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occasion； I will return the compliment with interest。
Gentlemen； as I have no secrets from you； in the spirit of
confidence you have engendered between us； and as I have made a
kind of compact with myself that I never will； while I remain in
America； omit an opportunity of referring to a topic in which I and
all others of my class on both sides of the water are equally
interested … equally interested； there is no difference between us；
I would beg leave to whisper in your ear two words： INTERNATIONAL
COPYRIGHT。 I use them in no sordid sense； believe me； and those
who know me best； best know that。 For myself； I would rather that
my children； coming after me； trudged in the mud； and knew by the
general feeling of society that their father was beloved； and had
been of some use； than I would have them ride in their carriages；
and know by their banker's books that he was rich。 But I do not
see； I confess； why one should be obliged to make the choice； or
why fame； besides playing that delightful REVEIL for which she is
so justly celebrated； should not blow out of her trumpet a few
notes of a different kind from those with which she has hitherto
contented herself。
It was well observed the other night by a beautiful speaker； whose
words went to the heart of every man who heard him； that； if there
had existed any law in this respect； Scott might not have sunk
beneath the mighty pressure on his brain； but might have lived to
add new creatures of his fancy to the crowd which swarm about you
in your summer walks； and gather round your winter evening hearths。
As I listened to his words； there came back； fresh upon me； that
touching scene in the great man's life； when he lay upon his couch；
surrounded by his family； and listened； for the last time； to the
rippling of the river he had so well loved； over its stony bed。 I
pictured him to myself； faint； wan； dying； crushed both in mind and
body by his honourable struggle； and hovering round him the
phantoms of his own imagination … Waverley； Ravenswood； Jeanie
Deans； Rob Roy； Caleb Balderstone； Dominie Sampson … all the
familiar throng … with cavaliers； and Puritans； and Highland chiefs
innumerable overflowing the chamber； and fading away in the dim
distance beyond。 I pictured them； fresh from traversing the world；
and hanging down their heads in shame and sorrow； that； from all
those lands into which they had carried gladness； instruction； and
delight for millions； they brought him not one friendly hand to
help to raise him from that sad； sad bed。 No； nor brought him from
that land in which his own language was spoken； and in every house
and hut of which his own books were read in his own tongue； one
grateful dollar…piece to buy a garland for his grave。 Oh！ if every
man who goes from here； as many do； to look upon that tomb in
Dryburgh Abbey； would but remember this； and bring the recollection
home！
Gentlemen； I thank you again； and once again； and many times to
that。 You have given me a new reason for remembering this day；
which is already one of mark in my calendar； it being my birthday；
and you have given those who are nearest and dearest to me a new
reason for recollecting it with pride and interest。 Heaven knows
that； although I should grow ever so gray； I shall need nothing to
remind me of this epoch in my life。 But I am glad to think that
from this time you are inseparably connected with every recurrence
of this day； and； that on its periodical return； I shall always； in
imagination； have the unfading pleasure of entertaining you as my
guests； in return for the gratification you have afforded me to…
night。
SPEECH： NEW YORK； FEBRUARY 18； 1842。
＇At a dinner presided over by Washington Irving； when nearly eight
hundred of the most distinguished citizens of New York were
present； 〃Charles Dickens； the Literary Guest of the Nation；〃
having been 〃proferred as a sentiment〃 by the Chairman； Mr。 Dickens
rose； and spoke as follows：＇
GENTLEMEN； … I don't know how to thank you … I really don't know
how。 You would naturally suppose that my former experience would
have given me this power； and that the difficulties in my way would
have been diminished； but I assure you the fact is exactly the
reverse； and I have completely baulked the ancient proverb that 〃a
rolling stone gathers no moss；〃 and in my progress to this city I
have collected such a weight of obligations and acknowledgment … I
have picked up such an enormous mass of fresh moss at every point；
and was so struck by the brilliant scenes of Monday night； that I
thought I could never by any possibility grow any bigger。 I have
made； continually； new accumulations to such an extent that I am
compelled to stand still； and can roll no more！
Gentlemen； we learn from the authorities； that； when fairy stories；
or balls； or rolls of thread； stopped of their own accord … as I do
not … it presaged some great catastrophe near at hand。 The
precedent holds good in this case。 When I have remembered the
short time I have before me to spend in this land of mighty
interests； and the poor opportunity I can at best have of acquiring
a knowledge of； and forming an acquaintance with it； I have felt it
almost a duty to decline the honours you so generously heap upon
me； and pass more quietly among you。 For Argus himself； though he
had but one mouth for his hundred eyes； would have found the
reception of a public entertainment once a…week too much for his
greatest activity； and； as I would lose no scrap of the rich
instruction and the delightful knowledge which meet me on every
hand； （and already I have gleaned a great deal from your hospitals
and common jails）； … I have resolved to take up my staff； and go my
way rejoicing； and for the future to shake hands with America； not
at parties but at home； and； therefore； gentlemen； I say to…night；
with a full heart； and an honest purpose； and grateful feelings；
that I bear； and shall ever bear； a deep sense of your kind； your
affectionate and your noble greeting； which it is utterly
impossible to convey in words。 No European sky without； and no
cheerful home or well…warmed room within shall ever shut out this
land from my vision。 I shall often hear your words of welcome in
my quiet room； and oftenest when most quiet； and shall see your
faces in the blazing fire。 If I should live to grow old； the
scenes of this and other evenings will shine as brightly to my dull
eyes fifty years hence as now； and the honours you bestow upon me
shall be well remembered and paid back in my undying love； and
honest endeavours for the good of my race。
Gentlemen； one other word with reference to this first person
singular； and then I shall close。 I came here in an open； honest；
and confiding spirit； if ever man did； and because I felt a deep
sympathy in your land； had I felt otherwise； I should have kept
away。 As I came here； and am here； without the least admixture of
one…hundredth part of one grain of base alloy； without one feeling
of unworthy reference to self in any respect； I claim； in regard to
the past； for the last time； my right in reason； in truth； and in
justice； to approach； as I have done on two former occasions； a
question of literary interest。 I claim that justice be done； and I
prefer this claim as one who has a right to speak and be heard。 I
have only to add that I shall be as true to you as you have been to
me。 I recognize in your enthusiastic approval of the creatures of
my fancy； your enlightened care for the happiness of the many； your
tender regard for the afflicted； your sympathy for the downcast；
your plans for correcting and improving the bad； and for
encouraging the good； and to advance these great objects shall be；
to the end of my life； my earnest endeavour； to the extent of my
humble ability。 Having said thus much with reference to myself； I
shall have the pleasure of saying a few words with reference to
somebody else。
There is in this city a gentleman who； at the reception of one of
my books … I well remember it was the Old Curiosity Shop … wrote to
me in England a letter so generous； so affectionate； and so manly；
that if I had written the book under every circumstance of
disappointment； of discouragement； and difficulty； instead of the
reverse； I should have found in the receipt of that letter my best
and most happy reward。 I answered him； and he answered me； and so
we kept shaking hands autographically； as if no ocean rolled
between us。 I came here to this city eager to see him； and ＇LAYING
HIS HAND IT UPON IRVING'S SHOULDER＇ here he sits！ I need not tell
you how happy and delighted I am to see him here to…night in this
capacity。
Washington Irving！ Why； gentlemen； I don't go upstairs to bed two
nights out of the seven … as a very creditable witness near at hand
can testify … I say I do not go to bed two nights out of th