After having spent the greater part of half a century in various public
capacities--after having been the recipient of nearly every honorary distinction which it was in the power of my fellow-citizens to confer--there now remains for me no further object of ambition, unless to die in harness, and so escape the taunt--

"Unheeded lags the veteran on the stage."

Three times have I succeeded in gaining a position of reasonable competence; and as often--in 1857, 1860 and 1876--the "great waterfloods" have swept over me, and left me to begin life anew. It is too late now, however, to scale another Alp, so let us plod on in the valley, watching the sunshine fading away behind the mountains, until the darkness comes on; and aye singing--

"Night is falling dark and silent,
Starry myriads gem the sky;
Thus, when earthly hopes have failed us,
Brighter visions beam on high."