Year: 1868

shall undertake to strzc US permit me 70 entreat him
each other Genilcmen most cordially ioin in he SEN
tments here expressed OF good Will, fair play and JUS
nee IN the professon in your wishes for the advance
ment OF our common humanity and in the Cor per-
manent peace, friendship, and cooperation with our
| cousins across the water. tCheers.l
The PREsIDEST-GenHemen: New-York Is fanked by
great cities, one Of which, If not oder long larger
populous important than herself city
of the Declaration Of Independence and Of the first
ernment Of the Federal Union. am asked to propose
next; "The Press os Philadelphia" and request Mr..
George H. Boxer to respond TO the sentiment. lap
plausel


SPEECH OF GEORGE H. BOXER.


lG. Chairman: / astounded at being called upon
under bonds not TO require me to speak for any
purpose whatever am therefore entirely nnPrepared
To speak any subject As responding 10 the toast
"The Press OF philadelphia" gentlemen who have pre-,
ceded me have disowned connection with the day ana
with the weekly, and with the monthly, and with the
quarterly press. am connected win no press WHAT
and how am ITO I 70 say e Rene%ed
laughter However, have no doubt the Paladelpha,
press owes Mr. Dickens the same debt OF gratitude hat
the press OF our country generally seems to owe him
Laughter represent class OF the community
hardly exist. am subscriber icheers and laugh.
teri, and am happy to be able TO say, win my
bills appa1se, generally in advance cheesl not that


credit was not good but because that seemed to be
lack of capital on their part or suspicion OF me.
Iaughter.I am an American curiosity IN another way:
Ineyer read book Of Mr. Dickens except in the original
English editions Cheers viii not 90 into the sub





heated and say something ijudicou but think such
law would be justice TO the American author az much
to the English author The writings Of Mr. Dickens
have affected and s0ftened the heart wherever they have
been read, and especially where they have
TSS sq We ye Lately a the pleasure Of heas
him interpret his own works throughout these United
gofome to his own country, II possible more beloved
writer's that Mr.. Dickens in Martin Chuzzewit and the
American Notes not altogether just 70 Us. That may
be- Mr. Dickens saw with his own eyes, aud from one
However,
through our country has been one continued triunphal
progress he has overcome all prejudice and his audi.
ences have listened to him with delight Different views
OF these entertainments have been taken In our different
only say that thank him IN behalf OF Philadelphia.
We shall be delighted to see him again in any capacity;
whether as an ambassador Of England TO the United
States great applause an ambassador from his lit
erary brethren sent TO conclude the great International
copyright treaty Of the future which we all hope TO see
Applause Whenever he comes, and however he comes,
we will welcome HIM TO Philadelphia. lCheers.I
The PRESIDENT - Gentlemen: Our Committee have
rather limited notions, think with regard geography.
They propose the next sentiment "The Northern
Press"-very appropratey-and they ask me to call
upon friend Mr. George W. Demers Of The Albany
Erenng Journal to respond, which he will do worthy
however think, not far north might probably
have called into the service on this occasion.


Mr.. DEMERs said that his dearest recolections
connected with the man whom they had met 10 honor
lie remembered his characters not as ctions but as
to face He knew them in their entities IN their anb-
tons and IN their degradat0ns tic in their rags and their
dying He had triumphed in the triumph Of virtue
which the story OF Nicholas Nickleby portrayed He
owed Mr. Dickens debt Of gratitude for the delight aud
instruction which he had derived from the perusa Of his
works. He remembered that year ago when travelling
in mountainous region OF the great wilderness in the
northern part OF New York. finding In rude cabin where
he stopped ali night five miles removed from any other
habitaon where would expect to lind any eyi:
dences of intellectual culture complete edition OF
that next his bible he valued the works Of Charles
Dickens T" Good" aud applanse.l This little incident
but illustration in miniature OF the sentiment
which prevailed among the people OF the United States
who recognized in the writings Of Charles Dickens tho
ideas and principles which, carried into the great com
life OF "a community were calculated 10 make 1t
wiser. purer, and happier. tApplause.l


The PRESIDENT then announced that in consequence Of
the exceedingly bad health OF their guest who suffer
ing great PAIN he had excused him. and he woud pass
out of the room he preferred TO do, unnotced The
audience then and gave Mr. Dickens three hearty
cheers as he retired


n The PREsIDENTwe have present among representa-
tves of the press from the far valley of the Ohio, who
have come tonight join with in doing honor to our
guest l. therefore, in behalf Of the Committee, have
great pleasure in recognizing their generous attendance
tonight and asking you to join in the sentiment The
Western Press" TO which Mr. Hastead OF The Cincinnati
Commercial is expected to respond lApplause'l


SPEECH OF MR.. MURAT HALsTEAD.


Mr. President aud Gentlemen II should protract my
remarks proportion to the geographical extravaganza
should break the sabbath lLauGhterl There is some
mistake here Sir Ny home is not in the bright setting
offending the august majesty OF New-iork-a provncia-


speak ,S OF %aytHpE Wny ,s SIR sac I've VI S
miles this side the mouth OF the Ohio River ana when
have ascended the Missouri River 500 miles 70 t9e Sy
so that only live Onethrd Of the distance from New
our honored guest this evening atters himself that
has the United States He has seen that portion OK
and cheers very small portion of the coun-
Try; We nave regretted exceedingly s, 5nat we we
time but country was so unfortunately
large that Il was impossible for him to get over the
had read up everything including the American Notss
lrcnewed laughter aud we were astolshea 10 ma Mhs
was. Laughter and cheersl And we are intensely
In recording the exceedingly funny things that he
when he was IN this country Is years ago We would oe
very happy to welcome him at any time We hope he
NAV visit MS every quarter OF century llaugher for all
the centuries that wish he may live. Laughter lt
has said of the British dominons that upon them
the sun never sets may certainly be SAID OF the sent
OF Charles Dickens that the sun meyer eyer sets upon ~


this country he may be able 70 % ~ - sy the
les The only fear is that he would be much
attracted by Pacific Shores d SS nt m the case OF his
Valley OF the Mississippi lCheers,J


The Observation-Disclosures we will not forget that
there South in our country and southern Press as
well as Northern, an Eastern, and Western And as
propose the sentiment, The Southern Press shall call
upon gentleman to respond to it who is probably not
now connected with that press but who represents its
spirit and geneaogcay may be held its representative.
propose, then The Southern Press" and require NJ
Edwin De Leon to respond


MR.. DE Icons RESPONSE.


Mr.. De Leon said that all had read with wonder, IN
childhood that story in the Arabian Nights OF the Prince
who, his magic carpet could transport himself TO the
remOtest corners Of the earth What our childhood had
doubted manhood had realized for into what remote
nook diversity OF land and language had not the magic
woof from his own brain, transported Charles Dick
ems The Southern Press had paid their tribute 10 him.
He had fed this generation with the most Wholesome food
OF literature and among those who would welcome him
on his to his own land there would be found
hearts that would throb for him with a genuine
warmth than those that sent Godspeed after him, from
Maine to Louisiana. (Cheers)