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be considered will be disposed of in a manner that will comport with the best interest of the State -

Gentlemen I cannot let this occasion pass which calls upon me to render back into your hands the honorable trust committed to me and to resign my seat in this House without paying a public tribute of affectionate gratitude to my constituents for their long continued and generous confidence - a confidence which has brought me to be acquainted with so much of private worth and of public virtue as I have always found associated here - Their kindness and yours shall ever be gratefully remembered in whatever situation in life my good or ill fortune may hereafter place me -

Gentlemen when you shall have completed the public business and shall return to your respective families and friends - carry with you assurances of my sincere and fervent aspirations for your individual welfare and happiness - and you long enjoy all that public consideration and all those private and domestic blessings which are the reward of the good citizen and virtuous man.

The Speaker then retired and the Clerk presided during the choice of a Speaker to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Ruggles.

A Committee consisting of Messrs. Mitchell of Portland, Dummer of Hallowell, Knowlton of Montville, Chase of Sebec and Hardy of Bucksport, was appointed to receive, sort and count the votes for a Speaker - and on sorting and counting the same, it appeared that the whole number of votes given in was one hundred and thirty one - necessary for a choice sixty six - Benjamin White of Monmouth had eighty one, and was duly elected - and being notified of his election, he took the Speakers chair and addressed the House -