CENTENARY UP SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2646, 10 August 1871, Page 2

CENTENARY UP SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Yesterday being the day appointed for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott, was observed as a half holiday in Dunedin, the Government offices, shops, and other places of business being closed during the afternoon, and some of them, indeed, throughout the day. At five o’clock THE DINNER took place at Murray’s Hotel, Rattray street. About 100 gentlemen sat down to dinner. The chair was occupied by Mr E. B. Cargill, M. P.C., who was supported on his right by Mr J. Bathgate, M. H. R. and M.P.C., the Hon. Major Richardson, M.L.C., and his Honor the Superintendent; and on his left by his Honor Mr Justice Chapman, Mr J. T, Thomson, Mr J. Rattray, and Mr Donald Reid, M.H.R. and M.P.C. Among those present were representatives of the Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the learned professions, &c., &c. Messrs G. Turnbull, G. Hepburn, and J. Davie acted as croupiers. Between the toasts, national airs were beautifully given by M.. Fleury’s band, Mr Rcichardt presiding at the piano. After the cloth was removed, and before proceeding to propose the first toast upon the list, The Chairman said that he received a communication from his Honor the Superintendent, expressing regret that he bad to leave the room before the conclusion of the dinner, and at the same time giving expression to his warm sympathy with the celebration. The l hairman also stated that he had received a communication from the Speaker of the Provincial Council, stating that he would have had much pleasure in attending the dinner were it not for the recent loss sustained by his family. The Chairman also read a letter from Mr J. Hyde Haras, expressing regret at not being able to attend, in consequence of having been suddenly called out of town. Mr Bathgate proposed the toast of the evening in a speech in which he described the state of Scotland at the time of Scott’s birth, as deduciblc from the returns of imports and exports, which he s lid were less valuable than those of Otago. Yet materially poor as the country was, it was tich in intellect, as was proved by the career of James Watt, Robertson, Hume, Wilson, and others. He then gave several anecdotes of Sir Walter, culled from a variety of compilations ; told how he could ride a horse, be cool in danger, as evinced by the fact when a baby he was delighted with lightning, command a corps of militia, quell a riot, write a poem, and do a good turn to a poacher. He then gave a rather lengthened review of the career of Sir Walter in his different capacities as lawyer, writer, and lord of Abbotsford. We should have been glad to have given a good analysis of the speech, but it was 'so mixed up with political economy, personal characteristics, loyalty to the throne, and banking, that no literary skill that we can command would make more of it than a very common-place specimen of literary Ii itch-potch. Band “Bonnie Dundee.” The Chairman here stated that a memorandum had been put into his hand containing a suggestion, which he thought was a very good and valuable one, and which ought to be acted upon-. The memorandum suggested that those present might leave a tangible mark of the celebration of Sir \A alter Scott’s centenary, by each giving a guinea to form a Scholarship, or something of the kind.—(Applause.) If the Chairman cared to introduce the subject, the writer believed it would be a success.—(Cries of “Maine.”) The suggestion had been made by Mr Barron, and he (the Chairman) thought it did him infinite credit. He would support it himself, and he hoped it would meet with unanimous approval.—(Applause.) Mr G. Bkodie proposed, “ The literary contemporary of Sir Walter Scott.” Band—“ Auld Lahg Syne.” The Hon. Major Richardson excused himself from making a speech, on the ground that time was piessing when the presence of gentlemen would ho required in another place, and because ho was suffering from headache. They would be no losers by acceeding to his request; for what he was going say was already in print, and they would have it whether they liked it or not. (Laughter). He then proposed his “ speech of tomorrow morning,” the toast of “The British Poets,” which appears in the Daily Times. His Honour Mr Justice Chapman, who was received with enthusiasm, said : He would take a leaf out of his friend Major Richardson’s book —(No, no.) He meant to give them a very short speech. They had often listened to him at very considerable length—(laughter and applause). —Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for two hours ; sometimes perhaps, for more. He did nqt allude to what took place in a certain establishment a little distance from there —(Great laughter.) He meant not when he had occasion to address juries, hut when he had been occupied delivering speeches, lectures, and so forth. He Lad often had occasion to feel grateful to th public of Dunedin for the great patience with which they had listened to long speeches from him. But this was not the occasion for one, because, as Major Richardson had said, they had, or some of them

