In spirit as restless as Garibaldi, he was in practice as cautious as Cobden.

England had the most prudent aristocracy, but the most reckless democracy in the world.

It was, and is, the English contradiction, which has so much misrepresented us, especially to the Irish.

Our national captains were carpet knights; our knights errant were among the dismounted rabble.

When an Austrian general who had flogged women in the conquered provinces appeared in the London streets, some common draymen off a cart behaved with the direct quixotry of Sir Lancelot or Sir Galahad.