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but one heart beating between them and it。 In particular； I would
most especially entreat them to observe that nothing will ever be
further from this Association's mind than the impertinence of
patronage。 The prizes that it gives； and the certificates that it
gives； are mere admiring assurances of sympathy with so many
striving brothers and sisters； and are only valuable for the spirit
in which they are given； and in which they are received。 The
prizes are money prizes； simply because the Institution does not
presume to doubt that persons who have so well governed themselves；
know best how to make a little money serviceable … because it would
be a shame to treat them like grown…up babies by laying it out for
them； and because it knows it is given； and knows it is taken； in
perfect clearness of purpose； perfect trustfulness； and； above all；
perfect independence。
Ladies and Gentlemen； reverting once more to the whole collective
audience before me； I will； in another two minutes； release the
hold which your favour has given me on your attention。 Of the
advantages of knowledge I have said； and I shall say； nothing。 Of
the certainty with which the man who grasps it under difficulties
rises in his own respect and in usefulness to the community； I have
said； and I shall say； nothing。 In the city of Manchester； in the
county of Lancaster； both of them remarkable for self…taught men；
that were superfluous indeed。 For the same reason I rigidly
abstain from putting together any of the shattered fragments of
that poor clay image of a parrot； which was once always saying；
without knowing why； or what it meant； that knowledge was a
dangerous thing。 I should as soon think of piecing together the
mutilated remains of any wretched Hindoo who has been blown from an
English gun。 Both； creatures of the past； have been … as my friend
Mr。 Carlyle vigorously has it … 〃blasted into space；〃 and there； as
to this world； is an end of them。
So I desire； in conclusion； only to sound two strings。 In the
first place； let me congratulate you upon the progress which real
mutual improvement societies are making at this time in your
neighbourhood； through the noble agency of individual employers and
their families； whom you can never too much delight to honour。
Elsewhere； through the agency of the great railway companies； some
of which are bestirring themselves in this matter with a gallantry
and generosity deserving of all praise。 Secondly and lastly； let
me say one word out of my own personal heart； which is always very
near to it in this connexion。 Do not let us； in the midst of the
visible objects of nature； whose workings we can tell of in
figures； surrounded by machines that can be made to the thousandth
part of an inch； acquiring every day knowledge which can be proved
upon a slate or demonstrated by a microscope … do not let us； in
the laudable pursuit of the facts that surround us； neglect the
fancy and the imagination which equally surround us as a part of
the great scheme。 Let the child have its fables； let the man or
woman into which it changes； always remember those fables tenderly。
Let numerous graces and ornaments that cannot be weighed and
measured； and that seem at first sight idle enough； continue to
have their places about us； be we never so wise。 The hardest head
may co…exist with the softest heart。 The union and just balance of
those two is always a blessing to the possessor； and always a
blessing to mankind。 The Divine Teacher was as gentle and
considerate as He was powerful and wise。 You all know how He could
still the raging of the sea； and could hush a little child。 As the
utmost results of the wisdom of men can only be at last to help to
raise this earth to that condition to which His doctrine； untainted
by the blindnesses and passions of men； would have exalted it long
ago； so let us always remember that He set us the example of
blending the understanding and the imagination； and that； following
it ourselves； we tread in His steps； and help our race on to its
better and best days。 Knowledge； as all followers of it must know；
has a very limited power indeed； when it informs the head alone；
but when it informs the head and the heart too； it has a power over
life and death； the body and the soul； and dominates the universe。
SPEECH： COVENTRY； DECEMBER 4； 1858。
＇On the above evening； a public dinner was held at the Castle
Hotel； on the occasion of the presentation to Mr。 Charles Dickens
of a gold watch； as a mark of gratitude for the reading of his
Christmas Carol； given in December of the previous year； in aid of
the funds of the Coventry Institute。 The chair was taken by C。 W。
Hoskyns； Esq。 Mr。 Dickens ackowledged the testimonial in the
following words：＇
MR。 CHAIRMAN； Mr。 Vice…chairman； and Gentlemen； … I hope your minds
will be greatly relieved by my assuring you that it is one of the
rules of my life never to make a speech about myself。 If I
knowingly did so； under any circumstances； it would be least of all
under such circumstances as these； when its effect on my
acknowledgment of your kind regard； and this pleasant proof of it；
would be to give me a certain constrained air； which I fear would
contrast badly with your greeting； so cordial； so unaffected； so
earnest； and so true。 Furthermore； your Chairman has decorated the
occasion with a little garland of good sense； good feeling； and
good taste； so that I am sure that any attempt at additional
ornament would be almost an impertinence。
Therefore I will at once say how earnestly； how fervently； and how
deeply I feel your kindness。 This watch； with which you have
presented me； shall be my companion in my hours of sedentary
working at home； and in my wanderings abroad。 It shall never be
absent from my side； and it shall reckon off the labours of my
future days； and I can assure you that after this night the object
of those labours will not less than before be to uphold the right
and to do good。 And when I have done with time and its
measurement； this watch shall belong to my children； and as I have
seven boys； and as they have all begun to serve their country in
various ways； or to elect into what distant regions they shall
roam； it is not only possible； but probable； that this little voice
will be heard scores of years hence； who knows？ in some yet
unfounded city in the wilds of Australia； or communicating
Greenwich time to Coventry Street； Japan。
Once again； and finally； I thank you； and from my heart of hearts；
I can assure you that the memory of to…night； and of your
picturesque and interesting city； will never be absent from my
mind； and I can never more hear the lightest mention of the name of
Coventry without having inspired in my breast sentiments of unusual
emotion and unusual attachment。
＇Later in the evening； in proposing the health of the Chairman； Mr。
Dickens said：＇
THERE may be a great variety of conflicting opinions with regard to
farming； and especially with reference to the management of a clay
farm； but； however various opinions as to the merits of a clay farm
may be； there can be but one opinion as to the merits of a clay
farmer； … and it is the health of that distinguished agriculturist
which I have to propose。
In my ignorance of the subject； I am bound to say that it may be；
for anything I know； indeed I am ready to admit that it IS；
exceedingly important that a clay farm should go for a number of
years to waste； but I claim some knowledge as to the management of
a clay farmer； and I positively object to his ever lying fallow。
In the hope that this very rich and teeming individual may speedily
be ploughed up； and that； we shall gather into our barns and store…
houses the admirable crop of wisdom； which must spring up when ever
he is sown； I take leave to propose his health； begging to assure
him that the kind manner in which he offered to me your very
valuable present； I can never forget。
SPEECH： LONDON； MARCH 29； 1862。
＇At a Dinner of the Artists' General Benevolent Institution； the
following Address was delivered by Mr。 Charles Dickens from the
chair。…＇
SEVEN or eight years ago； without the smallest expectation of ever
being called upon to fill the chair at an anniversary festival of
the Artists' General Benevolent Institution； and without the
remotest reference to such an occasion； I selected the
administration of that Charity as the model on which I desired that
another should be reformed； both as regarded the mode in which the
relief was afforded； and the singular economy with which its funds
were administered。 As a proof of the latter quality during the
past year； the cost of distributing 1；126 pounds among the
recipients of the bounty of the Charity amounted to little more
than 100 pounds； inclusive of all office charges and expenses。