New-York tribune., 1875-10-18
LORD HOUGHTON'S VISIT.


Poetic FACULTY.
The Right Hon. Lord IIoughton Orchard
Moncktcn Mnc spending the last week or two OF his
first visit To America in this city. His literary
than the stcadfast occy Of the Union in
England, during the war, have gained hin many friends
in advance and ii is matter Of regret that he will not
be able TO accept all the forms OF welcome which our
citizens eager to offer
the members of the Century Club during Lord
Houshton's brief stay among u.s. his way to Boston
fortnight ago. invited him To u breakfast at the Century
Club on his return order that he might meet peioon
ally with Of authors artists publishers, and
Of professional reputation The invitation was cor
daily accepted, aud the breakfast took place on saur
day morning at the Clubhouse in Fiftcentll-st. Mr.
Bryant the President Of the club, from R0syn to
preside, and welcome the distinguished guest
Moncure ID. Conway, who has returned to this
country after more than thirteen years of absence
from his native land also present by special invita-
ton Among tho gentlemen who united in the invitation
and were present were 4. Il. Macd0nough, l.. C. sted
man. Prof Pumpcly, Parke Goodwin, W. L. Dodgc.jr
+. f. MarbuTy, j. VI. Harper, = s. Conan Henry Holt
t. H. stoddald. A. G. Browne. Albert Bcrstadt j. q A.
Ward the Rev. Dr. Bellows Wlitclaw Rcia Bayard
Taylor. and Charles Collins
Toward the close of the entertainment. which was OF
the most agreeable aud Informal character, William
Cullen BRYANT called the attention of the company to the
pleasant duty of welcoming Lord Toughion by words as
well as by Tie hospitalitcs Of the table. He said
ADDRESS OF ME-. BRYANT.
We have with this table as our guest an Enssh-
man hnnored and beloved III his own country, dh Nhon
we gladly and warmly welcome to ours. lie mas nn'
one fault that / know OF. You all remein-
ber the poem of Retaliation in which Goldsmith dc
scribcs the characters of those who were ntperi ~
that of the club to which he and pr Johnson be.
onged Ia giving of Mr.. Hickey. a blunt, pleasant
creature" he arraiens him for one particular fault
Ie wa, could he help IT, special % n',S % pc Iog,
fault which might have prevented hut having
accepted peeraCe is too late and lord he must
HE'S. lc helg i peer Of Great Britain
not born lord int he was born poet which, take to
ne wandered in switzerland Italy and Greece, and the
mprcssions made npon his mind gre woven into his
beautiful series poems published under the title of
hans 10 Year iicrwar he Travelled in Egypt and the
western coast of Asia and returned bringing win nm
inspired by the remarkable places which he visited and
by the incidents of his journey Ihese PAIN leaves, & i,
as when they were gathered and still breathe Sabran
odorsthc spices perfume Of the Oricnt-what the Old
r''' -sihe almighty balm Of the early Ea-t" -.
without antiquities, hut of Siicien' interest to attract
his steps hiiher He Will donne.e see iS III or r
quicker to discern them than our own can -Dl el us
hope that nc viii carry back T." his native land the Ieco
lection cordial reception among our people such as
hope ready 10 accord to personal wOrth I"
The only time that ever saw DR.. Bowruc. which was
thirty years since, when ne was melnber o IiI
me- On account OF the culory Of guest which he Mt
tered with much warmth and enthusiasm he praised
the generosity Of his sentiments and the larGcncsh OF Ms
sympathies AT hs table lie added, "you meet win
men OF various differing Opinions; the @S 'i-e 10 nS
/ hospitality and esteem i personal merit .
The rule of preference which he applied 10 me IN
diviua- whom he admitted to his friendship had gov
eIned m throughout long public life IN the measures
which he bad supported His cooperation ana efclent
c"oirmpa,ed lie wcll-bene Of the pcopcto useful and
benslcal reforms. In their favor ne Iteacy Saye ms
honor. not only the poet ba Tie lhianthr"s ana 'he
propose. therefore the health Of Lord ITouglton.
After these words, which received with prolonged
applause Lord ioughton and thus responded:
LORD noUGnroN's REPLY.
