The Portland daily press., 1867-11-21

AfR. DIcKENs's SPEECH ON LEAVING ENG
LAND. The dinner given to Charles Dickens
on the eve of his departure for this county
was one of the most gratifying ovations that
an anthor ever received. Lnrd Lytton,
(Bulwer) presided, and in his remarks made
the most fiattering illusions to Mr.. Dickens.
In attempting to reply the latter was almost
deprived of the powor of utterance by the in
tensity of his emotions, but finally responded
in very felicitous language. We append the
closing portion of his remarks:
And now, gentleman, passing to the imme.
date occasion of your doing me this great
honor, the story of my going again to America
s Is very easily and briefly told. Sine 7 was
there before vast and entirely new genera
ton has arision in the Ur ited States. Sinca
1 was there before most of the best known of
my books have been written and published
The new generation and the books have come
together and have kept together. until at
length numbers of these who have widely and
constantly read me, naturally desTinya little
variety in the relation between Ds, have ex-
pressed strong wish that / should read N.Y.
self. "a laugh. } This wish, at first conveyed
to me through public channels, has gradually
become enforced by an immense accumula-
ton OF letters from individuals and associa-
tions of individuals, all EXPIRE sing in the same
hearty, homeiy, cordial unaffected way, a kind
ofpersonal affection for me-Qoud cheers)-.
which am sure you will agree with nc it
would be dnll insensibilty on my part net 10
prize. (Cheers.) Little by little the pressure
has become so great that, although, as Charles
Lamb says, my household gods strike terri
bly, deep root" 1 have torn them from their
places, and this day week, at this hour, shall be
upon the sea. Youwi'l readily conceive that
am inspired besides by natural desire to sec
for myself the asst nishing change and prog
ress of quartersof q century ever there - 10
grasp the hands of MANY faithful friends whom
L left thereto see the faces OF the multitude
of new friends upon whom l have never
looked-and last. not least, to use my best en-
deavors to lay down a third cable-t loud cheers)
of intercommunication and alliance between
the old world and the new. Twelve years ago,
when, Heaven knows, ] little thought should
ever be bound upon the voyage which now lies
before me, wrote in that form of nv writ
lngs which obtains by far the most extensive
circulation, these words about the American
nation: ~ know full well that whatever little
notes my beamy eyes may have descrIed in
descrled in theirs, they are a kind, large-heart-
ed, generous, and great people," (Cheers) In
that faithI am going to see them again. IN
that faith / shall, please God, to return from
them in the spring, in that same faith TO live
and die. loud and prolonged cheer ng J
my lords, ladies and gentlemeE, I told you 10
the beginning that could not ibanx you
enough, and Heaven knows / have most thor
oughly kept my word. II 1 may quote on ;
other short sentence from myself, let it imply
all that have left unsad, and vet most deeply
feel; let it, putting gir&ie ronnd about the
earth, comprehend both sides Of the Atlantic
at once in this moment, and, as Tiny Tim OBJ
served, "God bless us every one" Mr.. Dick
ems resumed his seat amidst hearty cheering,
winch was sustained fer several minutes.