Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 75
ure in introducing to you Hon. Frederick Douglass."
So hearty and continued was the applause after
Mr. Handy's address, that it was some minutes before
Mr. Douglass could proceed with his address.
At length quiet being restored he came forward
and said:—
" Friends, this is indeed an honor which I had
not expected. I am certainly a very proud man
to-night. Who would not be proud at such a
grand ovation as this ? I thank you with all my
heart; you want to hear something about my trip
to Europe and to Egypt, etc. Well, I will commence
at the starting point. The passage from
New York to Liverpool on the splendid steamer
City of Rome, the largest ship afloat except the
Great Eastern, was exceedingly pleasant. The
winds and waves were in their most amiable mood,
and we made the voyage from land to land in seven
days. In nothing has there been more progress
and improvement than in naval architecture and
in navigation. Five and forty years ago fourteen
days was a short trip from New York to Liverpool—now
it can be made in six days. Fifty
years ago the great scientist, Dyonisius Lardner,
proved by facts and figures to his own satisfaction,
that no vessel could carry enough coal to
propel her across the Atlantic, but theories amount
to nothing against facts accomplished. The City