head, to meet the ladies, who were then probably unrobing—(great laughter)—and were expecting their cavaliers ; and he should do an injustice to one half of the human race if he inflicted a long speech upon them. He recollected that, a few years ago, a friend of his said he “ had done Europe in a couple of months.” He thought he could do American Literature in ten minutes ; and if he made a short speech and they didn’t listen attentively, and put in all the “ hear, hears,” and so on at the proper time, he would have an opportunity of taking his revenge, for he saw that one of his lieutenants (Mr Macassey) was present; and if they didn’t behave themselves properly—he could not get them all at once into his power, but ho could get twelve at a time into a certain box—(laughter)- -and after they had been talked to for an hour by his lieutenant, he could, with a sort of refined cruelty, inliict a speech of another hour’s duration.—(Laughter and applause.) Having had this little profession al joke, he would be serious. Before they went into the question of American Literature, he should allude to something that took place there that evening. It was a matter that deserved grave consideration. He alluded to the suggestion which had been made by Mr Barron. He thought that the highest cred.t was due to that gentleman for it, and they would agree with him that they could not better celebrate the hundredth birthday of one of their greatest British literary characters, for he belonged to the Britain, and not merely to Scotland—(applause)—they would best do honor to the memory of that great and good man if they came down with their guineas, with a v : ew of establishing a scholarship, to be called Scott’s Scholarship. —(Applause.) That was the suggestion of Mr Barron ; but he also happened to know that it had been a favorite scheme of his worthy and excellent friend, Major Richardson, the Chancellor of the University, for some time. The fact that it was thought of by Major Richardson, was not to be considered as a piece of plagiarism by the one as against the other. It came within that common saying of the French, “Men of fine intellects are apt to come into conflict with each other.”—(Applause.) And when an original suggestion emanated from two gentlemen of character and credit in the colony, they ought the more readily to adopt that suggestion as coming from two, and to aid in the carrying out of it by putting their hands in their pockets—for what ? To bring out their guineas.—(Applause.) Let some person—he should suggest that their worthy Chairman should undertake the duty—agree to act as Treasurer, and let them hand him their cheques for one guinea to establish the scholarship which had been contemplated by Major Richardson for some time past, and which had been suggested that night by Mr Barron. They would then be carrying out the suggestion of two persons—a suggestion which had emanated from their independent thoughts, and therefore the more entitled to our consideration. His Honor then proceeded at considerable length to deal with the subject of his toast, “ the Literature of America,” a subject so large that he was totally unable to do it justice in the short time at his disposal. American literature, he said, at the present time, was graced by a vast number of very eminent names. They were eminent in polite literature or hnlkts lettrcs and great in the higher walks of literature. In all the walks of science, philosophy, and literature, the Americans had made great strides of late —all this had been done within the last fifty years, a fact which should be a great encouragement to the inhabitants of what were now colonies, but also, so to speak, incipient nations. It should be an encouragement to them to reflect that all this had been effected by America in an inconceivably short period of tape ; and that in all probability they would have a literature growing up in the Australian Colonies and ip New Zealand, which would be as much respected ip Europeas that of America now was. (Apt plause.) He then referred to the works of Washington Irving and to the efforts of American authors on law, and notably to Beck on medical jurisprudence, and on the English language. He referred more particularly to the latter subject, and mentioned that in the schools aud colleges of America, the cultivation of the English language was more specially attended to than in the colleges and other public educational institutions of England. It was a matter that he hoped would be carefully attended to by the University of Otago.