The most sagacious and experienced politician could not see with any clearness three months before him.
To a man of virtue and honour, indeed, this mattered little.

His uncertainty as to what the morrow might bring forth might make him anxious, but could not make him perfidious.

Though left in utter darkness as to what concerned his interests, he had the sure guidance of his principles.

But, unhappily, men of virtue and honour were not numerous among the courtiers of that age.

Whitehall had been, during thirty years, a seminary of every public and private vice, and swarmed with lowminded, doubledealing, selfseeking politicians.