Chapter I. - Self-Help --- National and Individual.

Spirit of Self-Help --- Institutions and men --- Government a reflex of the individualism of a nation --- Cæsarism and Self-Help --- William Dargan on Independence --- Patient labourers in all ranks --- Self-Help a feature in the English character --- Power of example and of work in practical education --- Value of biographies --- Great men belong to no exclusive class or rank --- Illustrious men sprung from the ranks --- Shakespeare --- Various humble origin of many eminent men --- Distinguished astronomers --- Eminent sons of clergymen --- Of attorneys --- Illustrious foreigners of humble origin --- Vauquelin, the chemist --- Promotions from the ranks in the French army --- Instances of persevering application and energy --- Joseph Brotherton --- W. J. Fox --- W. S. Lindsay --- William Jackson --- Richard Cobden --- Diligence indispensable to usefulness and distinction --- The wealthier ranks not all idlers --- Examples --- Military men --- Philosophers --- Men of science --- Politicians --- Literary men --- Sir Robert Peel --- Lord Brougham --- Lytton --- Disraeli --- Wordsworth on self-reliance --- De Tocqueville: his industry and recognition of the help of others --- Men their own best helpers

Page
1–26

Chapter II. - Leaders of Industry --- Inventors and Producers.

Industry of the English people --- Work the best educator --- Hugh Miller --- Poverty and toil not insurmountable obstacles --- Working men as inventors --- Invention of the steam-engine --- p. xivJames Watt: his industry and habit of attention --- Matthew Boulton --- Applications of the steam-engine --- The Cotton manufacture --- The early inventors --- Paul and Highs --- Arkwright: his early life --- Barber, inventor and manufacturer --- His influence and character --- The Peels of South Lancashire --- The founder of the family --- The first Sir Robert Peel, cotton-printer --- Lady Peel --- Rev. William Lee, inventor of the stocking-frame --- Dies abroad in misery --- James Lee --- The Nottingham lace manufacture --- John Heathcoat, inventor of the bobbin-net machine --- His early life, his ingenuity, and plodding perseverance --- Invention of his machine --- Anecdote of Lord Lyndhurst --- Progress of the lace-trade --- Heathcoat’s machines destroyed by the Luddites --- His character --- Jacquard: his inventions and adventures --- Vaucanson: his mechanical genius, improvements in silk manufacture --- Jacquard improves Vaucanson’s machine --- The Jacquard loom adopted --- Joshua Heilmann, inventor of the combing-machine --- History of the invention --- Its value

27–66

Chapter III. - Three great Potters --- Pallissy, Böttgher, Wedgwood.

Ancient pottery --- Etruscan ware --- Luca della Robbia, the Florentine sculptor: re-discovers the art of enamelling --- Bernard Pallissy: sketch of his life and labours --- Inflamed by the sight of an Italian cup --- His search after the secret of the enamel --- His experiments during years of unproductive toil --- His personal and family privations --- Indomitable perseverance, burns his furniture to heat the furnace, and success at last --- Reduced to destitution --- Condemned to death, and release --- His writings --- Dies in the Bastille --- John Frederick Böttgher, the Berlin ‘gold cook’ --- His trick in alchemy and consequent troubles --- Flight into Saxony --- His detention at Dresden --- Discovers how to make red and white porcelain --- The manufacture taken up by the Saxon Government --- Böttgher treated as a prisoner and a slave --- His unhappy end --- The Sèvres porcelain manufactory --- Josiah Wedgwood, the English potter --- Early state of English earthenware manufacture --- Wedgwood’s indefatigable p. xv industry, skill, and perseverance --- His success --- The Barberini vase --- Wedgwood a national benefactor --- Industrial heroes

67–93

Chapter IV. - Application and Perseverance.

