He had distinguished himself amid the practical affairs of life by judicial acuteness, unswerving justice, infallible perspicacity, and inexhaustible stores of erudition brought to bear with facility on every detail of any matter in dispute.

But nature and inclination seemed to mark him out through early manhood for experimental and speculative science rather than for action.

Now a demand was made on his deep fount of energy, which evolved the latent forces of a character unique in many-sided strength.

He had dedicated himself to religion and to the pursuit of knowledge.

But he was a Venetian of the Venetians, the very soul of Venice.