He was wont to speak admiringly of Lord Acton, relating how, a
Roman Catholic, yet respecting enlightenment and devoted to books,
he once set up and edited a "Quarterly Review," with a notion of
reconciling the Light and the Dark as well as he could; but the
"Prince of Darkness, the Pope," interposed, and ordered him to stop
the "Review." He was compelled to obey; not, he told people, on
any religious ground, but because relations and others would have
made his life a bore to him if he had been contumacious against the
Holy Father.
Kinglake was strongly attracted by W. E. Forster, a "rough
diamond," spoken of at one time as a possible Prime Minister.
Beginning life, he said, as a Quaker, with narrow opinions, his
vigour of character and brain-power shook them off. Powerful,
robust, and perfectly honest, yet his honesty inflicted on him a
doubleness of view which caused him to be described as engaging his
two hands in two different pursuits. His estimate of Sir R. Morier
would have gladdened Jowett's heart; he loved him as a private
friend; eulogized his public qualities; rejoiced over his
appointment as Ambassador at St.
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