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an appendix to every copy of those two books of mine in which I
have referred to America。 And this I will do and cause to be done；
not in mere love and thankfulness； but because I regard it as an
act of plain justice and honour。
Gentlemen； the transition from my own feelings towards and interest
in America to those of the mass of my countrymen seems to be a
natural one； but； whether or no； I make it with an express object。
I was asked in this very city； about last Christmas time； whether
an American was not at some disadvantage in England as a foreigner。
The notion of an American being regarded in England as a foreigner
at all； of his ever being thought of or spoken of in that
character； was so uncommonly incongruous and absurd to me； that my
gravity was； for the moment； quite overpowered。 As soon as it was
restored； I said that for years and years past I hoped I had had as
many American friends and had received as many American visitors as
almost any Englishman living； and that my unvarying experience；
fortified by theirs； was that it was enough in England to be an
American to be received with the readiest respect and recognition
anywhere。 Hereupon； out of half…a…dozen people； suddenly spoke out
two； one an American gentleman； with a cultivated taste for art；
who； finding himself on a certain Sunday outside the walls of a
certain 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 immediate
disposal。 The other was a lady； who； being in London； and having a
great desire to see the famous reading…room of the British Museum；
was assured by 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 that lady's going to the
Museum； as she assured me； alone to the gate； self…introduced as an
American lady； the gate flew open； as it were magically。 I am
unwillingly bound to add that she certainly was young and
exceedingly pretty。 Still； the porter of that institution is of an
obese habit； and； according to the best of my observation of him；
not very impressible。
Now； gentlemen； I refer to these trifles as a collateral assurance
to you that the Englishman who shall humbly strive； as I hope to
do； to be in England as faithful to America as to England herself；
has no previous conceptions to contend against。 Points of
difference there have been； points of difference there are； points
of difference there probably always will be between the two great
peoples。 But broadcast in England is sown the sentiment that those
two peoples are essentially one； and that it rests with them
jointly to uphold the great Anglo…Saxon race； to which our
president has referred； and all its great achievements before the
world。 And if I know anything of my countrymen … and they give me
credit for knowing something … if I know anything of my countrymen；
gentlemen； the English heart is stirred by the fluttering of those
Stars and Stripes； as it is stirred by no other flag that flies
except its own。 If I know my countrymen； in any and every relation
towards America； they begin； not as Sir Anthony Absolute
recommended that lovers should begin； with 〃a little aversion；〃 but
with a great liking and a profound respect； and whatever the little
sensitiveness of the moment； or the little official passion； or the
little official policy now； or then； or here； or there； may be；
take my word for it； that the first enduring； great； popular
consideration in England is a generous construction of justice。
Finally； gentlemen； and I say this subject to your correction； I do
believe that from the great majority of honest minds on both sides；
there cannot be absent the conviction that it would be better for
this globe to be riven by an earthquake； fired by a comet； overrun
by an iceberg； and abandoned to the Arctic fox and bear； than that
it should present the spectacle of these two great nations； each of
which has； in its own way and hour； striven so hard and so
successfully for freedom； ever again being arrayed the one against
the other。 Gentlemen； I cannot thank your president enough or you
enough for your kind reception of my health； and of my poor
remarks； but； believe me； I do thank you with the utmost fervour of
which my soul is capable。
SPEECH： NEW YORK； APRIL 20； 1868。
＇Mr。 Dickens's last Reading in the United States was given at the
Steinway Hall on the above date。 The task finished he was about to
retire； but a tremendous burst of applause stopped him。 He came
forward and spoke thus：…＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … The shadow of one word has impended over me
this evening； and the time has come at length when the shadow must
fall。 It is but a very short one； but the weight of such things is
not measured by their length； and two much shorter words express
the round of our human existence。 When I was reading 〃David
Copperfield〃 a few evenings since； I felt there was more than usual
significance in the words of Peggotty； 〃My future life lies over
the sea。〃 And when I closed this book just now； I felt most keenly
that I was shortly to establish such an ALIBI as would have
satisfied even the elder Mr。 Weller。 The relations which have been
set up between us； while they have involved for me something more
than mere devotion to a task； have been by you sustained with the
readiest sympathy and the kindest acknowledgment。
Those relations must now be broken for ever。 Be assured； however；
that you will not pass from my mind。 I shall often realise you as
I see you now； equally by my winter fire and in the green English
summer weather。 I shall never recall you as a mere public
audience； but rather as a host of personal friends； and ever with
the greatest gratitude； tenderness； and consideration。 Ladies and
gentlemen； I beg to bid you farewell。 God bless you； and God bless
the land in which I leave you。
SPEECH： LIVERPOOL； APRIL 10； 1869。
＇The following speech was delivered by Mr。 Dickens at a Banquet
held in his honour at St。 George's Hall； Liverpool； after his
health had been proposed by Lord Dufferin。＇
MR。 MAYOR； LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； although I have been so well
accustomed of late to the sound of my own voice in this
neighbourhood as to hear it with perfect composure； the occasion
is； believe me； very； very different in respect of those
overwhelming voices of yours。 As Professor Wilson once confided to
me in Edinburgh that I had not the least idea； from hearing him in
public； what a magnificent speaker he found himself to be when he
was quite alone … so you can form no conception； from the specimen
before you； of the eloquence with w