Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-04-25
MR.. DICKENS.
what He thinks of Americans.

from your distinguished President, and
{, refer, in my fiji st remarks, to his re-
marks in connection with the natural as
sociatons between you and me. When
received an invitation from private
association ( working members of the
press of New York to dine with them
this day, acc pied that compliment in
grateful remembrance of a calling that
was once my cwn, and in loyal sympa-
thy towards brotherhood which in The
spirit have never quilted. Applause
10 the wholesome training of severe
newspaper work when 1 was a very
young man attribute my first success in
life, and my sons will hereafter testify of
their father that he was always persis.
tently proud of that ladder by which he
rose. And if it were otherwise, they
should have but a very poor and mean
opinion ofthat father, which perhaps now
i have not. Applause and laughter.
Under any circumstances this reception
would have been unexceptionably inter-
esting and gratifying to me. But where
as suppose that like the fairy pavilion
which appeared capable of holding but
one individual, find it turns out, like
the same elastic pavilion, capable ofcom-
pretending a multitude; so more and
more proud am of being your guest to
night, as the more readily do / feel a
grateful sentiment for this kindly exhi-
bition towards me of this vast institu-
ton. Gentlemen, so much of my voice
has latterly been heard in the land, and
have for upwards of four hard winter
monthsso cOnien,led against what l have
bt Ell sometimes quite admiringly assur
ed was true American catarrh, and the
possession of which have hardly prop
erly appreciated [laughter] as l might
have preferred to be naturalized by any
other outward visible means. Gentle
men, so much of my voice has lately been
heard among you that might have been
content with troubling you no further
from my present standpoint, were it not
that the duty with which l henceforth
charge myself, not only here but every
where and upon every suitable occasion.
whensoever and wheresoever, to express
my high and grateful sense ofmy hospi-
table reception in America, and to bear
my honest testimony to the national gen
crosby and magnanimity. Applause.
Also TO declare how astounding and
amazing have been the changes that l
Gave seen around me upon every side.
Changes moral, changes physical,
changes in the assaougrt of land acquired
and the people thereon; changes in the
rise of vast new cities, changes in the
growth of old cities grown almost out of
recollection, changes INA tho graces and
amenities of life, changes in the press,
Dnent can take place any where-lap-
plause] nor am !, believe me, so arrogant
as to suppose that in five-and-twenty
years there have been no changes in me,
and that had nothing to learn aasd no
-asl IN 1furfr
when was here first /; and gentlemen,
this brings me TO point upon which i
have, ever since landed here last No
vember, observed q strict silence, though
sometimes tempted to break it, and in
reference to which WILL with yourper
mission, beg leave to take you now into
any confidence. Applause Even the
press being Observation-Disclosures may
be sometimes mistaken OF misinformed,
and rather think that have myself, on
one or two occasions, in some rare in
stances, had to submit that my informa
tion was not perfectly accurate with re-
ference to my owu subjects. Indeed,
have now and again leen more surprised
by the printed news / read of myselfnow
than by any printed news ] ever read in
mypast state of existence-that the vigor
aud perseverance with which have for
some menths past been collecting mater
ial for and hammering at a new book
upon America. [Cheers and laughter.]
Iris has been matter of much astonish-
meRt TO me, inasmuch as that all this
time it has been perfectly well known to
lantic that positively declared that no
consideration on earth should induce me
to write one. But what have intended
and what have resolved on, and this is
the confidence am about to place in you,
is that on my return to England, in my
own English journal, manfully, prompt
Nv, and plainly, in my own person, to
bear for the behalf of my countrymen
such testimony of the gigantic changes
in this country as have limited to here
tonight. [Great applause.] Also to re-
cord that wherever I have been, in the
smallest place equally with the largest,
i have been received with unsurpassed
po.iteness, delicacy, sweetness, temper,
hospitality and consideration, and with
indispensable respect for the privacy
daily enforced upon me by henature OF
my avocations and state of health. This
testimony so long as live, and so long
as my descendants have any legal right
in my books, 1 shall cause to he repub-
lished as an appendix to every copy o.
those two books of my own in which
have referred to America. Applause.
And this 1 will do and cause to be done
not in some love, and thankfulness, but
because regard it as an act of plain jus
ticeand honor. (Applause.] And, gen
tlemen, the transition of my own feeling
and interest in America to the masses o
nv countrymen seems to be natura
one; but whether or not make the re-
mark with an express object. was ask
ed in this city, about last Christmas
whether an American was not at SOM
disadvantage in England as a foreigner
The notion of an American being regar
ded in England as foreigner at all-o
ever being thought of, or spoken of il
thnt character, was so uncommon ant
egregious and absurd that my gravit,
for the moment overpowered me. A
soon as my feelings became restored
said that for years and years past hope
/ had had as many American friends
and had received as many American Wis
itors as almost any Englishmen living
and that it was enough in England to b
an American to be received with TIL
greatest respect and recognition any
where. [Applause.] Hereupon out Q
half a, dozen people present SUDDEN,
spoke two, one an American gentleman
with cultivated taste for the fine arts
who finding himself on Sunday outsid
the walls Of a certain historic Englis
castle, famous for its pictures, was re
fused admission according to the reguls
tions of the establishment, and who ha'
merely represented himselfas an Amer
lean traveller, and who notonly assaile
the picture gallery, but ought tn
whole castle should have been at his dis
posal. The other was a lady, who, hav
ing been in London, was DESTROYS to Sc
the reading-room of the Museum. Sh
was assured by her landlady, frienc
that it was impossible to visit it thu
day, that ii had been closed for weef
She had only three days to stay, and tn
matter being represented to me, intro
duced her to the party in charge and th