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forests； and deep solitudes of the far west。 Many a sturdy hand；
hard with the axe and spade； and browned by the summer's sun； has
taken up the pen； and written to me a little history of domestic
joy or sorrow； always coupled； I am proud to say； with something of
interest in that little tale； or some comfort or happiness derived
from it； and my correspondent has always addressed me； not as a
writer of books for sale； resident some four or five thousand miles
away； but as a friend to whom he might freely impart the joys and
sorrows of his own fireside。 Many a mother … I could reckon them
now by dozens； not by units … has done the like； and has told me
how she lost such a child at such a time； and where she lay buried；
and how good she was； and how； in this or that respect； she
resembles Nell。 I do assure you that no circumstance of my life
has given me one hundredth part of the gratification I have derived
from this source。 I was wavering at the time whether or not to
wind up my Clock； and come and see this country； and this decided
me。 I felt as if it were a positive duty； as if I were bound to
pack up my clothes； and come and see my friends； and even now I
have such an odd sensation in connexion with these things； that you
have no chance of spoiling me。 I feel as though we were agreeing …
as indeed we are； if we substitute for fictitious characters the
classes from which they are drawn … about third parties； in whom we
had a common interest。 At every new act of kindness on your part；
I say to myself 〃That's for Oliver； I should not wonder if that was
meant for Smike； I have no doubt that is intended for Nell；〃 and so
I become a much happier； certainly； but a more sober and retiring
man than ever I was before。
Gentlemen； talking of my friends in America； brings me back；
naturally and of course； to you。 Coming back to you； and being
thereby reminded of the pleasure we have in store in hearing the
gentlemen who sit about me； I arrive by the easiest； though not by
the shortest course in the world； at the end of what I have to say。
But before I sit down； there is one topic on which I am desirous to
lay particular stress。 It has； or should have； a strong interest
for us all； since to its literature every country must look for one
great means of refining and improving its people； and one great
source of national pride and honour。 You have in America great
writers … great writers … who will live in all time； and are as
familiar to our lips as household words。 Deriving （as they all do
in a greater or less degree； in their several walks） their
inspiration from the stupendous country that gave them birth； they
diffuse a better knowledge of it； and a higher love for it； all
over the civilized world。 I take leave to say； in the presence of
some of those gentleman； that I hope the time is not far distant
when they； in America； will receive of right some substantial
profit and return in England from their labours； and when we； in
England； shall receive some substantial profit and return in
America for ours。 Pray do not misunderstand me。 Securing to
myself from day to day the means of an honourable subsistence； I
would rather have the affectionate regard of my fellow men； than I
would have heaps and mines of gold。 But the two things do not seem
to me incompatible。 They cannot be； for nothing good is
incompatible with justice； there must be an international
arrangement in this respect： England has done her part； and I am
confident that the time is not far distant when America will do
hers。 It becomes the character of a great country； FIRSTLY；
because it is justice； SECONDLY； because without it you never can
have； and keep； a literature of your own。
Gentlemen； I thank you with feelings of gratitude； such as are not
often awakened； and can never be expressed。 As I understand it to
be the pleasant custom here to finish with a toast； I would beg to
give you： AMERICA AND ENGLAND； and may they never have any
division but the Atlantic between them。
SPEECH： FEBRUARY 7； 1842。
GENTLEMEN； … To say that I thank you for the earnest manner in
which you have drunk the toast just now so eloquently proposed to
you … to say that I give you back your kind wishes and good
feelings with more than compound interest； and that I feel how dumb
and powerless the best acknowledgments would be beside such genial
hospitality as yours； is nothing。 To say that in this winter
season； flowers have sprung up in every footstep's length of the
path which has brought me here； that no country ever smiled more
pleasantly than yours has smiled on me； and that I have rarely
looked upon a brighter summer prospect than that which lies before
me now； is nothing。
But it is something to be no stranger in a strange place … to feel；
sitting at a board for the first time； the ease and affection of an
old guest； and to be at once on such intimate terms with the family
as to have a homely； genuine interest in its every member … it is；
I say； something to be in this novel and happy frame of mind。 And；
as it is of your creation； and owes its being to you； I have no
reluctance in urging it as a reason why； in addressing you； I
should not so much consult the form and fashion of my speech； as I
should employ that universal language of the heart； which you； and
such as you； best teach； and best can understand。 Gentlemen； in
that universal language … common to you in America； and to us in
England； as that younger mother…tongue； which； by the means of； and
through the happy union of our two great countries； shall be spoken
ages hence； by land and sea； over the wide surface of the globe … I
thank you。
I had occasion to say the other night in Boston； as I have more
than once had occasion to remark before； that it is not easy for an
author to speak of his own books。 If the task be a difficult one
at any time； its difficulty； certainly； is not diminished when a
frequent recurrence to the same theme has left one nothing new to
say。 Still； I feel that； in a company like this； and especially
after what has been said by the President； that I ought not to pass
lightly over those labours of love； which； if they had no other
merit； have been the happy means of bringing us together。
It has been often observed； that you cannot judge of an author's
personal character from his writings。 It may be that you cannot。
I think it very likely； for many reasons； that you cannot。 But； at
least； a reader will rise from the perusal of a book with some
defined and tangible idea of the writer's moral creed and broad
purposes； if he has any at all； and it is probable enough that he
may like to have this idea confirmed from the author's lips； or
dissipated by his explanation。 Gentlemen； my moral creed … which
is a very wide and comprehensive one； and includes all sects and
parties … is very easily summed up。 I have faith； and I wish to
diffuse faith in the existence … yes； of beautiful things； even in
those conditions of society； which are so degenerate； degraded； and
forlorn； that； at first sight； it would seem as though they could
not be described but by a strange and terrible reversal of the
words of Scripture； 〃God said； Let there be light； and there was
none。〃 I take it that we are born； and that we hold our
sympathies； hopes； and energies； in trust for the many； and not for
the few。 That we cannot hold in too strong a light of disgust and
contempt； before the view of others； all meanness； falsehood；
cruelty； and oppression； of every grade and kind。 Above all； that
nothing is high； because it is in a high place； and that nothing is
low； because it is in a low one。 This is the lesson taught us in
the great book of nature。 This is the lesson which may be read；
alike in the bright track of the stars； and in the dusty course of
the poorest thing that drags its tiny length upon the ground。 This
is the lesson ever uppermost in the thoughts of that inspired man；
who tells us that there are
〃Tongues in the trees； books in the running brooks；
Sermons in stones； and good in everything。〃
Gentlemen； keeping these objects steadily before me； I am at no
loss to refer your favour and your generous hospitality back to the
right source。 While I know； on the one hand； that if； instead of
being what it is； this were a land of tyranny and wrong； I should
care very little for your smiles or frowns； so I am sure upon the
other； that if； instead of being what I am； I were the greatest
genius that ever trod the earth； and had diverted myself for the
oppression and degradation of mankind； you would despise and reject
me。 I hope you will； whenever； through such means； I give you the
opportunity。 Trust me； that； whenever you give me the like
occasion； I will return the compliment with interest。
Gentlemen； as I have no secrets from you； in the spirit o