But he is nothing of the kind.

In his familiar letters he reserves generally a few lines for parliamentary gossip, amid chat about the weather and family business.

He never approaches to a broad survey of policy, or expresses serious and settled convictions on home or foreign affairs.
Throughout the American war he never seems to have really made up his mind on the nature of the struggle, and the momentous issues that it involved.

Favourable news puts him in high spirits, which are promptly cooled by the announcement of reverses; not that he ever shows any real anxiety or despondency about the commonwealth.

His opinions on the subject are at the mercy of the last mail.