38 
my head always feels clearer than before. They seem to me like 
storms which purify the air, rendering it more salubrious after they 
are passed.” 
“ Neat and tidy in every thing” (as he writes) with a fondness 
for orderly method and precision, “ his clothes, books, &c., being 
arranged with great particularity” (even to old age being 
often called “a very particular gentleman”) added to all this a 
taciturn disposition, naturally attracted the attention of the other 
boys, and gave rise to certain nicknames. Though sensible of 
the truth of these appellations they were distasteful to him 
nevertheless. 
As regards ordinary conversation he was a man of very few 
words, but those were always weighty and well considered ; the 
following extracts from “‘ Thoughts and Notes” are well worth 
quoting as they seem to reflect his matured views on the subject. 
“ Great talkers are not always wise ; nor is every silent man a fool. 
There are many who talk without thinking ; and many who think 
without talking.” 
“To converse freely is almost as much an art to be acquired by 
practice as anything one could name. They who are doomed to live 
for the most part in solitude and close retirement know how sadly at 
a loss they sometimes feel in the midst of company. They find a 
difficulty in expressing their sentiments. And this even tho’ perhaps 
the conversation turns to such subjects as they feel conscious they 
understand better than anyone else present. We must not always. 
judge of a man’s mind from his powers of conversation.” 
“ There are three kinds of persons silent in company. Some are 
silent because they have nothing in them and have consequently 
nothing to say ; others because they are too sky to speak in the 
presence of strangers ; others again are silent because they are over 
scrupulous as to what they say and how they express themselves. 
These last are afraid of being caught tripping, or of making some 
mistake which, tho’ not detected at the time, may be fastened upon 
them afterwards. Diffident of their own attainments they forbear 
speaking even on subjects which it is probable they understand quite 
as well as, or better than anyone else present. Sometimes the 
