In vindicating his conduct at a later day, John Adams protested against what he called the hypersuperlative public virtue of Washington, and insisted : A Presi- dent ought not to appoint a man because he is his relation; nor ought be to refuse or neglect to appoint him for that reason. 2 With absolute certainty that the President is above all prejudice of family and sensitive to merit only, this rule is not unreasonable; but who can be trusted to apply it?

, II.ii.4: a fair-built and sumptuous edifice, as that of the Persian kings so much renowned by Diodorus and Curtius, in which all was almost beaten gold […], with sweet odours and perfumes, generous wines, opiparous fare, etc.

Drinks were regularly sold short – particularly Pimms, which could be served ready-mixed and was one of the few jobs of work Albert insisted on doing himself. […] The pub sold a lot of Pimms: it was in the sleazy shadow of Fulham where the criminals liked to pretend to be flash and the Sloanes pretended to be low-life. They combined well and the evenings were riots of exchanged gambling information, Pimms, pool and vodka doubles.

Phil kept his bankroll in his front pocket, as it made too much of a lump to sit on.