letters.[*] It is
rarely that in these times a man can be found so thoroughly fitted
to fill an office which could be easily invested with ridicule,
or so invariably to invest it, as he has, with dignity."

[Footnote *: He was the best Shakespearean I ever knew, and founded
the "Shakespeare Medal" at Harrow. Lord Chief justice Coleridge
wrote thus: "A munificent and accomplished nobleman, Lord Charles
Russell, has, by the wise liberality which dictated the foundation
of his Shakespeare Medal at Harrow, secured that at least at one
great Public School the boys may be stimulated in youth to an exact
and scholarlike acquaintance with the poet whom age will show them
to be the greatest in the world."]

Sir George Trevelyan writes: "You can hardly imagine how formidable
and impressive Lord Charles seemed to the mass of Members, and
especially to the young; and how exquisite and attractive was the
moment when he admitted you to his friendly notice, and the absolute
assurance that, once a friend, he would be a friend for ever."

Lord Charles Russell held the Serjeancy till 1875; and at this point
I had better transcribe the record in _Hansard_:

* * * * *

_Monday, April_ 5, 1875:

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House that he had received from Lord
Charles James Fox Russell the following letter:

HOUSE OF COMMONS,
_April_ 5_th_, 1875.

SIR,

I have the honour to make application to you that you will be pleased
to sanction my retirement from my office, by Patent, of Her Majesty's
Serjeant-at-Arms attending the Speaker of the House of Commons.
I have held this honourable office for twenty-seven years, and
I feel that the time is come when it is desirable that I should
no longer retain it.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your very obedient servant,
CHARLES J. F. RUSSELL,
_Serjeant-at-Arms_.

THE RIGHT HONBLE. THE SPEAKER.

_Thursday, April_ 8, 1875:

Mr. DISRAELI: I beg to move, Sir, that the letter addressed to
you by Lord Charles Russell, the late Serjeant-at-Arms, be read
by the Clerk at the Table.

Letter [5th April] read.

Mr. DISRAELI: Mr. Speaker, we have listened to the resignation of
his office by one who has long and ably served this House. The office
of Serjeant-at-Arms is one which requires no ordinary qualities; for
it requires at the same time patience, firmness, and suavity, and
that is a combination of qualities more rare than one could wis