The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-04 00:00:00

oar tnem 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. (A laugh.) 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." (Loud and continued cheers.)
The 'next toast, proposed by Sir C. W. Dilke,
was " The, City," which was briefly responded to by
the Lord Mayor.
Mr. LAYAiiD did not know why the duty of pro-
Ming the next toast had been assigned to him, es-
pecially in the presence of so many who could hare
done it much more justice than he could pretend to
d°. The toast was " The Fine Arts," coupled with
their distinguished representative in that assembly,
Sir Francis Grant, the President of the Royal
Academy. (Cheers.) Such a toast was pe-
culiarly- appropriate on that occasion. The fine
arts and literature had the most intimate relations.
°4 the one hand, literature furnished some of the
noblest subjects to the painter ; and, on the other,
the artist furnished the most animated and beautiful
illustrations of literature. Mr. Dickens might well
appeal to them to say whether he had not been
faithful to his task, and whether he had not deserved
Well of the artists of this country. There could be
but one answer to such an appeal ; lie would say
boldly that few literary men in this country had had
130 many true friends among its artists as Charles
ckens. (Cheers.) He would not longer detain
there,
but would propose the toast of " The Fine
!tills," in connexion with the health of Sir Francis
'rant, the President of the Royal Academy, who so
ahlY represented the tine arts in this country.
(Cheers.)
Sir FRANCIS GnA.Yr, who was most cordially
received, said he could not expect to be listened
to with patience after the eloquent speeches they
ldbeard ; he only desired gratefully to acknow-
ledge the toast which Mr. Layard had been
11° good as to propose, and which the company had
a° kindly received. He had come a long way on
Purpose to he present on that occasion, and to bear
ilia humble tribute of respect and admiration to the
social worth and great literary genius of their dis-
tinguished guest—(cheers)—and he hoped he might
'3e permitted to assure him that there was no class
of men who would watch with more affectionate
Interest his career in America than the artists of his
native country, and none who would give him a
InOre hearty welcome on his return. (Cheers.)
Mr. °TWAT, M.P., proposed the toast of " Lite-
Aeure," and read a message entrusted to him by his
ghbours to Mr. Dickens—" God speed you on
Your visit to New America, and a happy return to
Old., England, and to the home where you are so
.
dearly loved." (Ilear, hear.)
I\lr. A.NTIIONT TROLLOPE, who was very warmly
li,eeeived, acknowledged the toast and said—l always
Ink that a very great honour is paid to any gen-
tleman who is called upon, on an occasion like this,
t,
°say a few words in reply to the toast of " Lite-
rature i" and I think it is especially an honour to
be Called upon to do so at a banquet such as this,
given to grace so distinguished a guest. I believe
that the state of literature in England at this mo-
iz
eat is not only very prosperous, but that it is also
very healthy—(cheers)—and I believe this in spite
a those anticipations respecting the Falls of Nia-
gara which have lately been brought before us—(a
faegh)—and in spite of those wails of " Woe, woe,
,Nro the housetop," which we have recently heard
love the lips of a great prophet among us. We
that great prophet, indeed—he has passed a
Za h g life among us, a life of truth and honesty, and ,
ti! as done good work, but lam inclined to think
tinat he has now allowed himself to be carried away by
amelancholy enthusiasm of a spirit of ill-boding
ill 'e almost forgets that there is a God still
111.11(lng us, and until he has come to believe it to be
his duty to tell his brother workmen that nothing
fitlythe cry, (, WOO, woe, from the hiuietops" can
411.9 describe the state of things to which we arc
hastening.,e
(Cheers.) " Fiction!"—l am now re-
v°sting the words of this great prophet--" Fiction !
