The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-06
The Boston Dinnsr to Charles Dickens.

ncon at Papant's Hall, passed off very pleasantly
The company numbered about two hundred. and sal
down at five O'clock. Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr,
presided, and George Hillard, Esq, DR.. o. w
Holmes, J. I. Stevenson, Esq. and E. G. Loring
Esq, acted as Vice Presidents. Among the invited
guests present were his Honor the Mayor, President
Quincy, Washington Allston, Richard H. Dana, 1
G. Grattan, George Bancroft, w. H. Gardner
Franklin Dexter, Judge Warren, Dr. Bgelow. DIR
Palirey, and Rev. Caleb S,eson OF Medford the
Pickwick of the par,y.)
A blessing was invoked by the Rev. DR.. Park
man
After the preliminaries Of the dinner had been
gone through with, Mr. Quincy rose and addressed
the company in very appropriate speech, abiding
in happy terms to the arrival Of the distinguished
guest, who had come among with no heredl-
tary title no military laures, no princey fortune,
and yet his approach Is hailed with pleasure oy
every age and condition, and on his arrival ne is
welcomed as long known friend" lie goes on 10
say, "but when reflection leads US to the causes OF
this universal sentiment, we cannot out be STRUCK
by the power which mind exercises over mlnd-eVen
while we are individually separated by time, space
and other conditions Of our present being. why
should We not welcome him as friend Have we
not walked with him in every scene OF vaned lie !
Have we no, together investigated, with Mr. FicK-
wick, the theory of Tit,lebats? Have we not ira.
yelled together III the Marks of CRANKY with oId
Wellar on the box, and his con Samlvel on the
dickey? Have we not been rock shooting with MI
Wrinkle. and counting with Mr. Tupman Have
we not played crbbage with the Warehouses and
ouafFed the rosy with Dick Swiveller =? Tell US not
of animal magnetism. We, and thousands OF our
countrvmen. have, for years, been eating and talk
ing, hiding and walking, dencing and sliding, drink
ing and sleeping, with distinguished guest, and
he never knew one Of US. Is it wonderful that we
are delighted to see him. and to return, in measure,
his unbounded hospitali,ies Boz stranger! Wen
NAV we again exclaim, with Sir John Falstan,
Dive think we didn't know ye! We knew we as
we'll as him that made ye.'
After referring to the peculiar excellencies OF Mr.
Dickens writings, which "touch the tender sympa
thes and womanly devotion" he concluded as fol-
lows: "But it is not to scenes like these that
would now recall you. would that my voice could
reach the ear of every admrer of our guest through
out the land, that with they might welcome HIM,
on this, his first public appearance, to our shores
Like the rushing of many waters, it would come to
us from the bleak hills of Canada, from the savan-
nahs Of the south. from the prairies Of the west,
uniting in an earthquake voice. in the cheers with
which we welcome CHARLES DICKENS to the new
world"
Mr. Quincy concluded with the following senti.
ment:- a
Health, happiness, and a hearty welcome, 10
CHARLES DicKENs. an
This toast was received with tremendous applause.
As soon as the cheering had subslded, Mr.. DIckENs
responded with the following address, which he de.
livered in warm, fluent, and manly tone
Gentlemen :-lf you had given this splendid enter.
t,inment TO any enc else in the whole wide worldf
were here tonight to exult in the triumph Of my dear
est frena- stood here upon my Defence to repel any
unjust atackso appeal anger 10 your generosity
and Kindness the reest people on the sarthi could
putting some restraint upon myself stand among you a.
self possessed and unmoved should be alone, in my
own room in But when hear the echoes your
cordial greeting ringing in my ears-when see your
kind faces besming welcome warm and earnest as
never man had feel-it 10 my nature-so vsnquished
and subdued thst have hardly fortitude enough to
thank you. II your President, instead Of pouring
forth that delightful mixture Of humor and pathos
which you have heard with much delight had been
but eaustic ill-nstured manfhe had only been da
one-f could only have doubted 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 such opportunity; you take ad
vantage of me in tho tendersst point; you give
chance of playing company holding you at dis
lance but flock about mo like host of brothers, and
make this place like home. JUDGED, gentlemen ind eed,
IL il be natural and for each Of u.s. his
hearth to express his thoughts in the most homely
shisn and appear in his painest garb, have fair
claim upon you 70 let do tonight, for you have
made my house Aladdiu's Palace. You fold so ten.
Derby within ysur breasts that common household lamp
in which my feeble Are 10 all enshrined, and at whish
my nickering torch is lighted up, that straight my
household gods take wing, and are transported here
And whereas it written Of that fairy structure that
never moved without two shocks-ene when II rose
and one when il settled down. can say Of mine that
no wever sharp took to pluck it from its native
ground, it struck at once an easy, and deep, and
lasting root into this SOIL and loved it Is its own ;
can say Of it, and say with TRUTH that long before
IL moved or had chance Of moving, its master-pcrhaps
from secret sympathy between hs timbers, and
certain stately that has its being hereabout and
spreads its branches far and wdedresmed by day
night for years. Of setting foot upon this shore, end
breathing this pure air And, us, me- gentlemen that
IL I had wandered here, unknswing and unknown, I
would-ifI know my own heart-hsve come with ell
my sympathies cuteiip richly about this land end
people-with all my Of justice kesnly alive TO
their high claims every man who loves Gods image
with all my energies as fully bent judging for N.Y.
self, and speaking out, and telling in my sphere the
truth, do now, when you rain down your welcomes
on my head. Your President he's alluded to those writ
ings, which have been my occupation for years
past aud you have received his sllusisns in
ner which assures me-if l needed any such as
sursnce-,hst old friends in the spirit and
have been in close communion for q long time
II is not easy for a man TO speak Of his own =
dare say that few persons have interested in
mine than and it BIO general principle in nature
that lovers love is blind, and that mothers love is
blind believe it may be said Of authors attachment
to the creatures Of his ation that 10 per.
feet model Of conaney and DEVOTION and is the bincst
Of all Bat the objects and purposes have had in view
arc very plain and simple, and may be easily told
always had and shall always have earnest and
desire contribute, far in lies to the com
men stock Of hsalhful cheerfuness and enjoy ment
have always had and always shall have, an invncible