and I now furrender your estate into your hands without being in a fingle tile or a fingle ftone im paired or wafted by my ufe. I have ferved the publick for fifteen years. I have ferved you in particular for fix. What is paffed is well ftored. It is fafe, and out of the power of fortune. What is to come, is in wiser hands than ours; and he, in whofe hands it is, best knows whether it is best for you and me that I should be in parliament, or even in the world. Gentlemen, the melancholy event of yesterday reads to us an awful leffon against being too much troubled about any of the objects of ordinary ambition. The worthy gentleman,* who has been fnatched from us at the moment of the election, and in the middle of the conteft, whilft his defires were as warm, and his hopes as eager as ours, has feelingly told us, what fhadows we are, and what shadows we purfue. It has been usual for a candidate who declines, to take his leave by a letter to the sheriffs; but I received your truft in the face of day; and in the face of day I accept your difmiffion. I am not,— I am not at all afhamed to look upon you; nor can my presence discompose the order of business here. I humbly and refpectfully take my leave of the sheriffs, the candidates, and the electors; wishing heartily that the choice may be for the beft, VOL. III. *Mr. Coombe. at 434 SPEECH AT BRISTOL, &c. at a time which calls, if ever time did call, for fervice that is not nominal. It is no plaything you are about. I tremble when I confider the truft I have prefumed to afk. I confided perhaps too much in my intentions. They were really fair and upright; and I am bold to say, that I ask no ill thing for you, when on parting from this place I pray that whomever you chufe to fucceed me, he may resemble me exactly in all things, except in my abilities to ferve, and my fortune to please you. THE END OF THE THIRD VOLUME. T.Gillet, Ptinter, Salisbury-squares |