Naturally studious and prudent, had his fortunes remained what they had been before his uncle's death, he would probably have become a laborious and distinguished man.

But though his abilities were good, he had not those restless impulses which belong to Genius--often not only its glory, but its curse.

The Golden Rod cast his energies asleep at once.

Good-natured to a fault, and somewhat vacillating in character, he adopted the manner and the code of the rich young idlers who were his equals at College.

He became, like them, careless, extravagant, and fond of pleasure.