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who was afraid of anything must be a scoundrel； sir。〃 By no means
binding myself to this opinion … though admitting that the man who
is afraid of a newspaper will generally be found to be rather
something like it； I must still freely own that I should approach
my Parliamentary debate with infinite fear and trembling if it were
so unskilfully served up for my breakfast。 Ever since the time
when the old man and his son took their donkey home； which were the
old Greek days； I believe； and probably ever since the time when
the donkey went into the ark … perhaps he did not like his
accommodation there … but certainly from that time downwards； he
has objected to go in any direction required of him … from the
remotest periods it has been found impossible to please everybody。
I do not for a moment seek to conceal that I know this Institution
has been objected to。 As an open fact challenging the freest
discussion and inquiry； and seeking no sort of shelter or favour
but what it can win； it has nothing； I apprehend； but itself； to
urge against objection。 No institution conceived in perfect
honesty and good faith has a right to object to being questioned to
any extent； and any institution so based must be in the end the
better for it。 Moreover； that this society has been questioned in
quarters deserving of the most respectful attention I take to be an
indisputable fact。 Now； I for one have given that respectful
attention； and I have come out of the discussion to where you see
me。 The whole circle of the arts is pervaded by institutions
between which and this I can descry no difference。 The painters'
art has four or five such institutions。 The musicians' art； so
generously and charmingly represented here； has likewise several
such institutions。 In my own art there is one； concerning the
details of which my noble friend the president of the society and
myself have torn each other's hair to a considerable extent； and
which I would； if I could； assimilate more nearly to this。 In the
dramatic art there are four； and I never yet heard of any objection
to their principle； except； indeed； in the cases of some famous
actors of large gains； who having through the whole period of their
successes positively refused to establish a right in them； became；
in their old age and decline； repentant suppliants for their
bounty。 Is it urged against this particular Institution that it is
objectionable because a parliamentary reporter； for instance； might
report a subscribing M。P。 in large； and a non…subscribing M。P。 in
little？ Apart from the sweeping nature of this charge； which； it
is to be observed； lays the unfortunate member and the unfortunate
reporter under pretty much the same suspicion … apart from this
consideration； I reply that it is notorious in all newspaper
offices that every such man is reported according to the position
he can gain in the public eye； and according to the force and
weight of what he has to say。 And if there were ever to be among
the members of this society one so very foolish to his brethren；
and so very dishonourable to himself； as venally to abuse his
trust； I confidently ask those here； the best acquainted with
journalism； whether they believe it possible that any newspaper so
ill…conducted as to fail instantly to detect him could possibly
exist as a thriving enterprise for one single twelvemonth？ No；
ladies and gentlemen； the blundering stupidity of such an offence
would have no chance against the acute sagacity of newspaper
editors。 But I will go further； and submit to you that its
commission； if it be to be dreaded at all； is far more likely on
the part of some recreant camp…follower of a scattered； disunited；
and half…recognized profession； than when there is a public opinion
established in it； by the union of all classes of its members for
the common good： the tendency of which union must in the nature of
things be to raise the lower members of the press towards the
higher； and never to bring the higher members to the lower level。
I hope I may be allowed in the very few closing words that I feel a
desire to say in remembrance of some circumstances； rather special；
attending my present occupation of this chair； to give those words
something of a personal tone。 I am not here advocating the case of
a mere ordinary client of whom I have little or no knowledge。 I
hold a brief to…night for my brothers。 I went into the gallery of
the House of Commons as a parliamentary reporter when I was a boy
not eighteen； and I left it … I can hardly believe the inexorable
truth … nigh thirty years ago。 I have pursued the calling of a
reporter under circumstances of which many of my brethren at home
in England here； many of my modern successors； can form no adequate
conception。 I have often transcribed for the printer； from my
shorthand notes； important public speeches in which the strictest
accuracy was required； and a mistake in which would have been to a
young man severely compromising； writing on the palm of my hand； by
the light of a dark lantern； in a post…chaise and four； galloping
through a wild country； and through the dead of the night； at the
then surprising rate of fifteen miles an hour。 The very last time
I was at Exeter； I strolled into the castle yard there to identify；
for the amusement of a friend； the spot on which I once 〃took；〃 as
we used to call it； an election speech of my noble friend Lord
Russell； in the midst of a lively fight maintained by all the
vagabonds in that division of the county； and under such a pelting
rain； that I remember two goodnatured colleagues； who chanced to be
at leisure； held a pocket…handkerchief over my notebook； after the
manner of a state canopy in an ecclesiastical procession。 I have
worn my knees by writing on them on the old back row of the old
gallery of the old House of Commons； and I have worn my feet by
standing to write in a preposterous pen in the old House of Lords；
where we used to be huddled together like so many sheep … kept in
waiting； say； until the woolsack might want re…stuffing。 Returning
home from excited political meetings in the country to the waiting
press in London； I do verily believe I have been upset in almost
every description of vehicle known in this country。 I have been；
in my time； belated on miry by…roads； towards the small hours；
forty or fifty miles from London； in a wheelless carriage； with
exhausted horses and drunken postboys； and have got back in time
for publication； to be received with never…forgotten compliments by
the late Mr。 Black； coming in the broadest of Scotch from the
broadest of hearts I ever knew。
Ladies and gentlemen； I mention these trivial things as an
assurance to you that I never have forgotten the fascination of
that old pursuit。 The pleasure that I used to feel in the rapidity
and dexterity of its exercise has never faded out of my breast。
Whatever little cunning of hand or head I took to it； or acquired
in it； I have so retained as that I fully believe I could resume it
to…morrow； very little the worse from long disuse。 To this present
year of my life； when I sit in this hall； or where not； hearing a
dull speech； the phenomenon does occur … I sometimes beguile the
tedium of the moment by mentally following the speaker in the old；
old way； and sometimes； if you can believe me； I even find my hand
going on the table…cloth； taking an imaginary note of it all。
Accept these little truths as a confirmation of what I know； as a
confirmation of my undying interest in this old calling。 Accept
them as a proof that my feeling for the location of my youth is not
a sentiment taken up to…night to be thrown away to…morrow … but is
a faithful sympathy which is a part of myself。 I verily believe …
I am sure … that if I had never quitted my old calling I should
have been foremost and zealous in the interests of this
Institution； believing it to be a sound； a wholesome； and a good
one。 Ladies and gentlemen； I am to propose to you to drink
〃Prosperity to the Newspaper Press Fund；〃 with which toast I will
connect； as to its acknowledgment； a name that has shed new
brilliancy on even the foremost newspaper in the world … the
illustrious name of Mr。 Russell。
SPEECH： KNEBWORTH； JULY 29； 1865。
＇On the above date the members of the 〃Guild of Literature and Art〃
proceeded to the neighbourhood of Stevenage； near the magnificent
seat of the President； Lord Lytton； to inspect three houses built
in the Gothic style； on the ground given by him for the purpose。
After their survey； the party drove to Knebworth to partake of the
hospitality of Lord Lytton。 Mr。 Dickens； who was one of the
guests； proposed the health of the host in the following words：＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … It was said by a very sagacious person；
whose authority I am sure my friend of many years will not impugn；
seeing that he was name