of his earlier years were lost,—­that he found Rome of brick, and left it of marble; a praise not unworthy a great prince, and to which the present reign also has its claims.  But how much nobler will be the sovereign’s boast when he shall have it to say, that he found law dear, and left it cheap; found it a sealed book—­left it a living letter; found it the patrimony of the rich—­left it the inheritance of the poor; found it the two-edged sword of craft and oppression—­left it the staff of honesty and the shield of innocence!

“To me, much reflecting on these things, it has always seemed a worthier honour to be the instrument of making you bestir yourselves in this high matter, than to enjoy all that office can bestow—­office, of which the patronage would be an irksome encumbrance, the emoluments superfluous to one content with the rest of his industrious fellow-citizens that his own hands minister to his wants; and as for the power supposed to follow it—­I have lived near half a century, and I have learned that power and place may be severed.

“But one power I do prize; that of being the advocate of my countrymen here, and their fellow-labourers elsewhere, in those things which concern the best interests of mankind.  That power, I know full well, no government can give—­no change take away!”

His speech on negro slavery made a deep impression upon the country, and rose towards its termination, gradually, but with ever-ascending periods, to a close of absolute majesty:—­

“I regard the freedom of the negro as accomplished and sure.  Why?  Because it is his right—­because he has shown himself fit for it; because a pretext, or a shadow of a pretext, can no longer be devised for withholding that right from its possessor.  I know that all men at this day take a part in the question, and they will no longer bear to be imposed upon, now they are well informed.  My reliance is firm and unflinching upon the great change which I have witnessed—­the education of the people, unfettered by party or by sect—­witnessed from the beginning of its progress, I may say from the hour of its birth!  Yes!  It was not for a humble man like me to assist at royal births with the illustrious Prince who condescended to grace the pageant of this opening session, or the great captain and statesman in whose presence I am now proud to speak.  But with that illustrious Prince, and with the father of the Queen, I assisted at that other birth, more conspicuous still.  With them, and with the head of the House of Russell, incomparably more illustrious in my eyes, I watched over its cradle—­I marked its growth—­I rejoiced in its strength—­I witnessed its maturity; I have been spared to see it ascend the very height of supreme power; directing the councils of state; accelerating every great improvement; uniting itself with every good work; propping all useful institutions; extirpating abuses in all