rather than a profession. Gifford, the editor of the "Quarterly," who knew the drudgery of writing for a living, once observed that "a single hour of composition, won from the business of the day, is worth more than the whole day's toil of him who works at the trade of literature in the one case the spirit comes joyfully to refresh itself, like a hart to the waterbrooks; in the other, it pursues its miserable way, panting and jaded, with the dogs and hunger of necessity behind.† deciphering the correspondence which passed books extant have been written by men of busibetween her and Charles I.—the work occupy-ness, with whom literature was a pastime ing all his days, and often his nights, during several years. And while Cowley was thus employed in the royal cause, Milton was employed by the Commonwealth, of which he was the Latin secretary, and afterwards secretary to the lord protector. Yet, in the early part of his life Milton was occupied in the humble vocation of a teacher. Dr. Johnson says, "that in his school, as in everything else which he undertook, he laboured with great diligence, there is no reason for doubting." It was after the Restoration, when his official employment ceased, that Milton entered upon the principal literary work of his life; but before he undertook the writing of his great epic, he deemed it indispensable that to "industrious and select reading" he should add "steady observation," and "insight into all seemly and generous arts and affairs." "* Locke held office in different reigns: first under Charles II., as secretary to the board of trade, and afterwards under William III., as commissioner of appeals and of trade and plantations. Many literary men of eminence held office in Queen Anne's reign. Thus Addison was secretary of state; Steele, commissioner of stamps; Prior, under-secretary of state, and afterwards ambassador to France; Tickell, under-secretary of state, and secretary to the lords justices of Ireland; Congreve, secretary to Jamaica; and Gay, secretary of legation at Hanover. Indeed, habits of business, instead of unfitting a cultivated mind for scientific or literary pursuits, are often the best training for them. Voltaire insisted with truth that the real spirit of business and literature are the same; the perfection of each being the union of energy and thoughtfulness, of cultivated intelligence and practical wisdom, of the active and contemplative essence-a union commended by Lord Bacon as the concentrated excellence of man's nature. It has been said that even the man of genius can write nothing worth reading in relation to human affairs, unless he has been in some way or other connected with the serious every-day business of life. The first great men of letters in Italy were not mere men of letters; they were men of business-merchants, statesmen, diplomatists, judges, and soldiers. Villani, the author of the best history of Florence, was a merchant; Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio were all engaged in more or less important embassies; and Dante, before becoming a diplomatist, was for some time occupied as a chemist and druggist. Galileo, Galvani, and Farini were physicians; and Goldoni a lawyer. Ariosto's talent for affairs was as great as his genius for poetry. At the death of his father he was called upon to manage the family estate for the benefit of his younger brothers and sisters, which he did with ability and integrity. His genius for business having been recognized, he was employed by the Duke of Ferrara on important missions + Coleridge's advice to his young friends was much to the same effect. "With the exception of one extraordinary man," he says, "I have never known an individual, least of all an individual of genius, healthy or happy without a profession; i. e. some regular employment which does not depend on the will of the moment, and which can be carried on so far mechanically, that an average quantum only of health, spirits, and intellectual exertion are requisite to its faithful discharge. Three hours of leisure, unalloyed by any alien anxiety, and looked forward to with delight as a change and recreation, will suffice to realize in literature a larger product of what is truly genial than weeks of compulsion. . . . If ing weighty performances in literature with full and facts are required to prove the possibility of combinindependent employment, the works of Cicero and Xenophon, among the ancients-of Sir Thomas More, Bacon, Paxter (or, to refer at once to later and Hence it has happened that many of the best contemporary instances), Darwin and Roscoe, are at once decisive of the question."-Biographia Literaria, chap. xi. * "Reasons of Church Government," book ii. to Rome and elsewhere. Having afterwards been appointed governor of a turbulent mountain district, he succeeded, by firm and just government, in reducing it to a condition of comparative good order and security. Even the bandits of the country respected him. Being arrested one day in the mountains by a body of outlaws, he mentioned his name, when they at once offered to escort him in safety wherever he chose. number of his poems; and his success in business was such as to enable him to retire into the country and build a house of his own, in which he spent the remainder of his days. Isaac Taylor, the author of the "Natural History of Enthusiasm," was an engraver of patterns for Manchester calico-printers; and other members of this gifted family were followers of the same branch of art. The principal