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assure them that every one present … that every speaker … would
have a patient hearing； whatever his opinions might be。
＇The proceedings concluded with a very cordial and hearty vote of
thanks to Mr。 Dickens for taking the chair on the occasion。＇
Mr。 Dickens briefly returned thanks； and expressed the belief that
their very calm and temperate proceedings would finally result in
the establishment of relations of perfect amity between the
employers and the employed； and consequently conduce to the general
welfare of both。
SPEECH： LONDON； NOVEMBER 2； 1867。
＇On Saturday evening； November 2； 1867； a grand complimentary
farewell dinner was given to Mr。 Dickens at the Freemasons' Tavern
on the occasion of his revisiting the United States of America。
Lord Lytton officiated as chairman； and proposed as a toast … 〃A
Prosperous Voyage； Health； and Long Life to our Illustrious Guest
and Countryman； Charles Dickens〃。 The toast was drunk with all the
honours； and one cheer more。 Mr。 Dickens then rose； and spoke as
follows：＇
NO thanks that I can offer you can express my sense of my reception
by this great assemblage； or can in the least suggest to you how
deep the glowing words of my friend the chairman； and your
acceptance of them； have sunk into my heart。 But both combined
have so greatly shaken the composure which I am used to command
before an audience； that I hope you may observe in me some traces
of an eloquence more expressive than the richest words。 To say
that I am fervently grateful to you is to say nothing； to say that
I can never forget this beautiful sight； is to say nothing； to say
that it brings upon me a rush of emotion not only in the present；
but in the thought of its remembrance in the future by those who
are dearest to me； is to say nothing； but to feel all this for the
moment； even almost to pain； is very much indeed。 Mercutio says of
the wound in his breast； dealt him by the hand of a foe； that …
〃'Tis not so deep as a well； nor so wide as a church door； but 'tis
enough； 'twill serve。〃 I may say of the wound in my breast； newly
dealt to me by the hands of my friends； that it is deeper than the
soundless sea； and wider than the whole Catholic Church。 I may
safely add that it has for the moment almost stricken me dumb。 I
should be more than human； and I assure you I am very human indeed；
if I could look around upon this brilliant representative company
and not feel greatly thrilled and stirred by the presence of so
many brother artists； not only in literature； but also in the
sister arts； especially painting； among whose professors living and
unhappily dead； are many of my oldest and best friends。 I hope
that I may； without presumption； regard this thronging of my
brothers around me as a testimony on their part that they believe
that the cause of art generally has been safe in my keeping； and
that it has never been falsely dealt with by me。 Your resounding
cheers just now would have been but so many cruel reproaches to me
if I could not here declare that； from the earliest days of my
career down to this proud night； I have always tried to be true to
my calling。 Never unduly to assert it； on the one hand； and never；
on any pretence or consideration； to permit it to be patronized in
my person； has been the steady endeavour of my life； and I have
occasionally been vain enough to hope that I may leave its social
position in England better than I found it。 Similarly； and equally
I hope without presumption； I trust that I may take this general
representation of the public here； through so many orders；
pursuits； and degrees； as a token that the public believe that；
with a host of imperfections and shortcomings on my head； I have as
a writer； in my soul and conscience； tried to be as true to them as
they have ever been true to me。 And here； in reference to the
inner circle of the arts and the outer circle of the public； I feel
it a duty to…night to offer two remarks。 I have in my duty at odd
times heard a great deal about literary sets and cliques； and
coteries and barriers； about keeping this man up； and keeping that
man down； about sworn disciples and sworn unbelievers； and mutual
admiration societies； and I know not what other dragons in the
upward path。 I began to tread it when I was very young； without
influence； without money； without companion； introducer； or
adviser； and I am bound to put in evidence in this place that I
never lighted on these dragons yet。 So have I heard in my day； at
divers other odd times； much generally to the effect that the
English people have little or no love of art for its own sake； and
that they do not greatly care to acknowledge or do honour to the
artist。 My own experience has uniformly been exactly the reverse。
I can say that of my countrymen； though I cannot say that of my
country。
And now passing to the immediate occasion of your doing me this
great honour； the story of my going again to America is very easily
and briefly told。 Since I was there before a vast and entirely new
generation has arisen in the United States。 Since I was there
before most of the best known of my books have been written and
published； the new generation and the books have come together and
have kept together； until at length numbers of those who have so
widely and constantly read me； naturally desiring a little variety
in the relationship between us； have expressed a strong wish that I
should read myself。 This wish； at first conveyed to me through
public channels and business channels； has gradually become
enforced by an immense accumulation of letters from individuals and
associations of individuals； all expressing in the same hearty；
homely； cordial unaffected way； a kind of personal interest in me …
I had almost said a kind of personal affection for me； which I am
sure you would agree with me it would be dull insensibility on my
part not to prize。 Little by little this pressure has become so
great that； although； as Charles Lamb says； my household gods
strike a terribly deep root； I have torn them from their places；
and this day week； at this hour； shall be upon the sea。 You will
readily conceive that I am inspired besides by a natural desire to
see for myself the astonishing change and progress of a quarter of
a century over there； to grasp the hands of many faithful friends
whom I left there； to see the faces of the multitude of new friends
upon whom I have never looked； and last； not least； to use my best
endeavour to lay down a third cable of intercommunication and
alliance between the old world and the new。 Twelve years ago； when
Heaven knows I little thought I should ever be bound upon the
voyage which now lies before me； I wrote in that form of my
writings which obtains by far the most extensive circulation； these
words of the American nation：… 〃I know full well； whatever little
motes my beamy eyes may have descried in theirs； that they are a
kind； large…hearted； generous； and great people。〃 In that faith I
am going to see them again； in that faith I shall； please God；
return from them in the spring； in that same faith to live and to
die。 I told you in the beginning that I could not thank you
enough； and Heaven knows I have most thoroughly kept my word。 If I
may quote one other short sentence from myself； let it imply all
that I have left unsaid； and yet most deeply feel。 Let it； putting
a girdle round the earth； comprehend both sides of the Atlantic at
once in this moment； and say； as Tiny Tim observes； 〃God bless us
every one。〃
SPEECH： BOSTON； APRIL 8； 1868。
＇Mr。 Dickens gave his last Reading at Boston； on the above date。
On his entrance a surprise awaited him。 His reading…stand had been
decorated with flowers and palm…leaves by some of the ladies of the
city。 He acknowledged this graceful tribute in the following
words：… 〃Before allowing Dr。 Marigold to tell his story in his own
peculiar way； I kiss the kind； fair hands unknown； which have so
beautifully decorated my table this evening。〃 After the Reading；
Mr。 Dickens attempted in vain to retire。 Persistent hands demanded
〃one word more。〃 Returning to his desk； pale； with a tear in his
eye； that found its way to his voice； he spoke as follows：…＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … My gracious and generous welcome in
America； which can never be obliterated from my remembrance； began
here。 My departure begins here； too； for I assure you that I have
never until this moment really felt that I am going away。 In this
brief life of ours； it is sad to do almost anything for the last
time； and I cannot conceal from you； although my face will so soon
be turned towards my native land； and to all that makes it dear；
that it is a sad consideration with me that in a very few moments
from this time； this brilliant hall and all that it contains； will
fade from my view … for ever