The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-17 00:00:00

otter would not wish it, but would be obliged to go with
the stream.'
This one brother, John Lamb, held a clerkship, with a
considerable salary, in the South Sea House (the subject of
the first of the collected Essays), and seems to have been
hard, dry, selfish man, who cared little for his relations ;
but after his mother's terrible death he, too, was in danger
from the family disease. I fear for his mind,' writes
Charles to Coleridge ; he has taken his ease in the world
and is not fit to struggle with difficulties.' But the other
brother' did not go with the stream. He made up his mind
at once what to do, and he did it, his whole life through.
To enable him to devote his being entire to his desolate
sister, he began by burning the little journal of my foolish
Passion, which I had so long time kept,' and even, under
the exaggeration of the first sense of self-devotion, and to
wean himself off from the occupations and hopes of a
happier past, he got rid of the letters of his best and wisest
friends, and of all his own compositions in verse. Men-
tion nothing of poetry,' he writes ; I have destroyed every
Vestige of poor vanities of that kind.' The whole income
tolfttnho.thloBzsehold at that time was, at the most, not more
out of which,' he says, we can spare £5O or
XGO for Mary while she stays in an asylum; if I and my
father, and an old maid-servant, cannot live, and livo com-
fortably, on £l3O or £l2O a year, wo ought to burn by
slow fires. I almost would, so that Mary might not go
into an hospital.' The brother and all the other members
of the family opposed her discharge, but the solemn under-
taking of Charles to act thereafter for life as her protector
prevailed. Whenever some irritability or change of man-
ner prognosticated the returning malady, the brother and
sister would walk quietly, but often weeping, to Hoxton
Asylum, he carrying the strait-jacket, which at that
time was the indispensable adjunct of insanity. But even
When there he did not leave her entirely. When she is
not violent, her rambling chat is better to me than the
sense and sanity of the world,' and he rarely went else-
where for relief or diversion. am afraid there is some-
thing of dishonesty in any pleasure I take without her.'
With eloquent pathos indeed does Mr. Proctor write—
" 'ln this constant and uncomplaining endurance, and
in his steady adherence to a great principle of conduct, his
life was heroic. We read of men giving up all their days
t° a single object ; to religion, to vengeance, to some over-
oPr aceowdeirsitglrg.se,lfish wish ; of daring acts done to avert death
or some oppressing misfortune. We read
mythical tales of friendship ; but we do not recollect any
instance in which a great object has been so unremittingly
carried out throughout a whole life, in defiance of a thou-
sand difficulties, and of numberless temptations, straining
the good resolution to its utmost, except-in the case of our
poor clerk of the India House.'
"But it may be no extravagance of the theory of com-
pensations to believe that something besides the satisfac-
tion of accomplished duty was the result of this devoted
life. Though, in one form of insanity, structural disease
deadens or distorts the perception, and, extending to the
organs of all the faculties, paralyses the intellectual force
and reduces the individual to a simple machine, and, in
another, the inefficiency or misdirection of the intellectual
force is the sole cause of derangement, and produces disease
by the violence of its existence and the want of the habit
of controlling the thoughts and checking the imagination
--there will always remain a border-land of sanity and
madness, in which the saving power is the abstraction from
the fixed occupation of the mind in other matters
than its own phenomena. The saddest impression a visitor
takes away from an asylum is the utter lovelessness of its
inmates ; and it seems almost as if the sense of one
Passionate sympathy might disperse the darkest of those
tcrloopuds: Certain it is that though, just before that catas-
beCharles Lamb was placed under control, the
precaution was never necessary again, notwithstanding
all the stress of Mind caused by the dreadful event and its
ci°llseclitencss.. Under the tegis of that intense fraternal
eve his spirit walked secure."

It. E. B. Lytton, now Lord Lytton.

