Speech-making.
We observe that on a late occasion Lord Palmerston extricated himself with an alacrity wonderful in a man of his years, from the delivery of a speech which he was suddenly called upon to make, and in which, it was hoped, he would disclose his views of public affairs. One of the London correspondents says:‘ "Lord Palmerston, following the example of some other political chiefs, has been making himself generously conspicuous at Leeds, where he has presided at a soiree of the Leed's Mechanics' Institute and Literary Society. It is lordship, accompanied by Lady Palmerston and the Hon. W. Cowper, arrived in Leeds towards evening, and a great crowd which met him were very anxious to get a speech out of him; in fact, they called upon him for one, but his lordship, a regular old soldier in these matters, made no sign until he saw his carriage ready to receive him, when, with that happy tact which he possesses, he struck out & 'There was an old saying, a good old saying, that it was good to welcome the coming and speed the parting guest.' Here a lusty cheer responded, and eager faces clustered together, and anxious cars were open for wonderful opinions on foreign policy which was expected to call from his lordship's lips. 'Now,' continued his lordship. 'my Leeds friends have been very kind in their sudden reception of me, and perhaps they will be equally kind to make a lane through which Lady Palmerston and myself can get to our carriage.' A roar of laughter and cheers followed this speech, and the crowd immediately fell back, and his lordship handed his wife to his carriage, and drove off."
’ It would seem from this incident that our English cousins are as much given to the vice of speech-making as our own countrymen.--In the United States it has become a perfect nuisance. No assemblage of any kind outside of a private residence can be visited in safety by any man who has the gift of speech. From national statesmen to village pettifoggers, there is one eternal torrent of speech-making upon all possible subjects and occasions, and still the public thirst is unappeased and unappeasable.
