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emotion and unusual attachment。
＇Later in the evening； in proposing the health of the Chairman； Mr。
Dickens said：＇
THERE may be a great variety of conflicting opinions with regard to
farming； and especially with reference to the management of a clay
farm； but； however various opinions as to the merits of a clay farm
may be； there can be but one opinion as to the merits of a clay
farmer； … and it is the health of that distinguished agriculturist
which I have to propose。
In my ignorance of the subject； I am bound to say that it may be；
for anything I know； indeed I am ready to admit that it IS；
exceedingly important that a clay farm should go for a number of
years to waste； but I claim some knowledge as to the management of
a clay farmer； and I positively object to his ever lying fallow。
In the hope that this very rich and teeming individual may speedily
be ploughed up； and that； we shall gather into our barns and store…
houses the admirable crop of wisdom； which must spring up when ever
he is sown； I take leave to propose his health； begging to assure
him that the kind manner in which he offered to me your very
valuable present； I can never forget。
SPEECH： LONDON； MARCH 29； 1862。
＇At a Dinner of the Artists' General Benevolent Institution； the
following Address was delivered by Mr。 Charles Dickens from the
chair。…＇
SEVEN or eight years ago； without the smallest expectation of ever
being called upon to fill the chair at an anniversary festival of
the Artists' General Benevolent Institution； and without the
remotest reference to such an occasion； I selected the
administration of that Charity as the model on which I desired that
another should be reformed； both as regarded the mode in which the
relief was afforded； and the singular economy with which its funds
were administered。 As a proof of the latter quality during the
past year； the cost of distributing 1；126 pounds among the
recipients of the bounty of the Charity amounted to little more
than 100 pounds； inclusive of all office charges and expenses。 The
experience and knowledge of those entrusted with the management of
the funds are a guarantee that the last available farthing of the
funds will be distributed among proper and deserving recipients。
Claiming； on my part； to be related in some degree to the
profession of an artist； I disdain to stoop to ask for charity； in
the ordinary acceptation of the term； on behalf of the Artists。 In
its broader and higher signification of generous confidence；
lasting trustfulness； love and confiding belief； I very readily
associate that cardinal virtue with art。 I decline to present the
artist to the notice of the public as a grown…up child； or as a
strange； unaccountable； moon…stricken person； waiting helplessly in
the street of life to be helped over the road by the crossing…
sweeper； on the contrary； I present the artist as a reasonable
creature； a sensible gentleman； and as one well acquainted with the
value of his time； and that of other people； as if he were in the
habit of going on high 'Change every day。 The Artist whom I wish
to present to the notice of the Meeting is one to whom the perfect
enjoyment of the five senses is essential to every achievement of
his life。 He can gain no wealth nor fame by buying something which
he never touched； and selling it to another who would also never
touch or see it； but was compelled to strike out for himself every
spark of fire which lighted； burned； and perhaps consumed him。 He
must win the battle of life with his own hand； and with his own
eyes； and was obliged to act as general； captain； ensign； non…
commissioned officer； private； drummer； great arms； small arms；
infantry； cavalry； all in his own unaided self。 When； therefore； I
ask help for the artist； I do not make my appeal for one who was a
cripple from his birth； but I ask it as part payment of a great
debt which all sensible and civilised creatures owe to art； as a
mark of respect to art； as a decoration … not as a badge … as a
remembrance of what this land； or any land； would be without art；
and as the token of an appreciation of the works of the most
successful artists of this country。 With respect to the society of
which I am the advocate； I am gratified that it is so liberally
supported by the most distinguished artists； and that it has the
confidence of men who occupy the highest rank as artists； above the
reach of reverses； and the most distinguished in success and fame；
and whose support is above all price。 Artists who have obtained
wide…world reputation know well that many deserving and persevering
men； or their widows and orphans； have received help from this
fund； and some of the artists who have received this help are now
enrolled among the subscribers to the Institution。
SPEECH： LONDON； MAY 20； 1862。
＇The following speech was made by Mr。 Dickens； in his capacity as
chairman； at the annual Festival of the Newsvendors' and Provident
Institution； held at the Freemasons' Tavern on the above date。＇
WHEN I had the honour of being asked to preside last year； I was
prevented by indisposition； and I besought my friend； Mr。 Wilkie
Collins； to reign in my stead。 He very kindly complied； and made
an excellent speech。 Now I tell you the truth； that I read that
speech with considerable uneasiness； for it inspired me with a
strong misgiving that I had better have presided last year with
neuralgia in my face and my subject in my head； rather than preside
this year with my neuralgia all gone and my subject anticipated。
Therefore； I wish to preface the toast this evening by making the
managers of this Institution one very solemn and repentant promise；
and it is； if ever I find myself obliged to provide a substitute
again； they may rely upon my sending the most speechless man of my
acquaintance。
The Chairman last year presented you with an amiable view of the
universality of the newsman's calling。 Nothing； I think； is left
for me but to imagine the newsman's burden itself； to unfold one of
those wonderful sheets which he every day disseminates； and to take
a bird's…eye view of its general character and contents。 So； if
you please； choosing my own time … though the newsman cannot choose
his time； for he must be equally active in winter or summer； in
sunshine or sleet； in light or darkness； early or late … but；
choosing my own time； I shall for two or three moments start off
with the newsman on a fine May morning； and take a view of the
wonderful broadsheets which every day he scatters broadcast over
the country。 Well； the first thing that occurs to me following the
newsman is； that every day we are born； that every day we are
married … some of us … and that every day we are dead；
consequently； the first thing the newsvendor's column informs me
is； that Atkins has been born； that Catkins has been married； and
that Datkins is d