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Theatre； for the purpose of establishing the now famous Royal
Dramatic College。 Mr。 Charles Kean was the chairman； and Mr。
Dickens delivered the following speech：＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … I think I may venture to congratulate you
beforehand on the pleasant circumstance that the movers and
seconders of the resolutions which will be submitted to you will；
probably； have very little to say。 Through the Report which you
have heard read； and through the comprehensive address of the
chairman； the cause which brings us together has been so very
clearly stated to you； that it can stand in need of very little； if
of any further exposition。 But； as I have the honour to move the
first resolution which this handsome gift； and the vigorous action
that must be taken upon it； necessitate； I think I shall only give
expression to what is uppermost in the general mind here； if I
venture to remark that； many as the parts are in which Mr。 Kean has
distinguished himself on these boards； he has never appeared in one
in which the large spirit of an artist； the feeling of a man； and
the grace of a gentleman； have been more admirably blended than in
this day's faithful adherence to the calling of which he is a
prosperous ornament； and in this day's manly advocacy of its cause。
Ladies and gentlemen； the resolution entrusted to me is：
〃That the Report of the provisional committee be adopted； and that
this meeting joyfully accepts； and gratefully acknowledges； the
gift of five acres of land referred to in the said Report。〃
It is manifest； I take it； that we are all agreed upon this
acceptance and acknowledgment； and that we all know very well that
this generous gift can inspire but one sentiment in the breast of
every lover of the dramatic art。 As it is far too often forgotten
by those who are indebted to it for many a restorative flight out
of this working…day world； that the silks； and velvets； and elegant
costumes of its professors must be every night exchanged for the
hideous coats and waistcoats of the present day； in which we have
now the honour and the misfortune of appearing before you； so when
we do meet with a nature so considerably generous as this donor's；
and do find an interest in the real life and struggles of the
people who have delighted it； so very spontaneous and so very
liberal； we have nothing to do but to accept and to admire； we have
no duty left but to 〃take the goods the gods provide us；〃 and to
make the best and the most of them。 Ladies and gentlemen； allow me
to remark； that in this mode of turning a good gift to the highest
account； lies the truest gratitude。
In reference to this； I could not but reflect； whilst Mr。 Kean was
speaking； that in an hour or two from this time； the spot upon
which we are now assembled will be transformed into the scene of a
crafty and a cruel bond。 I know that； a few hours hence； the Grand
Canal of Venice will flow； with picturesque fidelity； on the very
spot where I now stand dryshod； and that 〃the quality of mercy〃
will be beautifully stated to the Venetian Council by a learned
young doctor from Padua； on these very boards on which we now
enlarge upon the quality of charity and sympathy。 Knowing this； it
came into my mind to consider how different the real bond of to…day
from the ideal bond of to…night。 Now； all generosity； all
forbearance； all forgetfulness of little jealousies and unworthy
divisions； all united action for the general good。 Then； all
selfishness； all malignity； all cruelty； all revenge； and all evil；
… now all good。 Then； a bond to be broken within the compass of a
few … three or four … swiftly passing hours； … now； a bond to be
valid and of good effect generations hence。
Ladies and gentlemen； of the execution and delivery of this bond；
between this generous gentleman on the one hand； and the united
members of a too often and too long disunited art upon the other；
be you the witnesses。 Do you attest of everything that is liberal
and free in spirit； that is 〃so nominated in the bond；〃 and of
everything that is grudging； self…seeking； unjust； or unfair； that
it is by no sophistry ever to be found there。 I beg to move the
resolution which I have already had the pleasure of reading。
SPEECH： MANCHESTER； DECEMBER 3； 1858。
＇The following speech was delivered at the annual meeting of the
Institutional Association of Lancashire and Cheshire； held in the
Free…trade Hall on the evening of the above day； at which Mr。
Dickens presided。＇
IT has of late years become noticeable in England that the autumn
season produces an immense amount of public speaking。 I notice
that no sooner do the leaves begin to fall from the trees； than
pearls of great price begin to fall from the lips of the wise men
of the east； and north； and west； and south； and anybody may have
them by the bushel； for the picking up。 Now； whether the comet has
this year had a quickening influence on this crop； as it is by some
supposed to have had upon the corn…harvest and the vintage； I do
not know； but I do know that I have never observed the columns of
the newspapers to groan so heavily under a pressure of orations；
each vying with the other in the two qualities of having little or
nothing to do with the matter in hand； and of being always
addressed to any audience in the wide world rather than the
audience to which it was delivered。
The autumn having gone； and the winter come； I am so sanguine as to
hope that we in our proceedings may break through this enchanted
circle and deviate from this precedent； the rather as we have
something real to do； and are come together； I am sure； in all
plain fellowship and straightforwardness； to do it。 We have no
little straws of our own to throw up to show us which way any wind
blows； and we have no oblique biddings of our own to make for
anything outside this hall。
At the top of the public announcement of this meeting are the
words； 〃Institutional Association of Lancashire and Cheshire。〃
Will you allow me； in reference to the meaning of those words； to
present myself before you as the embodied spirit of ignorance
recently enlightened； and to put myself through a short； voluntary
examination as to the results of my studies。 To begin with： the
title did not suggest to me anything in the least like the truth。
I have been for some years pretty familiar with the terms；
〃Mechanics' Institutions；〃 and 〃Literary Societies；〃 but they have；
unfortunately； become too often associated in my mind with a body
of great pretensions； lame as to some important member or other；
which generally inhabits a new house much too large for it； which
is seldom paid for； and which takes the name of the mechanics most
grievously in vain； for I have usually seen a mechanic and a dodo
in that place together。
I； therefore； began my education； in respect of the meaning of this
title； very coldly indeed； saying to myself； 〃Here's the old
story。〃 But the perusal of a very few lines of my book soon gave
me to understand that it was not by any means the old story； in
short； that this association is expressly designed to correct the
old story； and to prevent its defects from becoming perpetuated。 I
learnt that this Institutional Association is the union； in one
central head； of one hundred and fourteen local Mechanics'
Institutions and Mutual Improvement Societies； at an expense of no
more than five shillings to each society； suggesting to all how
they can best communicate with and profit by the fountain…head and
one another； keeping their best aims steadily before them； advising
them how those aims can be best attained； giving a direct end and
object to what might otherwise easily become waste forces； and
sending among them not only oral teachers； but； better still； boxes
of excellent books； called 〃Free Itinerating Libraries。〃 I learned
that these books are constantly making the circuit of hundreds upon
hundreds of miles； and are constantly being read with inexpressible
relish by thousands upon thousands of toiling people； but that they
are never damaged or defaced by one rude hand。 These and other
like facts lead me to consider the immense importance of the fact；
that no little cluster of working men's cottages can arise in any
Lancashire or Cheshire valley； at the foot of any running stream
which enterprise hunts out for water…power； but it has its
educational friend and companion ready for it； willing for it；
acquainted with its thoughts and ways and turns of speech even
before it has come into existence。
Now； ladies and gentlemen； this is the main consideration that has
brought me here。 No central association at a distance could
possibly do for those working men what this local association does。
No central association at a distance could possibly understand them
as this local association does。 No central association at a
distance