Before Julian came to the throne, a pagan reaction was imminent, as Neander points out.
Julian himself was a remarkable man, as men of his class usually are.
In the breaking up of old modes of belief, as Mill has said, "the most strong-minded and discerning, next to those who head the movement, are generally those who bring up the rear." The energy of his mind and character was quite exceptional, and if we reflect that he only reigned sixteen months, and died in his thirty-second year, we must admit that the mark he has left in history is very surprising.

He and his policy are now discussed with entire calm by inquirers of all schools, and sincere Christians like Neander and Dean Milman are as little disposed to attack him with acrimony, as those of a different way of thought are inclined to make him a subject of unlimited panegyric.
Through this difficult subject Gibbon has found his way with a prudence and true insight which extorted admiration, even in his own day.

His account of Julian is essentially a modern account.

The influence of his private opinions can hardly be traced in the brilliant chapters that he has devoted to the Apostate.

He sees through Julian's weaknesses in a way in which Voltaire never saw or cared to see.