general nickname amongst them was "HONEST GORDON." Kenelm at first
thought this sobriquet must be ironical; not a bit of it. It was
given to him on account of the candour and boldness with which he
expressed opinions embodying that sort of cynicism which is vulgarly
called "the absence of humbug." The man was certainly no hypocrite;
he affected no beliefs which he did not entertain. And he had very
few beliefs in anything, except the first half of the adage, "Every
man for himself,--and God for us all."

But whatever Chillingly Gordon's theoretical disbeliefs in things
which make the current creed of the virtuous, there was nothing in his
conduct which evinced predilection for vices: he was strictly upright
in all his dealings, and in delicate matters of honour was a favourite
umpire amongst his coevals. Though so frankly ambitious, no one could
accuse him of attempting to climb on the shoulders of patrons. There
was nothing servile in his nature; and, though he was perfectly
prepared to bribe electors if necessary, no money could have bought
himself. His one master-passion was the desire of power. He sneered
at patriotism as a worn-out prejudice, at philanthropy as a
sentimental catch-word. He did not want to serve his country, but to
rule it. He did not want to raise mankind, but to rise himself. He
was therefore unscrupulous, unprincipled, as hungerers after power for
itself too often are; yet still if he got power he would probably use
it well, from the clearness and strength of his mental perceptions.
The impression he made on Kenelm may be seen in the following
letter:--


TO SIR PETER CHILLINGLY, BART., ETC.