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absorbing and longest…lived passion in the human breast？ What was
the passion so powerful that it would almost induce the generous to
be mean； the careless to be cautious； the guileless to be deeply
designing； and the dove to emulate the serpent？ A daily editor of
vast experience and great acuteness； who was one of the company；
considerably surprised us by saying with the greatest confidence
that the passion in question was the passion of getting orders for
the play。
There had recently been a terrible shipwreck； and very few of the
surviving sailors had escaped in an open boat。 One of these on
making land came straight to London； and straight to the newspaper
office； with his story of how he had seen the ship go down before
his eyes。 That young man had witnessed the most terrible
contention between the powers of fire and water for the destruction
of that ship and of every one on board。 He had rowed away among
the floating； dying； and the sinking dead。 He had floated by day；
and he had frozen by night； with no shelter and no food； and； as he
told his dismal tale； he rolled his haggard eyes about the room。
When he had finished； and the tale had been noted down from his
lips； he was cheered and refreshed； and soothed； and asked if
anything could be done for him。 Even within him that master
passion was so strong that he immediately replied he should like an
order for the play。 My friend the editor certainly thought that
was rather a strong case； but he said that during his many years of
experience he had witnessed an incurable amount of self…prostration
and abasement having no outer object； and that almost invariably on
the part of people who could well afford to pay。
This made a great impression on my mind； and I really lived in this
faith until some years ago it happened upon a stormy night I was
kindly escorted from a bleak railway station to the little out…of…
the…way town it represented by a sprightly and vivacious newsman；
to whom I propounded； as we went along under my umbrella … he being
most excellent company … this old question； what was the one all…
absorbing passion of the human soul？ He replied； without the
slightest hesitation； that it certainly was the passion for getting
your newspaper in advance of your fellow…creatures； also； if you
only hired it； to get it delivered at your own door at exactly the
same time as another man who hired the same copy four miles off；
and； finally； the invincible determination on the part of both men
not to believe the time was up when the boy called。
Ladies and gentlemen； I have not had an opportunity of verifying
this experience with my friends of the managing committee； but I
have no doubt from its reception tonight that my friend the newsman
was perfectly right。 Well； as a sort of beacon in a sufficiently
dark life； and as an assurance that among a little body of working
men there is a feeling of brotherhood and sympathy … which is worth
much to all men； or they would herd with wolves … the newsvendors
once upon a time established the Benevolent and Provident
Institution； and here it is。 Under the Provident head； certain
small annuities are granted to old and hard…working subscribers。
Under the Benevolent head； relief is afforded to temporary and
proved distress。 Under both heads； I am bound to say the help
rendered is very humble and very sparing； but if you like it to be
handsomer you have it in your power to make it so。 Such as it is；
it is most gratefully received； and does a deal of good。 Such as
it is； it is most discreetly and feelingly administered； and it is
encumbered with no wasteful charges for management or patronage。
You know upon an old authority； that you may believe anything
except facts and figures； but you really may believe that during
the last year we have granted 100 pounds in pensions； and some 70
pounds in temporary relief； and we have invested in Government
securities some 400 pounds。 But； touching this matter of
investments； it was suggested at the anniversary dinner； on the
high and kind authority of Sir Benjamin Phillips that we might
grant more pensions and invest less money。 We urged； on the other
hand； that we wished our pensions to be certain and unchangeable …
which of course they must be if they are always paid out of our
Government interest and never out of our capital。 However； so
amiable is our nature； that we profess our desire to grant more
pensions and to invest more money too。 The more you give us to…
night again； so amiable is our nature； the more we promise to do in
both departments。 That the newsman's work has greatly increased；
and that it is far more wearing and tearing than it used to be； you
may infer from one fact； not to mention that we live in railway
times。 It is stated in Mitchell's 〃Newspaper Press Directory；〃
that during the last quarter of a century the number of newspapers
which appeared in London had more than doubled； while the increase
in the number of people among whom they were disseminated was
probably beyond calculation。
Ladies and gentlemen； I have stated the newsman's simple case。 I
leave it in your hands。 Within the last year the institution has
had the good fortune to attract the sympathy and gain the support
of the eminent man of letters I am proud to call my friend； who now
represents the great Republic of America at the British Court。
Also it has the honour of enrolling upon its list of donors and
vice…presidents the great name of Longfellow。 I beg to propose to
you to drink 〃Prosperity to the Newsvendors' Benevolent and
Provident Institution。〃
SPEECH： MACREADY。 LONDON； MARCH 1； 1851。
＇On the evening of the above day the friends and admirers of Mr。
Macready entertained him at a public dinner。 Upwards of six
hundred gentlemen assembled to do honour to the great actor on his
retirement from the stage。 Sir E。 B。 Lytton took the chair。 Among
the other speakers were Baron Bunsen； Sir Charles Eastlake； Mr。
Thackeray； Mr。 John Forster； Mr。 W。 J。 Fox； and Mr。 Charles
Dickens； who proposed 〃The Health of the Chairman〃 in the following
words：…＇
GENTLEMEN； … After all you have already heard； and so rapturously
received； I assure you that not even the warmth of your kind
welcome would embolden me to hope to interest you if I had not full
confidence in the subject I have to offer to your notice。 But my
reliance on the strength of this appeal to you is so strong that I
am rather encouraged than daunted by the brightness of the track on
which I have to throw my little shadow。
Gentlemen； as it seems to me； there are three great requisites
essential to the perfect realisation of a scene so unusual and so
splendid as that in which we are now assembled。 The first； and I
must say very difficult requisite； is a man possessing the
stronghold in the general remembrance； the indisputable claim on
the general regard and esteem； which is