resident of the Club, presided, and
said in part: "Our guest, Lord Houghton, was not born a lord, but he
was born a poet, which I take to be something better. Some forty years
ago, I think it was, he wandered in Switzerland, Italy and Greece, and
the impressions made upon his mind are woven into his beautiful series
of poems published under the title of 'Memorials of Many Scenes.' At a
later period, perhaps ten years afterward, he traveled in Egypt and
the western coast of Asia, and returned, bringing with him a sheaf of
'Palm-Leaves,' a series of charming poems, inspired by the remarkable
places which he visited, and by the incidents of his journey. These
'palm-leaves,' let me say, have a perennial verdure, they are yet as
green as when they were gathered and still breathe Sabaean odors--the
spicy perfume of the Orient--what the old poet Donne calls 'the
almighty balm of the early East.' He is now a traveler in our
territory, a region almost without antiquities, but of sufficient
interest to attract his steps hither. He will doubtless see faults in
our social and political condition--the eyes of a stranger are quicker
to discern them than our own can be--but let us hope that he will
carry back to his native land the recollections of a cordial reception
among our people, such as I hope we are ever ready to accord to
personal worth, to genius, and to services rendered to the human race.
The only time I ever saw Dr. Bowring, which was some thirty years
since, when he was a member of Parliament, of the party called
Radical, is memorable with me on account of the eulogy of our guest,
which he uttered with much warmth and enthusiasm. He praised the
generosity of his sentiments and the largeness of his sympathies. 'At
his table,' he added, 'you meet with men of various differing
opinions; the only title to his hospitality and esteem is personal
merit.' The same rule of preference which he applied to the
individuals whom he admitted to his friendship, had governed him
throughout a long public life in the measures which he had supported.
His co-operation and efficient aid have been given to proceedings and
measures which contemplate the well-being of the people--to useful and
beneficial reforms. In their favor he steadily gave his vote and
raised his voice. In honoring him we, therefore, honor not only the
poet, but the philanthropist and the statesman. I propo