Mn BRYANT ,yp GESr1rnl>: In finding my self here
now the first time an aiiatcd hy conflicting emo
tions-hy my pleasure in heing amons you, and by my
regret at not having been here before. -, ,., man
Ia aiiuding TO my poetic experience, Mr.. Hryant men
toned hat Rad Eased many & $ea 6s G my ara Tory IN ' m IN
m"sitIn32 3 " + uass.d Some time at Venice aud one
summer evening, the Piazza di san Marco
my attention attracted hy an ola man. VINO
walked up ana down with mingled air OF wonder and
delight and who - ter had observed him for mo
lncnts. and asked me IN The Venetian dialect what
streets he 10 take toward certain remote portion" "l
the city. SAID That was foreigner, and that be- be
ing native Of the place. must know lis Er2;Gr"png a;
that he there for the first time. lie had
passed an his c in his own ,anl sta W9rld thcr earning
his daily br ad, and occupied y ts t "cI 'ISs,S'
Al Inst friend had told MIN mat ne must see tc race
Il boat aud landed him there. and now lie wanted to ma
his way home. charmed and con,cnted.
eran. aud shall return my county happy mat nave
at Ias found this great place and hahiiation
OF the cirjtas of English-Sieaking people.
Not that have ever failed 10 gard this country IN
MANY senses ~ my own. from the time when took
moral comfort from thc night of Mr. By ants Wild
FOw! across The ocean and took IN thr csi Lesson OF ne
from the Psalm Of l0neicllow; since thcn nave ever
been you in all your ntclua progress and IN tGe
necessarily clcckered conrse Of your constitutional MS
tory ana than in tie late solemn year IN all
the national difficulties which you have 50 cn,fgcca{
SO persistent ~ and so humahey sul3"i,eL % IN "oAI
ing looking back 10 my hHpieitCns az th"Se tlhr-,
sometimes think that my sympathy WIN y3n
has a chance Of prolonged existence; should
wish be read, not by any distracted and lmppchi
coimuIi II British race, but 10y America: ono ANA III
dyiSblc. And, Gentlemen. this is not unnatural Tor
your literature has ever been patriotic ana natioual;
Literature. in truth, has been to You = u EGofh |
lcctual growth, but of The synpaicS-tie largest aYh
nd 9srtEg n ~ & IT, man IL ha, r4 aG tlo
the Continent II las brought TO You Hoclhs'
that by tn side OF ilr.c great calculations OF honghi,
YOU have refused 10 rcciv" and 10 pass To! 0ui iur-
ihes Territories humblcs addition he single volume
of verse. tie chance fictitious cNrre SION o comnoi
thought and feeling, oven some accidental lcitIih oI
song that has pleasantly caught Tie ear aid gone I" he
heart Of man.
And t bring, to say to you one professional word
respecting that art aud nature " poetry tai You nave
bceh kind enough to connect with my name. Ihe glchie
portion Of verses have written were thai product oi
the lyrical period of youth which j. by hp hiS uh'on-
mon among modern CIVILIZATION. II cNhllltH II
ont connection with other culti.lc, or even
The most common intellectual opportunities. OF MS
tlic volume published OF the pO1ns Oi" DAVID Cray,
scotch woaycI-boy who, without one ad'ahi. beyond
t common education Of his class describe " the nltuic
within his ~ the Ia CHEST poetc perfection. and passed
Iyi, leaving "a most pathetic record, OF short " oi
imaginative -eus.hiy. You can contit> TINS slinple
aud W;,dc Hover ot faculty with srci ricl ana com
iplc cf tioI ~ assume III tie cfloitScchcr oi
Iuuyson or SWinbuTnr, but III whatc,er form you ma
il do the less value he faculty II H. P"ihI me 20
.,y tnat in no condition Of society can IL BE- en-
,ouragcd and fcrizcd more u,cfuly tlhu among
yourselves. For not only VII .rinG MID II cam , ne
comfort amid all the Sup"rbundut activities. ambitions
and confessions OF daily ne n 10 Ia, also I'D, rct"Nc
powcr teaching men div dr the sPhec of he iuagi-