114 A GREAT PUBLIC CHARACTER. 



because he had never forfeited his own. In this, it 

 appears to us, lies the lesson of his life, and his claim 

 upon our grateful recollection. It is this which makes 

 him an example, while the careers of so many of our 

 prominent men are only useful for warning. As regards 

 history, his greatness was naiTowly pi'ovincial ; but if 

 the measure of deeds be the spirit in which they are 

 done, that fidelity to instant duty, which, according to 

 Herbert, makes an action fine, then his length of years 

 should be very precious to us for its lesson. Talleyrand, 

 whose life may be compared with his for the strange 

 vicissitude which it witnessed, carried with him out of 

 the world the respect of no man, least of all his own ; 

 and how many of our own public men have we seen 

 whose old age but accumulated a disregard which they 

 would gladly have exchanged for oblivion ! In Quincy 

 the public fidelity was loyal to the private, and the with- 

 drawal of his old age was into a sanctuary, — a diminu- 

 tion of publicity with addition of influence. 



" Conclude we, then, felicity consists 



Not in exterior fortunes 



Sacred felicity doth ne'er extend 

 Beyond itself. .... 

 The swelling of an outward fortune can 

 Create a prosperous, not a happy man." 