—(Applause.) His Honor concluded his remarks by again impressing upon the company the ad visa' ility of perpetuating the memory of the celebration in the manper suggested Band—“ The Star-spangled Banner.” Mr Macassev, in rising to propose the toast of “The British Historians,” confessed his inability to understand why it had been entrusted to him. He could have understood it had he been asked to dwell on the majesty, dignity, or grandeur of the law, or to have proposed the health of tlie unworthy members of the legal profession ; or hj id he been asked to talk about the political institutions of the country, he could have given them the experiences of a defeated political candidate.' —(Laughter..) As Major Richardson had followed the example of Professor Blackie, lie (Mr Macassey) would not be be-hind-haud, but would follow the example of Captain Blethen, of the Nevada, and call upon Professor Sale to propose his toast, that of “The British Historians.” Professor Sale, who was received with loud and continued applause, excused himself from making a speech, as until he came into the room he had not given the matter g moment’s cons deration. He had nq doiibt there was many a small humble cabin into which the works of a man like Dickens would peuetrate where sno literature of any other kind would enter; that the effect produced by the works of Dickens on that account was world-wide, and his influence was greater than any other influence can possibly be. It was no use attcmpt’ng to speak about the large number of our writers ; the range was exceedingly wide, from Do bos, the Father of English novelists, down to “ Lothair,” or the last serial in a magazine. The number was so great that it would be absurd to attempt to mention their names or their works, aud therefore it was necessary to make some selection of English writers. He cited the names of Fielding, Sterne, and Goldsmith to show that in their times there were English writers r*qb to he despised. Coming to more recent times, there were Trollope aud George Eliot ; but all modem names were eclipsed by those two brothers, Thackeray and Dickens. Those two great men, like as they were to each other in many respects, might yet be strongly contrasted. There was this peculiarity about Thackeray : he never leaves what is common and natural; we are always in every day life. They never had any very startling events in

Thackeray. So far as his memory served him, there was not one of his stories, except perhaps “Virginians,” with any stirring incidents in them. All his works kept one constantly on one level. One was in respectable society, and there one remained. He would not say that Dickens was unnatural, but he was generally startling, and sometimes almost grotesque. He thought that must be admitted by the greatest admirers of Dickens. Then Thackeray’s forte was generally satire ; he was always laughing at the foibles, the contemptible qualities, and the weaknesses of man. On the other hand, Dickens seemed to be full ol enthusiasm ; ho carried one away with admiration of some character. Then, again, Thackeray seemed to ignore all intensity of feeling, and to think that such a thing was too sacred to be paraded before the public. Dickens’s humor was at times almost farcical aud his pathos almost painful. Yet Thackeray was not delicient in pathos. There was no doubt the two men were very different. Thackeray had his admirers, and so has Dickens, these latter maintaining that Thackeray is inferior to him. For himself, he put them together. It was said that Dickens never drew a gentleman, but he had done more than that. He had diawn not what was generally called a gentleman, but the most noble character in this world. Colonel Newcome was what is ordinary considered a gentleman; but it struck him that Tom rinch was fully as good a gentleman as he. He thought nobility of character whenever it shews itself ought to be admired. If there was one thing'more than another he loved Dickens for, it was that he scorned respectability.—(Applause). He would not detain them any longer. -Those two were the great names upon which were rested his claims for calling upon them to drink the toast. They were two men whose books none can fail to be better for reading. These two men, he considered however different their qualities, their lives were equally great. Their works would last equally long, and they were rightly buried side by side in Westminster Abbey, to remain there amongst the greatest names of England.