Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-03-04
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HC " "HSI DICNCUS was tH'NSN
in New York, was had on Friday. WASH
ington Irving presided. assisted by Judge
Belts, Messrs. Ducr, Hone, Verplanck, J.
A. King and Ogden. Tho dinner was Of
course appropriately furnished with all
tho dclicacics suited to such festival.
A blessing was asked by Rev. Mr.. Bellows,
Of the Unitarian Church. After the cloth
was removed, the President rose and adj
dressed the company as folows:-
II never regretted more than do at this moment
my want Of the habit of public speaking For feel
that could now wish TO give way 10 the current OF
my thoughts and feelings; and yet am poor hore-
man, and must be careful how get into the saddle
or shall be thrown from my seat. And yer, on
further consideration, do not sec much cause to re-
greet this inability of mine to interest You IN thus way;
for feel that there will be no want OF champions
ready to take my place; ! sec 20 many OF them
around me at this mo m9",n r%y seated rc in her
stecds uni. the signal ie given them TO start. So
therefore, leave the field, and with few preilmna-
~ remarks wi dispose my part Of the SUBJECT
Vconfess never Under deeper or more pleasur-
able excitement, or with more feelings OF pride as an
author, than when lock around upon this assembly
fmy townsmen met to greet the arrival OF an ai-
thor among them. | never was more proudly CON
scious Of the intellectual character of my co ntry-
inen than in witnessing this burst of enthusiasm,
which has been echoed from city to city, to welcome
mere literary visiter 10 our land, Vhcers) ana
this, too, at n ime of great public Distress when
every m ind, more or less, is corrodcd by care ana
the most prosperous among us doubts the 70 ndaon
Of his prosperity. Gentlemen, ths enthusiasm is of
the right kind. 1t speaks well for the peope--lt
speaks well for our nation. We have been accused
Of being sordid and mctcenary-and too much given
I'm 70 the pursuits of our mere world interests
But in the present instance enthusiasm has given
the lie to the charge and has spontaneously aren in
one vida scene OF hom,9e paid 10 intellect. (Checrs)
Gentlemen it is impossible for me tc proceed-gen-
tlemon III give YOU toat-
CHARLES DICKENS, the literary guest Of
the nation"
When the applause with which this scnti-
mcnt was received had subsidized, Mr. Dickens
rose and spoke substantially as follows:
oESrLEmEN n don't know how to thank yor-I
really dontkno how. fou would naturally suppose
power, and that the dficultie> in my way would
have been diminished but assure you the fact is
exactly the reverse and have completely banked
the ancient provcrb that "a rolling gathers
moss" and in my progress 10 this city have created
such a weight of obligations and acknowledgements
Il have picked up such enormous of fresh
moss at every point. and was so struck with the
brilliant &C mes Of Mon lay night, tina, ,houg t |
could never by any posi- ility grow any bigger
Allow me again: have made, continually new &C.
