ticular commemoration in literary history, on another account for his disinterestedness, namely, in refusing the bishoprics of Capo d'Istria and Avignon, when pressed upon his acceptance by his patron, Pope Clement VII., in order that he might devote himself entirely to literature. JOOST VAN DEN VONDEL, one of the most distinguished names in Dutch poetry, and the author of works which fill nine quarto volumes, commenced learning Latin only in his twenty-sixth year, and Greek not till some years afterwards. Vondel, like many of the other literary men of Holland, had begun life as a commercial man, and originally kept a hosier's shop at Amsterdam; but he gave up the management of his business to his wife, when he commenced his career as an author. He died in extreme old age, in 1679, after having occupied, during a great part of his life, the very highest place in the literature of his country.

The French mathematician, HENRY PITOT, was the author of several ingenious works, and particularly of a treatise on the management of vessels at sea. This book was long adopted by the French government, as the textbook for the instruction of the navy; and, being translated into English, procured the writer the honor of admission into the Royal Society. Yet he had reached his twentieth year before he began to pay any attention to learning. About this period of his life, when he used to spend his time only in idleness and dissipation, he chanced, one day, upon going into a bookseller's shop, to open a volume on geometry, the figures in which attracted his attention, and excited his curiosity so much, that he deterrmined to study the work. This was the beginning of his fondness both for mathematics and for reading; and he soon grew so much attached to his new occupation, that he abandoned his old habits entirely, and now spent every hour in study, or in watching the stars, by means of instruments of his own invention, from the top of an old tower in his father's house.' This mode of employing his time, obtained for him, at first, it is said, among his ignorant and astonished neighbors, the reputation of being a magician. He was afterwards sent by his

father to complete his studies at Paris, where he was introduced to Réaumur, the celebrated naturalist, (whose work on insects is still one of the most philosophical guides to the student of entomology,) and the inventor of the thermometer known by his name; and he soon became, under Réaumur's guidance, an adept in the different departments of his favorite science. It is a curious. circumstance, however, and shows at once his ardor in the pursuit of knowledge, and the penalty he was long afterwards obliged to pay for his early negligence, that he actually submitted, when more than fifty years old, to take his first lessons in Latin from his son's tutor, in order to be able to read some mathematical works, written in that language, which he wished to consult.

'

Another French mathematician, the ingenious PAUCTON, whose Metrology,' or treatise on weights and measures, although first published nearly half a century ago, is still considered one of the most valuable extant, had, owing to the poverty of his parents, scarcely received any education at all, till after he had reached his eighteenth year. He was at last noticed by a charitable ecclesiastic, who gave him lessons for about two years; after which, he completed his studies at Nantz. Paucton eventually obtained the professorship of mathematics at Strasburg; but his labors here must have been but indifferently. recompensed, for, when the city was threatened with a blockade by the Austrians, and the magistrates had issued orders that every inhabitant who could not supply himself beforehand with a sufficient store of provisions for the siege, should quit the place, Paucton, being too poor to afford the necessary outlay, was obliged to take his departure with his wife and three children. He was afterwards, however, patronised by the French government; and had the prospect of passing his latter days in comfortable circumstances, when he died, in 1798, at the age of sixty-two.

We shall at present mention only another example. JOHN OGILBY, the wellknown translator of Homer, was originally a dancingmaster. He had apprenticed himself to that profession, on finding himself reduced to

depend upon his own resources, by the imprisonment of his father for debt in the King's Bench. Having succeeded in this pursuit, he was very soon able to release his father, which he did, very much to his credit, with the first money he procured. An accident, however, put an end to his dancing, and he was left again without any permanent means of subsistence. In these circumstances, the first thing he did was to open a small theatre in Dublin; but just when he had fairly established it, and had reason to hope that it would succeed, the rebellion of 1641 broke out, and not only swept away all his little property, but repeatedly put even his life in jeopardy.

