Speeches. Literary and Social by Charles Dickens

[In presenting Captain Hewett, of the _Britannia_, {55} with a service of plate on behalf of the passengers, Mr. Dickens addressed him as follows: ]

CAPTAIN HEWETT,-I am very proud and happy to have been selected as the instrument of conveying to you the heartfelt thanks of my fellow-passengers on board the ship entrusted to your charge, and of entreating your acceptance of this trifling present. The ingenious artists who work in silver do not always, I find, keep their promises, even in Boston. I regret that, instead of two goblets, which there should be here, there is, at present, only one. The deficiency, however, will soon be supplied; and, when it is, our little testimonial will be, so far, complete.