—(Great applause. ) Band—“ Red, White, and Blue.” The toast of “The British Novelists” was the l ist on the list; and just before breaking up, the chairman announced that' lifty-four guineas had been subscribed in the room towards the proposed Scott scholarship ; and that he would gladly act as treasurer and receive any further subscriptions. THE BALL. The ball was held in the Provincial Coun- , cil Chamber, which had been lent by Mr Speiker for tire purpose. All the seats in the body of the hall had been removed, thus allowing ample room, and the floor was in excellent order for dancing. The ball opened at half past nine o’clock ; but it was after ten before the hall presented anything like a cheerful appearance. At one time there must have been between 70 and 80 couples present. Mons. Fleury and his excellent band supplied the music, which it is almost unnecessary to say, was all that could be desired. In the linrary were several very beautiful engravings, illustrative of the works of Sir Walter Scott, which were greatly admired by the visitors. Messrs Burton Brother’s collection of Now Zealand sketches was also in the room. The supper was laid by Mr R, K. Murray. THE SOCIAL GATHERING AT THE MASONIC HALL, The social gathering at the Masonic Hall, under the auspices of the Dunedin Mutual ' Improvement Society in coaimemora'ion of the Scott Centenary, was an unqualified success. Perhaps, however, this success was owing less to the inherent excellence of the programme provided, than to the genial and kindly disposition of fie audience, which was disposed to overlook unimportant defects in its desire to do honor to the cause, A miscellaneous programme had been provided of a somewhat extensive character, and though some of those who had promised to take part in it were absent, and others acquitted thenqselves somewhat questionably, the most genii! feeling prevailed. Mr Bathgate was announced to occupy the chair, and to deliver an address ; but being elsewhere at the opening of the meeting, and as Mr Jago read a very able address, we are inclined to think that Mr Bathgate’s absence was not so severely felt. That portion of the programme comprising songs, glees, &c., was, it must be admitted, admirably carried out, and the vocalists, especially the ladies, were received with tumultuous applause, and rewarded, in almost every instance, with unanimous recalls. 'Cowards the close of the first portion of the prqgramiqe, Mr Bath: gate, accompanied by his Honor Judge Chapman, made his appearance upor* the platform, and, by request, proceeded to address the audience. Of his speech little can be said, other than that it comprised a tissue of anecdotes, with all, or nearly all, of which intelligent schoolboys are familiar. His description of Sir Walter Scott, first breeched in corduroys, aud of his pugilistic eucounter at sclioo), which by the way is common to most schoolboys, was well received, more we apprehend from the maimer in which thc-e important facts were communicated, than from anything especially interesting in the matter. But when Mr Bathgate described a convivial scene, and spoke of a “foaming tankard with ahead upon it,” the audience appeared struck with the brillancy of the description, aud rewarded him with immense applause His Honor Judge Chapman also dc--1 vered an address, and was listened to with the most prqfouiuj attention throughout. That which promised to be not the least interesting feature in the programme viz., the reading of the intro 1 notion to the “ Lay of the Last Minstrel,” by Mr Charles White, was unfortunately denied the audience, that gentleman being unavoidably absent. The chief item of interest—that which always provokes irresistible amusement in an audience —was unquestionably the recitation of the “Combat scene between King James aud Roderick Dim,” delivered by a gentleman who absolutely hardly knew a line of tho text, but whose effrontery was equal to the emergency, aud who joined most cordially with the audience in laughing at the deplorable exhibition he made. But symptoms cf impatience were soon apparent, aud those whose patience certaimy hatj b.qn sorejy tried, at length politely requested the reciter to “ shut up.” As a whole, the entertainment was thoroughly amusing, the audience in high spirits, and, in spite of the crowded condition of the hall, had evidently come with a determination to enjoy themselves. Nor was this determination disappointed. A ball followed, and dauciug was kept up with vigour till an early hour. In connection with the ball we may mention that the orchestra wa, s tilled by Messrs Sykes

tmd Anderson ; Mr Murray performed the duties of M,C. in an able manner; and the refreshment department, under the management of Mr Hudson, was all that could be desired, We must congratulate the commuted of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, upoii the success which attended their laudable efforts to celebrate the centenary of Sir Walter Scott.