He had achieved his place by skill, rather than principle,--by the conviction on men's minds that he was necessary rather than that he was fit.

But still, there he was; and, though he had alarmed many,--had, probably, alarmed all those who followed him by his eccentric and dangerous mode of carrying on the battle; though no Conservative regarded him as safe; yet on this question of the Church it had been believed that he was sound.

What might be the special ideas of his own mind regarding ecclesiastical policy in general, it had not been thought necessary to consider.
His utterances had been confusing, mysterious, and perhaps purposely unintelligible; but that was matter of little moment so long as he was prepared to defend the establishment of the Church of England as an institution adapted for English purposes.

On that point it was believed that he was sound.

To that mast it was supposed he had nailed his own colours and those of his party.