Preeminent among the ministerial Whigs was one in whom admirable vigour and quickness of intellect were united to a not less admirable moderation and urbanity, one who looked on the history of past ages with the eye of a practical statesman, and on the events which were passing before him with the eye of a philosophical historian.

It was not necessary for him to name himself.

He could be none but Somers.
The pamphleteers who recommended the immediate and entire disbanding of the army had an easy task.

If they were embarrassed, it was only by the abundance of the matter from which they had to make their selection.

On their side were claptraps and historical commonplaces without number, the authority of a crowd of illustrious names, all the prejudices, all the traditions, of both the parties in the state.