'MANY people looked upon Mr. BATES as a very
excellent person, as indeed he was; for he had always paid his debts, a
great thing assuredly in a community where a neglect to do so is looked
upon as an odious offence, without any consideration of the debtor's
misfortunes or ability; but then it must be remembered that nobody
would have trusted Mr. Bates beyond his known ability to pay; he had
robbed no man of his money, an unusual thing in those days, when even
governments and independent states set examples of dishonesty; he had
never cheated government out of a penny, although it is right to say
that he had never been intrusted with any of the nation's funds; he had
run away with no man's wife, which was a greater merit in him, since he
would not have looked upon it as an unpardonable offence if any body
had run away with his; he had never accepted office of a party and then
proved traitorous to those who placed him in power; a rare virtue in
him, since he saw so many examples around him, and heard them spoken of
as good jokes rather than as black crimes.'