New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22
MR. DICKEYSS NEW BIRMIYGHAM SPEECH.

On Jan. 6 Mr.. Charles Dickens, as President
Of tho Birmingham and Midland Institute, distributed
the prizes and certificates awarded TO the most sucee
full students in the past year This proceeding was helu
In tho TOwnha which was filed With an assenblage OF
ladies and gentlemen Mr. R w n st had the honor
10 preside meeting OF the Institution which again
brings us together TOOK occasion 10 rnark upon
10 me TO distinguish the present time. IL will re-
gTg se now what preached them Firstly because
said my little say that night, and secondly because we
have definite aud highly interesting action before us this
evening We have now TO bestow the rewards which
have been brilliantly won by the most successful cOnpe
sos ~ S o sSfS we should particularly observe
that there is In all honest endeayor apd that
t Se y s sSe0 TO strive M ali victory achieved
over sloth inertness and indifference, and competl,
ton for these Prizes involves beside III the vast
asserted over circumstances adverse to the effort made
therefore, every losing competitor among my hearers
and that he can wei afford 10 swell tho triumph OF the
rival who has opposed him IN thozraee have applied
the word rewards these prizes and do not because
they represent great intrinsic worth In silver or eod
but precisely oeeSass hPy pT dS NOT what ey can be-
stated IN no arithmeticai hSuTes ana what ooI Is
raging sympathy They are an assurance to every stu
dent present TO come IN your institution that he does
not work either neglected unfrlended and that he Is
watched felt for. stimulated and appreciated-such an
assurance conveyed In the presence OF this large assem-
thrill which Is nseparable from any great united utter
ance A feelng-as reward-to my thinking as purely
and by sensitive spirit can be forgotten.
MI Dickens proceeded TO deliver the prizes and In
comPaned each presentation by appropriate and ge-
NAL remark He warmly coinplimented young man
named Capwell who obtained the ceymleal prize, the
Evans prize 800 and IN consideration OF which (Mr
Dickens said this successful student has OBJ
tanned an appointment as analytical chemist at
Messrs. Chances famous works In presenting a
certificate to young lady named "WInkle," Mr.
Dickens announced. amid shouts OF laughter, that
he had recommended the fair student 70 change her
after the distribution of the prizes Mr. Dickens
Tneyt
said: When here last Autumn made III reference
to some remarks OF your respected member, Mr. Dixon,
short confession OF my political faith llanghterl or
perhaps should better say, want Of faith; Laughter
1t imported that have very little conf
dence in the people who governed us please
small "p"-but that 1 have great confidence in
tho people whom they goyerned-pease to observe
people there with large "P" Much lauGhteri This
shortly and epticaly stated aud was IN no evil in
tentioIa absolutely sure, In some quarters nversey
explair Perhaps the invention Of certain eKtraya
CANT felton, but one which do say was rather frequent
liz quoted there grains OF truth the bottom OF
tia fiction called the circumlOeution oce;" and per-
hap also tho writer of idle book two whose public
specs did not sufficiently beari In mind Hamets caution
speak by the card. lest equivocaon should undo"
me- lLaughterl Now complain Of nobody; but SIN
ply In order that there be mistake 70 what
did mean, and TO what do mean will restato my
meaning, and will do the words OF thinker,
great writer, and great schoiar-whom death unorn.
natey SHORTEN his History ~ Civilization IN India:
"They may talk as they VIII about reforms which Gov
ernment have introduced and improvements 70 be
ELECTED IRON legislation but whoever VIII take wider
and moro commanding view Of human affairs VIII soon
discover that such hopes are cnercal-they will learn
that lawgiyers nearly always but INSTRUCTORS OF
society instead OF ts helpers and that In extremely few
cases only will their measures turn out we'll Their
has been owing TO the fact that contrary TO their
usual custom they have implicitly obeyed tho spirit OF
their time, and they have BEEN they always SHOULD
be- mere tho people, wIshas they
are bound TO give a public aud legal sanction"