During the war between the Northern and Southern States of America many humorous works were published which were intended to expose the weaknesses, and abuses, in the policy and administrations of both sides in the struggle. Amongst these, few were more amusing, or more popular than the Orpheus C. Kerr (_i.e._, office-seeker) Papers, and the following chapter is quoted, as it contains imitations of the poets most popular in the States twenty odd years ago. Under the thin veil of initials the names may be traced of H. W. Longfellow, Edward Everett, J. G. Whittier, Dr. O. W. Holmes, R. W. Emerson, W. C. Bryant, G. P. Morris, N. P. Willis, T. B. Aldwick, and R. H. Stoddart. LETTER VIII. THE REJECTED “NATIONAL HYMNS.” Washington, D.C., June 30th, 1861. Immediately after mailing my last to you, I secured a short furlough, and proceeded to New York, to examine into the affairs of that venerable committee which had offered a prize of 500 dollars for the best National Hymn. Astounding and distracting to relate, the committee announces the reception of no less than eleven hundred and fifty “anthems!” And all these “anthems” are rejected by the venerable committee! But must they _all_, therefore, be lost to the world? I hope not, my boy,――I hope not. Having some acquaintance with the discriminating rag-merchant to whom they were turned over as rejected, I have procured some of the best, from which to quote for your special edification. Imprimis, my boy, observe this NATIONAL ANTHEM BY H. W. L――――, OF CAMBRIDGE. Back in the years when Phlagstaff, the Dane, was monarch Over the sea-ribbed land of the fleet-footed Norsemen, Once there went forth young Ursa to gaze at the heavens―― Ursa, the noblest of all the Vikings and horsemen. Musing, he sat in his stirrups and viewed the horizon, Where the Aurora lapt stars in a North-polar manner, Wildly he started――for there in the heavens before him Fluttered and flew the original Star-Spangled Banner. The committee have two objections to this: in the first place, it is not an “anthem” at all; secondly, it is a gross plagiarism from an old Scandinavian war-song of the primeval ages. Next, I present a NATIONAL ANTHEM BY THE HON. EDWARD E――――, OF BOSTON.