early works of John Stuart Mill were written in the intervals of official It has been the same in other countries. Vattel, the author of the "Rights of Nations," | work, while he held the office of principal exwas a practical diplomatist, and a first-rate man of business. Rabelais was a physician, and a successful practitioner; Schiller was a surgeon; Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Calderon, Camoens, Descartes, Maupertuis, La Rochefoucauld, Lacepede, Lamarke, were soldiers in the early part of their respective lives. In our own country, many men now known by their writings earned their living by their trade. Lillo spent the great part of his life as a working jeweller in the Poultry, occupying the intervals of his leisure in the production of dramatic works, some of them of acknowledged power and merit. Izaak Walton was a linendraper in Fleet Street, reading much in his leisure hours, and storing his mind with facts for future use in his capacity of biographer. De Foe was by turns horse-factor, brick and tile-maker, shopkeeper, author, and political agent. aminer in the East India House-in which Charles Lamb, Peacock, the author of " Headlong Hall," and Edwin Norris, the philologist, were also clerks. Macaulay wrote his "Lays of Ancient Rome" in the war office, while holding the post of secretary of war. It is well known that the thoughtful writings of Mr. Helps are literally "Essays written in the Intervals of Business." Many of our best living authors are men holding important public offices-such as Sir Henry Taylor, Sir John Kaye, Anthony Trollope, Tom Taylor, Matthew Arnold, and Samuel Warren. Mr. Proctor the poet, better known as "Barry Cornwall," was a barrister and commissioner in lunacy. Most probably he assumed the pseudonym for the same reason that Dr. Paris published his "Philosophy in Sport made Science in Earnest" anonymously-because he apprehended that, if known, it might compromise his professional position. For it is by no means an uncommon prejudice, still prevalent among City men, that a person who has written a book, and still more one who has written a poem, is good for nothing in the way of business. Yet Sharon Turner, though an excellent Samuel Richardson successfully combined literature with business-writing his novels in his back shop in Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, and selling them over the counter in his front shop. William Hutton, of Birmingham, also successfully combined the occupations of bookselling and authorship. He says, in his Auto-historian, was no worse a solicitor on that biography, that a man may live half a century and not be acquainted with his own character. He did not know that he was an antiquary until the world informed him of it, from having read his "History of Birmingham," and then, he said, he could see it himself. Benjamin Franklin was alike eminent as a printer and bookseller-an author, a philosopher, and a statesman. Coming down to our own time, we find Ebenezer Elliott successfully carrying on the business of a bar-iron merchant in Sheffield, during which time he wrote and published the greater account; while the brothers Horace and James Smith, authors of "The Rejected Addresses," were men of such eminence in their profession, that they were selected to fill the important and lucrative post of solicitors to the Admiralty, and they filled it admirably. It was while the late Mr. Broderip, the barrister, was acting as a London police magistrate, that he was attracted to the study of natural history, in which he occupied the greater part of his leisure. He wrote the principal articles on the subject for the "Penny Cyclopædia," besides several separate works of great merit, more particularly the "Zoological Recreations," and "Leaves from the Note-Book of a Naturalist." It is recorded of him that, though he devoted so much of his time to the production of his works, as well as to the Zoological Society and their admirable establishment in Regent's Park, of which he was one of the founders, his studies never interfered with the real business of his life, nor is it known that a single question was ever raised upon his conduct or his decisions. And while Mr. Broderip devoted himself to natural history, the late Lord Chief Baron Pollock devoted his leisure to natural science, recreating himself in the practice of photography and the study of mathematics, in both of which he was thoroughly proficient. Among literary bankers we find the names of Rogers, the poet; Roscoe, of Liverpool, the biographer of Lorenzo de Medici; Ricardo, the author of "Political Economy and Taxation;" Grote, the author of the "History of Greece; Sir John Lubbock, the scientific antiquarian ;† and Samuel Bailey, of Sheffield, the author of Essays on the Formation and Publication of Opinions," besides various important works on ethics, political economy, and philosophy. 66 Nor, on the other hand, have thoroughly trained men of science and learning proved themselves inefficient as first-rate men of business. Culture of the best sort trains the habit of application and industry, disciplines the mind, supplies it with resources, and gives it freedom and vigour of action-all of which are equally requisite in the successful conduct of business. Thus, in young men, education and scholarship usually indicate steadiness of character, for they imply continuous attention, diligence, and the ability and energy necessary to master knowledge; and such persons will also usually be found possessed of more than * Mr. Ricardo published his celebrated "Theory of Rent," at the urgent recommendation of James Mill (like his son, a chief clerk in the India House), author of the " History of British India." When the "Theory of Rent" was written, Ricardo was so dissatisfied with it that he wished to burn it; but Mr. Mill urged him to publish it, and the book was a great success. average promptitude, address, resource, and dexterity. 