• my frienoli! you wiff son have to think how
13‘(=rileas and close a cousinship it bears to lying."
laugh.) Now, these are very hard words to us
(7'lo are engaged in fiction, hard words for us who
„e °or teaching by the telling of tales instead of by
e uttering of prophecies. (Cheers.) Was Colonel
,k,''u
e—
;ewcombthat finest gentleman of past days-
4he a liar ? (Cheers.) Was Jane Eyre, when
01 h
8130ke to her lover, and demanded from him that
e should not taste one drop of cold water—was she
a
liar ? (Cheers.) Was the sermon that Dinah
Wpreached a lie ? (Cheers.) Was the story of the
ho Eugene Aram a lie ? Do you remember—
tdoes not remember ?—the walk which Bill
ykes took with his dog after the murder ?—was
teat a lie ? (Cheers.) I ought, perhaps, properly
have
he Spoken of literature generally—and, indeed,
Pr°Phet has handled literature generally almost
thaqa,rshly as he has handled fiction ; but, seeing
hay -L am myself somewhat concerned in fiction, I
iitee ventured to refer specially to that branch of
Lavrature. My belief is that we who wrote fiction
telferitaught purity of life, nobility of action, and
with euial•—(cheers)—and have taught these lessons
to such allurements, both for young and old, as
to °tiler preacher in these days can teach, and which
Prophet can reach. (Cheers.) My lord, I be-
e've
thos' at any rate, that all will agree with me, that
11 e Qfit'sg
4,,reat writers of modern fiction whom I
ventured to quote do not deserve to be pro-
frZed against in the words which I have repeated
Mr. Carlyle. (Loud cheers.)
tiv he toast of " The Drama" was next briefly
Air
by Sir E. Landseer, iu the absence, through
`Vosition, of Sir E. Tennant.
BENJAMIN WEBSTER expressed himself
the l 7 honoured in responding to such a toast in
Sila?trsesence of one of whom it might be said, as of
44e Pere, that he hadexhausted an old and created
W World. The drama was one of the highest
ire4i _
strao,°,lB ever devised, calculated to convey in-
it „__"°ll with amusement. Those who raved against
ta were either the children of folly or slaves of igno-
ace—.../.
tow_ tcheers)—while the encouragers of that pro-
-441 were those who were the lovers of virtue
vote the admirers of art. (Cheers.) The ancients
ata bvery careful in the composition of their dramas,
ezah,"(3 hoped tho moderns would imitate their
ttpoli-1),1e. The Athenians were wont to enlarge
the c ‘`lo advantages which the drama conferred upon
i°Lintry, and on ono occasion it was set down
11;100,0v.
v He hoped that the statesmen of Eng
44, wauld be imbued with a similar feeling with
ii,,"raliveett to the drama in this country, and with a
rti, worthy of that conviction. (A. laugh.)
ttalt,e LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, in proposing the next
ha said —I rejoice to think that the toast which
a be_
ho e II Intrusted to my care is one which needs
4},_ flt;
ed"
° my part to recommend it to your ready
hogs `,, because I cannot but feel that at this late
have the evening, when so many graceful actors
if ter eft the stage, the prattle of those who come
to all)llust be tedious. But when I tell you that I
%it to propose the health of the noble lord
o boa filled the chair this evening—(cbeers)—l
will "re that for the few minutes I shall occupy you
evetegive me your attention. We have met this
ing to do honour to our illustrious guest, to
0
aPpro,. ur admiration of his groat genius, and our
of the benefits he has conferred upon
e,
vork, tstature of our country by those immortal
Net,fell'u Which pathos and humour are so happily
4ad b alat one knows not which most to admire,
t4re which be has not only enriched our litora-
Tll4 out 00n tributed to the enjoyment of thousands.
I
°lle point in connection with those works
ink we must all admire—that is, the un-
'llk toe h°l2xesty of purpose which has never induced
teach Pander to vicious tastes, which has made him
that 118.--unconsciously, perhaps—to admire only
)10111'1'14 is
beautiful and true, and helped us to
ty-0 execration and scorn all that is loath-
h vile
()Iv , and base. In these works he has known
•
4105,, to invest with interest, and has ever promoted
e fpeeelti nL g which bind man to man, and tend to
pity w, that catholic, large, and generous hums-
(([l, "'eh is the noblest attribute of human kind.
to,h.e")
on, f• Considering that we have come hero
tI4 to do
an I honour to such an author and such a
e4t43l„,.taink it must be a source of unbounded
qutl°l4 to 'e very one that on this occasion