its of my life--are three-
"fold. Firstly, I have satisfied myself that it can
"involve no possible compromise of the credit and
"independence of literature. Secondly, I have long
"held the opinion, and have long acted on the opinion,
"that in these times whatever brings a public man
"and his public face to face, on terms of mutual con-
"fidence and respect, is a good thing. Thirdly, I
"have had a pretty large experience of the interest
"my hearers are so generous as to take in these occa-
"sions, and of the delight they give to me, as a tried
"means of strengthening those relations, I may
"almost say of personal friendship, which it is my
"great privilege and pride, as it is my great respon-
"sibility, to hold with a multitude of persons who will
"never hear my voice, or see my face.

"Thus it is that I come, quite naturally, to be here
"among you at this time. And thus it is that I pro-
"ceed to read this little book, quite as composedly as
"I might proceed to write it, or to publish it in any
"other way."

Remembering perfectly well, as we do, the precision with which he
uttered every syllable of this little address, and the unmistakable
cordiality with which its close was greeted, we can assert with
confidence that Reader and Audience from the very first instant stood
towards each other on terms of mutually respectful consideration.
Remembering perfectly well, as we do, moreover, the emotion with which
his last words were articulated and listened to on the occasion of his
very last or Farewell Reading in the great hall near Piccadilly--and
more than two thousand others must still perfectly well remember that
likewise--we may no less confidently assert that those feelings had
known no abatement, but on the contrary, had, during the lapse of many
delightful years, come to be not only confirmed but intensified.

Sixteen Readings were comprised in that first series in London, at St.
Martin's Hall. Inaugurated, as we have seen, on the 29th of April, 1858,
the series was completed on the 22nd of the ensuing July. It may here
be interesting to mention that, midway in the course of these Sixteen
Readings, he gave for the first time in London, on Thursday the 10th of
June, "The Story of Little Dombey," and on the following Thursday, the
17th of June, also for the first time in London, "The Poor Traveller,"
"Boots at the