UNITED STATES AND CANADA 253 



Johnson, Mr. C. E. Mathews, and other gentlemen 

 connected officially with the various presentations. 

 After another cheer the audience settled com- 

 fortably down to feast its eyes and ears. The making 

 of speeches continued for about three-quarters of an 

 hour, and was uniformly felicitous and acceptable. 

 Afterwards, for three-quarters of an hour, Mr. and 

 Mrs. Chamberlain moved about among the com- 

 pany on the floor, the one greeting old friends and 

 the other making new ones. 



Mr. C. E. Mathews made the first presentation — 

 that of an illuminated address to Mr. Chamberlain 

 and a necklet of rich Oriental pearls to Mrs. Cham- 

 berlain, on behalf of the citizens of Birmingham. 

 He said : Ladies and gentlemen, — It falls to my 

 lot to present to Mr. Chamberlain an address from 

 many hundreds of his fellow-citizens — (cheers) — 

 and signed on their behalf by Mr. Alderman Johnson, 

 chairman of the Executive Committee ; by Mr. 

 Baily and Mr. Barton, the hon. secretaries ; by 

 myself, as chairman of the Address and Presentation 

 Sub-committee ; by Mr. David Davis, hon. secretary 

 of that sub-committee ; by Mr. G. H. Cartland, 

 treasurer and chairman of the Finance Sub-com- 

 mittee ; and by Mr. Charles Harding, hon. secretary 

 of that committee. (Cheers.) ** To the Right 

 Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P. Sir, — ^A large number 

 of your fellow-citizens and well-wishers desire to 

 offer you a hearty and affectionate welcome on your 

 return from your second visit to the United States. 

 On your first visit you were charged by the British 

 Government, but with the ready assent of men of 



