The English Essayists: a comprehensive selection from the works of the great essayists, from Lord Bacon to John Ruskin; with introduction, biographical notices, and critical notes. Compiled and arranged by R. Cochrane. With portraits

Front matter

•5 %t&£i >/ ■■ ■ e>M(s H 0 LLAND HOUSE FOB. SOMETIME THE RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH ADDISON. WILLIAM P. NIMMO, LOID ON, 14, K1N& WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, AND EDINBURGH. THE ENGLISH ESSAYISTS: A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION FROM THE WORKS OF THE GREAT ESSAYISTS, PROM L0ED BACON TO JOHN BUSKIN; WITH INTRODUCTION, BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, AND CRITICAL NOTES. Compiled and Arranged bij ROBERT COCHRANE WITH PORTRAITS. WILLIAM P. NIMMO. LONDON: 14 KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND AND EDINBURGH. 18 7 6. "It does not treat of minerals or fossils, ofthe virtues of plants, or the influence of planets; it does not meddle with forms of belief or systems of philosophy , nor launch into the world of spiritual existences; but it makes familiar with the world of men and women, records their actions, assigns their motives, exhibits their whims, characterises their pursuits in all their singular and endless variety, ridicules their absurdities, exposes iheir inconsistencies, ' holds the mirror up to nature, and shows the very age and body of the time, its form and pressure; ' takes minutes of our dress, our looks, words, thoughts, and actions; shows us what we are, and what we are not; plays the whole game of human lif e over before us. . . .

It is the best and most natural course of study. . . . It inquires what human life is andJ*asybfaHyto show what it ought to be." /-_^%S-^''5>_\ —William Hazlitt.

Preface

. Some of the most valuable and permanent contributions made from time to time to British literature have been in the form of the Essay. These contributions form both delightful and profitable reading when they unite conciseness of expression with fulness of thought. An attempt has been made in the present volume, by judicious selection, to give a fair view of the wealth and broad expanse of the writings of the British Essay ists, beginning with Lord Bacon's " Essays, Civil and Moral," and ending with the brilliant periodical contributions of Macaulay and Carlyle, and the eloquent prose of John Ruskin. With such a wide field to traverse, it has been the aim of the Editor to give, as far as possible, the represen tative essays of each writer. The volume may be termed an endeavour to furnish the reader with what is permanently valuable in the best pro ductions of our representative Essayists.

Specimens of many different styles of thinking and expression will here be found, from the didactic style of Bacon, Addison, Johnson, or Foster, to the playful humour of Lamb, the lucid and correct journalistic prose of Jeffrey or Hugh Miller, the definite and precise portraiture of Macaulay, the strength and originality of Carlyle, and the eloquent descriptive writing of John Ruskin. Ranging from " grave to gay, from lively to severe," the student of this branch of literature may here trace the progress of style, change of manners, and tone of thought. Collections and selections from the wide field of British poetry are common enough, and may be seen everywhere; but the Editor is not aware that the same attempt has been previously made to give in such a cheap and handy form, and within the compass of one volume, a selection from those mines of crystallised thought, delicate fancy, and playful humour, which exist in such rich abundance in the English Essay. While scarcely possible to give specimens from every author who has been distinguished as an Essayist, especially in more recent

PREFACE.

. IV times, yet it is hoped that all the more important names have been included. For the others not included, want of space, and the fact of their works still remaining copyright, must stand as a sufficient reason. Some names, on the other hand, will be found included, not commonly recognised as Essayists in the sense of contributors to periodical litera ture, or otherwise, such as Milton, Sir Thomas Browne, John Locke, Ruskin, and others. On examination, however, it will be found those portions of their writings now given, harmonise in style of treatment and rounded completeness, with our idea of what an Essay should be. With the exception of the above authors, whose writings are quoted from their larger works, unless specially mentioned, the essays are given in their complete and original form, as left by the respective authors.

Short biographies of the Essayists, compiled from various sources, have been arranged at the end of the volume in alphabetical order. The Introduction is given from a paper on " Essayists Old and New," by the late Alexander Smith. The judgment of the reader may not harmonise with that of the writer on every point, but his main conclusions will be found correct. Regarding the choice of the vignette, Holland House, it may be sufficient to say, in the words of a recent writer, that, " from 1799 till 1840, there was hardly in England a distinguished man in politics, science, or literature, who had not been a guest at Holland House." In conclusion, the warmest thanks are here accorded to those authors and publishers who have so readily given permission to use copyright matter. In particular might be mentioned: Mr Thomas Carlyle, Mr John Ruskin, and Mr Thomas Aird; Messrs Chapman and Hall, Messrs Daldy, Isbister, & Co., Messrs William Blackwood and Sons, Messrs A. & C. Black, etc.

