But am I, therefore, to pronounce Demosthenes profligate and insincere?
Surely not.

Do we not perpetually see men of the greatest talents and the purest intentions misled by national or factious prejudices?
The most respectable people in England were, little more than forty years ago, in the habit of uttering the bitterest abuse against Washington and Franklin.

It is certainly to be regretted that men should err so grossly in their estimate of character.

But no person who knows anything of human nature will impute such errors to depravity.
Mr Mitford is not more consistent with himself than with reason.

Though he is the advocate of all oligarchies, he is also a warm admirer of all kings, and of all citizens who raised themselves to that species of sovereignty which the Greeks denominated tyranny.