what
impostors they have been, and that their philosophy has been merely the
skilful manipulation of sonorous words, and that on the whole, they must
lay aside their magisterial role and cease to suppose they are persons
enforcing judicial decisions or experts who can speak with authority
about chemical analysis. I hope that critics will learn to lay aside all
pretension and to see only things that a critic really can see, and
express genuine sympathy with human nature; and when they have succeeded
in doing that they will be received as friends in such gatherings as the
banquet of the Royal Academy. [Cheers.]

RICHARD SALTER STORRS

THE VICTORY AT YORKTOWN

[Speech of Rev. Dr. Richard S. Storrs at a banquet of the Chamber
of Commerce of the State of New York, given November 5, 1881, in
New York City, in honor of the guests of the nation, the French
diplomatic representatives in America, and members of the families
descended from our foreign sympathizers and helpers, General
Lafayette, Count de Rochambeau, Count de Grasse, Baron von Steuben
and others, who had been present at the centennial celebration of
the victory at Yorktown. The chairman, James M. Brown, vice
President of the Chamber of Commerce, proposed the toast to which
Dr. Storrs responded, "The Victory at Yorktown: it has rare
distinction among victories, that the power which seemed humbled by
it looks back to it now without regret, while the peoples who
combined to secure it, after the lapse of a century of years, are
more devoted than ever to the furtherance of the freedom to which
it contributed."]

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:--It is
always pleasant to respond to your invitations and to join with you on
these festival occasions. You remember the reply of the English lady
[Lady Dufferin] perhaps, when the poet Rogers sent her a note saying:
"Will you do me the favor to breakfast with me to-morrow?" To which she
returned the still more laconic autograph, "Won't I?" [Laughter.]

Perhaps one might as well have that lithographed as his reply to your
cordial and not infrequent invitations. [Laughter.] I do not know
whether you are aware of it, on this side of the East River--perhaps you
don't read the newspapers much--but in that better part of the great
metropolis in which it is my privilege to live, we think of showing our
appreciation of this