attention. My own invention or imagination, such as it is, I can
most truthfully assure you, would never have served me as it has,
but for the habit of commonplace, humble, patient, daily, toiling,
drudging attention. Genius, vivacity, quickness of penetration,
brilliancy in association of ideas – such mental qualities, like
the qualities of the apparition of the externally armed head in
MACBETH, will not be commanded; but attention, after due term of
submissive service, always will. Like certain plants which the
poorest peasant may grow in the poorest soil, it can be cultivated
by any one, and it is certain in its own good season to bring forth
flowers and fruit. I can most truthfully assure you by-the-by,
that this eulogium on attention is so far quite disinterested on my
part as that it has not the least reference whatever to the
attention with which you have honoured me.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have done. I cannot but reflect how
often you have probably heard within these walls one of the
foremost men, and certainly one of the very best speakers, if not
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Dickens, Charles – Speeches, Literary & Social
the very best, in England. I could not say to myself, when I began
just now, in Shakespeare’s line –
“I will be BRIGHT and shining gold,”
but I could say to myself, and I did say to myself, “I will be as
natural and easy as I possibly can,” because my heart has all been
in my subject, and I bear an old love towards Birmingham and
Birmingham men. I have said that I bear an old love towards
Birmingham and Birmingham men; let me amend a small omission, and
add “and Birmingham women.” This ring I wear on my finger now is
an old Birmingham gift, and if by rubbing it I could raise the
spirit that was obedient to Aladdin’s ring, I heartily assure you
that my first instruction to that genius on the spot should be to
place himself at Birmingham’s disposal in the best of causes.
[In acknowledging the vote of thanks, Mr. Dickens said:-]
Ladies and gentlemen, as I hope it is more than possible that I
shall have the pleasure of meeting you again before Christmas is
out, and shall have the great interest of seeing the faces and
touching the bands of the successful competitors in your lists, I
will not cast upon that anticipated meeting the terrible
foreshadowing of dread which must inevitably result from a second
speech. I thank you most heartily, and I most sincerely and
fervently say to you, “Good night, and God bless you.” In
reference to the appropriate and excellent remarks of Mr. Dixon, I
will now discharge my conscience of my political creed, which is
contained in two articles, and has no reference to any party or
persons. My faith in the people governing is, on the whole,
infinitesimal; my faith in the People governed is, on the whole,
illimitable.
SPEECH: BIRMINGHAM, JANUARY 6, 1870.
[On the evening of the above date, Mr. Dickens, as President of the
Birmingham and Midland Institute, distributed the prizes and
certificates awarded to the most successful students in the first
year. The proceedings took place in the Town Hall: Mr. Dickens
entered at eight o’clock, accompanied by the officers of the
Institute, and was received with loud applause. After the lapse of
a minute or two, he rose and said:-]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, – When I last had the honour to preside over
a meeting of the Institution which again brings us together, I took
occasion to remark upon a certain superabundance of public speaking
which seems to me to distinguish the present time. It will require
very little self-denial on my part to practise now what I preached
then; firstly, because I said my little say that night; and
secondly, because we have definite and highly interesting action
before us to-night. We have now to bestow the rewards which have
been brilliantly won by the most successful competitors in the
society’s lists. I say the most successful, because to-night we
should particularly observe, I think, that there is success in all
honest endeavour, and that there is some victory gained in every