Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1842-02-17

cy, Jr. presided, and having made very
happy speech Introductory to the lntellectu-
al portion Of the Feast concluded with the
following toast
Health happiness and hearty welcome !
to CHARLES DICKENS
This toast was received with tremendous |
applause as soon as the cheering had
subsidized, Mr. Dickens responded with
the following address. which lie delivered
in a warm, fluent, and manly tone.
SPEECH OF Mr.. DICKENS
Gentlemen-If you had given this splen-
did entertainment to any one else in the
whole wide world-if were here tonight
to exult in the triumph Of my dearest friend
if stood here upon my defence, to repel
any unjust attack-to appeal as a stranger
to your generosity and kindness as the
freest people on the earth-I could putting
some restraint upon myself, stand among
YOU as selt-possesed aud unnoyed as |
should be alone in my own room in Eng
land. But when | have the echoes ofyour
cordial greeting ringing in my ears-when
| see your kind faces beamng Il welcome
so warm and earnest as never man had, |
feel-its my natur $50 yanquished aud
subdued tina. | have hardly tofttude e.
nouo h to thank YOU Ifyour President n
stead of pouring forth that delightful mix
ture of humor and pathos, which you have
Just heard with 80 much delight, had been
but a caustic ill-natured mao-f he had only
been a dull one-if | could ouly have
doubted or distrusted him or you'll should
have had my wits at my fingers ends, and
using them, could have held you at arms
length. But you have given me no such
opportunity you take advantage OF me in
the tenderest point You give me no chance
OF playing at company OF holding you at
distance, but flock around me like host
of brothers, and make this place like home
Indeed, gentleman, indeed. lift be natural
and allowable for each Of us. on his own
hearth to express his thoughts in the most
homely fashion, and 10 appear IN his plain
est gatb, have fair claim upon you to lei
me do so tonight, for yon have made my
home an Aaddin's Palace. You fold so
tenderly within your breast that common
houshod lamp in which my feeble fire is
all enshrined, and at which my ticherIng
torch is lighted up, that straight my house
hold gods take wing, and are transported
here. And whereas it is written OF that
fairy structure that il never moved without
two shocks-one when 1t rose, and one
when it settled down. can say of mine
that however sharp tug 1t took 10 pluck
it from the native ground, II struck at once, /
an easy, and deep and lasting root into
this soil and loved it as It's own. | can
say more of it, and say with truth, that long
holo = ut
ing, its master.-perhaps from some secret
sympathy between its tMbers, and Ger I
tain stately tree that has its being herea-
bout, and spreads its broad branches far
and wide-dreamed by day and night, for .
wears, of setting foot upon this shore, and
breathing this pure air, And, trust me,
gentlemen, that if had wandered here
unknown, | would-.ifl know my own heart
have come with all my sympathes cluster
ing as richly about this land and people .
with all my sense Of justice as keenIy alive
TO heir high claims on every man who loves
Gods image-wih all my energies as fully .
bent on Judging for myself and speaking
out, and telling in my sphere the truth, as
l do now, when you rain down your wei
comes on my head.
Our President has alluded t. those wrl-
tinrs which have been my Occupation for
some wears past; and you have received
his illusions in manner which assures me
if needed any such assurance-that we .
are old friends in the spirit, and have been
in close communloa for long tune,
1t is not easy for man to speak OF his
own books. l dare say that few persons
have been more interested in mine than
and lift be general principle IN nature
that lovers love is blind, and that a moth
er's love is blind, | believe II may he said OF
an authors attachment to the creatures oil
his own Imagination, that it is perfect
model of constancy and devotion, and is the
blindest of ALL But the objects and purpos-
es have had in view are very plain and
simple, and may be easily told have al
ways had, and always shall have an earn
est and true desire TO contribute, az far as
in me lies, to the common stock OF health
full cheerfulness and enjoyment. have
always had, and always shall have, an M
vincible repugnence to that moIe-eyed phil |.
osophy which loves the darkness, and
winks and scowls in the light. ] believe
that Virtue shows quite as well in rags and
patches, as she does 10 fine linen. be-
lieve that she and every beautiful object in