PRESENTATION OF THE PORTRAIT OF SIR CHARLES TREVELYAN BY THE OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSARIAT DEPARTMENT.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 559, 23 August 1851, Page 4

PRESENTATION OF THE PORTRAIT OF SIR CHARLES TREVELYAN BY THE OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSARIAT DEPARTMENT.

London, 20th January, 1851. — The Committee for carrying out tl>e objects pioposed to the Department, )n a memorandum dated 25th July, 1848, have at length the satisiaction of announcing the entire completion of them after a delay certainly much exceeding- expectation, yet rendered by circumstances quite unavoidable. The Portrait of Sir Charles Tievelyan, X.C.8., was presented to Lady Trevelyan on the 7th instant, with the following address, which was delivered by Sir Randolph Routh, X.C.14., dr the senior officer present, and the substance of the replies made by her Ladyship and Sir Charles Trevelynn are added, in the assurance that every one will appreciate the vnlue they have been tindly pleased to attach to tins testimonial, and the honorable mention made of the capacity and exertions of the department. address. lady TnrvFXYAN,— Wt> are deputed on the part of tbe officers of the Commissaiiat, to present to you the portrait of Sir Cbailes Trevelyan, as a mark of respect for the high character and abilities of our official chief, but more especially in grateful acknowledgment of the benefits conferred on the department by his administration of it during the last twelve yeais. In attempting to describe how much and how variously it is indebted to him for improvements made in its position and efficiency, we fear we might not be quite intelligible to your Lad) ship. You will understand us better when we speak of his urbanity, of his kindly solicitude for even the personal weli-being of the department, and of the patient attention bestowed by linn upon thp ininutest details connected with rs dutic'6 and reputation.

Precluded by the constitution und high functions of the Tieaswy Jioatd fiom holding cluect intercom se with the autliouty under which we ostensibly net, we of necessity m>ard him, its permanent lepn-se/itative, as oin acLiial head ; and eich one of us accordingly fiutlh m these qualities both an incentive to exeiuon, ■uid the peiMiaiion th.it his conduct, not less than bis ability, is under the eye of a just and discerning Chief. The feeling of confidence nnd self-iesoect thus created must tend to form in our widely-dispersed body a ] well-toned espnt de corps, conducive alike to us own res- I ppctabihty, and to the good of the Service which it administers. Of tho exiatence of this feeling the present unanimous offering may be tali en as a pledge; and we beg to add to it our earnest wish, sure to have your Ladyship's sjmpathv, that the Coimnis-.anat may long continue to possess, in Sir Choi les Trevelyan, that best patronage of its ii torestf, which consists in impressing upon it his own chaiacter of eneigy and unimpeachable integrity. inn nri'T.v of t-ady ikfyetyav. I really cannot attempt to express, gentlemen, how deeply ] feel your kindness, and lhe pude 1 take in vbo proof you havo given me of your esteem for my husband, after having acted and laboured with him so many years. T wish ] could tell you and all those who have confeirod this gift upon rao, how very giateful I am to them all. As lons>- ns T live it must be my most precious possession, and my childicn's after me — to my boy, especially, the sight of it will be through life, i trust, a great encouragement. You must not judge of my gratitude by ray words ; I really cannot find any in which to titanic you ; and I beg you to convey to all those who have joined in presenting to me tLis admirable portrait of my husband the assurance of my deep gratification <uid thankfulness, and that of my children and family. Sir Chat 1m Trevelyan spoke in tho following terms: — " I so highly value the good opinion of the officers of the Commuvsatiat, and my whole latcrcouise with them has been of so satisfactory a kind, that any maik of their nppiobntion would be highly gratifying to mo; but this token of their kindness is doubly acceptable, because it is associated wild the most cherished feelings of my domestic life. I beg you will convey to the gentlemen you represent my sincere thanlcs for the great honour they have done me. The praise bestowed on me in the address to Lady Trevelyan, much exceeds what 1 diwive; but this I can say in justice* to myself, that from the first moment of my connexion with your department, 1 have felt a warm interest in its credit, and have laboured hard to increase its efficiency, in which I ba\e been supported by the coidial co-operation of the (Jommissniiat Officers in every pait of the world. Of all my official duties, there is none which I have perfoimed with more pleasure than that of eairvinginto effect the plans of Her ftldjustj's Government /or the improving of the position and piospectsof tins valuable class of public servant?. But 1 ought to add, that these exertions could hardly have been attended with success, had I not been ably nnd zealously seconded by Mr. Archer, who«e long and valuable servces I hare peculiar pleasure in acknowledging, by Mr. Petne, and tLe gentlemen who act with them at the Treasury. " 1 am sure, gentlemen, that you will allow me, while I acknowledge most thankfully the honor which you have done me, to remind you of the gratitude which we all owe to tliose under whose authority 1 acted, and without wbo^e support I could bare effected nothing. " P«u ticularly I would call to your recollection those honorable distinctions which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer on some gentlemen of } our department. Such a pi oof that tho services of the Commissariat aie justly appreciated in the highest quarter, will, I am confident, gratify the feelings and animate the exertions of every Commissaiiat officer of every lank, and in eveiy pait of the globe. I may, I hope, without presumption, express my opinion that the favours of tho Crown could not have been more judiciously bestowed. Even in time of peace the functions of Commissariat officers are of high importance ; but, in time of war, the interests, the honor, the safety ot the kingdom may depend on their energy and ability. I rejoice to think that both the constitution and the spirit ot the department are at present excellent. The Commissaries General are men of great capacity which hna been unproved by long experience. They have under them a body of intelligent, well-informed, and zealous officer*, and I feel a firm confidence that, aa far as this branch of the public service is concerned, our country is perfectly piepaied to meet any emeigency/'