Norbourne seemed to divine the character of each individual, and how he contrived to adapt himself to it. He avoided politics, and yet often managed to make Sir Robert Walpole the subject of discourse; but it was only to tell some favourable personal anecdote. Once or twice he was fairly entangled in an argument; and each time he allowed himself to be convinced on some minor point, which left, however, the original subject quite untouched.
An allusion to some pamphlet, which had just made a noise, induced Norbourne to mention Walter Maynard to his uncle in terms of warm praise.
"He realises," exclaimed he, warmly, "all one ever imagines of genius. He has the keenest sensibility, and this gives him the key to the sensibility of others. He is eloquent, for his heart is in his words; and he has that passionate melancholy which is the true element of poetry."
"Say no more," interrupted Lord Norbourne: "you have described the man of all others the most unfitted to struggle with the
