To read about the doings of eminent men is very profitable-it being understood, of course, that we read with intelligence, and make our reading influence our lives. Great examples always produce an invigorating effect. One makes poor progress taking himself as his model: it is when he measures himself by those who have risen to position and influence that he perceives his own defects, and is stirred up to exertion. In the following pages we have given brief notices of the great triumphs of the great men of our nation. It is an illustrious catalogue, of which we have reason to be proud. As we turn from triumph to triumph, we observe what a wealth of power Britain possesses in the genius and industry of her sons; and when we see such glorious deeds in the past, we are encouraged to entertain the brightest anticipations regarding the future. It is not in a few fields that the great men of our country have won their laurels, and, in consequence, this book has variety enough. One may read in it of matters very widely apart of the invention of the stocking-frame, and the victory of Waterloo; of the writing of the Faerie Queene, and the philanthropic labours of John Howard; of the wonderful eloquence of Whitefield, and the discoveries of Dr. Livingstone. The great triumphs which it contains are arranged under separate chapters, according to the line of life in which they were achieved; and the contents of the chapters are arranged chronologically, a method which presents several marked advantages. The sources from which our 5 work has been compiled have been very numerous; too numerous, in fact, to particularize. Our chief care has been to unite interest with accuracy, and in that we hope to have met with such success as to win the approbation of the reader. The great lesson of the book is one that has been often taught before that to the resolute mind nothing is impossible. A generous ambition to rise in the world is what every one should cherish; and that we shall succeed if we only labour perseveringly is pretty certain. The longer I live,' says an eminent writer, 'the more I am convinced that the great difference between men-between the feeble and the powerful, the great and the insignificant is energy, invincible determination—a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory. That quality will do anything that can be done in the world; and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunities, will make a two-legged creature a man without it.' CONTENTS. GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT MILITARY COMMANDERS. William Wallace-Edward the Black Prince - Earl of Warwick Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey-Sir Philip Sidney-Duke of Marlborough-Robert Clive-General Wolfe-General Elliot- GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT ADMIRALS. Sir Andrew Wood-Sir Francis Drake-Sir Walter Raleigh-Admiral GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT STATESMEN AND ORATORS. John Hampden-Oliver Cromwell-Andrew Marvell-Earl of Chatham —Edmund Burke-Henry Grattan-Charles James Fox-Richard 7 PAGE Thomas à Becket — Judge Gascoigne — Cardinal Wolsey - Thomas Cromwell-Sir Thomas More-Sir Edward Coke-Lord Bacon -John Selden-David Jenkins-Sir Matthew Hale-Lord Chief Beaumont and Fletcher-Edmund Waller-John Milton-Samuel Butler-Cowley - John Dryden-William Wycherley-William Congreve -Joseph Addison-Henry Carey-Dr. Watts-Allan Ramsay-Alexander Pope-John Gay-James Thomson-William Collins-Oliver Goldsmith-William Cowper-Richard Brinsley GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT PROSE WRITERS. Sir Philip Sidney-Thomas Fuller-John Bunyan-Jonathan Swift- Sir Richard Steele-Joseph Addison-Samuel Richardson-Henry Fielding-Samuel Johnson-Tobias Smollett-Oliver Goldsmith GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT SCHOLARS AND PHILOSOPHERS. Lord Bacon-Lord Napier-Sir Isaac Newton-Edmund Stone- GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS. William of Wykeham—Inigo Jones-Sir Christopher Wren-Grinling GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT MUSICIANS. Thomas Tallis-Orlando Gibbons-Dr. John Bull-Henry Lawes- John Blow-Dr. Aldrich - Henry Purcell - Carolan-William Croft-Dr. Arne-Dr. Boyce-Charles Dibdin-Lord Mornington GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT ACTORS. Thomas Betterton-Colley Cibber-Charles Macklin-David Garrick -Spranger Barry-Samuel Foote-George Frederick Cooke- GREAT TRIUMPHS OF GREAT DIVINES. Wickliffe-Hugh Latimer - George Wishart-John Knox-Bernard Gilpin - Andrew Melville - Richard Hooker - Bishop Bayly — George Herbert-Thomas Fuller-Robert Leighton - Jeremy Taylor-Richard Baxter-John Bunyan-Archbishop Tillotson— Dr. Barrow-Dr. South-Matthew Henry-Bishop Atterbury- Joseph Butler-John Wesley-Charles Wesley-George Whitefield |