THE EARL OF DEVON. (Hansard, 29 June 1835)

§ Lord Denman

said, that he had had the honour to communicate to the Earl of Devon the vote of approbation unanimously agreed to by their Lordships on a former evening, and had received an answer, which, with their Lordships' permission, he would now read. The noble and learned Lord read the letter, which was in the following terms:— Duke-street, June 26. My Lord,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of yesterday's dale, communicating to me an unanimous resolution of the House of Lords, and I beg of you to convey to the House my 6 sincere thanks for the very flattering manner in which my services as Clerk-Assistant have been noticed. To merit the approbation of one of the Houses of Parliament of this great country must be to every man a source of just pride; but this affords peculiar pleasure to one who has had the opportunities which I have enjoyed of witnessing the great talents and high tone of feeling which characterise the individuals who have concurred in this resolution; and this expression of approbation from the House of Lords is, I trust, calculated to answer a more important purpose than the gratification of my personal vanity. After more than thirty years spent in the various gradations of a lawyer's life, I am now retiring from a high office for which I was selected by those who were acquainted with my conduct in other situations. We know that in the exercise of the legal profession the successful Barrister secures for himself a high reward in the confidence and admiration of the public before whom he acts; but in the more quiet, though not less honourable, stations which it has been my lot to fill, the meed of praise from the few whose position peculiarly enable them to appreciate the due performance of the duties belonging to them, becomes doubly valuable; and whilst the flattering testimony now borne to my conduct will always be to me a source of the purest gratification, I think, also, the younger men engaged in the pursuit of a laborious profession may draw from it this useful lesson, that even without the possession of great powers and brilliant talents, they may assuredly secure to themselves much of honourable distinction and of worldly advantage, by the diligent and faithful discharge of the duties of those stations in which they may happen to be placed. I beg to return your Lordship my best acknowledgments for the kind expressions with which you have accompanied the conveyance of the resolution to me; and I have the honour to remain, my Lord, Your Lordship's faithful servant, The Lord Speaker, &c, DEVON.