) "Sir John, my lords, ladies, and gentlemen,--I have lately
returned from a voyage in the North Sea among the Fishing Fleets. That
was perhaps a foolish trip for an old man to make, in a world of
rheumatics and doctors' fees; but I'm very glad I made it. Most people
are very ready to point out the faults of others: I have to point out
my own. I learned that I had been unwittingly neglecting a duty, and now
I blame myself for remissness. It's very pleasant to blame yourself,
because it gives you such a superior sense of humility, and I am
enjoying the luxury to the full. I saw a great deal of beautiful and
promising work going on, and I saw ever so much pain, and squalor, and
unnecessary unhappiness. I needn't tell you that I've made up my mind to
assault that pain and squalor and unhappiness, and try to drive them out
of the field; I needn't tell you, because the newspapers have done that
for me. They always know my business as well as I know it myself. Now it
struck me that many men are as ignorant as I was. I know that some
people continually go about imagining evil; but there are others who are
constantly seeking for chances of doing good, and they jump at their
chance the moment they clap eye on it. That is why I arranged this
meeting. I cannot describe things, nor put out anything very
lucidly--except a balance-sheet; but I have a young friend here, who
has been at sea all winter in those ugly gales that made us so
uncomfortable on shore, and he will tell us something.
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