“ His dismissal from the Guardian opened for Lathbury the way to a great personal success, which nevertheless led to financial disaster. Friends rallied round him, and he started the Pilot, the first number of which was greeted by the Spectator, a not too friendly rival, with the remark that it was to other weekly journals as a cathedral to a conventicle. The new venture had a chequered career of not quite four years. If the truth be told, Mr. Lathbury had not the qualities of a man of business; he could make a brilliant journal, but he could not make it pay. ”

“ Not the least remarkable feature of the struggle was the fact that the friends who generously furnished the means for its continuance were almost to a man opposed to Lathbury's political opinions—opinions to which he gave expression after a very different fashion from that on which he had ventured in the Guardian. ”

“ A rare combination of scepticism about men and measure, with complete confidence in the ultimate working of human institutions, was the secret of his large tolerance, and animated the laughing philosophy which rarely deserted him. ”