Year: 1868




Laughter and cheersl Hence gentlemen, under any
circumstances this company would have been exception
ally interesting and gratifying to Inc. But whereas
supposed that like the fairies pavilion in the Arabian
Nights il would be but mere handful, and find it turn
out like the elastic pavilion capable OF compre-
hending multitude much the more proud am OF the
honor of being your guest for you will readily beheVe
that the more widely representative Of the Press in
America my entertainers are, the more must leel INC
good WILL and the kindly sentiments toward me Oh that
vast institution. lAppausel Gentlemen SO lnuch VI
my voice has lately been heard in the and ana nave
for upward Of four hard Winter months SO cohtenueu
against what have been sometimes quite admirlngy
assured was "a true American catarrh -
Uaughterl-a possession which 1 have throughout
highly appreciated-lrenewed laughterl-though
might have preferred to be naturazed by any
other outward aud visible signs Shouts OF laughterJ


say gentlemen, much of my voice has lately been
heard that might have been conented with troubling
you no further from my present standngpoint we're
not duty with which 1 henceforth charge myself, not
only here but on every suitable OCCASION whatsoever and
wheresoever express my high and grateful sense OF
my second reception in America and TO bear my honest
testimony the national generosity and magnanlmlty


Great applause Also to declare how astOunded nave
been by the amazing changes that have seen around
me on every side, changes moral, changes physical,
changes in the amount of land subdued and peoped,
changes in the of vast new cities changes III the
growth Of older cities almost out OF recognition changes
in the grace and amenities of lfe changes IN the Press
without whose advancement no advancement can take
place anywhere. lApplause.l Nor am j, believe me,
so arrogant as to suppose that in five and
twenty years there have been no changes IN
me- and that / had nothing TO learn and no ex-
treme impressions to correct when was here first IA
voice. "noble" and appause And, gentlemen, this
brings me to point on which have, since landed
here last November, observed strict silence though
tempted sometimes break IT, but in refereoce to which
1 WILL with your good leave take you into my confidence
now. Laughter and applause, and cries OF shence1
Even the Press being human aughtcrl, may be some
times mistaken misinfOrmed and rather thlnk that


have one or two instances known its informa


ton 10 be not perfectly accurate with reference to my
self Laughter and applause. Indeed, have now and
again been surprised by printed news that have
read myself, than by any printed news that have
ever read in my present state Of existence Laughter
Thus the vgOr and perseverance with which have for
some months past been collecting materials for, and
hammering away at a new book on America
has much astonshed me renewed laugh
teri; seeing that all that time it has been
perfectly well known to my publishers on both sides OF
the Atlantic that positively declared that no eonsdera


ton earth should induce me TO write one But what


have intended what have resolved upon land this IS
the confidence seek to place YOU Is, On my return 10
England in my own person. bear for the bchoof of my
countrymen such testimony the gigantic changes in
this country as have limited at tonight. Immense ap
plause Also to record that wherever have been, III
the smallest places equally with the largest have been
received with indispensable pOeness deicacy, sweet
temper, hospitality consideration, and with unsnrpass
able respect for the privacy daily enforced upon me by
the nature OF my avocatiOn here and the state
of my health, lApplause.l This testimony, so long
as I live, and long as my descendants
have any legal right in my books shall cause TO be re-
published as appendix 10 every copy OF those two
books of mine in which have referred 70 America IRE
mendous applause And this will do and cause to be
I'm mar 1OXp
regard as an act of plain justice and honor l"Brayo


and cheersl Gentlemen, the transition from my own
feelings toward and interest in America to those oil the
mass Of my countrymen seems to be natural one but
whether no make IL with an express object was
asked in this very city, about last Christmas time whether
an American not at some disadvantage in England
as foreigner The notion of American being regarded
in England foreigner at ALL OF his ever being Thought
of or spoken OF that character was so unconmonly
and absurd 10 me that my gravity was for
the moment quite overpowered. lIaughter As soon as
it was restored, said that for years and years past
l hoped had had as many American friends, and had
received as many American visitors as almost any
Euglishman living Iapplause and that my unvarying
experience fortified by theirs that it enough in
England to be an American to be received with the
readest respect and recognition anywhere. Hereupon,
out Of hafadozen people, suddenly spoke out two, one
an American gentleman, with cultivated taste for art,
who finding himself a certain Sunday outside the
walls Of a historical English castle, famous for its
pictures was refused admission there according TO the
strict rules OF the establishment on that day. but who,
on merely representing that he was an American
gentleman on his travels had, not TO say the picture
gallery-but the whole castle placed at his lnmc-
date disposal. Uaughter.l The other was lady who,
being London, and having great desire to see the
famous readngToom Of the British Museum was assured
nv the English family with whom she stayed that it was
unfortunately impossible because the place was closed
for a week. and she had only three days there. Upon
CHI me lone
TO gate sentroduced American lady the gate
flew open, as 1t were, magically. Laughter and ap
plauSe am uDYlingy bound 10 add that she certain
ly was young and extremely pretty. Laughter.I sull
the porter Of that institution is OF an obese habit laugh
teri and according TO the best Of my observation OF him.
not very impressible. Great laughter and checrngJ
Now gentlemen refer these trfes a collateral as
surance TO you that the eIglslman who shall hunbly
strive as hope TO do, 10 be IN England as faithful TO
America as to England herself has previous cOneep
tions TO contend against. l"GOod" "G0od" ana
cheers Points Of difference there have been points OF d


ference there points Of difference there probably
always will be between the two great peoples But
broadcast in England is the sentiment that those
two peoples essentially great appause and that
it rests with them jointly 10 uphold the great Anglo
Saxon race which President has referred and all


its great achievements before the world Bravo, and
applause And If know anything Of my countrymen-
and they give Inc credit for knowing somethng know
anything OI my country hoh, kchVA''"' '"O t@"b''"
heart stirred by the utterng OF those Stars Stripes
as IL is stirred by other flag that flies except its own
Tremendous applause, and three cheers IL know my
cOuntrymen, In any and every relation toward America,
they begin, not Sir Anthony Absolute recommended
that lovers should begin, with ga little aversion" but
with great liking and profound respect lap
plauseE and whatever the little senstveness Of
the moment OF the little official passion, or
the little official policy now then, here,
or there NAV be- take my word for IT, that the first,
d,r,n0 great popular consideration In England s gen