LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL (1819-1891), poet, essayist, and diplomat. One of the foremost literary geniuses of America. His first volume of poems was published in 1838, under the title of _Class Poems_. In 1841 followed _A Year’s Life_, consisting mainly of love poems, only a few of which the author in later years considered worth republishing. In the year 1846 the _Biglow Papers_ began appearing in the columns of the _Boston Courier_, and it was not until 1848 that what is probably the most remarkable series of satirical poems which ever appeared were furnished. For wit, insight into human nature, and finish, these poems, in the peculiar dialect of the “down-easter,” must be considered nothing short of perfect. These poems had an instantaneous effect on America, and raised the question of slavery and corruption in politics to the eyes of the people in a way they had never before been presented. Mr. Lowell was an out-and-out democrat and a fearless exponent of democracy of the kind established by the founders of American independence. His works, of which a complete and excellent edition is published by Messrs. Macmillan & Co., London, are numerous, the best known being _Class Poems_, _A Year’s Life_, _Poems_ (1844), _The Vision of Sir Launfal_ (1848), _Conversations on some of the Old Poets_ (1945), _Poems_ (1848), _The Biglow Papers_, _A Fable for Critics_, _Poems_ (1849), _Life of Keats, Mason and Slidell_, _Fireside Travels_, _The President’s Policy_, _Biglow Papers_ (second series), _Under the Willows_, _Among my Books_, _Democracy, and other Addresses_. Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin, & Co. have published a complete edition of his works in America. MACCLURG, DR. JAMES (1747-1825), a writer of the dainty _vers de société_, which has since become so popular with a school of modern writers. MACDOWELL, MRS. KATE (1853-1883), a writer of humorous sketches in vernacular, and published by _Harper’s_. Pseudonym, “Sherwood Bonner.” M’LENNAN, WILLIAM, Canadian. His French-Canadian dialect sketches and stories are full of humour, and the dialect is perfect. See Lighthall’s _Songs of the Great Dominion_. MILES O’REILLY. _See_ HALPINE. MILLER, CINCINNATUS HINER, “Joaquin” (1841). The most American of all America’s poets. In his youth he took to gold-mining in California, afterwards acting as express-rider, later on drifted into journalism, and began his literary career while judge of Grant county, Oregon. His best-known works are _Songs of the Sierras_, _Songs of Sunland_, _Songs of the Desert_, _Songs of the Mexican Seas_, and _In Classic Shades_. He has not written much in a humorous vein, but his “William Brown of Oregon,” “That Gentle Man from Boston Town,” and “Saratoga and the Psalmist,” all humorous verse, have been widely read.