The New York herald., 1870-04-24
ST. GEORGE OF ENGLAND.
Ehe Red Cross Knights in Council
at Delrnonico's.
Celebration Of st. Georges Day and the Birth Of
shakspeare-A Splendid Reunion
Toasts, Speeches. &C.


spcare. The St. Georges Society OF New York
observed 1t by dining together At Delmonico's,
Fourteenth street. Fifth avenue and in true
English style did these American Britons do honor
TO these twin events. The room was gayly ana
tastefuny decorated with the lags and banneretts
of Great Britain and America Winterhalter's full
length picture OF the Queen placed immediately
behind the Presidents chair, anl iestooned
with British flags ana the Star-Spansed Banner.
About one hundred ana ffty sat down 10 dinner,
which, as usual, maintained the reputation OF Del
monicos. These gentlemen We're presided over
by T. NJ Archibald, c. b., her MaIesty's Consul. On
his right were Robert Gordon President OF ST. An
drews; j. ii. Puleston, President of ST. Davids Mr..
Eyre, lexPresident OF st. Georges Society; Mr..
Burt, English representative OF Erie Railroads and
Mr.. Braine, Secretary OF st. Georges Society. On
mis- left were Mr.. Joseph Choate, Secretary OF New
England Society; William Cullen Bryant, General
Mcdowell, Consul Murray PortandD and
Waterhouse Hawkins. Among the guests were
Nessrs Walter watson. William Giedhill, Alfred
BrstOw, John Robertson ISL Andrews Society,
Oorson, F. W. j. Hurst (Nauonal line, John G.
Dale pnman nne), d. II. Morris tSecretary ST. Da-
vid's Society, Braine Secretary OF ST Georges So
clety). Archibald McKinlay, James Tinker. James
Oollenaer, Charles Henderson Secretary ST. An.
drew's Society," and w. G. Mumford.
The PRESIDENT thanked the society for the great
honor done TO him by his election AS President OF
the society, which, he was happy TO state, was a
nvurishing condition ana had received a great ac-
cession OF new members. but not quite 80 large
ne should liked TO have seen. Tnat accession included
his Royal Hignness Prince Arthur -(cheers)-whom
the society had had the honor or enrolling
this year among its members Loud cheers The
society had to lamen, the loss OF eight mempers by
death lie c0ngIa ulated the assembly on the return
OF its festive day and TO the acknowledgment oil the
devotion OF Englishmen TO The principle OF limited
monarchy working In conformity with the popular
Wll whicn England maintains and which Is the ad-
miration OF the whole civilized world. Cneers.) The
industry and enterprise OF England found
1ts representation IN all parts Oh the world.
IL was also the country OF Milton, Burns and
taDishcd freedom OF speech, freedom OF the
press and freedom In religion. tJheers.l This, If
nothing else, would excite The regard or all men for
Od England. (Cneers.l The President then referred
TO the representatives VINO were present Of the sister
soceues 'h1 foremost among tnose were the repre-
sentatiyes OF ST. Andrews society and 80. PatrIcks
Society ME latter representative or a country
with wh,ch Eng and had always desired TO maintain
the most friendly re!ations-(cheersJ-an which
the whole world was under great ana lasting oblga
uons. tCheers) III would soon he seen that as
cordial union would exist between Eng
land and Ireland as existed between Eng |
land anu Scotland. tCheers.l In reference TO |
the New England Society. he sand New Eng
land might be considered John Bulls eldest
soD-Qaugnter and cheers) but who lad now grown |
80 tall aud many that ne would not bear very pa
tlenty patting of me back. tCneers.) Though
their fathers did turn these sons away from their
naive land because they dd not say their prayers
property -Qaughter-he Ventured to hope thai " hen
ce ebrated certain maedctlons against the llemory
0 good old George III. would be omitted. lCneeTs.
