“His ringlets of silken black hair, his flashing eyes, his effeminate and lisping voice, his dress-coat of black velvet lined with white satin, his white kid gloves with his wrist surrounded by a long hanging fringe of black silk, and his ivory cane, of which the handle, inlaid with gold, was relieved by more black silk in the shape of a tassel.... Such was the perfumed boy-exquisite who forced his way into the salons of peeresses.”—1829.

“In the front seat on the Conservative side of the House, may be observed a man who, if his hat be off, which it generally is, is sure to arrest one’s attention, and we need scarcely to be told after having once seen him that he is the leader of that great party. He is not old, just turned fifty we may suppose, but he bears his age well, whatever it may be. His face, which was once handsome, is now ‘sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought.’ The head is long, and the forehead massive and finished. The eye is restless, but full of fire; the hair black and curly. Nature has evidently taken some pains to finish the exterior.”—about 1855.

“Certes, le premier aspect de Mr. Gladstone ... rÉponds À l’idÉe qu’on peut se faire d’un chef douÉ d’un Élan irrÉsistible, mieuxque l’attitude maladive de lord Beaconsfield, ses traits mous, son regard flÉtri et comme perdu dans l’abstraction ou dans une rÉverie hantÉe par la dÉsillusion et la lassitude.... Chez le plus faible ... on devine bientÔt que si le fourreau est usÉ par la lame, c’est À raison de la dÉvorante activitÉ de celle-ci.... La tÊte s’incline avec mÉlancholie, la bouche a pris l’habitude des contractions douleureuses; mais que de patience invincible dans cette attitude! quelle fÉconditÉ, quelle soudainetÉ d’inspirations marquÉes sur ces lÈvres que plisse le rictus de l’ironie!”