More remarkable than his devotion to business was the aptitude the young man, ignorant of affairs, soon showed for King-craft, and all were astonished to find that, after he had become accustomed to his position, he not only made efforts to induce ministers to carry out his views, but actually found means usually to compel them to do so. Unfortunately he started in life with the rooted idea that those who agreed with him were right, and those who differed wrong. "He will seldom do wrong, except when he mistakes wrong for right," prophesied Lord Waldegrave; "but as often as this shall happen, it will be difficult to undeceive him, because he has strong prejudices."[101] How true this was will presently appear. It was a misfortune, too, that what intelligence he possessed, not sufficient to enable him to see two sides to a question, made him suspicious of all who rose above mediocrity. Fox, father and son, he hated, and he declared once that Sheridan ought to be hanged, while he could rarely find a good word for Chatham, Burke, and the other men of commanding talent with whom perforce he was brought into contact. It was his liking for nonentities that Peter Pindar[102] pilloried, in words attributed to Sir Joseph Banks:[103] "To circles of pure ignorance conduct me; I hate the company that can _instruct_ me; I wish to imitate my King, so _nice_, Great prince, who ne'er was known to take advice! Who keeps no company (delightful plan!) That dares be wiser than himself, good man!"[104] [101] Waldegrave: _Memoirs_. [102] John Wolcot, satirist and poet (1738-1819), wrote under the pseudonym of "Peter Pindar." [103] Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), president of the Royal Society, 1778-1820. [104] _Peter's Prophecy._