82 A GREAT PUBLIC CHARACTER. 



reforms in police, in the management of the poor, and other 

 kindred matters, much in the way of cure, still more in 

 that of prevention. The place demanded a man of courage 

 and firmness, and found those qualities almost superabun 

 dantly in him. His virtues lost him his office, as such virtues 

 are only too apt to do in peaceful times, where they are felt 

 more as a restraint than a protection. His address on laying 

 down the mayoralty is very characteristic. We quote the 

 concluding sentences: 



And now, gentlemen, standing as I do in this relation for 

 the last time in your presence and that of my fellow-citizens, 

 about to surrender for ever a station full of difficulty, of labour 

 and temptation, in which I have been called to very arduous 

 duties, affecting the rights, property, and at times the liberty 

 of others ; concerning which the perfect line of rectitude 

 though desired was not always to be clearly discerned ; in 

 which great interests have been placed within my control, 

 under circumstances in which it would have been easy to 

 advance private ends and sinister projects ; under these cir 

 cumstances, I inquire, as I have a right to inquire for in the 

 recent contest insinuations have been cast against my in 

 tegrity in this long management of your affairs, whatever 

 errors have been committed and doubtless there have been 

 many have you found in me anything selfish, anything per 

 sonal, anything mercenary ? In the simple language of an 

 ancient seer, I say, &quot; Behold, here I am; witness against me. 

 Whom have I defrauded ? Whom have I oppressed ? At 

 whose hands have I received any bribe ?&quot; 



Six years ago, when I had the honour first to address the 

 City Council, in anticipation of the event which has now 

 occurred, the following expressions were used: &quot;In admin 

 istering the police, in executing the laws, in protecting the 

 rights and promoting the prosperity of the city, its first 

 officer will be necessarily beset and assailed by individual 

 interests, by rival projects, by personal influences, by party 

 passions. The more firm and inflexible he is in maintaining 

 the rights and in pursuing the interests of the city, the 

 greater is the probability of his becoming obnoxious to the 

 censure of all whom he causes to be prosecuted or punished, 

 of all whose passions he thwarts, of all whose interests he 

 opposes.&quot; 



The day and the event have come. I retire as in that 



