Biographical conversations on the most eminent and instructive British characters...

Preface

The delight that is experienced, and the information that is often elicited in domestic circles, by the familiar discussion of literary and scientific subjects, suggested the plan of the present work. It occurred to the author, that, if such discussions were capable of yielding important instruction, conversations on the human character, illustrative of the developement, the progress, and attainments of the human mind, must be capable of yielding instruction of still greater importance : if, as Pope says,

" The proper study of mankind be man,"

there can, indeed, be no species of improvement more apposite to this peculiar mode of writing than Biography,

It is true that numerous objections have been made to what are called books in dialogue ; but these objections are chiefly appHcable to such as are in question and answer. The questions are said to interrupt the current of the narration, to occupy a space which might be filled with more important a 2 i

VI PREFACE.

matter ; and to give to the works in which they are found, the character of a disagreeable and monotonous uniformity. All these objections, however, may, without difficulty, be avoided, by introducing numerous characters, and adopting a dramatic form.

Experience has shown that such form is peculiarly attractive to young persons. Their own ideas become, as it were, embodied with what they read ; and they fancy themselves taking part in the discussion with those of whom they read. This mode of instruction has other advantages. It admits of scope for numerous incidental reflections and observations of which no other form is so capable ; and,, from an attentive perusal of judicious discussions of this nature, the young may also be taught to discuss similar subjects by themselves. The present volume has been drawn up with a still further view. Each of the lives may be turned into an exercise in English composition, if, for this purpose, it be attentively read, and if, from recollection, its principal contents be written down, in the form of a narrative.

With respect to the peculiar plan that has been adopted, of arrangement under distinct heads, of Statesmen, Philosophers, Divines, &c. ; this, it was

PREFACE. Vll

considered, would be useful in giving a greater latitude to particular subjects ; and, at the same time, in affording, to the juvenile reader, an immediate view of some of those persons who have been most eminent in each of the classes. But, under such arrangement, it will be evident that an unavoidable difficulty must sometimes occur, arising from many individuals having been celebrated for various acquirements. Some, for instance, who have been arranged under the head of divines, might, with equal propriety, have been placed among the philosophers ; and some among general writers, who are also celebrated as poets.

Another particular must be noticed. It is known, to all readers of biography, that the most important information is not, in every case, to be looked for in the lives of those persons who have attained the greatest celebrity. In the present work the author has endeavoured to select such liyes only as were capable of affording instruction, and of making the strongest and most permanent impression on the minds of those readers, to whose use they are here alone appropriated.

Another part of his design has been to insert, in every life, as many anecdotes as possible ; well knowing that the attention of young persons is.

VIU PREFACE.

in general, mueh more easily fixed by example than by precept; by incident than by observation. With a view to the formation of the youthful mind, he has inserted as many important particulars as possible, relative to the education, and progress in knowledge, of the individuals whose lives he has made the subject of discussion ; and by the anecdotes he has been able to collect, he has endeavoured to illustrate the advantages that result to young persons, from submission to authority and restraint, from application to study, from industry, integrity, and obedience ; and the unhappiness that is the invariable consequence of disobedience, indolence, imprudence, bad company, and dissipation. But, as infinitely the most important of all, he has invariably endeavoured to show the necessity of early religious instruction and habits.

Charlotte Street, Bloomshury, London, Dec, 15, 18 L7.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Page

Addison, Joseph 152

BsLCOUy Lord 27

Bacon, Roger 67

Barrow, Dr. Isaac 115

Becket, Archbishop ...... 3

Boyle, Hon. Robert 73

Boyse, Samuel 247

Brindley, James 316

Burke, Edmund 48

Burnet, Bishop 119

Bums, Robert 283

Buxton, Jedidiah 308

Chatham, Earl of.' 41

Chatterton, Thomas 255

Clarendon, Earl of. 34

Clarke, Dr. Samuel 126

Collins, William 252

Cowper, William 293

Cranmer, Archbishop.... 99

Crichton, James 302

Cumberland, Richard.... 209

Dermody, Thomas 259

Doddridge, Dr 133

Dryden, John 238

Ferguson; James 333 j

Fox, Charles James 61

Page

Goldsmith, Oliver 176

Howard, John 340

Jewel, Bishop.... 110

Johnson, Dr. Samuel 187

Jones, Sir William 201

Jonson, Ben 223

Locke, John 79

Latimer, Bishop 104

Milton, John 229

More, Sir Thomas 20

Newton, Sir Isaac 85

Otway, Thomas 244

Paley, Archdeacon 146

Pattison, William 246

Pitt, William 56

Pope, Alexander 264

Shakspeare, William 217

Skelton, Rev. Philip 137

Smeaton, John 322

Steele, Sir Richard 159

Swift, Dean 165

Thomson, James 273

Watts, Dr. Isaac 130

Wickliffe, John 96

Wolsey, Cardinal 13

Younar, Dr 277

Index

THE PRINCIPAL CONTENTS.

Pa?e

Lord Bacon 32 I

Ambition. — Examples and dangers of Ambition.

Paee

Lord Clarendon 39

Cai'dinal Wolsey . . . 17-18

Application to Study.— Advantages of early Application; and examples of rapid progress in Study.

