lence,' can declare how much he fore he could bring himself to a w much it cost him to abandon his friends and constituents. Nor let iends and constituents be defrauded ression of gratitude which is due to who loved and admired Mr. Husroceedings which took place, and ich was transmitted to him, when that he did not intend to offer - their representative, are too hoarties to be here withheld.

ich, following up the feelings I then commumy opposition to any change which would at all, and not less so to one that would transfer to Liverpool.

nce, therefore, that I may obtain from your least, that if by changing my office I have ating my seat I have yielded to the invier of these moves has been at all of my the correspondence which you have seen persisted in my resistance to the one and r to me that it could not be finally perseement from political associates and priave passed the best years of a long life, r judgment, and in that of others, the to public duty. To the pressure of these I be induced to yield. I have done so say, to the twelfth hour; and I only trust sion in this long and doubtful conflict, ely, will not be censured by those who t more by their political attachment than

"I remain, &c.

"W. HUSKISSON."

tation manifested in accepting this distinguished honour, his friends are insensible to the noble manner in which the Inhabitants of the latter place requited him for the sacrifice by an attachment, which shewed itself more strongly during each succeeding year of their connexion, and which death itself has not dissolved.* But only those who enjoyed his most

The following letter will best explain his feelings, and the grounds on which he at last yielded to the force of circumstances.

"MY DEAR SIR;

"Whitehall Place, Feb. 1823.

"Seldom has a more reluctant task devolved upon any man, than that to which I am now driven by circumstances which I can no longer control.

"Knowing so intimately as you do the state of my feelings in reference to my political connexion with Chichester, and the ardent desire I have so frequently expressed to you, that it might be my good fortune to have it continued during the remainder of my public life, I am sure you will do me the justice to believe, that it is not without a most painful struggle that I find myself compelled to entreat all the indulgence of my friends for the inclosed Address.

"Among them there are many to whom, from the strongest claims of kindness and partiality, it would be my wish to give personally the same full and detailed explanation which I have given to you of the events which, without producing any change in my wishes or feelings, have, I may fairly say, in spite of both, forced me into a new career. But I am so pressed for time, that it would be quite impossible for me to write to each of them separately on the subject.

"I know how little a public man is likely to obtain credit for sincerity, when he declares that any change in which he acquiesces has not been an object of his ambition, and is not, at the time, a source of personal gratification. That this will be the natural inference with the multitude is what I must expect. But it is to me a consolation to know, that from my habits of confidence with you I was enabled last summer, and again some weeks ago, to lay before you the real state of my mind, and that I have since had an opportunity of satisfying

intimate confidence, can declare how much he underwent before he could bring himself to a decision, or how much it cost him to abandon his former faithful friends and constituents. Nor let those faithful friends and constituents be defrauded of the just expression of gratitude which is due to them, from all who loved and admired Mr. Huskisson. The proceedings which took place, and the Address which was transmitted to him, when it became known that he did not intend to offer himself again as their representative, are too honourable to all parties to be here withheld.

you of the lengths to which, following up the feelings I then communicated to you, I carried my opposition to any change which would at present vacate my seat at all, and not less so to one that would transfer that seat from Chichester to Liverpool.

"I feel the fullest assurance, therefore, that I may obtain from your kindness the testimony at least, that if by changing my office I have vacated my seat, and if vacating my seat I have yielded to the invitation from Liverpool, neither of these moves has been at all of my seeking, and that in fact (as the correspondence which you have seen must have proved to you), I persisted in my resistance to the one and the other, till it was too clear to me that it could not be finally persevered in, without an estrangement from political associates and private friends, with whom I have passed the best years of a long life, and without incurring in their judgment, and in that of others, the imputation of an indifference to public duty. To the pressure of these considerations alone could I be induced to yield. I have done so after struggling, I may truly say, to the twelfth hour; and I only trust that the grounds of my decision in this long and doubtful conflict, when weighed dispassionately, will not be censured by those who have long honoured me not more by their political attachment than by their private friendship.

"I remain, &c.

"W. HUSKISSON."

"At a numerous Meeting of the Friends of the Right Hon. William Huskisson, held at the Assembly room Chichester, on Monday, the 24th ult., the following Address was unanimously agreed to:

"Sir;

"Chichester, Feb. 24, 1823.

"We beg leave to offer to you our sincere congratulations, on your appointment to the high offices which his Majesty has been pleased to confer on you; an appointment which you are so well qualified to fill, and which, we doubt not, will be attended with the most beneficial results to the country.

"Our congratulations are, however, clouded by the reflection, that we have been deprived of the opportunity of proving that our disposition towards you remains unchanged; and we cannot allow you to take leave of us, without expressing the deep regret with which we contemplate our political separation.

"During the ten years you have represented us in Parliament, we have found strong and increasing reasons to justify our first choice-a choice which was dictated chiefly by a knowledge of your public character. You came amongst us almost a stranger. In losing you, we feel that we are parting from a friend, who has endeared himself to us by an unwearied attention to our local concerns, by multiplied acts of kindness towards many individually, and by the most conciliating demeanour towards all.

Perfectly convinced, as we are, that in relinquishing your seat for Chichester, you have yielded reluctantly to the call of public duty, and to imperative circumstances which you could not control; we must still deplore the necessity which has deprived us of so valuable and enlightened a representative.

"At every succeeding election which occurred during

our connection, you felt yourself strengthened in the confidence and affections of your Constituents; and we flattered ourselves, that it would have been long ere we should be called upon to select your successor.

"Unforeseen events have, however, unfortunately precipitated that period. Yet jealous as we must be of the transfer of your services to the town of Liverpool, it is a flattering consideration that to you, in preference to all other public men, that immense emporium of national wealth should confide its important interests; and we cannot but reflect with proud satisfaction, that we also knew how to discover, and justly appreciate, your high value.

"We most cordially join in the hope, that as neighbours and friends, our private intercourse will continue uninterrupted. On our part, we shall always feel the deepest interest in your welfare, and amidst the arduous duties of your present situation, our warmest wishes for your health and happiness will ever attend you.

"The Right Hon. W. Huskisson, &c. &c."

"The above Address having been signed by a great majo rity of the Electors, was transmitted to Mr. Huskisson by the Chairman, William Leeves, Esq., to whom the following Answer has been returned :—

"Sir;

"Whitehall Place, March, 3, 1823.

"At the same time that I acknowledge the very flattering Address, so numerously and respectably signed by those whom it was lately my pride to consider as my Friends, and to represent in Parliament as my Constituents, at Chichester, I want words to convey to you, as their Chairman, and through you to them, the sense which I entertain of the honour which they have now conferred upon