Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-17
From the Quebec Chronicle.
Lord Elgin,s Farewell.

From the Quebec Chronicle.
Lord Elgin's Farewell.
On Friday evening, December first, his excel
lency Lord Elgin gave his farewell assembly at
Spencer Wood. Upwards Of six hundred per-
sons, including every member Of both houses
of the Legislature, were invited, and about five
hundred we're present.
After due honor had been done to most re-
cherche entertainment, his excelency, in com
pliance with a general desire, came forward
and addressed the ladies and gentlemen present
as follows:
LORD ELGIN's SPEECH.
~ do not intend to depart from the rule
which have prescribed for myself of not Civ
ing toasts after supper at balls in this house.
But trust that, in the position in which ! am
placed this evening, it will not be deemed alto
gether inexcusable in me if / try at least to say
few words to you, for / don't know that j
shall succeed in the attempt, before drink off
the bumper which have filed here, and which
| intend to drain to the last drop. ISwish
could address you in such strains as have
sometimes employed on similar occasions,
strains suited to festive meeting; but con-
Tess that / have a weight on my heart, and that
it is not in me to be merry. For the last time
| stand before you in the official character
which i have borne for nearly eight years. For
the last time / am surrounded by circle Of
friends with whom j have spent some of the
pleasantest days Of my life. For the last time
| welcome you as my guests to this charming
residence which / have been in the habit Of
calling my house. did not, will frankly
oonfasa bnapv hat; vvopld oaot - e. h-ool,
this habit, until the period of my departure ap.
preached, and began to feel that the great
interests which have so long engrossed my at.
tention and thoughts, were passing cut Of my
hands. had a hint Of what my feelings really
we're upon this point-a pretty broad hint too.
One lovely morning in June last when / re-
turned to Quebec, after temporary absence in
England, and landed at the Coves below Spen-
Ger Wood, because it was Sunday did not
want to make disturbance in the town-and
when with the greetings of the old people in
the Coves, who put their heads out Of windows,
as passed along, and cried, welcome home
again" still ringing in my ears, mounted the
hill and drove through the avenue TO the house
door, l saw the dropping trees on the lawn,
with every one Of which ] was so familiar,
clothed in the tenderest green Of spring, and
the river beyond calm and transparent as n
mirror, and the ships fixed and motionless as
statues on its surface, and the whole landscape
bathed in a food Of that bright Canadian sun
which so seldom pierces our murky atmosphere
on the other side Of the Atlantic, began to think
that those persons were to be envied who we're
not forced by the necessities Of their position,
to quit these engrossing interests and lovely
scenes, for the purpose Of proceeding TO distant
lands, but who are able TO remain among them
nf1 tbov 10 hat ruta az of a.
den Of Mount Hermon, which juts into the
river and commands view Of the city, the
shipping, Point Levi, the Island of Orleans and
the range Of Laruentin, so that through the dim
watches Of that tranquil night which precedes
the dawning Of the eternal day, the majestic
citadel Of Quebec, with its noble train of satel.
lite hills, may seem TO rest forever on the sight,
and the low murnur OF the waters Of the st.
Lawrence, with the hum Of busy life on their
surface, TO fall ceaselessly on the ear. cannot
bring myself to believe that the future has in
store for me any interest which will ell the place
Of those am now abandoning. But although
must henceforward be 10 you az a stranger,
(cries Of no, no,) although my Official connex-
ion with you and your interests will have be-
come, in q few days, matter Of history, yet
trust that, through some one channel or another,
the tidings Of your prosperity and progress may
occasionally reach me, that ] may hear from
time to time Of the steady growth and develop.
ment Of those principles Of liberty and order,
Of manly independence in combination with
respect for authority and law, Of national life
in harmony with attachment TO British con.
nexion, which il has been my earnest endeavor,
TO the extent Of my humble means Of inAuene,
TO implant and establish. i trust, too, that
shall hear that this house continues to be, what
have ever sought to render it, a neutral terri
tory. on which persons Of opposite opinions,
political and religious, may meet together in
harmony, and forget their differences for sea.
son. And ] have good hope that this will be
the case, for several reasons, and, among others,
for one which | can barely allude to, for
il might be an impertinence in me to dwell
upon II. But think that without any breach
OF delcacy or decorum, i may venture to
say, that, many years ago, when | was much
Younger than i am now, and when we stood
towards each other in a relation somewhat
different from that which has recently subsisted
between us, learned 10 look up 10 Sir Ed
mund Head, with respect, as gentleman of
the highest character, the greatest ability and
and the most varied accomplishments and at
tainments. And now, ladies' and gentlemen, ]
have only 10 add the sad word-FAREwELL. j
drink tbis bumper to the health Of you all,
collectively and Individually. l trust that !
may hope 10 leave behind me Some who will
look with feelings Of kindly recollection to the
period Of our intercourse, SOME with whom ]
baye been on terms Of intimate Official con.