Now! Then! John Lumsden, Hull-based Scottish steam entrepreneur and future mayor, addresses the local Robert Burns centenary dinner

25 January 1859: John Lumsden, Hull-based Scottish steam entrepreneur and future mayor, addresses the local Robert Burns centenary dinner

Hull Packet. 1859/01/28. Centenary Commemoration of the Birth-day of Burns. Hull. Get it:

Excerpt

He said he was no poet, and although a Scotchman, he was taken away from home too early to have had his poetical nature developed; and since he had come to Hull there was nothing in the aspect of the country round to cause it to arrive at maturity. He had been accustomed to raise something of a different nature; he had had a good deal to do in raising steam, but he never could get sufficient of the poetical fire to consume his own smoke, although they were compelled to do so by that unpoetical body, the Board of Health. (Laughter.) He was, as be had said, no poet; but he appreciated and loved poetry to so great an extent that, coupled with what he had heard, he loved our poets also. The art of poetry was one of the most useful, and in this country we had the greatest reason to be proud of our poets. (Applause.) We had our Milton, Spenser, Shakespeare, and he whose centenary was now being celebrated – Robert Burns [applause]; and even at the present time we have living among us poets of whom we are proud. He had great pleasure in proposing “The poets of England, Scotland, and Ireland.” (Applause.)

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.
Abbreviations:

ER: East Riding
GM: Greater Manchester
NR: North Riding
NY: North Yorkshire
SY: South Yorkshire
WR: West Riding
WY: West Yorkshire

Comment

Original

Mr. LUMSDEN then addressed the meeting. He said he was no poet, and although a Scotchman, he was taken away from home too early to have had his poetical nature developed; and since he had come to Hull there was nothing in the aspect of the country round to cause it to arrive at maturity. He had been accustomed to raise something of a different nature; he had had a good deal to do in raising steam, but he never could get sufficient of the poetical fire to consume his own smoke, although they were compelled to do so by that unpoetical body, the Board of Health. [Laughter.] He was, as be had said, no poet; but he appreciated and loved poetry to so great an extent that, coupled with what he had heard, he loved our poets also. The art of poetry was one of the most useful, and in this country we had the greatest reason to be proud of our poets. [Applause.] We had our Milton, Spenser, Shakespere, and he whose centenary was now being celebrated – Robert Burns [applause]; and even at the present time we have living amongst us poets of whom we are proud. He had great pleasure in proposing “The poets of England, Scotland, and Ireland. [Applause.]

215 words.