The American Minister, Mr. Reverdy Johnson, distributed yes- terday week
the prizes awarded by the Birkbeck Institute to pupils of both sexes. After commenting, as he was in duty bound, on the importance of feminine culture, and also awarding the usual compliments to the memory of Lord Brougham and Dr. Birkbeck, Mr. Reverdy Johnson, speaking of America and England with a touch of true American humour,—not the less humorous because what he said may have had its truth,—went on to remark that 4' not only are our institutions identical, but we speak the same language; and although we speak it better than ynu do, we understand each other, and by and by you will be able to speak the language as well as we do." It has really been shown, we believe, that a great many of what we call Americanisms are good old English idioms used in their good old English sense. But even the true Americanisms have the flavour of an originality, a strength, and youth which are not very visible in England, and which we are often compelled to borrow. And we doubt if any English writer now living writes so pure a classical English as was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
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