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city。 He acknowledged this graceful tribute in the following
words：… 〃Before allowing Dr。 Marigold to tell his story in his own
peculiar way； I kiss the kind； fair hands unknown； which have so
beautifully decorated my table this evening。〃 After the Reading；
Mr。 Dickens attempted in vain to retire。 Persistent hands demanded
〃one word more。〃 Returning to his desk； pale； with a tear in his
eye； that found its way to his voice； he spoke as follows：…＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … My gracious and generous welcome in
America； which can never be obliterated from my remembrance； began
here。 My departure begins here； too； for I assure you that I have
never until this moment really felt that I am going away。 In this
brief life of ours； it is sad to do almost anything for the last
time； and I cannot conceal from you； although my face will so soon
be turned towards my native land； and to all that makes it dear；
that it is a sad consideration with me that in a very few moments
from this time； this brilliant hall and all that it contains； will
fade from my view … for ever more。 But it is my consolation that
the spirit of the bright faces； the quick perception； the ready
response； the generous and the cheering sounds that have made this
place delightful to me； will remain； and you may rely upon it that
that spirit will abide with me as long as I have sense and
sentiment left。
I do not say this with any limited reference to private friendships
that have for years upon years made Boston a memorable and beloved
spot to me； for such private references have no business in this
public place。 I say it purely in remembrance of； and in homage to；
the great public heart before me。
Ladies and gentlemen； I beg most earnestly； most gratefully； and
most affectionately； to bid you； each and all； farewell
SPEECH： NEW YORK； APRIL 18； 1863。
＇On the above date Mr。 Dickens was entertained at a farewell dinner
at Delmonico's Hotel； previous to his return to England。 Two
hundred gentlemen sat down to it； Mr。 Horace Greeley presiding。 In
acknowledgment of the toast of his health； proposed by the
chairman； Mr。 Dickens rose and said：…＇
GENTLEMEN； … I cannot do better than take my cue to from your
distinguished president； and refer in my first remarks to his
remarks in connexion with the old； natural； association between you
and me。 When I received an invitation from a private association
of working members of the press of New York to dine with them to…
day； I accepted that compliment in grateful remembrance of a
calling that was once my own； and in loyal sympathy towards a
brotherhood which； in the spirit； I have never quieted。 To the
wholesome training of severe newspaper work； when I was a very
young man； I constantly refer my first successes； and my sons will
hereafter testify of their father that he was always steadily proud
of that ladder by which he rose。 If it were otherwise； I should
have but a very poor opinion of their father； which； perhaps； upon
the whole； I have not。 Hence； gentlemen； under any circumstances；
this company would have been exceptionally interesting and
gratifying to me。 But whereas I supposed that； like the fairies'
pavilion in the 〃Arabian Nights；〃 it would be but a mere handful；
and I find it turn out； like the same elastic pavilion； capable of
comprehending a multitude； so much the more proud am I of the
honour of being your guest； for you will readily believe that the
more widely representative of the press in America my entertainers
are； the more I must feel the good…will and the kindly sentiments
towards me of that vast institution。
Gentlemen； so much of my voice has lately been heard in the land；
and I have for upwards of four hard winter months so contended
against what I have been sometimes quite admiringly assured was 〃a
true American catarrh 〃 … a possession which I have throughout
highly appreciated； though I might have preferred to be naturalised
by any other outward and visible signs … I say； gentlemen； so much
of my voice has lately been heard； that I might have been contented
with troubling you no further from my present standing…point； were
it not a duty with which I henceforth charge myself； not only here
but on every suitable occasion whatsoever and wheresoever； to
express my high and grateful sense of my second reception in
America； and to bear my honest testimony to the national generosity
and magnanimity。 Also； to declare how astounded I have been by the
amazing changes that I have seen around me on every side … changes
moral； changes physical； changes in the amount of land subdued and
peopled； changes in the rise of vast new cities； changes in the
growth of older cities almost out of recognition； changes in the
graces and amenities of life； changes in the press； without whose
advancement no advancement can be made anywhere。 Nor am I； believe
me； so arrogant as to suppose that in five…and…twenty years there
have been no changes in me； and that I had nothing to learn and no
extreme impressions to correct when I was here first。
And； gentlemen； this brings me to a point on which I have； ever
since I landed here last November； observed a strict silence；
though tempted sometimes to break it； but in reference to which I
will； with your good leave； take you into my confidence now。 Even
the press； being human； may be sometimes mistaken or misinformed；
and I rather think that I have in one or two rare instances known
its information to be not perfectly accurate with reference to
myself。 Indeed； I have now and again been more surprised by
printed news that I have read of myself than by any printed news
that I have ever read in my present state of existence。 Thus； the
vigour and perseverance with which I have for some months past been
collecting materials for and hammering away at a new book on
America have much astonished me； seeing that all that time it has
been perfectly well known to my publishers on both sides of the
Atlantic that I positively declared that no consideration on earth
should induce me to write one。 But what I have intended； what I
have resolved upon （and this is the confidence I seek to place in
you） is； on my return to England； in my own person； to bear； for
the behoof of my countrymen； such testimony to the gigantic changes
in this country as I have hinted at to…night。 Also； to record that
wherever I have been； in the smallest places equally with the
largest； I have been received with unsurpassable politeness；
delicacy； sweet temper； hospitality； consideration； and with
unsurpassable respect for the privacy daily enforced upon me by the
nature of my avocation here； and the state of my health。 This
testimony； so long as I live； and so long as my descendants have
any legal right in my books； I shall cause to be re…published； as
an appendix to every copy of those two books of mine in which I
have referred to America。 And this I