66 Montaigne has said of true philosophers that if they were great in science, they were yet much greater in action; and whenever they have been put upon the proof, they have been seen to fly to so high a pitch as made it very well appear their souls were strangely elevated and enriched with the knowledge of things." At the same time it must be acknowledged that too exclusive a devotion to imaginative and philosophical literature, especially if prolonged in life until the habits become formed, does to a great extent incapacitate a man for the business of practical life. Speculative ability is one thing, and practical ability another; and the man who, in his study, or with his pen in hand, shows himself capable of forming large views of life and policy, may, in the outer world, be found altogether unfitted for carrying them into practical effect. Speculative ability depends on vigorous thinking-practical ability on vigorous acting; and the two qualities are usually found combined in very unequal proportions. The speculative man is prone to indecision; he sees all the sides of a question, and his action beand cons, which are often found pretty nearly to comes suspended in nicely weighing the pros balance each other; whereas the practical man overleaps logical preliminaries, arrives at certain definite convictions, and proceeds forthwith to carry his policy into action.§ Thales, once inveighing in discourse against the pains and care men put themselves to to become rich, was answered by one in the company that he did like the fox, who found fault with what he could not obtain. Thereupon Thales had a mind, for the jest's sake, to show them the contrary; and having upon this occasion for once made a master of all his wits, wholly to employ them in the service of profit, he set a traffic on foot, which in one year brought him in so great riches that the most experienced in that trade could hardly in their whole lives, with all their industry, have raked so much together.-MONTAIGNE'S Essays, book i., chap. 24. § "The understanding," says Mr. Bailey, "that is accustomed to pursue a regular and connected train of ideas becomes in some measure incapacitated for those quick and versatile movements which are learnt + The late Sir John Lubbock, his father, was also in the commerce of the world, and are indispensable eminent as a mathematician and astronomer. to those who act a part in it. Deep thinking and business, having served as an intendant of the army in Switzerland under Massena, during which he also distinguished himself as an author. When Napoleon proposed to appoint him a councillor of state and intendant of the Yet there have been many great men of science who have proved efficient men of business. We do not learn that Sir Isaac Newton made a worse Master of the Mint because he was the greatest of philosophers. Nor were there any complaints as to the efficiency of Sir John Her-imperial household, Daru hesitated to accept schel, who held the same office. The brothers Humboldt were alike capable men in all that they undertook-whether it was literature, philosophy, mining, philology, diplomacy, or statemanship. Niebuhr, the historian, was distinguished for his energy and success as a man of business. He proved so efficient as secretary and accountant to the African consulate, to which he had been appointed by the Danish Government, that he was afterwards selected as one of the commissioners to manage the national finances; and he quitted that office to undertake the joint directorship of a bank at Berlin. It was in the midst of his business occupations that he found time to study Roman history, to master the Arabic, Russian, and other Sclavonic languages, and to build up the great reputation as an author by which he is now chiefly remembered. Having regard to the views professed by the First Napoleon as to men of science, it was to have been expected that he would endeavour to strengthen his administration by calling them to his aid. Some of his appointments proved failures, while others were completely successful. Thus Laplace was made minister of the interior; but he had no sooner been appointed than it was seen a mistake had been made. Napoleon afterwards said of him, that "Laplace looked at no question in its true point of view. He was always searching after subtleties; all his ideas were problems, and he carried the spirit of the infinitesimal calculus into the management of business." But Laplace's habits had been formed in the study, and he was too old to adapt them to the purposes of practical life. With Daru it was different. But Daru had the advantage of some practical training in practical talents require indeed habits of mind so essentially dissimilar, that while a man is striving after the one, he will be unavoidably in danger of losing the other." "Thence," he adds, "do we so often find men, who are giants in the closet,' prove but 'children in the world," "____". "Essays on the Formation and Publication of Opinions," pp. 251-'253. the office. "I have passed the greater part of my life," he