Parker's confidence was more than justified.

The book sold as no history had sold except Gibbon's and Macaulay's.

There were no obscure, no ugly sentences.
The reader was carried down the stream with a motion all the pleasanter because it was barely perceptible.

The name of the author was in all mouths.

His old college perceived that he was a credit, not a disgrace to it, and the Rector of Exeter* courteously invited him to replace his name on the books.