, I am displeased with myself." He was appointed Bishop of Clermont in 1717, and preached before the king the Lent Sermon, which is deemed his masterpiece. Masillon died in 1742. His eloquence is well illustrated in the extract from one of his sermons on "Immortality" (p. 207).

CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER.

JOAQUIN MILLER.

OAQUIN MILLER is the best known title of this writer. He was born in Indiana, November 10th, 1841. When but thirteen years old, his parents went to Oregon. He afterwards became a miner and adventurer in California, served in Nicaragua, and lived among the Indians. In 1861, he began to edit a paper at Eugene City, Or "Kit Carson's Ride" (p. 472) is characteristic of Miller's style.

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HENRY HART MILMAN.

HIS eminent English poet, historian, and divine, was born in London. in 1791. He graduated at Oxford, and in 1821, became Professor of Poetry in that University. He wrote extensively, producing poems, tragedies, histories, etc. His "Evening Hymn," on page 502, is a splendid poem. In 1840, he brought out his great work, "The History of Christianity." He died in September, 1868.

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RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES.

wo poetic beauties from the pen of this author adorns these pages, "The Brookside" (p. 247), and "London Churches" (p. 237). Milnes was born in Yorkshire, England, June 19th, 1809, and

graduated at Cambridge in 1831. He was a member of Parliament, and finally became Baron Houghton. He traveled extensively, and wrote much on what he saw abroad, in addition to his many poems.

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JOHN MILTON.

ILTON, author of "Paradise Lost," was born in London, December 9th, 1608. He was thoroughly trained in the classics, enjoyed the advantages of foreign travel, and was a man of remarkable personal beauty. He was a diligent student and a voluminous writer on a wide range of subjects. When the Commonwealth was established, Milton became Latin Secretary, all the diplomatic correspondence being in that language. For twenty years he had been thinking upon a great poem, which was begun finally in 1665, its result, "Paradise Lost, appearing in 1667. It sold for £ 5., an equal sum to be paid its author when each edition of 1500, should sell up to 1300. He did see it pass through several editions. It has passed through many editions since that day, but after all, the best critics deem it a work of questionable merit. The selections from Milton given in this volume are from his more severe prose works. He died in London, November 8th, 1674.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

MONG England's best poets, James Montgomery has a high rank. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1771. He was sent at an early age to a Moravian school, where his progress was not very satisfactory, as he spent the greater part of his time in writing and reading poetry, which was prohibited by the rules of the school. After leaving school, he found employment for a time in a book store, in London, and in 1792, began to contribute political articles to the "Sheffield Register." In 1794, he founded a reform journal, called the "Sheffield Iris," of which he remained editor for about thirty years. He also wrote a large number of very beautiful hymns, which still enjoy extensive popularity. Four of his finished works appear on these pages. He died in 1854.

THOMAS MOORE.

RELAND'S favorite poet, Thomas Moore, was born in Dublin, May 28th, 1779, and graduated at Dublin University in 1799. When but fourteen years of age poems from his pen appeared in the magazines of the day. He began the study of law, but soon abandoned it and opted poesy as his profession. He pblished one volume under

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the name of Thomas Little. His following publications were numerous and very popular, one of them, "The Fudge Family in Paris" running through five editions in two weeks' time. Four choice selections from Moore will be found in this volume. He died February 25th, 1852.

Each of Moore's poems given in this volume is an exquisite gem. Nothing could be more beautiful and touching than the rural and yet poetic simplicity of "The Home of Peace" (p. 337). And yet equally charming is that gem of gems on page 484, "The Meeting of the Waters." "The Light-House" (p. 513) is of different vein, but it is superb; while "Echoes" (p. 645), brief but beautiful, seems an echo of all the others.

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GEORGE P. MORRIS.

YYHIS gentleman was a distinguished American poet and journalist. He was born at Philadelphia, in 1802. He removed to New York, and in 1823 became associate editor of the "New York Mirror." In 1844 he became one of the editors of the "Evening Mirror," a purely literary journal. He afterwards founded, conjointly with N. P. Willis, "The Home Journal." Mr. Morris published a number of beautiful and popular songs, and wrote many other poems and a drama. He died in New York City, July 6th, 1864. "My Mother's Bible," which is one of his tenderest and best productions, is given in GEMS.

JOHN MOULTRIE.

OHN MOULTRIE was an English poet, born about 1804. He was rector at Rugby, and published a volume of poems from which "The Three Sons" (p. 528) is taken, and a poem which, for tenderness and beauty, has few equals in our language.

WILLIAM A. MUHLENBERG.

ILLIAM AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, D.D., was born in Philadelphia, September 16th, 1796, and graduated at the University of Penn sylvania in 1814. From 1846 to 1858, he was rector of the church of the Holy Communion, erected by his sister, on the corner of 6th Ave. and 20th St., New York City. In 1858 he became the superintendent and pastor of St. Luke's Hospital, which owes its establishment to her efforts. He has distinguished himself both as a philanthropist and a poet. He will ever be remembered as the author of "I would not live alway" (p. 535), and other hymns of the same deep, rich fullness of devotion and poesy. He died in 1877.