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338.

ready, able and impartial manner in which he had performed the duties devolving upon the Chair; and in taking this formal leave of the Speaker, the House tender their best wishes for his safe return to his family and constituents, and for his future prosperity & happiness. which was unanimously passed.

The Speaker replied as follows gentlemen of the House of Representatives, When I took the chair, I expressed the hope, that with the support in your power to render, I might be able to discharged its duties in an acceptable manner. If I have succeeded, to any good degree, in redeeming the pledge I gave upon the outset, I am fully sensible how much I owe to your uniform courtesy and kindness. I entered upon my present station without the benefit of any practical experience and at period of the session, when business began to press upon your attention and rapidly accumulate upon the table. It is not possible that I should be unconscious of many imperfections, or that I may have committee many errors. But the approving testimonial of my official conduct contained in the resolution which has just passed, and which emanate from so respected a source, has deeply penetrated my mind. Nothing in this life is more grateful to a man than the merited approbation of those of his fellow men who are known and esteemed for their goodness, intelligence & highmindedness. Yes, gentlemen, whatever may be my fortune hereafter, and we known not what a day or an hour may bring forth, the approving vote you have just passed, will even be green and fresh in my mind. It is a tribute from those whose intelligence and worth I have had an opportunity