BIOGRAPHY

OF

SELF-TAUGHT MEN.

"They do most by books who could do most without them:
and he that chiefly owes himself unto himself is the substantial
man."-SIR THOMAS BROWNE.

BODL

LONDON:

T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;

EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK.

Preface.

HAT 66

example teaches better than precept" is an old saying; but as it is true,

we make no apology for repeating it. The lesson taught may be the same; the difference lies in the style. Precept reads a Latin sermon ; Example preaches in plain English. Hence the importance of holding up the great and good men of the past as models before the eyes of posterity. People may be told to do their duty; but they will not, unless they see it done.

Carlyle's idea of setting forth a select few for the admiration and imitation of the many is in itself good; though the word "hero-worship" is most objectionable, and his choice of heroes is most unhappy. The idea is, in fact, a scriptural one. What mean those four biographies, or, including the Book of Acts, those five which form the first half of the