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_.