(Prom the Ilerts Guardian of this day.) " ,
'Wednesday evening the members of the
'W On
idows' Hope" Lodge of Odd Fellows celebrated
their anniversary at Stevenage ; and the Right
Bon Sir E. B. Lytton having kindly consented to
°ceuPY the chitir on the occasion, it was determined
that the festivities should consist—instead of the
usual dianer f a soiree, at which the wives and
families of the
tend. members and other visitors could at-
rated The Rev. Canon Blomfield kindly lent the
use of the National School-room, which was deco-
with much skill, and in a very nice and taste-
ful. manner. The top of the room was ornamented
with evergreens and cut flowers ; also the joists and
r Wafters. Along the sides were, in large letters,
" elcome to Sir Edward—Health and Long Life," ,
" Welcome to the Rector of Stevenage," " God
Lodge
Save thices Queen," Success to the Widows' Hope
~e 44
and several other appropriate mottoes and
devices. Two series of tables each occupied the
entire length of the room ; on these were placed
bquets of flowers and tea equipages.
received
A 7 o'clock Sir E. B. Lytton entered and was
with a burst of applause. He took the
president's place, fixed near the western entrance ;
near him were the Rev. Canon Blomfield, Rev. C. B.
Pearson, and Mr. Pearson, jun., Rev. J. 0. sea,,ow
,
Mrs• and the Miss Seagers, the Rev. Mr. Paul, Mrs.
.„_Amos, A. B. Denton, Esq., and Miss Denton,
ebb Webb, Mr. Smith (Stevenagebury), and other
ladies and gentlemen.
After a welcome and refreshing supply of tea and
Coffee (we trust to be excused for not quoting " The
Cup that cheers but not," &c., &c.) the business of
the evening began.
First, the balance sheet was produced : the Lodge
has 73 members, and has £907 7s. 2d. monies in
the bank, on mortgage, and in the hand of Messrs.
Simpson, brewers, of Baldock, being about £l2los.
for each member. The receipts for the year are
£134 17s. 11d., the payments £BO 3s. 2d., and £6O
has been invested.
Next, a choir of ladies and gentlemen sung a very
elaborate glee, " The Sisters of the Sea," in very
good style and to some effect. Wine, the claret
Cup, and fruits were handed round, and all was
hushed as the President rose to address the assembly.
Sir B. B. LYTTON said—Ladies and gentlemen,
will you allow me thus early to express the great
pleasure I feel on finding myself once more amongst
you.
(Cheers.) For, independently of other attrac-
tions, it is above 25 years since I first became one
of the brotherhood of Odd Fellows, and I am glad
to see around me so n
family. (Cheers amorous and flourishing a
institution of and laughter.) Gentlemen, the
' Odd Fellows closely combines two
great social duties in life : the one
sight, the other a mutual benevolence.is prudent fore
There is no-
thing which more strengthens and dignifies
the whole
character of man than to form early in life a steady
determination to provide against the chances ofthe
future. The work of to-day becomes more light and
pleasant to him who knows that he has taken care of the
haorrow—and should be struck down by sudden
ii. loess, he has earned through his own self-sacrifice
in thrift or economy a right to the aid of his fellow-
He who does this has a better chance of a
al)11 and contented home ; for surely he will be
ihore beloved by his wife and children if they know
he has taken care for them in case accident or dis-
ease should disable the arm on which they lean for
64PP°rt• It is an additional pleasure for an Odd
sey.r ellow to know, that while he is providing for hitu-
, he is at the same time, through the great prin-
ciple of co_operation, obtaining the power to benefit
others in their time of affliction. Thus, as I have
said Odd Fellowship combines two social duties_
of
Prudence and benevolence. And thus the Society
may Odd Fellows fulfil a great social duty. This
be
,_, said of all other provident societies ; but,
ticsn.s'uition the Odd Fellows secure opportuni-
for pleasant meetings like the present, which
serve to bring us familiarly together, and
ilnake
n us feel that we are indeed brothers, not only
;.„sets of
charity, but in mutual affection and good
:1:11 (Cheers.) In small towns and rural districts
ju e as this we have but few opportunities of meet-
el, together,
and a cheerful holiday like that we now
_ J°3l. sends us all back to our homes thinking still
leer,
kily of each other. (Cheers.) Now, gen- i
_ron, Ind must congratulate you upon one great im-
tviie‘ ement on our former meeting. You have secured
lick attendance of the ladies ; and I am sure you all
n°
bettwiedge that the sight of so many fair faces is
I
~0 better 1-.
tuan our flower show. (Cheers.) I venture
kill express a hope that the good custom now begun
att not fail to be continued, though`l fear it will be
p l, ended with a serious loss, not only to some Odd
there be s. For if
y g
h Young bachelors present,
.I am certain some
there
be any young lady present who has happened
°Bald one of these hearts, I, as chairman for the day,
give her full leave and license to keep it for life.
1151ro.vided only, as is fair, that she gives another
lean eart in exchange. (Cheers and laughter.) Now,
es and gentlemen, I am not here to make a
B,Peeeh, but to be amongst you ; and it only remains
for me to thank you, first, most cordially for the
f I.sduess with which you have received me as a
friend and neighbour ; and next, for the pleasure