Since the present volume was put to press, Messrs G. P. Putnam's Sons, the American publishers, have issued the first volume of an intended series of " Select British Essayists," beginning with Addison and Steele. It may only be right to state that the present selection was planned, and in part executed, before their announcement was made public. CONTENTS. PAGE PAGE INTRODUCTION, 1 Homeri Ulysses, 37 Argute dictum, 38 FRANCIS BACON. Acutius cernuntur vitia quam virtutes, . 33 Memoria, 38 Of truth, 9 Deus in creaturis, 38 Of death, 10 Veritas proprium hominis, ... 38 Of unity in religion, .... 10 De Shakespeare nostrat, ... 38 Of adversity, 12 Of parents and children, ... 13 Otium — Studiorum, .... 39 Adulatio, 39 Of marriage and single life, ... 13 De vita humana, 39 Of envy, 14 De piis et probis, 39 Of love, 15 Illiteratus princeps, .... 39 Of boldness, 16 Character principis, . . . .39 Of goodness, and goodness of nature, . 17 Amor nummi 40 Of atheism, 17 Decipimur specie, ..... 40 Of superstition, 18 Poesis, et pictura — Plutarch, . . 40 Of travel, 19 Præcipiendi modi, 41 Of delays, 20 Of cunning, 20 ROBERT BURTON.

Of wisdom for a man's self, ... 21 Of despatch, 22 Perturbation of the mind rectified, . 41 Of seeming wise, 22 Remedies of all manner of discontents, . 44 Of friendship, 23 Of expense, 25 THOMAS FULLER. Of regimen of health, .... 26 Of suspicion, 26 The good schoolmaster, .... 47 Of discourse 27 Ofjesting 48 Of riches, 27 Of self-praising, 49 Of ambition, . . . , . . .28 Of travelling, 49 Of nature in men, 29 Of company, 50 Of custom and education, ... 30 Of memory, 51 Of fortune, .30 Of fancy, 52 Of youth and age, 31 Of recreations, 53 Of beauty, 32 Of tombs, 55 Of negotiating, 32 Of books, 56 Of studies, . . . . . .32 Of marriage, 57 Of ceremonies and respects, ... 33 Of praise, 34 Of vain-glory, 34 ABRAHAM COWLEY. An essay on death, .... 35 Of solitude, 58 Of agriculture, 60 BEN JONSON.

Fortuna, 37 Consilia, 37 Jactura vitæ, 37 Natura non effæta, .... 37 Maritus improbus, 37 Impertinens, 37 Non nova res livor, .... 37 The garden -63 Of greatness 64 The dangers of an honest man in much company, 66 The shortness of life and uncertainty of riches, 68 Of myself, 69 A crisis, CONTENTS. VI PAGE PAGE JOHN MILTON. tator" in the country, 143— Sir Roger Liberty of the press, .... 72 in London, 144— Visit to Westminster Abbey, 145— Sir Roger at the theatre, 146— Sir Roger at Vauxhall, 148— Death of Sir Roger, 149. The political upholsterer, . . . 150 SIR THOMAS BROWNE. Of toleration, 75 Of God in nature, 76 Of providence 76 SIR RICHARD STEELE. Of death, 77 Of charity, 78 Scene of domestic felicity, . . . 151 Death-bed scene, . . . ... 153 Of affection, 79 True love, 155 Of life 79 Universal charity, 80 Amusements and relaxations of great men, 155 Oblivion, 81 Letter to a friend, 83 Errors in education, .... 157 On the death of friends, . . . 158 On esteem, 160 SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE.

Agreeable companions and flatterers, . 161 Against excessive grief, .... 85 A censorius lady, 163 Of poetry, 89 On simplicity of ornament, . . . 163 On the improvement of beauty by exercise, 164 JOHN LOCKE. On the different hours kept in modern times, 165 Causes of weakness in men's understanding 101 The club, 167 Of practice and habits 102 Inkle and Yarico, 169 Of principles, 103 Love-letters, 170 Of prejudices, . . . . 105 Art of being agreeable 172 Of observation, 105 Quack advertisements, .... 173 Of reading, 106 Of haste, 107 ALEXANDER POPE. Of words 107 Of fundamental verities, . . . 108 Receipt to make an epic poem, . . 174 Of transferring of thoughts, . . . 109 An essay on man, 176 Some thoughts concerning education, . Ill JONATHAN SWIFT. ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER. The Deity unfolded in His works, .