foundations to such an extent thati am compelled
70 STAND SUI, ana can roll no more.
Gentlemen we learn from the authorize, that
when fairy stones or balls rolls of thread, stopped
Cftheir own accord-as do MOTT prcsngcd some
cfea, catastrophe near a! hand: The precedent hold
good in this case When have remembered the
short time have before spend in his land of
mighty interests, and the poor opportunity can at
pest nave OF acquiring knowledge of and forming
nm acquaintance with it, have felt it almost duty
10 decline the honors you generously heap upon
me and pass more quietly among Won. For Argus
himself, though he had hut mouth for his hun red
ewes, would have found the reception Of public
tertainment once week too much for his greptest
activity: and as would lose scrap of the rich in
struc'ion and the delightful knowledge which NEE,
IN" on every hand, and already have cleaned great
deal from your hospitals and common nils. have
resolved to take up my staff and 90 my way rejoicing
and for the future 10 shake hands with America not
al parties but at homes AM, therefore, gentlemen,
say to night. with full heart and an honest purpose
and grateful feelings that bear, and shall ever
bear, deep sense Of your kind your a1ecionne and
yor noble gree,ng--whrh it il utterly impossible
to convey in words. No Flu 'opcan sky without, and
no cheerful home or we'll warmed room wirhin shall
ever shut OFT this land from my vision. ! shall otter
hear youi words of welcome in nv quiet room, ant
ofcnest when mo 1niet and shall zee your face,
in the blazing fire. Ii should live TO grow old, The
senes ofths and other evening will hne as briuhr
ly TO my dull eyes fifty years hence ne nowand III,
honors YOU hesow upon me snail he well rememheret
and paid acF in my nndving love and honest endcav
ors for the good Of my race
Gentlemen, one other word with reference 10 th'
irst pereon singular, and then shall close. / can't
here IN an open, honest and confdlng spirit, if eve
man did and because felt n dcen sympathy in Won
land; had felt otherwise, should have kent away
As came here, and am here without he least ad
mixture of ehupIre1th part of one grain of bas
alloy without one feeling of unwor ny reference t.
self in anv respect, claim, in reference To the past
for the last tme my right in reason, in truth and il
justice to appronch, ms have done on two forme
occasions a question of literary interest. claim TIM
justice he done; and prefer his claim as one VIII
has right 10 spenk and be heard. ] have only Z
add that shall as true you you have been +
me. recognise IN your enthusiastic approval OF III
creatures Of my fancy your enlightened car for III
happlnt SIS of the many, your tender REGARD for III
Inflicted, your sympathy for the downcasf vour an
for correcting and improving the bad, and for
aging the good and to advance these great objects
shall be- TO the end Of NV life. my earnest cndeavo
TO the extent of my hum le ability. Having said thu
much with reference TO myself shall have tn
pleasure Of saving u few words with reference
somebody else.
There is in this city a gentleman, who, at the r,
ception Of one of my books-I well remember il W.
the Old Curiosity Shop-wrote to me in England
letter generous, so a-econnte and 80 mani
thai # had written the book under every crcun
stance of d appointment, of dlsconragement an
difficulty instead of the reverse, / should ha,
found IN the recent Of that lelter my hest and mo
happy reward. ANSWERED him, and he answere
me, and so we kepI shaking hands, nutopraphicall
rs If no occnn rolled between us; came here
This city eager 10 see him. AID 0nvina his hand npo
Irvng's shoulder) here he Ellis | need not tell W
how happy and delighted am TO sec hin here to upl
IN this capacity.
Washington Irving! Why gentlemen don't
up STARS to he'd two nights out Of the seven as
verv cred1nbe wine near AZ hand can testify
saw I do not 90 to he'd two nights ont Of she sew,
without tnklnp WASHINGTON living under my arm
and when don't take him, In his own hro,h,
Oliver Goldsmith. Washington Irving whv,
whom hu, he wHs thinking the other DIV hen
came NJ nv the Hogs Back. the Frving Pan. II,
Gate, and all these places7 WHY. when NOT oi
ago visited Shakspear's birth plnce and we
tensaih tho roof where he first the rht. who
name hat his was pointed ont IN me uron the wal
Washington Irving Diedrich Knckerbochcr-G
offrev Cravon-whv, where can yon GO that III
have not been thnre before Is there nm Engli
farm-is there an EnGsh stream, an English city,
an English country seat where they have moi beer
Is there no Rracebrdge Hall in existence Has it
ancient shades quiet streets
In bv gone times when Irving left that Hail.
left sitting in mn old oak chair. in small paror
the Bears Head, 'itile man with red nose aud
oil skin hat, When came away, he was sii'i
th-re still NOT man Ike him hut he same man
with the nose of immortal rednrss and the hat of
undvng qlaz' Crayon, while her. was on teri
Of intimacy with a certain radical fellow, who MS
10 20 about with hat full Of newspapers wofu
out at elbows, and with coat of great aniiqui
Why, gentlemen, know that man-Tihbes
elder and he has not changed a hair; and whe