Ifyou，gentlemen，willbutcarrybackyourrecollectiontothatgreatnight，andcalltomindthebrightandharmlessworldwhichthenopenedtoyourview，weshall，Ithink，hearfavourablyoftheeffectuponyourliberalityonthisoccasionfromourSecretary。
Thisisthesixthyearofmeetingsofthiskind-thesixthtimewehavehadthisfinechilddownafterdinner。Hisnurse，averyworthypersonofthenameofBuckstone，whohasanexcellentcharacterfromseveralplaces，willpresentlyreporttoyouthathischestisperfectlysound，andthathisgeneralhealthisinthemostthrivingcondition。Longmayitbeso;longmayitthriveandgrow;longmaywemeetitismysincerewishtoexchangeourcongratulationsonitsprosperity;andlongerthanthelineofBanquomaybethatlineoffigureswhich，asitspatrioticshareinthenationaldebt，acenturyhenceshallbestatedbytheGovernorandCompanyoftheBankofEngland。
SPEECH：THEROYALLITERARYFUND。LONDON，MARCH12，1856。
[TheCorporationoftheRoyalLiteraryFundwasestablishedin1790，itsobjectbeingtoadministerassistancetoauthorsofgeniusandlearning，whomaybereducedtodistressbyunavoidablecalamities，ordeprived，byenfeebledfacultiesordeclininglife，ofthepowerofliteraryexertion。Attheannualgeneralmeetingheldatthehouseofthesocietyontheabovedate，thefollowingspeechwasmadebyMr。CharlesDickens：]
SIR，-IshallnotattempttofollowmyfriendMr。Bell，who，intheprofessionofliterature，representsuponthiscommitteeaseparateanddistinctbranchoftheprofession，that，like“ThelastroseofsummerStandsbloomingalone，WhileallitscompanionsArefadedandgone，“