Ladies and Gentlemen,—By your choice I find myself in an honourable position to which in no flight of imagination had I ever aspired. A cautious habit of limiting aspiration by what seems to be the attainable has no doubt saved me from many a disappointment; now it affords me a surprise in a form which to all men is ever the most gratifying—an expression of good-will from those whose opinion is valued most highly, one's comrades and colleagues.