160 Seventy Years a Master, 



or in the house of business, they will find in him a 

 most obliging, polite and well-mannered man, and fully 

 worthy of every confidence that may be reposed in 

 him. 



** Again I thank you, and also most fervently thank 

 the Committee who have so ably and kindly arranged 

 this gratifying gathering for me. I must simply say 

 to you, that I trust you may one and all lead 

 a long, long life ; and, during the whole of that period, 

 may you be surrounded by the brightest halo of 

 happiness and prosperity. And now, gentlemen, after 

 all the indulgence I have received for fifty years, and 

 after what 1 have this day witnessed, I think I may 

 safely say to myself : — 



" Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy, 

 Bright dreams of the past, which she cannot destroy, 

 That come in the night-time of sorrow and care, 

 And bring back the features that joy used to wear. 



" Rest assured that the words I have uttered have 

 not been uttered as a mere figure of speech. Those 

 words have been prompted by a heart fully sensible 

 of the honour you have conferred upon me this day — 

 a day to be remembered to the ' dying day ' of the 

 ' old man ' who now stands before you — remembered 

 too, with feelings of the greatest joy and satisfaction, 

 mingled with feelings of the deepest sorrow that I shall 

 never again be enabled to show you that amount of 

 sport which it has ever been my aim and ambition 

 to do." 



