pondered much upon the law, "Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself." It had entered profoundly into his being, and
formed a large part of it. He was strong in his self-respect, but his
respect for others, not for this man or that but for other men as men, was
much more conspicuous. Rarely indeed have I heard him utter a word
censuring opponents, or concerning those who actually were or had been
friends, that could have given pain. If and when it was done, it was done
so to speak judicially, upon full and reluctant conviction and with
visible regret.

If I have said that he had much in common with other distinguished men who
were like him statesmen by profession, it has been by way of preface to
what I have now to say; namely, that what has ever struck me in his
character as a whole, was its distinctiveness. There were several mental
virtues that he possessed in a degree very peculiar; there were, I think,
one or two in which he stood almost alone. I am not in myself well
qualified for handling a subject like this, and also my life has been too
hurried to give me the most favourable opportunities. Still I must try to
explain my meaning. I will name then the following characteristics, one
and all of which were more prominent in him than in any public man I ever
knew: mental calmness; the absence (if for want of better words I may
describe it by a negative) of all egoism; the love of exact justice; a
thorough tolerance of spirit; and last and most of all an entire absence
of suspicion.

There was something very remarkable in the combination of these qualities,
as well as in their separate possession. Most men who might be happy
enough to have one half his love of justice, would be so tossed with
storms of indignation at injustice as to lose the balance of their
judgment. But he had or seemed to have all the benefits, all the ennobling
force of strong emotion, with a complete exemption from its dangers. His
mind seemed to move in an atmosphere of chartered tranquillity, which
allowed him the view of every object, however blinding to others, in its
true position and proportion.

It has always appeared to me that the love of justice is one of the rarest
among all good qualities, I mean the love of it with full and commanding
strength. I should almost dare to say there are five generous men to one
just man. The beauty of justice is the beauty of simple form; the beauty
of generosity is heightened with colour and every ac