Character of H. B. Constant

By nation a Swiss, by inclination an Englishman, formed to acquire new talents and improve those he already possesses, while, at the same time, he neglects the first, and perverts the second. Feeling the charms of friendship, and yet reasoning against his feelings, a slave to the passion of love, yet varying perpetually in its objects, constant in versatility, in inconsistency consistent. An affectation of singularity forms a conspicuous feature of his character; and this, tho at present attended with disadvantages, may in time prove beneficial, since, if he continue in these sentiments, he must in the end be a Christian. An Atheist professed, he maintains at the same time the cause of Paganism, and while he spurns Jehovah cringes before Jupiter, while he execrates the bigotry and laughs at the follies of superstitious Christians, yet makes the vices of adulterous Deities the subject of his panegyric and prostitutes his genius to support the ridiculous mummeries of its Priests. In politics warm, zealous, keen, invariable, he resembles an Englishman of the purest times; and here, indeed, alone, we find an exception to his general character. He seems, indeed, to have drawn freedom with his first breath, and sucked the principles of liberty with the milk of his Childhood. […]