The books of reference said that he was the son of one William Gurnard, Esq., of Grimsby; but I remember that once in my club a man who professed to know everything, assured me that W.Gurnard, Esq.
(whom he had described as a fish salesman), was only an adoptive father.
His rapid rise seemed to me inexplicable till the same man accounted for it with a shrug: "When a man of such ability believes in nothing, and sticks at nothing, there's no saying how far he may go.

He has kicked away every ladder.

He doesn't mean to come down." This, no doubt, explained much; but not everything in his fabulous career.

His adherents called him an inspired statesman; his enemies set him down a mere politician.

He was a man of forty-five, thin, slightly bald, and with an icy assurance of manner.