Despising all who thwarted him with ill-considered advice—­neglecting all hostility, so he knew it to be groundless—­laughing to scorn reviling enemies, jealous competitors, lukewarm friends, ay, hardest of all, to neglect despising even a fickle public, he cast his eye forwards as a man might—­else he deserves not to command men—­cast forward his eye to a time when that momentary fickleness of the people would pass away, knowing that in the end the people are always just to merit.”

The Duke’s acknowledgement, was simple, according to his character, and modest as became his position.  He said, “The noble lord, who I hope will allow me to call him my noble friend, has stated to you with great truth, that there are times and circumstances in which, and under which, all feelings of party, all party animosity, all descriptions of political feelings must be laid aside.  I must do my noble and learned friend the justice to say, that for years and years there has been nothing of that description in social life as between him and me, notwithstanding which it is certainly true that I have had the misfortune of differing in opinion with my noble and learned friend upon many points of internal and possibly of other descriptions of policy.  But I am afraid that, notwithstanding my most anxious wish to co-operate with all of you in the public service in which we have all been employed, I may happen (I know it does happen) to differ with some of you upon subjects of political interest to the country.  But my noble and learned friend judges of you correctly when he says that such feelings of difference would not prevent you—­as they have not prevented you—­from doing me the honour of inviting me to this festival, and of bringing here to meet me not only the whole of this interesting county, but persons from all parts of the kingdom and even from abroad.  Therefore my noble and learned friend does you as well as himself justice when he states that there are occasions—­occasions in relation to individuals as well as in relation to public interests and services—­in which all feelings of party politics and opinions must be laid aside, in order to carry on the public service to the greatest point of advantage to the public interest.  I have had sufficient experience in public life to know that this must be the case.  I am convinced that it is that feeling which has induced you to pay this tribute of respect to the person holding the situation of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, in order that you might encourage others hereafter to perform their duty honestly and conscientiously in the same honourable office.”