certificate of character

This political tramp begs food and he carries in his pocket old dirty scraps of paper as a kind of certificate of character.

Surely never were the natural feelings of indignation and suspicion more skilfully soothed, and never did repentant good-for-nothing get sent back to regain the confidence which he had forfeited, with such a certificate of character in his hand!

Could I say to her, 'My dear young lady, I know very little about you, and my friend, George Cary Eggleston, is so innocent and unsophisticated a person that I dare not introduce you to him without some certificate of character?'

I am no dreamer, Doctor Herbert, although I believe in the virtue that requires no certificate of character.

Good heavens! in this world you must call many a one comrade whose conscience is far from clear, and whom you must not ask for a certificate of character.