Great results attained by simple means --- Fortune favours the industrious --- “Genius is patience” --- Newton and Kepler --- Industry of eminent men --- Power acquired by repeated effort --- Anecdote of Sir Robert Peel’s cultivation of memory --- Facility comes by practice --- Importance of patience --- Cheerfulness --- Sydney Smith --- Dr. Hook --- Hope an important element in character --- Carey the missionary --- Anecdote of Dr. Young --- Anecdote of Audubon the ornithologist --- Anecdote of Mr. Carlyle and his MS. of the ‘French Revolution’ --- Perseverance of Watt and Stephenson --- Perseverance displayed in the discovery of the Nineveh marbles by Rawlinson and Layard --- Comte de Buffon as student --- His continuous and unremitting labours --- Sir Walter Scott’s perseverance --- John Britton --- Loudon --- Samuel Drew --- Joseph Hume

94–117

Chapter V. - Helps and Opportunities --- Scientific Pursuits.

No great result achieved by accident --- Newton’s discoveries --- Dr. Young --- Habit of observing with intelligence --- Galileo --- Inventions of Brown, Watt, and Brunel, accidentally suggested --- Philosophy in little things --- Apollonius Pergæus and conic sections --- Franklin and Galvani --- Discovery of steam power --- Opportunities seized or made --- Simple and rude tools of great workers --- Lee and Stone’s opportunities for learning --- Sir Walter Scott’s --- Dr. Priestly --- Sir Humphry Davy --- Faraday --- Davy and Coleridge --- Cuvier --- Dalton’s industry --- Examples of improvement of time --- Daguesseau and Bentham --- Melancthon and Baxter --- Writing down observations --- Great note-makers --- Dr. Pye Smith --- John Hunter: his patient study of little things --- His great labours --- Ambrose Paré the French surgeon --- p. xvi Harvey --- Jenner --- Sir Charles Bell --- Dr. Marshall Hall --- Sir William Herschel --- William Smith the geologist: his discoveries, his geological map --- Hugh Miller: his observant faculties --- John Brown and Robert Dick, geologists --- Sir Roderick Murchison, his industry and attainments

118–153

Chapter VI. - Workers in Art.

Sir Joshua Reynolds on the power of industry in art --- Humble origin of eminent artists --- Acquisition of wealth not the ruling motive with artists --- Michael Angelo on riches --- Patient labours of Michael Angelo and Titian --- West’s early success a disadvantage --- Richard Wilson and Zuccarelli --- Sir Joshua Reynolds, Blake, Bird, Gainsborough, and Hogarth, as boy artists --- Hogarth a keen observer --- Banks and Mulready --- Claude Lorraine and Turner: their indefatigable industry --- Perrier and Jacques Callot and their visits to Rome --- Callot and the gipsies --- Benvenuto Cellini, goldsmith and musician: his ambition to excel --- Casting of his statue of Perseus --- Nicolas Poussin, a sedulous student and worker --- Duquesnoi --- Poussin’s fame --- Ary Scheffer: his hindrances and success --- John Flaxman: his genius and perseverance --- His brave wife --- Their visit to Rome --- Francis Chantrey: his industry and energy --- David Wilkie and William Etty, unflagging workers --- Privations endured by artists --- Martin --- Pugin --- George Kemp, architect of the Scott monument --- John Gibson, Robert Thorburn, Noel Paton --- James Sharples the blacksmith artist: his autobiography --- Industry of musicians --- Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, Bach, Meyerbeer --- Dr. Arne --- William Jackson the self-taught composer

154–201

Chapter VII. - Industry and the Peerage.

The peerage fed from the industrial ranks --- Fall of old families: Bohuns, Mortimers, and Plantagenets --- The peerage comparatively modern --- Peerages originating with traders and merchants --- Richard Foley, nailmaker, founder of the Foley peerage --- Adventurous career of William Phipps, founder of p. xvii the Normanby peerage: his recovery of sunken treasure --- Sir William Petty, founder of the Lansdowne peerage --- Jedediah Strutt, founder of the Belper peerage --- William and Edward Strutt --- Naval and Military peers --- Peerages founded by lawyers --- Lords Tenterden and Campbell --- Lord Eldon: his early struggles and eventual success --- Baron Langdale --- Rewards of perseverance

202–222

Chapter VIII. - Energy and Courage.