said, " among books, and have not had time to learn the functions of a courtier." "Of courtiers," replied Napoleon, "I have plenty about me; they will never fail. But I want a minister at once enlightened, firm, and vigilant; and it is for these qualities that I have selected you." Daru complied with the emperor's wishes, and eventually became his prime minister, proving thoroughly efficient in that capacity, and remaining the same modest, honourable, and disinterested man that he had been through life. Men of trained working faculty so contract the habit of labour that idleness becomes intolerable to them; and when driven by circumstances from their own special line of occupation, they find a refuge in other pursuits. The diligent man is quick to find employment for his leisure; and he is able to make leisure when the idle man finds none. "He hath no leisure," says George Herbert, "who useth it not." "The most active or busy man that hath been or can be," says Bacon, "hath, no question, many vacant times of leisure, while he expecteth the tides and returns of business, except he be either tedious and of no dispatch, or lightly and unworthily ambitious to meddle with things that may be better done by others." Thus many great things have been done during such ". vacant times of leisure," by men to whom industry had become a second nature, and who found it easier to work than to be idle. Even hobbies are useful as educators of the working faculty. Hobbies evoke industry of a certain kind, and at least provide agreeable occupation. Not such hobbies as that of Domitian, who occupied himself in catching flies. The hobbies of the King of Macedon, who made lanterns, and of the King of France, who made locks, were of a more respectable order. Even a routine mechanical employment is felt to be a relief by minds acting under high pressure: it is an intermission of labour-a rest--a relaxation, the pleasure consisting in the work itself rather than in the result. But the best of hobbies are intellectual ones. for mind as well as body. Man is an intelliThus men of active minds retire from their gence sustained and preserved by bodily organs, daily business to find recreation in other pur- and their active exercise is necessary to the ensuits-some in science, some in art, and the | joyment of health. It is not work, but overgreater number in literature. Such recreations work that is hurtful; and it is not hard work are among the best preservatives against selfish- that is injurious so much as monotonous work, ness and vulgar worldliness. We believe it was fagging work, hopeless work. All hopeful Lord Brougham who said, “blessed is the man work is healthful; and to be usefully and hopewho hath a hobby!" and, in the abundant versa- | fully employed is one of the great secrets of tility of his nature, he himself had many, ranging happiness. Brain-work, in moderation, is no from literature to optics, from history and bio- more wearing than any other kind of work. graphy to social science. Lord Brougham is | Duly regulated, it is as promotive of health as even said to have written a novel; and the re- bodily exercise; and, where due attention is markable story of the "Man in the Bell," which paid to the physical system; it seems difficult appeared many years ago in "Blackwood," is to put more upon a man than he can bear. reputed to have been from his pen. Intellec- Merely to eat and drink and sleep one's way tual hobbies, however, must not be ridden too idly through life is vastly more injurious. The hard; else, instead of recreating, refreshing, wear-and-tear of rust is even faster than the and invigorating a man's nature, they may tear-and-wear of work. only have the effect of sending him back to his business exhausted, enervated, and depressed. Many laborious statesmen besides Lord Brougham have occupied their leisure, or consoled themselves in retirement from office, by the composition of works which have become part of the standard literature of the world. Thus "Cæsar's Commentaries" still survive as a classic; the perspicuous and forcible style in which they are written placing him in the same rank with Xenophon, who also successfully combined the pursuit of letters with the business of active life. But overwork is always bad economy. It is, in fact, great waste, especially if conjoined with worry. Indeed, worry kills far more than work does. It frets, it excites, it consumes the body -as sand and grit, which occasion excessive friction, wear out the wheels of a machine. Overwork and worry have both to be guarded against. For over brain work is strain work; and it is exhausting and destructive according as it is in excess of nature. And the brain worker may exhaust and overbalance his mind by excess, just as the athlete may overstrain his muscles and break his back by attempting feats To conclude: a fair measure of work is good beyond the strength of his physical system. BOOK REVIEWS. from thence right into the centre of Africa, and meeting there the veritable Dr. Livingstone, about whom the aforesaid amiable and sympathetic world had been suffering in anxiety so sorely and so long, our travelling correspondent walked deliberately up to him, took off his hat, and said, 'Dr. Livingstone, I presume?' 'YES,' said he, with a smile, lifting his cap slightly." And so the great feat was accomplished-the lost one was found! It was enough to stir up the unbelieving into new faithlessness; and it looks more comical than ever as presented to us on the embossed boards |