Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-24

induced 10 come out from the promises of support from
the Wings The r Wing plays this game wheneyerit
can. It's only object is to gather strength in any
why, in this forlorn condition , p rs party Whit
to avail himself of the Wing votes, makes OF his
PRINCIPLES, or of his future prospects:
CHARLES DICKENS.
The citizens of Richmond well recoi'ect The sensa.
t;ou which was produced among them by the arrival #
Charles Dickens on Thursday last. Every seemed
dsposed 10 greet him with that cordially which so
Justly the pride of VTgnians. II was well Known
however that he had declined RECEIVING any mere pub
lie manifestations Of welcome during ms snJourn IN
this country. On Friday, several OF our cilizens called
on him to tender the inequalities of the place to Inn.
self and lady. Among them were gentlemen who had
been apponted BY prior meeting OF Inc czens 10
vito him 10 public dinner which he had declined ia
correspondence already lad before The pubic 1Eey
now expressed to him The qualification which they Hout
receive by meeting him at some festive entertainment.
and he finally agreed to meet lew OF his Trends at a
social supper that night at the Exchange Hotel, vhc,
was his head quarters during his soourn IN Richmond
Boyden was then placed in reqnsltion, and put 10 his
trumps TO get up entertainment, which was worthy
the man and the occasion. The appointed hoor soon
arrived flor it was past midday when the ptte MrItr
was first suegested) and about ninety gentlemen
sembled, TO meet their guest
An hour more was then spent IN conversation with
each other and with Mr.. Dickens, whose manners
for him the favor Of all with whom he conrersed The
cumrany proceeded from the drawing room TO The sup.
per room and then paIook Of the elegant and rscah
entertainment which had been prepared for them. Mr.
Thomas Richie presided-assised by Mr.. Jas Lyons,
Gen Pepram Messrs Faulkner and Carter oEd Pres.
ton of the Senate of virginia as Vice Presidents Of
the evening. The table was laid out with ore broad
stem, running across the room-from which drerseI
three parallel tables The President occupied The rt
die of The table, with Mr.. Dickens 20 his fgh
D.,tI,a tn Ict
Vice President Lyons, facing hn al the esrtm ent Of
the centre tableand the other Vice Presidents al the
heads of their respective departments
After the vlands and subslantals had been pretty
we'll cleared Off the President of the eht called upca
the company 10 charge their glasses He had a zen
,iment to offer them. lie thanked the company 10,
the honor they had done him by calling HIM 10 pre-.
side at such an never was man p";at
the head Of firm with less corporate STOCK IN trace han
lie was No plan-no organization not regular toast
prepared-not set speech cut and dry Bot he itund
some consolation in The capacities Of The individual past
ners of the firm When be looked around hm-whenhe
So the hearts ard the heads of those WHO conroe i-
association he had no fear about all the drafts lie should
draw upon them being duly honored lie would,
therefore, give his sentiment, and rut the ball N
motion Let ii then roll on, and let the good things 20
around the table In this way, We might crown our
flowing cups with fowers-and the circlIng hours might
glide on gladdening and rejoicing until after midnight
Never indeed had there been so little labor and SO 1t
tie preparation made, in getting up an entertainment
was scarcely hours since the note was SOUNDED
in our streets that Dickens to be at home tonight
scarcely six hours, since the Fiery Cross was passed
from hand TO hand-But labor was necessary TO
carry out the good work. The impulse of our feelings
had supe rseded all such necessity-and The name 81
the magician, who had brought Us together, had dore
the rest. And now behold the effect! Let tins res
pecable company, brought together in brief space
oftne, speak the high compliment which could be pad
to Mr. Dickens Scarcely had that Fiery Cross been put
in motion, when the clans Of RoderIck Dhu rush III
such goody numbers TO the field not to meet an enemy
but to meet friend
We did not come here TO welcome guest, after
the fashion of Northern brethren. We had 10 ella
borae magnfcence, eclst, no elegant iableauy 10
greet him, az those with which Boston and N. Y had re-
ceved him. We bring around him no boosted literary
circle We have Washington Irving to grace this char
We have Bryant present, to celebrate his praises IN
ra pturous strains The literature Of the Old Dominion
generally of another character with some bril-
liant literary exceptions Her forte was to be ionrd
in the masculine productions Of her statesmen, her
Washington, her Jefferson aud her Madison, who had
never INDUCED in the works of Imag nation, in Tie
charms of Romance and in the mere beauties othe Bellies
Lettres. But, continued the President, We have some
thing else 10 offer to our guest We may vie even with
Boston and New York in the warmth OF .onr welcome
The Of the sunny South have warm hearts, and
cordial reception to give to the man whom they admire
and who is there, entitled 10 our thanks, for his
literary labors than Charles Dickens: Has lie not run
pay Is there one among you, whose saddest hours
have not been soothed by the productions of his pen
Gil Is there one amongst you, whose lightest hours
have not been still lightened by the carnations
of his genius: Is there man here, Tonight whose ser
sibes have not been melted into tears by the patos Of
the "Curiosity Shop? or who has not been excited
into laughter by the humors of the Pickwick Club
The works of Boz constant companions We
take him TO sick bed TO cheer us-to most pr.
vate hours, to and to comfort US. But said the
prosf ia cha in ho uT rur
guest to which he delighted to do justice. Dir.
Dickens has passed the great, the glaring the
magnificent, in order to bring out humble worth
and unpretending merit He has sought the volc, IN
its owy bed, to give its perfume 10 the light Of day
He was no Tronbadour, 10 sing the warke achieve
ments of Knghts-no Poet Laureat, TO celebrate The
praises of Kings, Princes and the titled great. His
curslve mag nation had wandered the whole sur.
face Of Human Nature, and instead Of investing wealth
or power with additional attractions IL had seized upon
the humble points in The human landscape bad lighted
them up with all the fire of his genius and given them
that conspicuous position, 10 which they entitled
lie had caused us 10 feel for the humhest not less than
Tor the hghestand all TO feel for all-for the youth
full tenant of the Work house. and for the poor and
pious Ne-that enchanting picture, for whose delicate
touches much indebted 10 the Imagination ct
the writer. This was of the charms Of his prodrc
tons; that creates in all sympathy for each other
participation in the interests of our common humanity
which constitutes the great bond Of equality, and the
best basis for free form of Government. 1t was IN
possible for US not to feel respect for such man. ard
not TO welcome him in the bosom of society. Letus
not forget too how much deeply indebted to that
"miruculous organ, the press, for the communication
of these pleasures. No is thought conceived
and transferred to Mr.. Dickenss paper, from his BRAN,
in his solitary chamber in distant England, than i.s
transmitted by the press, the broadAantc with
the rapidity of electricity.
II the Press which made us first acquainted
with MIR. Dickens And now have him in midst,
should we not welcome hiU-tender him the hospi2i-
ties of the Old Dominion, and give him cordial re-
cepton in this Ciiy'
But would Mr.. d. excuse him for turning his I'D
dress, for one moment to graver theme: AN an
older soldier (said the presidentD than he was
certainly not beforehand it enc Of ne
maxns have gathered from my own experience
one Of the wisest, though paradosIcal lessons, v5'
should be learned both BIZ and By States, tiat u