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institution； as I understand it； where the words 〃exclusion〃 and
〃exclusiveness〃 shall be quite unknown … where all classes may
assemble in common trust； respect； and confidence … where there
shall be a great gallery of painting and statuary open to the
inspection and admiration of all comers … where there shall be a
museum of models in which industry may observe its various sources
of manufacture； and the mechanic may work out new combinations； and
arrive at new results … where the very mines under the earth and
under the sea shall not be forgotten； but presented in little to
the inquiring eye … an institution； in short； where many and many
of the obstacles which now inevitably stand in the rugged way of
the poor inventor shall be smoothed away； and where； if he have
anything in him； he will find encouragement and hope。
I observe with unusual interest and gratification； that a body of
gentlemen are going for a time to lay aside their individual
prepossessions on other subjects； and； as good citizens； are to be
engaged in a design as patriotic as well can be。 They have the
intention of meeting in a few days to advance this great object；
and I call upon you； in drinking this toast； to drink success to
their endeavour； and to make it the pledge by all good means to
promote it。
If I strictly followed out the list of educational institutions in
Birmingham； I should not have done here； but I intend to stop；
merely observing that I have seen within a short walk of this place
one of the most interesting and practical Institutions for the Deaf
and Dumb that has ever come under my observation。 I have seen in
the factories and workshops of Birmingham such beautiful order and
regularity； and such great consideration for the workpeople
provided； that they might justly be entitled to be considered
educational too。 I have seen in your splendid Town Hall； when the
cheap concerts are going on there； also an admirable educational
institution。 I have seen their results in the demeanour of your
working people； excellently balanced by a nice instinct； as free
from servility on the one hand； as from self…conceit on the other。
It is a perfect delight to have need to ask a question； if only
from the manner of the reply … a manner I never knew to pass
unnoticed by an observant stranger。 Gather up those threads； and a
great marry more I have not touched upon； and weaving all into one
good fabric； remember how much is included under the general head
of the Educational Institutions of your town。
SPEECH： LONDON； APRIL 30； 1853。
＇At the annual Dinner of the Royal Academy； the President； Sir
Charles Eastlake； proposed as a toast； 〃The Interests of
Literature；〃 and selected for the representatives of the world of
letters； the Dean of St。 Paul's and Mr。 Charles Dickens。 Dean
Milman having returned thanks。＇
MR DICKENS then addressed the President； who； it should be
mentioned； occupied a large and handsome chair； the back covered
with crimson velvet； placed just before Stanfield's picture of THE
VICTORY。
Mr。 Dickens； after tendering his acknowledgments of the toast； and
the honour done him in associating his name with it； said that
those acknowledgments were not the less heartfelt because he was
unable to recognize in this toast the President's usual
disinterestedness； since English literature could scarcely be
remembered in any place； and； certainly； not in a school of art；
without a very distinct remembrance of his own tasteful writings；
to say nothing of that other and better part of himself； which；
unfortunately； was not visible upon these occasions。
If； like the noble Lord； the Commander…in…Chief （Viscount
Hardinge）； he （Mr。 Dickens） might venture to illustrate his brief
thanks with one word of reference to the noble picture painted by a
very dear friend of his； which was a little eclipsed that evening
by the radiant and rubicund chair which the President now so
happily toned down； he would beg leave to say that； as literature
could nowhere be more appropriately honoured than in that place； so
he thought she could nowhere feel a higher gratification in the
ties that bound her to the sister arts。 He ever felt in that place
that literature found； through their instrumentality； always a new
expression； and in a universal language。
SPEECH： LONDON； MAY 1； 1853
＇At a dinner given by the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House； on the
above date； Mr。 Justice Talfourd proposed as a toast 〃Anglo…Saxon
Literature；〃 and alluded to Mr。 Dickens as having employed fiction
as a means of awakening attention to the condition of the oppressed
and suffering classes：…＇
〃MR。 DICKENS replied to this toast in a graceful and playful
strain。 In the former part of the evening； in reply to a toast on
the chancery department； Vice…Chancellor Wood； who spoke in the
absence of the Lord Chancellor； made a sort of defence of the Court
of Chancery； not distinctly alluding to Bleak House； but evidently
not without reference to it。 The amount of what he said was； that
the Court had received a great many more hard opinions than it
merited； that they had been parsimoniously obliged to perform a
great amount of business by a very inadequate number of judges； but
that more recently the number of judges had been increased to
seven； and there was reason to hope that all business brought
before it would now be performed without unnecessary delay。
〃Mr。 Dickens alluded playfully to this item of intelligence； said
he was exceedingly happy to hear it； as he trusted now that a suit；
in which he was greatly interested； would speedily come to an end。
I heard a little by…conversation between Mr。 Dickens and a
gentleman of the bar； who sat opposite me； in which the latter
seemed to be reiterating the same assertions； and I understood him
to say； that a case not extraordinarily complicated might be got
through with in three months。 Mr。 Dickens said he was very happy
to hear it； but I fancied there was a little shade of incredulity
in his manner； however； the incident showed one thing； that is；
that the chancery were not insensible to the representations of
Dickens； but the whole tone of the thing was quite good…natured and
agreeable。〃
SPEECH： BIRMINGHAM； DECEMBER 30； 1853。
＇The first of the Readings generously given by Mr。 Charles Dickens
on behalf of the Birmingham and Midland Institute； took place on
Tuesday evening； December 27； 1853； at the Birmingham Town Hall；
where； notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather； nearly two
thousand persons had assembled。 The work selected was the
CHRISTMAS CAROL。 The high mimetic powers possessed by Mr。 Dickens
enabled him to personate with remarkable force the various
characters of the story； and with admirable skill to pass rapidly
from the hard； unbelieving Scrooge； to trusting and thankful Bob
Cratchit； and from the genial fulness of Scrooge's nephew； to the
hideous mirth of the party assembled in Old Joe the Ragshop…
keeper's parlour。 The reading occupied more than three hours； but
so interested were the audience； that only one or two left the Hall
previously to its termination； and the loud and frequent bursts of
applause attested the successful discharge of the reader's arduous
task。 On Thursday evening Mr。 Dickens read THE CRICKET ON THE
HEARTH。 The Hall was again well ruled； and the tale； though
deficient in the dramatic interest of the CAROL； was listened to
with attention； and rewarded with repeated applause。 On Friday
evening； the CHRISTMAS CAROL was read a second time to a large
assemblage of work…people； for whom； at Mr。 Dickens's special
request； the major part of the vast edifice was reserved。 Before
commencing the tale； Mr。 Dickens delivered the following brief
address； almost every sentence of which was received with loudly
expressed applause。＇
MY GOOD FRIENDS； … When I first imparted to the committee of the
projected Institute my particular wish that on one of the evenings
of my readings here the main body of my audience should be composed
of working men and their families； I was animated by two desires；
first； by the wish to have the great pleasure of meeting you face
to face at this Christmas time； and accompany you myself through
one of my little Christmas books； and second； by the wish to have
an opportunity of stating publicly in your presence； and in the
presence of the committee； my earnest hope that the Institute will；
from the beginning； recognise one great principle … strong in
reason and justice … which I believe to be essential to the very
life of such an Institution。 It is； that the working man shall；
from the first unto the last； have a share in the management of an
Institution which is designed for his benefit； and which calls
itself by his name。
I have no fear here of being misunderstood … of being suppos