They could be out of humour with him, it is true; and, when out of humour, they could be sullen and rude; but never did they, even when most angry and unreasonable, fail to keep his secrets and to watch over his interests with gentlemanlike and soldierlike fidelity.

Among his English councillors such fidelity was rare.

[67] It is painful, but it is no more than just, to acknowledge that he had but too good reason for thinking meanly of our national character.

That character was indeed, in essentials, what it has always been.

Veracity, uprightness, and manly boldness were then, as now, qualities eminently English.