The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-03 00:00:00

TO Tilt LIVERY OF LONDON.
Ramsgate, March 29, 1826.
Gesyrttstr.sr.
A FTER a long and arduous service for the apace of
-CV tbirty.six years, as one of your Representatives, I feel I shall
be compelled, on the dissolution of Parliament, to retire bares that
post of honour anti distinction to which you have raised me.
entertain the deepest sense •of gratitude for the undiminished at.
tachment of my numerous friends, in pressing upon me a renewal
of the high responsibilities of the situation I am about to leave ;
and moat proud and happy should I be to second their wishes,
were my health and energies equal to so important a charge, but
age and infirmity have too much broken the one, and exhausted
the other. With raped to my past political life, 1 refer you to
my acts; they are its best illustrations, and more powerful than
any words of mine, and in their appeal to your enlightened judg.
meet, I only ask for the same liberal construction I have been
ever ready to place upon the conduct of those who have conscien-
tiously differed from me—glorying, as 1 do, in the wisdom of a
Constitution. that, while it OTilinate% Pa diversity of opinion. en.
courage% ha free and full expression within the bounds of reason
anti justice.
1 have been constantly watchful of your local interests, your
chartered rights, and civic privileges, and my hand has incessantly
laboured to guard them from every encroachment, and to give only
a broader extension to their benefit. With a bosom glowing in
loyal affection to my Sovereign, I have devoted myself to the sop.
port of those great and sound principles by which the matchless
fabric of the Established Government of these Realms, In Church
and State, is based in the hearts of a free and happy people : nor,
in my exultation on the triumph of these principles, can I forget
those severe trials which proved their purity and power, as well as
the faith and sincerity of my own advocacy of them—even through
the dark and appalling titres that are past, when infidelity and
detnocratiesl frenzy spread desolation over a neighbouring country,
when the contagion almmt reached the heart of our own land, in-
sinuating itself into the fleet—when the religion of our altars, and
the peace of our fire aides were threatened with destruction—when
the arts or the arms of an intriguing or conquering despot had
either weakened the good faith of our allies. or strengthened his
armies against as with the increase of millions ; it was through
such times I stood inflexible and firm in the avowal of the same
opinions I now hold, and which (under the administration of
those highly.gifted Rulers with whom it has been my happi- I
nese to ameciate) have enabled the hark of the State to weather
the sores ; and, after a long and harassing, though splendid
war, to anchor at last in the haven of an honourable and gio.
rious peace.
And now, Gentlemen. after performing my duty to you and my
country with an unshrinking and unwavering spirit, I retire in the
calm of the assurance that you will entnist your liberties and pri-
wilegmeasly to mess who will keep and watch oyes them with a
faithful heart and jealcus eye. while, too, I mar be permitted to
repeat the old prophesy, in which my faith strengthens as my years
decline—
" That as long as there is concord and union of heart and
hand at home, there is no species of apprehended danger front
which England, so great in her own resource*, shall not arise,
like the plitenix from the fire, with a free and unscorched wing."
I beg to renew my heartfelt thanks toe your 1012 g-continued kind-
nesses, and offer n.y best prayers for your happiness as men, and
your prosperity as a community.
I now take my leaye,sybociibing myself, Gentlemen,

You `faithful and grateful servant,
WILLIAM CURTIS.