[Joseph h. Choate, lawyer and diplomat]] Autograph Letter Signed Joseph H. Choate to George Meredith, novelist and poet., asking Meredith for a centennial tribute to the American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Four pages, 12mo, bifolium, some marks but mainly good condition. Text: Dear Mr. Meredith, | I am going to ask you (if your health and time permit) to do me and many of my countrymen a great favor. | The Centennial of the birth of Nathaniel Hawthorne comes on the 4th. of next July and the people of Salem, his birthplace are going to celebarte it with appropriate exercises- They have appealed to me, as a Salem man to procure for them from four or five Eminent literary men of Great Britain brief appreciations of [?] great novelist - four or five pages from each - to be read and published on the occasion. | Such a tribute from you to Hawthorne would be greatly prized by his many admirers in Americxa - and if, as I have no doubt you are fond of his writings, I should be much gratified if you would consent to undertake it. | As Hawthorne's birthday is the same as that of the Nation, the Committee [?] the matter in [charge?] have concluded to celebrate it a few days earlier and have selected the 27th of June, which gives plenty of time. | Hoping for a favorable response I am | Most truly yours | Joseph H. Choate.. Notes: A. Celebrations there were, but no appreciations such as Meredith might have written; B. [He] was counsel in important cases such as the Tweed Ring prosecution, Standard Oil antitrust cases and income tax cases. He later served as U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain (1899-1905) and was head of the U.S. delegation to the second International Peace Conference at The Hague (1907); C. This letter has been extracted from an Album which mainly contained letters to George Meredith or his daughter from distinguished contemporary authors (Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Henry James etc.). But, as with this letter, the collector (I assume Marie, Meredith's daughter) collected widely.