One morning at half past seven, "as he was destroying an army of barbarians," he heard a double rap at his door.
It was a friend who came to inquire if he was desirous of entering the House of Commons.

The answer may be imagined, and he took his seat as member for the borough of Liskeard after the general election in 1774.
Gibbon's political career is the side of his history from which a friendly biographer would most readily turn away.

Not that it was exceptionally ignoble or self-seeking if tried by the standard of the time, but it was altogether commonplace and unworthy of him.

The fact that he never even once opened his mouth in the House is not in itself blameworthy, though disappointing in a man of his power.

It was indeed laudable enough if he had nothing to say.