The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-24

TO place in yOu--is thai on my return 20 England,
in my own English journal. manfully, pfomptJ.
plainly, IN my own person, 70 bear. for the b.
hoof Of my countrymen. such testimony TO the
gigantic changes in this country as have limited
at (Applause.) Also, to rec ~, that vher yer
have been, in the smallest places equally with tn
largest, | have been received with unsdrpassabie
politeness delcacy, sweet temper, nospitaity,
consideration and With unsurpassable respect for
the privacy daily enforced upon me by the nature
of my ayocston here and the state OF my health
(Applause.) This testimony. so long as live,
and so long as my descendants have any legal
right in my books. shall cause to be republished
as an appendix TO every copy OF those two books
of mine in which | have referred TO America.
(Thunders OF applause.) And this will do, and
cause TO be done not m my loving thankidlness.
but because regard It an act OF plain justice and
honor. (ApplanseD
Gentlemen-This expression Of my own feel
ings towards, and interest in America. and
those of the most Of my countrymen, seems to
me but natural one; whether or not, so make
It an express object. / was asked in this very
city, about last Christmas time, whether an
American was not at some disadvantage 10 Eng
land as foreigner. The notion Of an American
being regarded IS q foreigner at all-of his ever
being thought OF or spoken OF IN that character
was SO homogeneous and absurd to me, that my
gravity was for the moment quite overpOwered.
(Applsuse.) As soon as ii was restored. said
that for years past bad hoped had had as many
American friends, and received as many Amer-
can visitors, as almost any Englishmau living,
(appause,) and that my UNMARRIED experiences,
fortified by others. was that ii was enough in Eug
land TO be an American 20 be received with the
most earnest respect and recognition anywhere.
When an American gentleman. Of cultivated taste
for art found himself certain survey outside the
wall Of q certain historical English castle famous
for its pictures, he was refused admittsnce there
according TO the strict rules Of the place on tha'
day i; but, by merely representing that ne was an
American gentleman on his travels, and had yet
TO see the picture gallery, the whole castle was
placed at his immediate disposal. (Grest ap-
plause and lsughter.) There was lady. too, b.
ing IN London, and having great desire TO see
the famous reading room OF the British Maseum
was assured by the English family with whom sac
stayed IL was unfortunately impossible, because
the place was closed for a week. and she had only
three days. Thereupon, that lady's going, as she
assured me, alone, to the gate selI-iotrodnced as
an American lady, the gate few open as ifby
magic. daughter and spplause.) am honestly
bound 10 add she certainly was young and ex-
tTemely pretty. daughter and applause.) sal
the porter Of tina, institution Is Of an obese habit
and, TO the best Of my observation, not very i'm
pressible. (Laughter)
Now, gentlemen, | refer to these tribes IS col
lateral assurance 10 you that the EnRlishman who
shall humbly strive, as hope to do, to be in
England as faithful to America as to England her
self, has no previous conception to contend
against. (Applause.) Points Of difference there
have been points of difference there are, points
Of difference there probably always will be be-
tween the two great peoples; but broadcast in
England Is sown the sentiment that these twO
people are essentially one (sppause), and that it
rests with them to uphold the Angl0-Saxon race,
20 which our president has referred, and all its
great achievements throughout the world. II
know anything about my countryfnen and they
give me the credit OF knowing something of then
voice GOOD !")-f know anything OF my
couDtrymen. gentlemen, the English heart i
stirred by the uter Of the stars and stripes as it
is stirred by no other flag that floats, except their
Qnr1a and oh for
Charles Dickens.'D II know my countrymen IN
any and every relation towards America, they
begin not, as Sir Anthony Absolute recommended
lovers TO begin, with little aversion, with a
great liking and profoundTespect. (Applause.)
And whatever may be the sensityeness OF the
moment, or the little Official passion may be, take
my word for It, that the frst enduring, great,
popular consideration in Eogland is a generous
construction of justice. (Bravos and applause
Finally, gentlemen, say this, subject to your
correction, l do believe. from the great majority
of honest minds on both sides cannot be absent
the conviction that 1t would be better for the
globe TO be riven by an earthquake, fred by
comet. OF overrun by iceberg, abandoned to
Arctic fox ar bear, than that it should present
the spectacle Of these two great nations, each of
which has, in its own way, striyen hard and so
successfully for freedom. ever again being ar
rsyed the one against the other. Tremendous
applause.) ff s.r-ra
Gentlemen, cannot thank your president
enough, and you enough for your kind response
to my health, by, my poor remarks; bat, believe
me, l thank you. with the utmost fervor Of which
my soul is capable. At the conclusion of his
speech The sssembage broke forth in loud cheers.
which were again and again repeated, every per-
son present being on his feet, and the waving OF
handkerchiefs and vehement gestcnlations, pre-
sentiDg an indescribsble scene of enthusiastic
animation. The band ultimately was heard play
ing !" God Save the Queenln The strain was
taken up, and borne aloft by the same voices
with line elect, every person joining IN the song
with all the JUNCTION IN him. The chairman then
introduced the next toast, which was responded
TO by Hon. Henry j. Raymond. The " Weekly
Press" was responded to by Geo. III. Curtis, cor
GLIDING as follows; sfrra a.r1sa,I. gsl.
SPEECH OF GEO. WIN. CURTIS. ~ 90 rs
In that spirit of common respect for a noble
calling upon whose roll are written the best be-
loved names Of history, calling which the. tech.
nical press, whether daily, or weekly, or monthly
or quarterly, Is but department. let us take the
hand Of our friend at parting. Wherever he may
be, whatever fate befall, his ime will be kind
Of good tdings, II will always have a pleasant
Christmas sound Old ocean bear him safely
over. English hedges welcome him with bios
SONS OF May, English hearts be is ours as he Is
yours We stand upon the shore, we say fare
well, and as be sails away we pray with love and
gratitude, MAY God bless him." .t. III
w. II. Hurlbut responded to the sentiment Of
THE Monthly Press ~ Cbas. Elmot Norton TO
that Of "Ihe Boston Press !" Jos. r. Hewley TO
that Of "The New England Press - and Gee. W.
Demers to that Of The Northern Press"
Mr.. Dickens at this time quietly left the room,
accompanied by some members OF the committee
Mr.. Greeley remsrkiDg they would now have TO
excuse the guest Of the evening. as be was 10 ex-
ceediDgly poor health, and he, the chairman had
advised him to leave. As Mr.. Dickens passed
out he was greeted with three times three ringing
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