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had some few not altogether obscure or unknown personal friends in
that assembly； seeing that I had some little association with； and
knowledge of； a certain obscure peer lately known in England by the
name of Lord Brougham； seeing that I regard with some admiration
and affection another obscure peer wholly unknown in literary
circles； called Lord Lytton； seeing also that I have had for some
years some slight admiration of the extraordinary judicial
properties and amazingly acute mind of a certain Lord Chief Justice
popularly known by the name of Cockburn； and also seeing that there
is no man in England whom I respect more in his public capacity；
whom I love more in his private capacity； or from whom I have
received more remarkable proofs of his honour and love of
literature than another obscure nobleman called Lord Russell；
taking these circumstances into consideration； I was rather amazed
by my noble friend's accusation。 When I asked him； on his sitting
down； what amazing devil possessed him to make this charge； he
replied that he had never forgotten the days of Lord Verisopht。
Then； ladies and gentlemen； I understood it all。 Because it is a
remarkable fact that in the days when that depreciative and
profoundly unnatural character was invented there was no Lord
Houghton in the House of Lords。 And there was in the House of
Commons a rather indifferent member called Richard Monckton Milnes。
Ladies and gentlemen； to conclude； for the present； I close with
the other charge of my noble friend； and here I am more serious；
and I may be allowed perhaps to express my seriousness in half a
dozen plain words。 When I first took literature as my profession
in England； I calmly resolved within myself that； whether I
succeeded or whether I failed； literature should be my sole
profession。 It appeared to me at that time that it was not so well
understood in England as it was in other countries that literature
was a dignified profession； by which any man might stand or fall。
I made a compact with myself that in my person literature should
stand； and by itself； of itself； and for itself； and there is no
consideration on earth which would induce me to break that bargain。
Ladies and gentlemen； finally allow me to thank you for your great
kindness； and for the touching earnestness with which you have
drunk my health。 I should have thanked you with all my heart if it
had not so unfortunately happened that； for many sufficient
reasons； I lost my heart at between half…past six and half…past
seven to…night。
SPEECH： THE OXFORD AND HARVARD BOAT RACE。 SYDENHAM； AUGUST 30；
1869。
＇The International University Boat Race having taken place on
August 27； the London Rowing Club invited the Crews to a Dinner at
the Crystal Palace on the following Monday。 The dinner was
followed by a grand display of pyrotechnics。 Mr。 Dickens； in
proposing the health of the Crews； made the following speech：＇
GENTLEMEN； flushed with fireworks； I can warrant myself to you as
about to imitate those gorgeous illusions by making a brief spirt
and then dying out。 And； first of all； as an invited visitor of
the London Rowing Club on this most interesting occasion； I will
beg； in the name of the other invited visitors present … always
excepting the distinguished guests who are the cause of our meeting
… to thank the president for the modesty and the courtesy with
which he has deputed to one of us the most agreeable part of his
evening's duty。 It is the more graceful in him to do this because
he can hardly fail to see that he might very easily do it himself；
as this is a case of all others in which it is according to good
taste and the very principles of things that the great social vice；
speech…making； should hide it diminished head before the great
social virtue action。 However； there is an ancient story of a lady
who threw her glove into an arena full of wild beasts to tempt her
attendant lover to climb down and reclaim it。 The lover； rightly
inferring from the action the worth of the lady； risked his life
for the glove； and then threw it rightly in her face as a token of
his eternal adieu。 I take up the President's glove； on the
contrary； as a proof of his much higher worth； and of my real
interest in the cause in which it was thrown down； and I now
profess my readiness to do even injustice to the duty which he has
assigned me。
Gentlemen； a very remarkable and affecting volume was published in
the United States within a short time before my last visit to that
hospitable land； containing ninety…five biographies of young men；
for the most part well…born and well nurtured； and trained in
various peaceful pursuits of life； who； when the flag of their
country waved them from those quiet paths in which they were
seeking distinction of various kinds； took arms in the dread civil
war which elicited so much bravery on both sides； and died in the
defence of their country。 These great spirits displayed
extraordinary aptitude in the acquisition； even in the invention；
of military tactics； in the combining and commanding of great
masses of men； in surprising readiness of self…resource for the
general good； in humanely treating the sick and the wounded； and in
winning to themselves a very rare amount of personal confidence and
trust。 They had all risen to be distinguished soldiers； they had
all done deeds of great heroism； they had all combined with their
valour and self…devotion a serene cheerfulness； a quiet modesty；
and a truly Christian spirit； and they had all been educated in one
school … Harvard University。
Gentlemen； nothing was more remarkable in these fine descendants of
our forefathers than the invincible determination with which they
fought against odds； and the undauntable spirit with which they
resisted defeat。 I ask you； who will say after last Friday that
Harvard University is less true to herself in peace than she was in
war？ I ask you； who will not recognise in her boat's crew the
leaven of her soldiers； and who does not feel that she has now a
greater right than ever to be proud of her sons； and take these
sons to her breast when they return with resounding acclamations？
It is related of the Duke of Wellington that he once told a lady
who foolishly protested that she would like to see a great victory
that there was only one thing worse than a great victory； and that
was a great defeat。
But； gentlemen； there is another sense in which to use the term a
great defeat。 Such is the defeat of a handful of daring fellows
who make a preliminary dash of three or four thousand stormy miles
to meet great conquerors on their own domain … who do not want the
stimulus of friends and home； but who sufficiently hear and feel
their own dear land in the shouts and cheers of another … and who
strive to the last with a desperate tenacity that makes the beating
of them a new feather in the proudest cap。 Gentlemen； you agree
with me that such a defeat is a great； noble part of a manly；
wholesome action； and I say that it is in the essence and life…
blood of such a defeat to become at last sure victory。
Now； gentlemen； you know perfectly well the toast I am going to
propose； and you know equally well that in thus glancing first
towards our friends of the white stripes； I merely anticipate and
respond to the instinctive courtesy of Oxford towards our brothers
from a distance … a courtesy extending； I hope； and I do not doubt；
to any imaginable limits except allowing them to take the first
place in last Friday's match； if they could by any human and
honourable means be kept in the second。 I will not avail myself of
the opportunity provided for me by the absence of the greater part
of the Oxford crew … indeed； of all but one； and that； its most
modest and devoted member … I will not avail myself of the golden
opportunity considerately provided for me to say a great deal in
honour of the Oxford crew。 I know that the gentleman who attends
here attends under unusual anxieties and difficulties； and that if
he were less in earnest his filial affection could not possibly
allow him to be here。
It is therefore enough for me； gentlemen； and enough for you； that
I should say here； and now； that we all unite with one accord in
regarding the Oxford crew as the pride and flower of England … and
that we should consider it very weak indeed to set anything short
of England's very best in opposition to or competition with
America； though it certainly must be confessed … I am bound in
common justice and honour to admit it … it must be confessed in
disparagement of the Oxford men； as I heard a discontented
gentleman remark … last Friday night； about ten o'clock； when he
was baiting a very small horse in the Strand … he was one of eleven
with pipes in a chaise cart … I say it must be admitted in
disparagement of the Oxford men on the authority