The New York herald., 1869-04-12
Bohemian Observation-Disclosures in Exchange
for R.,vcrdy johnson.

bohemian
for R.,verdy johnson.
The British Bohem;ans gave to Charles
Dickens, at ST. Georges Hall, in Liverpool,
on Saturday evening, bigger banquet than
the one which our New York Bohemians gave
to him at Delmonico's some lime ago. About
seven hundred guests sat down at table with
him, and there were besides many spectators.
Lord Houghton and Mr.. Hepworth Dixon pre-
sided, and, after the usual toasts, speeches
were made by Lord Dufferin, Lord Lytton,
Mr.. Dickens himself and Mr.. Anthony Troll
lope. Lord Dufferin expressed regret that the
field of politics had not been entered by Mr..
Dickens, who would have been, he said,
power in the House of Commons and fellow
peer of Macaulay. Dickens, however, replied
that after mature deliberation he had decided
to stand or fall by literature and not to enter
politics, adding that thus far he had not re-
GREETED his decision. Mr.. Anthony Trollope
eulogzed Washington Irving, Mr.. Motley and
the American people, ''who were always
willing to recognize publicly the honor that
was due to literary men," and closed by hint
ing that the appointment of Charles Dickens
as Minister to Washington would be beneficial
to both countries.
Now, this last suggestion indicates an un-
mistakable desire for reciprocity on the part
of the British Bohemians. We are ready to
accept it for what it is worth, although we
cannot see how Mr.. Dickens studies of the
manners and humors of the lower strata OF
London life have specially qualified him to ex-
ercise high diplomatic functions at Washing
ton. But his personal interest in the inter-
national copyright question would enable him
to write as long letters on that topic as any
that Mr.. Seward ever wrote on the French oc-
cupation of Mexico, Maximilian's empire, the
purchase of ice and furs in Alaska and vOlca-
noes in the West Indies, or even the Alabama
claims. If these latter could be settled by
dining and wining and speechmaking, la
Reverdy Johnson, we should welcome Charles
Dickens as pretty fair equivalent for that
veteran campaigner. In return for the roast
beef, plum pudding, old port, Old Tom and
Royal Lochnagar that have been plenteously
dealt out to Reverdy Johnson we can
supply Charles Dickens with all the
eatables and native wines and mixed drinks
that our ''great country" affords, from Cali
fornia to Maine, together with more Bourbon
whiskey than Bourbon county ever saw and
more champagne than was ever imported here
from France. The Hon. Jefferson Brick might
preside over grand reception dinner to the
novelist in his new capacity as a diplomatist
and Dickens might lend piquancy to his after
dinner speech by reading choice extracts from
his "American Notes. and ''Martin Chuzzle-
wit" The entente cordiale between England
and America would thus be delightfully."- pro-
noted After ALL we fear that from the length
of time Mr.. Dickens gout kept the New Yorl
Bohemians impatiently waiting at the Del
monico dinner his constitution would hardly
endure an ordeal of dining, wining and speech
making so severe as that through which Rev.
erdy Johnson has miraculously passed with
safety. If, therefore, he accepts an appoint.
ment as Minister to Washington he must dc
so with the consent of his medical adviser and
at his own risk and peril. His fifth voyage
across the Atlantic may indeed make Dickens
as robust as Reverdy Johnson; but even il
that case we are not over-sanguine that the
former can do more than the latter has don,
towards settling the question of the Alabama
claims.