The Dedication, therefore, of the First Oration upon the Life, Character, and Genius of Shakspeare, to YOUR MAJESTY, can never be ascribed to flattery, but to the Sacred Act which has called forth the admiration of Your Kingdom. As a Pilgrim from the NewWorld, to the Shrine of the "time-honoured" Bard; and as a Stranger upon the soil of my Native-land, I cannot but feel an honest pride in being permitted by YOUR MAJESTY, to dedicate my humble tribute to Your generous protection; and more especially, when my wish was acceded to by a promptness, and liberality of sentiment, which, while it adds an honour to my name, at once proclaims the veneration of YOUR MAJESTY, for the Genius of Shakspeare.

I have the honour to be,

YOUR MAJESTY'S

Obliged and obedient, in devotion and respect,

London, April 23, 1836.

GEORGE JONES.

PREFAC E.

THE following Oration was originally pronounced at the Birthplace of the Prince of Poets, in 1836, in commemoration of his Natal day, and at the invitation of the Royal Shaksperian Institute of Stratford-upon-Avon. It has been repeated several times in The United States, and recently in London, with such local additions as appeared necessary,-from an acquisition of facts, and a more matured judgment. Few alterations, however, will appear from the first three editions, and they being nearly out of print,-from being devoted by the Author to aid the Restoration of the Grave and Monument of Shakspeare,is the cause of publishing the present edition.

The original proposition that an Oration or Poem should be pronounced at the Festivals of Shakspeare, originated with the present writer, and was received by the Stratfordians with acclamation; and the first ever pronounced in public to his memory, and from invitation of a Royal Society, was that which appears in the following pages. The second Oration, in continuance of the new custom at Stratford, was by a noble scion of the House of Shakspeare,-Sheridan Knowles, Esq.; and on the same anniversary, in London, by the distinguished Poet and Counsellor, T. Noon Talfourd, Esq. The lovers of the Bard of Avon, aroused by the late Festival to the memory of the Poet,-ROBERT BURNS,―have already sounded the Avonian Harp, calling upon all poetic Pilgrims to repair to the Shrine of Shakspeare at the next anniversary. Shall the melodious chords of that Harp be struck in vain? Shall the tones of Nature herself be given forth,-only to be lost in Echo's rockbound caverns? The true heart, warm with the wild emotions of Love and Gratitude, will receive those sounds,-treasure them up, and forming, as they will, a melody of the Mind,—

give them forth at that Natal-day with renewed power of utterance. Upon the Poet honour cannot be bestowed,--for has he not received all that his fellow man can give?—but, the Pilgrims themselves receive an honour by bending at his shrine, for it proves their own high quality of mind in assuming the Staff, the Sandal, and the Shell.

The novelty of an Oration at the Festival of Shakspeare, drew forth the attendance of hearers from every part of Warwickshire, and even from London,-and that was before the present facilities of rapid travelling. This novelty was probably augmented, from the fact, that the first Oration upon the great English Poet should have originated with, and should have been written and pronounced by, a Citizen of The United States,—and that the late good King, as Patron of the Institute, had given his instant permission to the Author to dedicate the tribute to His Majesty's protection.

In my Dedication, as the reader will have perceived, I alluded distinctly to the fact that I am English-born,—nor have I ever concealed the incident, but have always expressed my pride at the fact; as, also, upon my Citizenship. The Dedication bears date 1836, when my humble name was first brought to the notice of England. In the end of the last year (1843), my presentation to His Majesty the King of the French, was by, and through the courtesy of, the Right Honourable Lord Cowley, British Ambassador at Paris. In this instance I followed out the fact of being English-born, as the Presentation will substantiate; and there is such an instance as an Englishman (as in my own case) being a Citizen of The United States, without having forsworn his natural allegiance; although this fact was disputed in the House of Commons. As thus,at the age of seven, I, with my father and family, left England for America. Upon his arrival, having resolved to reside in the Republic, my Father took out the necessary document to receive the ultimate naturalization of himself and family,in which document are inserted the names of the Mother and all the children, then under the legal age of twenty-one. My own, as the first-born, appears in that document, and after five years my parents became Citizens. My Citizenship com

menced on the day of my majority,-the privileges of which have ever been extended to me, even to voting for the President, also, my Copyright to Literary Property. Now it must be evident, that the Naturalization Oath of even a Father cannot bind his children in the same religious ceremony,—any more than his own oath would annul the claim of England to his natural allegiance in case of war. I have been led into these almost digressive remarks, from the fact, that some of the American Papers, in alluding to my late visits to Paris and Berlin, have declared that "I am American-born, and that they claim me and my honours accordingly; and that I do not evince my usual Chivalric spirit, in denying my land of birth !" Had I been born in Ethiopia, instead of the Capital of England; had been the offspring of an insensate Hottentot, instead of the son of a highly intellectual English Mother, the same spirit of truth would have actuated me;-and since the chivalric actions of Man are founded in Patriotism,-I trust that my fellow-citizens of the Republic, will permit me to exercise that high principle, which is an inherent quality in themselves, and which teaches them to appreciate it in others. In all my actions as the Citizen, at home or abroad, either by the tongue or pen, I have boldly proved my faith,-scorning the enmity of foes, in order to secure a lasting friendship between the two Nations. It has been my perfect independence upon all questions between England and America, that has led me to receive the respect of both countries. If it could be laid to my charge, that I had slept beneath the roof of a notorious libeller of The United States, or of England,-then I should feel bound to forfeit my Citizenship, and all claims to the protection of my Native-land.

My land of birth was, also, distinctly alluded to by the Chairman of the Shakspeare Monumental Committee, in his address, when, upon the authority of the Institute, he publicly presented to me the Shakspeare Medal. I subjoin that speech (and my own reply) not so much regarding the incident above mentioned, as to preserve that address from being lost, for it possesses the noblest spirit of National Philanthropy; -nor could it be otherwise, for it emanated from the heart

and brain of a gentleman, whose name is now known to Europe and America, as well as to England;-and the best men of both Hemispheres can but imitate his high claims to universal respect; for posterity will regard the character of JOHN CONOLLY, with equal, if not greater, admiration than that of JOHN HOWARD. The latter alleviated the prisondistresses of the criminal, the former has broken the cruel chains from the Maniac,-opened his former prison-doors,— has "ministered to the mind diseased,"― grappled with Insanity in all its wild forms,—conquered the ravings of the most fearful of the awful dispensations of God, with the mildness of Charity itself,—until an infant can repose in peace beside the grateful patient! If ever a man deserved living honours and rewards, it is this great Philanthropist,-posterity will honour his grave! It is in life, that good men should be rewarded,--it is the noblest example then for imitation, and proves that the present race is as capable of appreciating character as will be those of the succeeding age, and not leave to them to give a posthumous reward, when the instant guerdon should be manifested by ourselves.

In my previous volume, I expressed my happiness in possessing the friendship of Dr. Conolly, " and that for years I had felt that friendship to be one of the brightest compliments to my existence." I have had no occasion to change that sentiment,--for "there is a daily beauty in his life,”—that places in deformity the usual actions of common men.

After the Oration had been pronounced, Dr. Conolly, as Chairman of the Monumental Committee, in presenting the Shakspeare Medal, accompanied it with the following address:

"Mr. Jones, the Committee of the Royal Shaksperian Institute have deputed me, and I feel much gratified and honoured by being so deputed, to convey to you a small tribute of their regard and admiration. They have had many opportunities of observing the zeal by which you are animated in the cause of every thing connected with the memory of that great Poct, to do honour to whom has ever been the chief object of