friend, the Lord Mayor, who was at the time one of the Sheriffs of
London. I hope it is no disparagement to my countrymen to say that under
existing circumstances the first place that I felt it my duty to visit
was the Old Bailey Criminal Court. [Laughter.] I had there the pleasure
of being entertained by my friend, the Lord Mayor. And it happens also
that it was in this room almost four years ago at a dinner given to Her
Majesty's Judges by my friend Sir Robert Fowler, then Lord Mayor, whose
genial face I see before me, that I appeared for the first time on any
public occasion in England and addressed my first words to an English
company. It seems to me a fortunate propriety that my last public words
should be spoken under the same hospitable roof, the home of the Chief
Magistrate of the city of London. ["Hear! Hear!"] Nor can I ever forget
the cordial and generous reception that was then accorded, not to myself
personally, for I was altogether a stranger, but to the representative
of my country. It struck what has proved the keynote of all my relations
here. It indicated to me at the outset how warm and hearty was the
feeling of Englishmen toward America. [Cheers.]

And it gave me to understand, what I was not slow to accept and believe,
that I was accredited not merely from one government to the other, but
from the people of America to the people of England--that the American
Minister was not expected to be merely a diplomatic functionary shrouded
in reticence and retirement, jealously watching over doubtful relations,
and carefully guarding against anticipated dangers; but that he was to
be the guest of his kinsmen--one of themselves--the messenger of the
sympathy and good-will, the mutual and warm regard and esteem that bind
together the two great nations of the same race, and make them one in
all the fair humanities of life. [Cheers.] The suggestion that met me at
the threshold has not proved to be mistaken. The promise then held out
has been generously fulfilled. Ever since and through all my intercourse