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things be to raise the lower members of the press towards the
higher； and never to bring the higher members to the lower level。
I hope I may be allowed in the very few closing words that I feel a
desire to say in remembrance of some circumstances； rather special；
attending my present occupation of this chair； to give those words
something of a personal tone。 I am not here advocating the case of
a mere ordinary client of whom I have little or no knowledge。 I
hold a brief to…night for my brothers。 I went into the gallery of
the House of Commons as a parliamentary reporter when I was a boy
not eighteen； and I left it … I can hardly believe the inexorable
truth … nigh thirty years ago。 I have pursued the calling of a
reporter under circumstances of which many of my brethren at home
in England here； many of my modern successors； can form no adequate
conception。 I have often transcribed for the printer； from my
shorthand notes； important public speeches in which the strictest
accuracy was required； and a mistake in which would have been to a
young man severely compromising； writing on the palm of my hand； by
the light of a dark lantern； in a post…chaise and four； galloping
through a wild country； and through the dead of the night； at the
then surprising rate of fifteen miles an hour。 The very last time
I was at Exeter； I strolled into the castle yard there to identify；
for the amusement of a friend； the spot on which I once 〃took；〃 as
we used to call it； an election speech of my noble friend Lord
Russell； in the midst of a lively fight maintained by all the
vagabonds in that division of the county； and under such a pelting
rain； that I remember two goodnatured colleagues； who chanced to be
at leisure； held a pocket…handkerchief over my notebook； after the
manner of a state canopy in an ecclesiastical procession。 I have
worn my knees by writing on them on the old back row of the old
gallery of the old House of Commons； and I have worn my feet by
standing to write in a preposterous pen in the old House of Lords；
where we used to be huddled together like so many sheep … kept in
waiting； say； until the woolsack might want re…stuffing。 Returning
home from excited political meetings in the country to the waiting
press in London； I do verily believe I have been upset in almost
every description of vehicle known in this country。 I have been；
in my time； belated on miry by…roads； towards the small hours；
forty or fifty miles from London； in a wheelless carriage； with
exhausted horses and drunken postboys； and have got back in time
for publication； to be received with never…forgotten compliments by
the late Mr。 Black； coming in the broadest of Scotch from the
broadest of hearts I ever knew。
Ladies and gentlemen； I mention these trivial things as an
assurance to you that I never have forgotten the fascination of
that old pursuit。 The pleasure that I used to feel in the rapidity
and dexterity of its exercise has never faded out of my breast。
Whatever little cunning of hand or head I took to it； or acquired
in it； I have so retained as that I fully believe I could resume it
to…morrow； very little the worse from long disuse。 To this present
year of my life； when I sit in this hall； or where not； hearing a
dull speech； the phenomenon does occur … I sometimes beguile the
tedium of the moment by mentally following the speaker in the old；
old way； and sometimes； if you can believe me； I even find my hand
going on the table…cloth； taking an imaginary note of it all。
Accept these little truths as a confirmation of what I know； as a
confirmation of my undying interest in this old calling。 Accept
them as a proof that my feeling for the location of my youth is not
a sentiment taken up to…night to be thrown away to…morrow … but is
a faithful sympathy which is a part of myself。 I verily believe …
I am sure … that if I had never quitted my old calling I should
have been foremost and zealous in the interests of this
Institution； believing it to be a sound； a wholesome； and a good
one。 Ladies and gentlemen； I am to propose to you to drink
〃Prosperity to the Newspaper Press Fund；〃 with which toast I will
connect； as to its acknowledgment； a name that has shed new
brilliancy on even the foremost newspaper in the world … the
illustrious name of Mr。 Russell。
SPEECH： KNEBWORTH； JULY 29； 1865。
＇On the above date the members of the 〃Guild of Literature and Art〃
proceeded to the neighbourhood of Stevenage； near the magnificent
seat of the President； Lord Lytton； to inspect three houses built
in the Gothic style； on the ground given by him for the purpose。
After their survey； the party drove to Knebworth to partake of the
hospitality of Lord Lytton。 Mr。 Dickens； who was one of the
guests； proposed the health of the host in the following words：＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … It was said by a very sagacious person；
whose authority I am sure my friend of many years will not impugn；
seeing that he was named Augustus Tomlinson； the kind friend and
philosopher of Paul Clifford … it was said by that remarkable man；
〃Life is short； and why should speeches be long？〃 An aphorism so
sensible under all circumstances； and particularly in the
circumstances in which we are placed； with this delicious weather
and such charming gardens near us； I shall practically adopt on the
present occasion； and the rather so because the speech of my friend
was exhaustive of the subject； as his speeches always are； though
not in the least exhaustive of his audience。 In thanking him for
the toast which he has done us the honour to propose； allow me to
correct an error into which he has fallen。 Allow me to state that
these houses never could have been built but for his zealous and
valuable co…operation； and also that the pleasant labour out of
which they have arisen would have lost one of its greatest charms
and strongest impulses； if it had lost his ever ready sympathy with
that class in which he has risen to the foremost rank； and of which
he is the brightest ornament。
Having said this much as simply due to my friend； I can only say；
on behalf of my associates； that the ladies and gentlemen whom we
shall invite to occupy the houses we have built will never be
placed under any social disadvantage。 They will be invited to
occupy them as artists； receiving them as a mark of the high
respect in which they are held by their fellow…workers。 As artists
I hope they will often exercise their calling within those walls
for the general advantage； and they will always claim； on equal
terms； the hospitality of their generous neighbour。
Now I am sure I shall be giving utterance to the feelings of my
brothers and sisters in literature in proposing 〃Health； long life；
and prosperity to our distinguished host。〃 Ladies and gentlemen；
you know very well that when the health； life； and beauty now
overflowing these halls shall have fled； crowds of