Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/127

Rh think on all things for himself. Something of this escapes in defence of his tenure of the vice-treasurership against the invective of Grattan: “I felt myself a man of too much situation to be a mere placeman. If not a minister to serve my country, I would not be a mere tool of salary. What was the consequence? I voted with government in matters where they were clearly right, and against them in matters of importance where they were clearly wrong. In questions of little moment I did not vote at all.”

He was transplanted, too, at fifty, when new roots are difficult to strike. He saw the scene occupied by men of vast abilities whom he could not expect to surpass or displace. He had been a leader, and could not gracefully descend to the condition of subordinate. Or he may have refused to modify those opinions which, having long enunciated as truths in Ireland, he could not now unsay, however at variance with the larger and clearer views of another—and it must be admitted superior—assemblage of statesmen.