from my chief business habits which have stood me in good
stead since. Mr. Wainwright was a man of no ordinary nature, as all who
knew him will admit. He was a pattern of punctuality and promptitude,
never spared himself in doing a thing well and expected the same
thoroughness in others, though he would make allowance for want of
capacity, but not for indolence or carelessness. Straightforwardness,
honesty and rectitude marked all he did. His word was his bond. His
disposition was to trust those around him, and his generous confidence
was usually justified. High-minded and possessing a keen sense of honor
himself, he had an instinctive aversion to anything mean or low in
others. A man of great liberality and generous to a fault he often found
it hard to say no, but when obliged to adopt that attitude it was done
with a tact and courtesy which left no sting. In all business matters he
required a rigid economy though never at the expense of efficiency.

Intellectually he stood high, as I had ample opportunity of judging, but
if asked what were his most striking qualities I should say _goodness_
and a charm of manner which eludes description, but irresistibly
attracted all who met him. In appearance he was tall and portly, and his
bearing, carriage and presence were gentlemanly and refined. He was of
fair complexion, was possessed of a delightful smile, and had side
whiskers (turning white) continued in the old-fashioned way under the
chin, and yet he was so bright and debonair that he never looked
old-fashioned. Like myself he was a great lover of Dickens, and I think
his most prized possession was a small bookcase which had belonged to
Dickens' study and which he purchased at the sale at _Gad's Hill_. His
directors esteemed him highly, and the officers of the company were all
sincerely attached to him. In his room he held almost daily conferences.
Correspondence formed but a small part in his method of dealing with
departments. He believed in the value of _viva voce_ discussion, and
discouraged all unnecessary inter-departmental correspondence. In this
he was right I am sure. The daily conferences were cheerful and
pleasant, for he had the delightful faculty of "mixing business with
pleasure and wisdom with mirth." I consider that I was singularly
fortunate at this period of my life in finding myself placed in close and
intimate association with such a man as Mr. Wainwright, in enjoying his
confidence as