At thirty, he would gladly have given all his chances in life for a comfortable vicarage and a chaplain's scarf.
At thirty-seven, he was First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and a Regent of the kingdom; and this elevation he owed not at all to favour, but solely to the unquestionable superiority of his talents for administration and debate.
The extraordinary ability with which, at the beginning of the year 1692, he managed the conference on the Bill for regulating Trials in cases of Treason, placed him at once in the first rank of parliamentary orators.
On that occasion he was opposed to a crowd of veteran senators renowned for their eloquence, Halifax, Rochester, Nottingham, Mulgrave, and proved himself a match for them all.

He was speedily seated at the Board of Treasury; and there the clearheaded and experienced Godolphin soon found that his young colleague was his master.

When Somers had quitted the House of Commons, Montague had no rival there.

Sir Thomas Littleton, once distinguished as the ablest debater and man of business among the Whig members, was content to serve under his junior.

To this day we may discern in many parts of our financial and commercial system the marks of the vigorous intellect and daring spirit of Montague.