Note 1011 — BOOK V. BIOGRAPHY.
Reading edition
A hare-lip. Miss Martineau, who describes it, adds that “his vowels at least were sonorous, whatever might become of the consonants.” But she understood him without her ear trumpet. Autobiogr., i. 327–8. Cf. above, p. 58. Sydney Smith says, “I would almost consent to speak as inarticulately if I could think and act as wisely.” Life by Holland, vol. ii. p. 326. He attributes a similar physical defect to Talleyrand, with perhaps as much seriousness. Life by Holland, vol. ii. pp. 256–7.