He at last found his way back to London, in a state of complete destitution; but although he had never received any regular education, he had before this made a few attempts at verse-making, and in his extremity he bethought him of turning his talent in this way, which certainly was not great, to some account. He immediately commenced his studies, which he was enabled to pursue, chiefly, it is said, through the liberal assistance of some members of the university of Cambridge; and although then considerably above forty years of age, he made such progress in Latin, that he was soon considered in a condition to undertake a poetical translation of Virgil. This work made its appearance in the year 1650. A second edition of it was printed a few years after, with great pomp of typography and embellishments. Such was its success, that the industrious and enterprising translator actually proceeded, although now in his fifty-fourth year, to commence the study of Greek, in order that he might match his version of the Eneid by others of the Iliad and the Odyssey. In due time, both appeared; and Ogilby, who had in the meanwhile established himself a second time in Dublin, in the management of a new theatre, was in the enjoyment of greater prosperity than ever, when, having unfortunately disposed of his Irish property, and returned to take up his resi dence in London, just before the great fire of 1666, he was left by that dreadful event once more entirely desti

tute.

With unconquerable courage and perseverance, however, he set to work afresh with his translations and other literary enterprises; and was again so successful as to be eventually enabled to rebuild his house which had been burned down, and to establish a printing press; in the employment of which he took every opportunity of indulging that taste for splendid typography, to which his first works had owed so much of their success. He was now also appointed cosmographer and geographic printer to Charles II,; and at last, at the age of seventy-six, terminated a life, remarkable for its vicissitudes, and not uninstructive as an evidence both of the respectable proficiency in literature which may be acquired by those who begin their education late in life, and also of what may be done by a stout heart and indefatigable activity in repairing the worst injuries of fortune. Ogilby was no great poet, although his translations were very popular when they first appeared; but his Homer, we ought to mention, had the honor of being one of the first books that kindled the young imagination of Pope, who, however, in the preface to his own translation of the Iliad, describes the poetry of his predecessor and early favorite as too mean for criticism.”

NOTE.

[In the preceding chapter, we perceive that many men who have risen to distinction in the higher walks of the arts, commenced their career with a more common branch of the same profession. Thus a goldsmith became a sculptor, a ship painter becomes a landscape painter, a house painter an architect. In this, there is a manifest advantage. He who proceeds from one department of a profession to another, carries with him much available knowledge. Hence, a large portion of his previous life will in this case be useful, which would otherwise have been lost. Let every one, who aspires to a change in his condition, first inquire whether he may not accom

plish all he wishes by pursuing, in some other form, the occupation in which he is at present engaged.

We also perceive, that men may arrive at very high intellectual eminence, though they commence their career of improvement late in life. To those mentioned in the text, may be added many others. It will be sufficient to name T. Scott, the author of the Commentary,' Dr. Carey, the late eminent missionary in India, Dr. Buchanan, author of Christian Researches,' Roger Sherman, of Connecticut, one of the most eminent statesmen of our country, and a multitude of others, whose names almost every one can recall at the instant to recollection. AM. ED.]

Ꮯ Ꮋ Ꭺ Ꮲ Ꭲ Ꭼ Ꭱ Ꮩ .

Early Age of Great Men. Short Term of their Lives: -Newton; Gregory; Torricelli; Pascal; Cowper; Wyatt; Surrey; Sydney; Beaumont ; Otway; Collins; Burns; Byron; Mozart; Raphael; Correggio; Politian; Mirandola.

CONSIDERABLE as are the disadvantages which those persons have to contend with who begin their acquaintance with books only late in life, it ought not to be forgotten, on the other hand, that all the chances of the race are not against them. The time they have lost, and are anxious to redeem, of itself gives a stimulus that will make up for many disadvantages. Then, although they have not yet learned much from books, they have nevertheless learned of necessity a great deal from other sources; and they come to their studies, too, with faculties, which, if not quite so pliant as those of childhood, have much more vigor and comprehension. And as for the comparative shortness of the space which they may reasonably count upon, as being still left to them for their new pur

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