hæd hiː bˌɪn bˈɔːɹn ɐ nˈuː ˈɪŋɡləndɚ, ɪɾ ɪz pɹˈɑːbəbəl ðæt hiː wʊdhɐv bˌɪn ɹˈæŋkt æz ðə fˈɜːst ʌv ɐmˈɛɹɪkən lˈɪɹɪsˌɪsts, baɪ ðæt mæɡnˈænɪməs kɐbˈɑːl wˌɪtʃ hɐz sˌoʊ lˈɔŋ kəntɹˈoʊld ðə dˈɛstɪniz ʌv ɐmˈɛɹɪkən lˈɛɾɚz".
Had he been born a New Englander, it is probable that he would have been ranked as the first of American lyricists, by that magnanimous cabal which has so long controlled the destinies of American Letters".