Gentlemen, the melancholy event of yesterday reads to us an awful lesson against being too much troubled about any of the objects of ordinary ambition.  The worthy gentleman[51] who has been snatched from us at the moment of the election, and in the middle of the contest, whilst his desires were as warm and his hopes as eager as ours, has feelingly told us what shadows we are and what shadows we pursue.

It has been usual for a candidate who declines to take his leave by a letter to the sheriffs:  but I received your trust in the face of day, and in the face of day I accept your dismission.  I am not—­I am not at all ashamed to look upon you; nor can my presence discompose the order of business here.  I humbly and respectfully take my leave of the sheriffs, the candidates, and the electors, wishing heartily that the choice may be for the best, at a time which calls, if ever time did call, for service that is not nominal.  It is no plaything you are about.  I tremble, when I consider the trust I have presumed to ask.  I confided, perhaps, too much in my intentions.  They were really fair and upright; and I am bold to say that I ask no ill thing for you, when, on parting from this place, I pray, that, whomever you choose to succeed me, he may resemble me exactly in all things, except in my abilities to serve, and my fortune to please you.

FOOTNOTES: 

[51] Mr. Coombe.

SPEECH

(DECEMBER 1, 1783)

UPON

THE QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER’S LEAVING THE CHAIR IN ORDER FOR THE HOUSE TO RESOLVE ITSELF INTO A COMMITTEE

ON

MR. FOX’S EAST INDIA BILL.

Mr. Speaker,—­I thank you for pointing to me.  I really wished much to engage your attention in an early stage of the debate.  I have been long very deeply, though perhaps ineffectually, engaged in the preliminary inquiries, which have continued without intermission for some years.  Though I have felt, with some degree of sensibility, the natural and inevitable impressions of the several matters of fact, as they have been successively disclosed, I have not at any time attempted to trouble you on the merits of the subject, and very little on any of the points which incidentally arose in the course of our proceedings.  But I should be sorry to be found totally silent upon this day.  Our inquiries are now come to their final issue.  It is now to be determined whether the three years of laborious Parliamentary research, whether the twenty years of patient Indian suffering, are to produce a substantial reform in our Eastern administration; or whether our knowledge of the grievances has abated our zeal for the correction of them, and our very inquiry into the evil was only a pretext to elude the remedy which is demanded from us by humanity, by justice, and by every principle of true policy.  Depend upon it, this business cannot be indifferent to our fame.  It will turn out a matter of great disgrace or great glory to the whole British nation.  We are on a conspicuous stage, and the world marks our demeanor.