His nephew Fontenelle admits that his general address and manner were by no means prepossessing.
He had regular and prepossessing features, dark complexion, broad high forehead, prominent cheek bones, grey deep-set eyes, and bushy black hair, turning to grey at the time of his death.
He has a pleasant expression in talking, and indeed his manner can be described as distinctly prepossessing.
However, like so many prestigious but essentially workaday buildings, only rather functional and not very prepossessing brick backs the impressive façade.