setting of an after-dinner speech delivered by George Cary Eggleston at a banquet held by the New York Southern Society. In his address, Eggleston humorously reflects on his reluctance to speak and argues against the existence of Southern Literature, stating that all American literature is part of a larger national narrative rather than being confined to regional identities. He emphasizes the significance of the individual in the context of American values and critiques contemporary ideologies, all while engaging the audience with witty remarks and personal anecdotes. This sets the tone for the collection, illustrating the blending of oratory finesse with meaningful discourse. (This is an automatically generated summary.)