Men of Our Times; Or, Leading Patriots of the Day: Being narratives of the lives and deeds of statesmen, generals, and orators. Including biographical sketches and anecdotes of Lincoln, Grant, Garrison, Sumner, Chase, Wilson, Greeley, Farragut, Andrew, Colfax, Stanton, Douglass, Buckingham, Sherman, Sheridan, Howard, Phillips and Beecher.Stowe, Harriet Beecher
History
Men of Our Times; Or, Leading Patriots of the Day: Being narratives of the lives and deeds of statesmen, generals, and orators. Including biographical sketches and anecdotes of Lincoln, Grant, Garrison, Sumner, Chase, Wilson, Greeley, Farragut, Andrew, Colfax, Stanton, Douglass, Buckingham, Sherman, Sheridan, Howard, Phillips and Beecher.
Stowe, Harriet Beecher
United States -- Biography; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Biography
"Monday, 19th. I do not know as you will understand the feeling which
led to the above outburst. I had spoken four times in seven days to
immense audiences, under great excitement, and with every effort of
Southern sympathizers, the newspapers, street placards, and in every
other way to prevent my being heard. I thought I had been through
furnaces before, but this ordeal surpassed all others. I was quite
alone in England. I had no one to consult with. I felt the burden of
having to stand for my country, in a half hostile land; and yet I
never flinched for a moment, nor lost heart. But after resting twenty
weeks, to begin so suddenly such a tremendous strain upon my voice,
has very much affected it. To-day I am somewhat fearful I shall be
unable to speak to-morrow night in Exeter Hall. I _want_ to speak
there, if the Lord will only let me. I shall be willing to give up
all the other openings in the kingdom. I cannot stop to give you any
sort of insight into affairs here. One more good victory, and England
will be immovable. The best _thinkers_ of England will be at any rate.
"I hope my people will feel that I have done my duty. I know that I
have tried. I should be glad to feel that my countrymen approved,
but above all others I should prize the knowledge that the people of
Plymouth Church were satisfied with me.
"I am as ever, yours,
H. W. BEECHER."
"OCT. 21, 1863. LONDON.
"MY DEAR FRIEND:
Last night was the culmination of my labor, in Exeter Hall. It was
a very fit close to a series of meetings that have produced a great
sensation in England. Even an American would be impressed with
the enthusiasm of so much of England as the people of last night
represented for the North. It was more than willing, than hearty,
than even eager, it was almost wild and fanatical. I was like to have
been killed with people pressing to shake my hand; men, women, and
children crowded up the platform, and ten and twenty hands held over
and stuck through like so many pronged spears. I was shaken, pinched,
squeezed, in every way an affectionate enthusiasm could devise,
until the police actually came to my rescue, and forced a way, and
dragged me down into the retiring room, where a like scene began,
from which an inner room gave me refuge, but no relief, for only with
more deliberation, the gentlemen brought wives, daughters, sons,
and selves for a God bless you! And when Englishmen that had lived
in America, or had sons in our army, or had married American wives,
took me to witness their devotion to our cause, the chairman of the
meeting, Mr. Scott, the Chamberlain of London, said that a few more
meetings, and in some other parts of England, and the question would
be settled! You will have sent to you abundant accounts, I presume.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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