It is like
the covering which the Creator has thrown around the human frame, not to
disguise its emptiness, but to incase its energies, and to ease and
beautify its action. With this reservation, we will allow it to be said
that his mind was more graceful than strong.
His heart was equally balanced with his intellect. Piety and humanity,
dignity and humility, justice and mercy, blended in the happiest
equilibrium. His gentleness never led him to forget due self-respect, or
forego any opportunity of speaking unwelcome truths. Bossuet and Louis, in
their pride, as well as young Burgundy, in his confiding attachment, had
more than one occasion to recognize the singular truthfulness of this
gentle spirit. Measured by prevalent standards, his character may be said
to lack one element--fear. His life was love. The text that the beloved
disciple drew from his Master's bosom was the constant lesson of his
soul: "He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love."
His active powers were great, for he filled with efficiency posts of duty
so various as to call for different orders of ability. Priest, preceptor,
prelate, as well as statesman, poet, orator, theologian, he was eminent in
every capacity, and in each sphere took something from his distinction by
being rival of himself in other spheres.
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