. Final memorials of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; . one who is not only the official represen-tative of the United States, but who speaks with moreauthority than any one with regard to the literature andintellectual condition of that country. I cannot but sayhow glad I am that I have been present at two of themeetings held to inaugurate this work, and I am delightedto be present here to take part in the closing the greatest pleasure I make the offer of this memo-rial to the Sub-Dean; and from the great kindness wehave received already from the authorities of WestminsterAbbey, I ha
. Final memorials of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; . one who is not only the official represen-tative of the United States, but who speaks with moreauthority than any one with regard to the literature andintellectual condition of that country. I cannot but sayhow glad I am that I have been present at two of themeetings held to inaugurate this work, and I am delightedto be present here to take part in the closing the greatest pleasure I make the offer of this memo-rial to the Sub-Dean; and from the great kindness wehave received already from the authorities of WestminsterAbbey, I have no doubt it will be received in the samespirit. I beg to offer to you, Mr. Sub-Dean, the bustwhich has been subscribed for. The American Minister, Mr. Lowell, then said: , my lord, ladies and gentlemen, I think I maytake upon myself the responsibility, in the name of thedaughters of my beloved friend, to express their grati-tude to Lord Granville for having found time, amid thecontinuous and arduous calls of his duty, to be present. In the Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey. THE MEMORIAL IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 409 here this morning. Having occasion to speak in this placesome two years ago, I remember that 1 then expressed thehope that some day or other the Abbey of Westminsterwould become the Valhalla of the whole English-speakingrace. I little expected then that a beginning would bemade so soon, — a beginning at once painful and gratifyingin the highest degree to myself, — with the bust of myfriend. Though there be no Academy in England whichcorresponds to that of France, yet admission to Westmin-ster Abbey forms a sort of posthumous test of literaryeminence perhaps as effectual. Every one of us has hisown private Valhalla, and it is not apt to be the conditions of admission to the Abbey are verydifferent. We ought no longer to ask why is so-and-sohere, and we ought always to be able to answer the ques-tion why such a one is not here. I think that on
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