His polished manners and lively conversation were the delight of aristocratical societies; and none who met him in such societies would have thought it possible that he could bear the chief part in any atrocious crime.

His political principles were lax, yet not more lax than those of most Scotch politicians of that age.

Cruelty had never been imputed to him.

Those who most disliked him did him the justice to own that, where his schemes of policy were not concerned, he was a very goodnatured man.

[221] There is not the slightest reason to believe that he gained a single pound Scots by the act which has covered his name with infamy.