This, however, he either forgot, or was perhaps too indifferent as to the event, or did not think the cause of objection on the part of the Sexagenarian, valid. The result was, that this person was allowed to sit on the jury, but it afterwards appeared that the only obstacle to an immediate dismissal of the charge, arose from the persevering and determined obstinacy of this individual against whose prejudices he had been timely, but vainly forewarned.
How much he disregarded and indeed despised this attempt to lessen his value in the estimation of the public, was sufficiently evident, indeed somewhat ludicrously manifested. He never encountered his great opponent, with whom he had some previous acquaintance, without forcing himself upon his notice by exclaiming, how do you do Mr. ⸺? A salutation which the other would gladly have avoided and excused.
The person of whom too slight a description is here given, was educated at Eton, and afterwards at Oxford. He was called to the bar, and filled for some time a dignified station in one of our foreign dependencies. He has, at different times, published various works, all of which are in the highest degree honourable to his literary reputation. He is, or was, a good scholar, a very respectable lawyer, and had obtained considerable proficiency in the Oriental languages. He was, moreover, remarkably well versed in the modern Greek.
As to worldly matters, he certainly played his cards well with respect to himself, and has proved to others also no contemptible patron. All have their infirmities. It is imputed to him, that through fear of being held up to public animadversion, by one great political hippopotamos, he occasionally acquiesced in opinions, which he reprobated, and paid obsequious attention to one, whom in his heart he detested. It has also been said, that with a little exertion he might have rendered effectual service to some who fought with him with equal resolution, and who were exposed to equal danger, under the same honourable standard, but that his benevolence ended where it began—namely, at home.
He was, however, in every particular, well qualified to be a member of the society, the component individuals of which are here imperfectly delineated.
Davus sum, non Œdipus.
Deum qui non summum putet