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profit and return in England from their labours； and when we； in
England； shall receive some substantial profit and return in
America for ours。 Pray do not misunderstand me。 Securing to
myself from day to day the means of an honourable subsistence； I
would rather have the affectionate regard of my fellow men； than I
would have heaps and mines of gold。 But the two things do not seem
to me incompatible。 They cannot be； for nothing good is
incompatible with justice； there must be an international
arrangement in this respect： England has done her part； and I am
confident that the time is not far distant when America will do
hers。 It becomes the character of a great country； FIRSTLY；
because it is justice； SECONDLY； because without it you never can
have； and keep； a literature of your own。
Gentlemen； I thank you with feelings of gratitude； such as are not
often awakened； and can never be expressed。 As I understand it to
be the pleasant custom here to finish with a toast； I would beg to
give you： AMERICA AND ENGLAND； and may they never have any
division but the Atlantic between them。
SPEECH： FEBRUARY 7； 1842。
GENTLEMEN； … To say that I thank you for the earnest manner in
which you have drunk the toast just now so eloquently proposed to
you … to say that I give you back your kind wishes and good
feelings with more than compound interest； and that I feel how dumb
and powerless the best acknowledgments would be beside such genial
hospitality as yours； is nothing。 To say that in this winter
season； flowers have sprung up in every footstep's length of the
path which has brought me here； that no country ever smiled more
pleasantly than yours has smiled on me； and that I have rarely
looked upon a brighter summer prospect than that which lies before
me now； is nothing。
But it is something to be no stranger in a strange place … to feel；
sitting at a board for the first time； the ease and affection of an
old guest； and to be at once on such intimate terms with the family
as to have a homely； genuine interest in its every member … it is；
I say； something to be in this novel and happy frame of mind。 And；
as it is of your creation； and owes its being to you； I have no
reluctance in urging it as a reason why； in addressing you； I
should not so much consult the form and fashion of my speech； as I
should employ that universal language of the heart； which you； and
such as you； best teach； and best can understand。 Gentlemen； in
that universal language … common to you in America； and to us in
England； as that younger mother…tongue； which； by the means of； and
through the happy union of our two great countries； shall be spoken
ages hence； by land and sea； over the wide surface of the globe … I
thank you。
I had occasion to say the other night in Boston； as I have more
than once had occasion to remark before； that it is not easy for an
author to speak of his own books。 If the task be a difficult one
at any time； its difficulty； certainly； is not diminished when a
frequent recurrence to the same theme has left one nothing new to
say。 Still； I feel that； in a company like this； and especially
after what has been said by the President； that I ought not to pass
lightly over those labours of love； which； if they had no other
merit； have been the happy means of bringing us together。
It has been often observed； that you cannot judge of an author's
personal character from his writings。 It may be that you cannot。
I think it very likely； for many reasons； that you cannot。 But； at
least； a reader will rise from the perusal of a book with some
defined and tangible idea of the writer's moral creed and broad
purposes； if he has any at all； and it is probable enough that he
may like to have this idea confirmed from the author's lips； or
dissipated by his explanation。 Gentlemen； my moral creed … which
is a very wide and comprehensive one； and includes all sects and
parties … is very easily summed up。 I have faith； and I wish to
diffuse faith in the existence … yes； of beautiful things； even in
those conditions of society； which are so degenerate； degraded； and
forlorn； that； at first sight； it would seem as though they could
not be described but by a strange and terrible reversal of the
words of Scripture； 〃God said； Let there be light； and there was
none。〃 I take it that we are born； and that we hold our
sympathies； hopes； and energies； in trust for the many； and not for
the few。 That we cannot hold in too strong a light of disgust and
contempt； before the view of others； all meanness； falsehood；
cruelty； and oppression； of every grade and kind。 Above all； that
nothing is high； because it is in a high place； and that nothing is
low； because it is in a low one。 This is the lesson taught us in
the great book of nature。 This is the lesson which may be read；
alike in the bright track of the stars； and in the dusty course of
the poorest thing that drags its tiny length upon the ground。 This
is the lesson ever uppermost in the thoughts of that inspired man；
who tells us that there are
〃Tongues in the trees； books in the running brooks；
Sermons in stones； and good in everything。〃
Gentlemen； keeping these objects steadily before me； I am at no
loss to refer your favour and your generous hospitality back to the
right source。 While I know； on the one hand； that if； instead of
being what it is； this were a land of tyranny and wrong； I should
care very little for your smiles or frowns； so I am sure upon the
other； that if； instead of being what I am； I were the greatest
genius that ever trod the earth； and had diverted myself for the
oppression and degradation of mankind； you would despise and reject
me。 I hope you will； whenever； through such means； I give you the
opportunity。 Trust me； that； whenever you give me the like
occasion； I will return the compliment with interest。
Gentlemen； as I have no secrets from you； in the spirit of
confidence you have engendered between us； and as I have made a
kind of compact with myself that I never will； while I remain in
America； omit an opportunity of referring to a topic in which I and
all others of my class on both sides of the water are equally
interested … equally interested； there is no difference between us；
I would beg leave to whisper in your ear two words： INTERNATIONAL
COPYRIGHT。 I use them in no sordid sense； believe me； and those
who know me best； best know that。 For myself； I would rather that
my children； coming after me； trudged in the mud； and knew by the
general feeling of society that their father was beloved； and had
been of some use； than I would have them ride in their carriages；
and know by their banker's books that he was rich。 But I do not
see； I confess； why one should be obliged to make the choice； or
why fame； besides playing that delightful REVEIL for which she is
so justly celebrated； should not blow out