Energy characteristic of the Teutonic race --- The foundations of strength of character --- Force of purpose --- Concentration --- Courageous working --- Words of Hugh Miller and Fowell Buxton --- Power and freedom of will --- Words of Lamennais --- Suwarrow --- Napoleon and “glory” --- Wellington and “duty” --- Promptitude in action --- Energy displayed by the British in India --- Warren Hastings --- Sir Charles Napier: his adventure with the Indian swordsman --- The rebellion in India --- The Lawrences --- Nicholson --- The siege of Delhi --- Captain Hodson --- Missionary labourers --- Francis Xavier’s missions in the East --- John Williams --- Dr. Livingstone --- John Howard --- Jonas Hanway: his career --- The philanthropic labours of Granville Sharp --- Position of slaves in England --- Result of Sharp’s efforts --- Clarkson’s labours --- Fowell Buxton: his resolute purpose and energy --- Abolition of slavery

223–262

Chapter IX. - Men of Business.

Hazlitt’s definition of the man of business --- The chief requisite qualities --- Men of genius men of business --- Shakespeare, Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Newton, Cowper, Wordsworth, Scott, Ricardo, Grote, J. S. Mill --- Labour and application necessary to success --- Lord Melbourne’s advice --- The school of difficulty a good school --- Conditions of success in Law --- The industrious architect --- The salutary influence of work --- Consequences of contempt for arithmetic --- Dr. Johnson on p. xviii the alleged injustice of “the world” --- Washington Irving’s views --- Practical qualities necessary in business --- Importance of accuracy --- Charles James Fox --- Method --- Richard Cecil and De Witt: their despatch of business --- Value of time --- Sir Walter Scott’s advice --- Promptitude --- Economy of time --- Punctuality --- Firmness --- Tact --- Napoleon and Wellington as men of business --- Napoleon’s attention to details --- The ‘Napoleon Correspondence’ --- Wellington’s business faculty --- Wellington in the Peninsula --- “Honesty the best policy” --- Trade tries character --- Dishonest gains --- David Barclay a model man of business

263–289

Chapter X. - Money --- Its Use and Abuse.

The right use of money a test of wisdom --- The virtue of self-denial --- Self-imposed taxes --- Economy necessary to independence --- Helplessness of the improvident --- Frugality an important public question --- Counsels of Richard Cobden and John Bright --- The bondage of the improvident --- Independence attainable by working men --- Francis Horner’s advice from his father --- Robert Burns --- Living within the means --- Bacon’s maxim --- Wasters --- Running into debt --- Haydon’s debts --- Fichte --- Dr. Johnson on debt --- John Locke --- The Duke of Wellington on debt --- Washington --- Earl St. Vincent: his protested bill --- Joseph Hume on living too high --- Ambition after gentility --- Napier’s order to his officers in India --- Resistance to temptation --- Hugh Miller’s case --- High standard of life necessary --- Proverbs on money-making and thrift --- Thomas Wright and the reclamation of criminals --- Mere money-making --- John Foster --- Riches no proof of worth --- All honest industry honourable --- The power of money over-estimated --- Joseph Brotherton --- True Respectability --- Lord Collingwood

290–313

Chapter XI. - Self-culture --- Facilities and Difficulties.

