I have tried not to let personal feeling interfere with a proper discharge of my of my official duties, and I have several times marked on the part of the Council the disposition to help and support me on trying occasions. I have found a spirit of fairness manifested always whenever you believed I was trying to do right, and I ask you now to believe that, although I may at times have appeared arbitrary or partial, I never intended to be either.

We all have faults and weaknesses. Tolerance and charity are virtues too seldom exercised.

You who have sat in this chair, apart from your brother members of the Council, know that ofttimes things have a different aspect viewed from this position than when viewed from the floor, and ofttimes what seems to a member on the floor to be unfair and partial conduct by the presiding officer is only proper parliamentary practice as seen by the Chair.

We have been fortunate in that, by the grace of God, none of our members have been taken away during the year, and now we are about to separate. In a few days the Common Council of '94 will be of the past, but I know that some of the best and truest friends I ever had are numbered amongst this body, and that if we meet not again in official life that friendship which we have contracted here will yet be continued while we live.

I leave the chair and the Council of 1894 with good feeling towards all, and I hope no one bears personal ill-will against me.

I had hoped that all feeling had died out, and I wish to say nothing on this occasion that could make any man feel that I bore him any ill-will for his actions during the year or upon the occasion of any meeting of this Council. I trust that the members will consider in a broad spirit acts of mine which may have seemed to them partial or prejudiced, and that they' will give me credit for having done what seemed to

CLOSING PROCEEDINGS, COMMON COUNCIL.

5

me under all the circumstances the best that I could have done at the time. And now, as we go forth upon upon our different paths, my wish is the same to all, that whatever path you may follow may lead you to the success that you deserve. [Applause.]

IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 5, 1895.

Ordered, That His Honor Mayor Matthews be requested to cause fifteen hundred copies of his valedictory address to be printed and bound; the expense to be charged to the contingent fund of the Mayor's office. Passed. Approved by the Mayor, January 5, 1895.

A true copy.

Attest:

J. M. GALVIN,

City Clerk.