Milton 229

Sir Thomas More .... 21 Sir Isaac Newlon . . . 86-87

Dr.Paley 147

Pitt 56

Skelton 137

Dean Swift 166

Dr. Watts 130

Wicklifte 97

Lord Bacon 28

Friar Bacon 68

Thomas k Becket .... 5

Bojle 74

Barke 48-49

Dr. Samuel Clarke .... 127 Archbishop Cranmer . , . 100

Crichton 304

Cumberland 210

Ferguson 333

Bishop Jewel 110

Adversity. — Conduct of good men in Adversity.

Lord Clarendon 36 | Bishop Latimer 108

Archbishop Cranmer . . . 103 | Sir Thomas More . . . 23-25

Bad Company. — Pernicious effects of bad Company.

Challerton 258 1 Otway 244

Dermody 259 1

^ Christian Religion. — Opinions of eminent men concerning the excellence, the necessity, and the advantages of the Christian Religion.

Addison 157

Boyle 75-78

Burke 55

Lord Chatham 47

Lord Clarendon . , . , . 35 Dr. Johnson 190

Contentment. — Advantages and examples of Contentment.

Sir William Jones Locke ....

Sir Isaac Newlon Sir Richard Steele Dr. Watts . . .

Dr. Young . .

Thomson 275

Ferguson 333

Sir Thomas More .... 25 Skelton 138

Courage and Presence of Mind, — Instances of. Barrow . , 117 I Sir Thomas More .

INDEX OF THE PRINCIPAI, CONTENTS.

DlSSlPATION.-

Dissipalion.

Boyse . . .

Barns . . .

Chatlerlon

Derraody 262

Jonson 227

Otway 244

Education. — Advantages of parental attention in the superintendence of youth.

Addison 152 I Pitt 56

Sir William Jones . . . .202 Thomson 273

Dr. Johnson 188

Extravagance*

Lord Bacon 32

Collins 253

Pernicious consequences of Extravagance.

Fox 63

Otway 245

Greatness of Mind.— Examples of Greatness of Mind, and Self-command.

Lord Bacon 32 Bishop Latimer . . .

Lord Clarendon 34 Sir Tliomas More . .

Archbishop Cranmer . . . 103

Honours, — Generous contempt of.

Boyle 76-77

Bishop Latimer 104

Imprudence, — Pernicious effects of.

BoTse .247

Burns 287, &c.

Collins 252

Chalterton 258

Locke ....

Sir Thomas More

Dr. Goldsmith .

Jonson ....

Pattison . . .

Otway ....

Sir Richard Steele

Integrity, — Advantages and examples of.

Bishop Latimer ..... 108 Sir Thomas More . . 21, &c.

Sir Isaac Newton .... 91 Smeaton ....... 322

Addison 154

Lord Chatham 42

Lord Clarendon , . , , , 36

Cumberland 212

Dr. Goldsmith 186

Integrity, — Bad consequences of departing from.

Sir Francis Bacon 31

Low Situations in Life. — Examples of men having risen into eminence, by industry and merit, from low situations in life.

Shakspeare ?17

Skelton 137

Ferguson 333

Dr. Johnson 188

Bishop Latimer 104

Locke 79

VVicklifte 97

INDEX OF THE PRINCIPAL CONlENlS.

Ostentation and Pride, — Examples of.

Thomas a Becket .... 10 | Cardinal Wolsey ....

Piety. — Instances of exemplary Piety. See also Religion,

Collins 254

Dr. Doddridge 135

Bishop Jewel ...... 112

Dr. Johnson . . . 190-193-199 Sir Thomas More .... 23 Skelton 138

Religion. — Examples of the consolation of Religion in adversity, and at the approach of death.

Addison 158

Lord Bacon 32

Boyle 77

Burke 55

Locke 83

Sir Thomas More ... 25-26 Sir Isaac Newton .... 93 Dr. Paley 148

Restraint in Youth, — Pernicious effects of a want of.

Boyse 248 L Pattison 246

Dermody 260 j Sir Richard Steele .... 160

Study, — Examples of intense application to.

A.rchbishop Cranmer . . . 103 Cumberland ... . . . 214

Bishop Latimer 109

Pitt 59

Dr. Watts 132

Dr. Young 282

Bishop Jewel 112

Friar Bacon 68

Lord Clarendon 34

Dr. Samuel Clarke . . . .127

Talent.— Examples of men of extraordinary, or great versatility of Talent.

Friar Bacon ..... 67-70

Lord Bacon 28

Dr. Isaac Barrow .... 116

Dermody 260

Ferguson 333

Boyle 73

Brindley 316

Burke 30

Burns 285

Truth, — Value of a strict regard for.

Boyle 74 [ Dr. Johnson

Cumberland . . . . . . 210 |

Jedidiah Buxton 308

Dr. Clarke 128

Crichton 304

Bishop Jewel Ill

Sir William Jones .... 208 Dr. Johnson .... 188-192 Sir Thomas More .... 20 Sir Isaac Newton .... 85

Pitt 58

Sraeaton 322

Wickliffe $7