Matthew Arnold, Civilization in the United States: First and Last Impressions of America.

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II: a word about America.

Mr. Lowell, in an interesting but rather tart essay, “On a certain Condescension in foreigners,” warns off Englishmen who may be disposed to write or speak about the United States of America. “I never blamed England for not wishing well to democracy,” he cries; “how should she?” But the criticisms and dealings of Englishmen, in regard to the object of their ill-will, are apt, Mr. Lowell declares, to make him impatient. “Let them give up trying to understand us, still more thinking that they do, and acting in various absurd ways as the necessary consequence; for they will never arrive at that devoutly to be wished consummation, till they learn to look at us as we are, and not as they suppose us to be.”

On the other hand, from some quarters in America come reproaches to us for not speaking about America enough, for not making sufficient use of her in illustration of what we bring forward. Mr. Higginson expresses much surprise