you have afforded me by the development of the
musical talent which has charmed us all. In return-
ing thanks to the musicians, permit, me not to for-
get to thank the fair Sisters of the Sea. (Loud
cheers.)
Glee—" Awake 2Eolian Lyre."
The Rev. Canon BLOMFIELD said he rose to
perform a duty due from the court of Odd Fellows,
to record their sense of the honour done them by
the presence of Sir E. B. Lytton on this occasion.
(Cheers.) He was sure that all present, whether
inhabitants of Stevenage or of other places, would
feel that a high honour was done to Stevenage,
and especially the Odd Fellows, by the presence of
Sir Edward Lytton. (Loud cheers.) They bad
the pleasure of hearing words, few in number, but
worthy of long remembrance ; they were spoken by
one to whom perhaps the best cultivated assembly
in Europe—the House of Commons—listened with
rapt attention whenever he rose to address them.
And although the presence of Sir Edward Lytton at
an anniversary of Odd Fellows would be an honour
at any time, it was doubly so at the present. The
party of -whom the right hon. baronet was so dis-
tinguished a member had come into power ; and
though he had not consented to accept office under
Government, still it was evident that he must con-
tinue to be a leading member of that party, and so
would be- looked up to with much and increasing in-
terest. Next, he would speak of the high honour
her Majesty was about to confer on the right hon.
baronet. That was a great satisfaction to all here.
They did not suppose that a peerage would add
honour to the name of Bulwer Lytton, because the
name was already more widely known and more
highly honoured than a peerage could make it ; but
it was a matter for pride to them all, that their dis-
tinguished neighbour and friend had received that
distinction, which was so well his due. He was the
founder of a title which would go down to the latest
posterity, audits holders would feel it had descended
to them by the high honours fairly earned by Sir
Bulwer Lytton. His family had been connected
with the locality for very many years ; and he could
trace his ancestry back to an almost pre-historic
time. He (Mr. B.) was sure that none of the right
hon. baronet's friends could more heartily rejoice at
his approaching and well-deserved elevation, and
more heartily wish him every good wish, than those
he now asked to join him in wishing health and
long life to Lord Lytton of Knebworth." (Loud
cheers.)
Sir E. B LrrisoN said—Ladies and gentlemen, I
cannot adequately express the sincere gratitude I
feel to my friend Mr. Blomfield, for the much too
flattering manner in which he has been kind enough
to speak of me ; and I thank you also for the kind-
ness with which you listened to his remarks. With
regard to the honour her Majesty is pleased to be-
stow upon me. I can only say in the language of the
poet—

" The rank is but the guinea stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that ;"
(cheers)—and what I most rejoice at is the thought
that in this free country of ours any man may hope
to rise to the highest rank it is in the power of his
sovereign to bestow. For whatever the advantages I
may have derived from the ancestry to which Mr.
Blomfield has referred—those advantages of ancient
birth rather serve to diminish any humble merit
of mine ; and more honourable -it is to the man
of humble parentage who owes nothing to an-
cestry and all to himself. There are such in-
stances in the Peerage of England—instances in
which the sons of tradesmen sit side by side with
the descendants of the proudest chiefs who adorn
the early pages of our history. Gentlemen, before
I quit this subject, I wish earnestly to impress upon
all the fellowmen I see around me that one of the
principles belonging to this association is necessarily
the strong desire to achieve independence. (Cheers.)
Independence is at the root of all noble thoughtErand
of all worldly success. Independence of pecuniary
obligations is not a mere vulgar desire of money,
it connects itself with independence of character.
For if a man has £lO,OOO a year, and if he feels he
owes money that he cannot pay, he is really poor ;
but if he earns only 12s. a week, and can pay his
way, and lay by some trifle towards supporting his
wife and children if illness should overtake him, he
is rich ; and this is one reason why I so earnestly
support the Odd Fellows and all societies that tend
to create a spirit of independence. And lam per-
fectly certain, that if I had not early in life laid
down as a principle rule—•before I had lands, when
I was young and unknown, if I hadnot laid it down
as a principle that I would save something, however
trifling, at the end of every year, I feel that I
should not have attained to the honours which are
about to be bestowed on me. (Hear.) I thank you
for the kindness you have shown to me, and I hope,
at least for some years to come that I shall continue
to have the opportunity of meeting you on these oc-
casions. (Cheers.)
An instrumental piece " The Hundred Pipers,"
brilliantly played by Miss Campkin.
Glee : " Oh happy, happy fair."
Sir E. B. LYTTON said—Ladies and gentlemen,—
I trespass on your attention once more ; and this
time I have to perform a task peculiarly pleasing
to me, because I wish you to give me your per-
mission to return, not only on my, own behalf,
but on behalf of all present, thanks to our excel-
lent rector, Mr. Blomfield, for his attendance
this day. I think it of great importance at
meetings of this kind, when we can secure the
attendance and approval of a minister of the Esta-
blished Church of this country ; and I am sure that
all here, whether Churchmen or not, must regard
Mr. Blomfield's presence on this occasion with
gratified feelings. (Cheers.) I know no town of a
similar size to Stevenage that has made such great
progress or exhibits marks of such decided improve-
ment within a few years ; and much of that
improvement, and which I trust is not merely
external, but also internal, is owing to the
counsel, example, encouragement, and support we
receive from our excellent rector. (Loud cheers.)
It is a great pleasure you confer on me to allow
me to return thanks on behalf of all present to Mr.
Blomfield for his attendance and countenance this
evening. (Cheers).
The Rev. Canon BLOMFIELD returned thanks, and
said his attendance to-day was so obvious a duty that
he considered all thanks were entirely unnecessary.
He should be happy to attend under any circum-
stances that should bring together so agreeable a
meeting of the inhabitants of the place; but he
felt it a peremptory duty to all to attend and show
the respect he felt for their chairman, Sir Bulwer
Lytton, and his gratitude for the kind support
which his presence rendered to the Society. He
felt doubly grateful to their Right Hon. Chairman
for the kind terms in which he had spoken of him-
self ; it was a great deal to be praised by such a
man. He was, perhaps, disposed to take too kindly
a view of others. Being kindly disposed himself, he
was disposed to think well of all. He accepted Sir
Edward's kind expressions with great gratitude ;
and he accepted their acceptance of them with much
gratification,and hoped to meet them all on a future
occasion. (Cheers.)