“This will admit you to one of the _posti distinti_ to witness the celebrated _tableau vivant_ of the sacrifice of Iphigenia (Iphigenia, by particular request, Mr. J. R. Lowell). It is well known that this interesting ceremony was originally performed for the sake of raising the wind, and Mr. L. will communicate a spirit of classic reality to the performance by going through it with the same end in view. “I write this by the hand of an amanuensis whom I have had in my employment for some time, and who has learned how to catch my ideas without my being obliged to speak--a great gain. “(A great gain indeed! the greatest bore in the world! He thinks I am writing what he dictates at this moment because he hears the pen scratch. He pretends to be a good-natured fellow--but if you only knew him as I do! He has no more feeling than a horseradish.) “I should have come last Saturday to Shady Hill--but you may guess how busy I have been. (It is _I_ who have had all the work, and only my board and tobacco for wages: _he_ pretend to hate slavery!) “I have only just got the flood on, and feel as if I might deliver a course that will not disgrace me. “(I almost hope they will, for what right has he to keep me shut up here? I get no walks, and he begins to keep me awake at nights with his cursed ideas as he calls them. What _is_ an idea, I should like to know?) “I have only one _private_ entrance ticket to spare--but I suppose you do not want any more. Give my best regards and happy New Years and all kinds of things at Shady Hill (and mine, too; how mad he’d be if he knew I put that in). “Always yours, “The Amanuensis of J. R. Lowell, esquire.” Two days after giving the first lecture, Lowell wrote to Stillman:--