[ Dr Thomas Guthrie, Scottish divine, phlanthropist and preacher. ] Autograph draft of part of a speech of thanks, for delivery to 'great & good men', including 'my Lord Provost', assembled to honour him.

Written in ink on both sides of an irregular slip of paper (roughly 9 x 19cm), with a few words inserted in pencil. Aged and worn. In Guthrie's hand, and with 'Dr Guthrie's' in pencil at head of first page. The text comprises the upper part of the first leaf of the draft of a speech of thanks by Guthrie, for delivery at a meeting in his honour. Heavily revised, with a few interpolations in the margins on both sides. There are no indications that the text has been published, and Guthrie's sons' memoir, included in his 'Autobiography' (1874), throws up no clues. Containing vivid flashes demonstrating the reasons for Guthrie's popularity as a preacher. The beginning of the speech is on one side of the slip, and reads: 'The man who is required to speak about himself has got an awkward subject: and therefore topic of conversation, tho' I should have liked to speak my thanks out of the fulness of my heart I think it fortunate that necessity is laid on me to be brief as well as calm - | I am well aware how much more I owe the honours & gifts of this day to the kindness of my friends than to any merits of mine – Indeed, when I first heard of this movement, & in the list of the Committee read the names of some occupying the highest offices in the State & in the Church of England[,] also names famous in the world of Science, the names of great & good men belonging to all ranks, all political <...> & all Protestant Churches, no man cold be <...> sympathy […]'. On the reverse of the slip Guthrie expresses 'pleasure in accepting this munificent expression' of his audiences approbation: 'Indeed I feel very much as an invalid does who thinks it almost worthwhile to be ill to be so much made of, & have his wants anticipated, & know himself loved beyond what he ever imagined – The night brings out the stars: & my being disabled & shelved has elicited expressions of interest & esteem which have greatly alleviated my trial'. In the final part of the text Guthrie addresses 'my Lord Provost, our very highly & most deservedly <?> Chief Magistrate'.