I must confess that the kind way in which I am now surrounded was a surprise to me. I have acted throughout here without ever anticipating or expecting—I may, I hope, say or desiring as a thing for itself to be desired—the praise of any portion of the public. If what I have done has elicited satisfaction, has tended to the promotion of the public good, or has decided any private right according to right, I am most thankful, but that I have had many shortcomings I know full well. No one here who has criticised me in the most severe terms has criticised me as severely as I have in duty criticised myself. I feel, gentlemen, that it is a duty we all owe to ourselves in order that we may do our duty to others.
In the career which I have run—I began that career long, long ago—but almost as soon as I attained manhood I learned a lesson for life of which I have just the words before me, and which I think is a wise one for all. From my earliest manhood I took to my heart the guide which the greatly good, if not great, Sir William Jones laid down for himself as his rule. His rule was this: To feel none his superior but the wise and good, none his inferior but the base and unjust. I have ever tried to act upon this rule. He was the man of all others I took as the highest-toned man I ever read the life of, and from that time I have held to that principle. What I have done subsequently has been simply trying to carry out in actions the thought of Sir William Jones, and if I have succeeded to any extent I am thankful.
I confess I am surprised, extremely surprised, at the kind feeling with which each gentleman present, sinking cause for slight annoyances here, it may be serious annoyances there, has forgotten all these and joined in one address to me which will abide with me for my life. But speaking here for the last time, let me say I have been subjected to criticisms which few men have been subjected to. I say as to those criticisms, what I have thanked the bar for doing, I sink them all in my belief that there was earnestness and honesty in what has been said and done in regard to me, and I shall remember the kindness which I have received and forget whatever unkind criticism I may have been subjected to.
My life here has been a chequered scene for various reasons which it is not now for me to allude to, but I have felt that on the whole my stay here has been one for which I ought to be thankful. Gentlemen, I wish you health and happiness, not long here, but in better climes and in improved positions, and I hope that I shall meet you all in England well satisfied to return from this land of sojourn to our land of promise. Gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for this address. (Applause.)
I have now a duty to perform which I owe to Mr. Justice Snowden, to whose unvaried kindness in public life I owe a very great deal, whose industry has supplied on several occasions my want of industry, and who has worked out on many occasions for the public service those principles of law which I have joined with him in taking the benefit of. My tongue is tied as to the future, but I only hope, using general terms, Mr. Justice Snowden will take that position, in whatever quarter of the world it may be—must not come nearer, I suppose—which his talents undoubtedly entitle him to. (Applause.)
The Court then rose,
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