His tastes were frugal and their indulgence was sparing.

He took his wine not plenteously, though he enjoyed it--especially his "blue seal" while it lasted--and sipped his whisky-and-water on occasion with a pleased composure redolent of discursive talk, of which, when he cared to lead the conversation, he was a master.

He had early come into a great legal practice and held a commanding professional position.

His judgment was believed to be infallible; and it is certain that after 1871 he rarely appeared in the courts of law except as counsellor, settling in chambers most of the cases that came to him.
It was such a man whom, in 1874, the Democrats nominated for Governor of New York.

To say truth, it was not thought by those making the nomination that he had any chance to win.