There were no nations SO much IN one as old Eng.
gland and New England, al lone touch OF nature
makes the whole world KIM" rhe death
OF the great New England pnllanthropist was
Old England. from the Queen TO her
humblest subject. tCheers) These TWO nations
Iion throughout the world. lCncers.) The President
then read letter from the British Minister al Wash
hgton regrettng his inabnty TO he present and
meet many whose acquaintance nc should be de.
hghteo to make bus III tne conscientious discharge
or ais duty lie touud II necessary 10 remain WASH
ington ana thls serve an cenentng those relation.
ships which We are all so earnestly desrous OF cult
vating.n tCheers) eA
The toast OF ''Tne Queen; Coo Dless her ..,sas
sung win musical @ honors' all the company sSii, -
The PRESIDENT In proposing .Tne presid OF
the United Statesn said that The indornitable lor
shown by HIM marked him as q great soldier Esnd
President Grants name would go down to pOstvrity
associated with that great act that placed on the
same level all classes OF men and gave equal rights
ana happiness 10 the people OF this great country
3. tCheersJ
he toast was drank with musical honors and en-
The PREsiDENr then gave "The Memory and
Genius OF Shakespeare not for an age but for all
. tme.u Mr.. w. q. BryanCs name was associated
with this toast.
MT. BRYANT, who was received with enthusiastic
applause, company all rising feet. saiu,
It might at f1rsl seem strange that in company OF
Englisnmen an American should be called upon to
RESPOND to a toast gwen in memory OF Shakespeare
Yet, IN truth, 1t Is not without good reason, for
ncan poet as he was va % not born here e and ID never
saw our continent, Is yet poet OF the
americans. 1t win be granted that til II all the
and the French were to come in and occupy
-sheir place, Shakespeare could by no means be
called French poet, but would by the justesJ title
belong to the race which had migrated. by parity
of reason, II only part Of the Engnsh migrate
they carry with them not only the language, but
Its literature; they carry with them the poets who
1ourisned before their migration and VINO
truly theirs as they are the poets OF those who re-
man. Shakespeare died while the colonsts OF
Jamestown, IN Virginia, were building their cabins
he died seven years before the first white Child
born on the island covered with the dwellings
OF this great city; he Gted four years before
the landing OF the Pilgrims on the Plymouth Rock.
We Americans may, therefore, fairly claim an equal
property in the great English poet with those wnO
remained III the Ola WoIiu-Wilh you Mr.. Presi-
dent, and you, gentlemen, natives OF tne British
Isles. IL is common 10 speak Of the blood or the
cesyor as moving In the veins Of his descendants
and tue expression has cerValn truth In IT, The
Tissues OF the brain the scat OF wit and inagnation
woven OF flores lent by our progenitors.
The generation Which now walks the stage
OF tue world is the reproduction, the re.
entrance, IN certain sort. OF the genera
tions which nave MADE their exit. The blood that
now warns American hearts and CUISINES through
American arteries was once, nearly three hundred
years ago, when 1t In the OF ancestors
A. the Old World, and whiie Shakspears was yet
alive made 10 ngle by his potent words IL coarsed
slowly or swiftly through It's purple channels
Will OF that great master or the passions. 1t was
: guickeued and made TO glow WIN indignation at
toe conduct Of Lear's nngratelul Daughters; . II
:sne royal Dane and OF the sleep-wallng
yn1rderess in "Macoeth;' it was resolved 70
mona. WHAT American, therefor, who Is
Wiling to acknowledge that his ancestors came
freln the Old World, win fan to claim Shakespeare as
hta own poetP 1t is fortunate, Mr.. Presidents and
gentlemen that we have IN our literature writings
or euch superlatlve excellence, so universally read
and studied and by the exercise OF memory SO IN
corporated into our minds as the dramas OF Shak-
speare. Tney keep alive the connection between
nurry.ng process OF change in certain respects
In winch change Is undesirable. Language is an
Z unstable thing, and like everything dependent on
usage, tends 10 constant variation; but this ten
s-dency has no advantage, save as 1t Is demanded
by the introduction OF new ideas. There critics
VINO affirm that the English language reached Its
erEecton of eXpressiveDess and c0piousness In the
time OF Queen Elizabeth, and whoever reads the
authors OF that age WIN zee little to wonder al
this opinion. Let US congratulate ourselves that we
have such author aS Shakespeare, so admired, SO
loved to pyotect our noble language against the
-Dricioug innovations OF those who read only the
authors OF yesterday, and That by dwelling upon
nfer he ala