For many years he had held his trust with conscious
rectitude, and a slight depreciation of other forms of merit; and for
as many years had been as regularly returned to his seat by his
constituency with equally conscious rectitude in themselves and an equal
skepticism regarding others. Removed by his nature beyond the reach of
certain temptations, and by circumstances beyond even the knowledge of
others, his social and political integrity was spotless. An orator and
practical debater, his refined tastes kept him from personality, and the
public recognition of the complete unselfishness of his motives and the
magnitude of his dogmas protected him from scurrility. His principles
had never been appealed to by a bribe; he had rarely been approached by
an emotion.
A man of polished taste in art and literature, and possessing the means
to gratify it, his luxurious home was filled with treasures he
had himself collected, and further enhanced by the stamp of his
appreciation. His library had not only the elegance of adornment that
his wealth could bring and his taste approve, but a certain refined
negligence of habitual use, and the easy disorder of the artist's
workshop.
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