A treatise on good manners and good breeding, 188 113 Hints towards an essay on conversation, 190 JOSEPH ADDISON. A meditation upon a broomstick, . . 194 The danger of satire, .... 114 Thoughts on various subjects, moral and diverting, 195 Westminster Abbey 116 Humour: false and true, . . . 117 Proper employment of time, . . . IIS WILLIAM SHENSTONE. The vision of Mirza : an Oriental allegory, 121 Ou inconsistency and irresolution, . 122 Value of good-nature, .... 123 The mfluence of education, . . , 124 On good intentions 125 The ways of Providence, . . . 127 The beauty of virtue 128 The theory of laughter, .... 129 Cheerfulness, 130 Sir Roger de Coverley, . . . 133-150 Country residence, 133— Will Wimble, 135— The Coverley ghost, 136— Sunday, 136— On exercise, 137— On witchcraft, 138— Sir Roger at the assizes, 139 — The malice of parties, 140 — Sir Roger and the gipsies, 141 — Opinions entertained of the "Spec- A humorist, 200 On reserve, 201 An opinion of ghosts, .... 202 On writing and books 203 Of men and manners, .... 204 OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

Description of a club of authors, . . 205 Proceedings of the club of authors, . 206 Beau Tibbs, 208 Beau Tibbs— his wife, his house, and furniture, 209 Beau Tibbs at Vauxhall, . . . 210 Life endeared by age 212 Whang the miller, .... CONTENTS. PAOE New Year's Eve 292 A Quakers' meetmg, .... 294 Imperfect sympathies, .... 296 Modern gallantry, 299 Grace before meat, 301 Dream-children : a reverie, . . . 303 The praise of chimney-sweepers, . . 305 A complaint of the decay of beggars in the metropolis, .... 308 A dissertation upon roast pig, . .311 Poor relations, 313 Detached thoughts on books and reading, 316 The superannuated man, . . . 319 Popular fallacies, .... 321-327 PAGE New books 214 A city night piece, .... 215 Reflections in the Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap, 216 The strolling player 221 DAVID HUME.

On the delicacy of taste and passion, . 224 On simplicity and refinement in writing, 225 SAMUEL JOHNSON. Retirement, 227 Life sufficient to all purposes if well employed, 229 Repentance, 230 JOHN FOSTER. On forgiveness and revenge, . . . 232 Anningait and Ajut, .... 234 On decision of character, . . . 327 On the compiling of a dictionary, . . 236 SYDNEY SMITH. WILLIAM COWPER. Classical learning, 345 The talent of secrecy 238 Female education, 350 Country churches, 239 Conversation, 241 FRANCIS JEFFREY. On the genius of Shakespeare, . . 358 WILLIAM HAZLITT. The perishable nature of poetical fame, . 359 On the Tatler, 243 On manner, 244 JOHN WILSON. On the character of Milton's Eve, . . 247 My first acquaintance with poets, . . 249 Streams, 360 On living to one's self, .... 257 On the conduct of life ; or, advice to a schoolboy, 262 HUGH MILLER.

The New Year, 376 HENRY MACKENZIE, Edinburgh an age ago, .... 377 An unspoken speech, .... 381 Tale of La Roche, 271 The Mosaic vision of creation, . . 384 Of our duty to servants : story of Albert Bane, 275 The working-man's true policy, • . 385 Extraordinary account of Robert Burns, the Ayrshire ploughman, . . 278 LEIGH HUNT. Pleasant recollections connected with the metropolis, .... 386 SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE. A tale for a chimney corner, . . . 389 Method in the will and understanding, . 280 A few thoughts on sleep, . . . 392 Looking upward, 284 Deaths of little children, . . .394 Church singing, 284 To any one whom bad weather depresses, 396 A system of philosophy, . . . 285 On the talking of nonsense, . . . 397 Genius feminine — pirates, . . . 285 Shaking hands, 399 Shakespeare's sonnets, .... 285 Spring — daisies — gathering flowers, . 400 The Epistle to the Romans, . . . 285 Of dreams, 403 Dr Johnson — Boswell — Burke — Newton —Milton, 286 THOMAS DE QUINCEY.

The vision of sudden death, . . . 406 CHARLES LAMB. Walking Stewart, 413 On the knocking at the gate in " Macbeth," 419 The South-Sea House, . . . .286 The two races of men, .... 28'J On suicide, CONTENTS. VIII PAGE PAQE THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY. JOHN RUSKIN. Savoyard peasants, . . . • 501 423 Milton, 423 Moore's " Life of Lord Byron," . . 443 Sunlight after storm, .... 503 The open sky, 503 Samuel Johnson, 456 John Bunyan, 467 Aspects of clouds, 504 Mysteries of the clouds, .... 505 Grass, 505 Office of the mountains, .... 506 ALEXANDER SMITH. Painting, a language, .... 507 472 Books and gardens, The nobleness and loveliness of colour, 508 Mr Carlyle at Edinburgh, 478 Fine architecture, 508 The sublime in architecture, . . . 509 Man's use and function, .... 510 THOMAS CARLYLE. Man's business in life, .... 512 Ideas of beauty depend on purity of mind, 512 Burns, 480 Secret of true happiness, . . . 513 On a proper choice of reading, . . 493 Love of Nature, 513 A sea boat, 514 Seers and thinkers, .... 515 THOMAS AIRD.

Right development of man's faculties, . 515 Autumn, 493 Mental slavery of modern workmen, . 516 The close of the year, .... 497 Hogg's "Kilmeny," . . ■ . .500 LIVES OF THE ESSAYISTS, . . 518 The gentle craft, 500 INDEX 535 Lyric poetry — Scottish poetry, . .