He was, in the full force of the words, a good man.

He was also a man of eminent abilities, a great master of sarcasm, a great master of rhetoric, [473] His reading, too, though undigested, was of immense extent.

But his mind was narrow: his reasoning, even when he was so fortunate as to have a good cause to defend, was singularly futile and inconclusive; and his brain was almost turned by pride, not personal, but professional.

In his view, a priest was the highest of human beings, except a bishop.
Reverence and submission were due from the best and greatest of the laity to the least respectable of the clergy.

However ridiculous a man in holy orders might make himself, it was impiety to laugh at him.