Sir W. Scott and Sir B. Brodie on self-culture --- Dr. Arnold’s spirit --- Active employment salutary --- Malthus’s advice to p. xix his son --- Importance of physical health --- Hodson, of “Hodson’s Horse” --- Dr. Channing --- Early labour --- Training in use of tools --- Healthiness of great men --- Sir Walter Scott’s athletic sports --- Barrow, Fuller, Clarke --- Labour conquers all things --- Words of Chatterton, Ferguson, Stone, Drew --- Well-directed labour --- Opinions of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Fowell Buxton, Dr. Ross, F. Horner, Loyola, and Lord St. Leonards --- Thoroughness, accuracy, decision, and promptitude --- The virtue of patient labour --- The mischievous effects of “cramming” in labour-saving processes and multifarious reading --- The right use of knowledge --- Books may impart learning, but well-applied knowledge and experience only exhibit wisdom --- The Magna Charta men --- Brindley, Stephenson, Hunter, and others, not book-learned yet great --- Self-respect --- Jean Paul Richter --- Knowledge as a means of rising --- Base views of the value of knowledge --- Ideas of Bacon and Southey --- Douglas Jerrold on comic literature --- Danger of immoderate love of pleasure --- Benjamin Constant: his high thinking and low living --- Thierry: his noble character --- Coleridge and Southey --- Robert Nicoll on Coleridge --- Charles James Fox on perseverance --- The wisdom and strength acquired through failure --- Hunter, Rossini, Davy, Mendelssohn --- The uses of difficulty and adversity --- Lyndhurst, D’Alembert, Carissimi, Reynolds, and Henry Clay on persistency --- Curran on honest poverty --- Struggles with difficulties: Alexander Murray, William Chambers, Cobbet --- The French stonemason turned Professor --- Sir Samuel Romilly as a self-cultivator --- John Leyden’s perseverance --- Professor Lee: his perseverance and his attainments as a linguist --- Late learners: Spelman, Franklin, Dryden, Scott, Boccaccio, Arnold, and others --- Illustrious dunces: Generals Grant, Stonewall Jackson, John Howard, Davy, and others --- Story of a dunce --- Success depends on perseverance

314–359

Chapter XII. - Example --- Models.

Example a potent instructor --- Influence of conduct --- Parental example --- All acts have their train of consequences --- p. xx Disraeli on Cobden --- Words of Babbage --- Human responsibility --- Every person owes a good example to others --- Doing, not saying --- Mrs. Chisholm --- Dr. Guthrie and John Pounds --- Good models of conduct --- The company of our betters --- Francis Horner’s views on personal intercourse --- The Marquis of Lansdowne and Malesherbes --- Fowell Buxton and the Gurney family --- Personal influence of John Sterling --- Influence of artistic genius upon others --- Example of the brave an inspiration to the timid --- Biography valuable as forming high models of character --- Lives influenced by biography --- Romilly, Franklin, Drew, Alfieri, Loyola, Wolff, Horner, Reynolds --- Examples of cheerfulness --- Dr. Arnold’s influence over others --- Career of Sir John Sinclair

360–381

Chapter XIII. - Character --- The True Gentleman.

Character a man’s best possession --- Character of Francis Horner --- Franklin --- Character is power --- The higher qualities of character --- Lord Erskine’s rules of conduct --- A high standard of life necessary --- Truthfulness --- Wellington’s character of Peel --- Be what you seem --- Integrity and honesty of action --- Importance of habits --- Habits constitute character --- Growth of habit in youth --- Words of Robertson of Brighton --- Manners and morals --- Civility and kindness --- Anecdote of Abernethy --- True politeness --- Great-hearted men of no exclusive rank or class --- William and Charles Grant, the “Brothers Cheeryble” --- The true gentleman --- Lord Edward Fitzgerald --- Honour, probity, rectitude --- The gentleman will not be bribed --- Anecdotes of Hanway, Wellington, Wellesley, and Sir C. Napier --- The poor in purse may be rich in spirit --- A noble peasant --- Intrepidity of Deal boatmen --- Anecdotes of the Emperor of Austria and of two English navvies --- Truth makes the success of the gentleman --- Courage and gentleness --- Gentlemen in India --- Outram, Henry Lawrence --- Lord Clyde --- The private soldiers at Agra --- The wreck of the Birkenhead --- Use of power, the test of the Gentleman --- Sir Ralph Abercrombie --- Fuller’s character of Sir Francis Drake

382–408