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part of his life； Milton was occupied in the humble vocation of a
teacher。 Dr。 Johnson says； 〃that in his school； as in everything
else which he undertook； he laboured with great diligence； there
is no reason for doubting〃 It was after the Restoration； when his
official employment ceased； that Milton entered upon the principal
literary work of his life； but before he undertook the writing of
his great epic； he deemed it indispensable that to 〃industrious
and select reading〃 he should add 〃steady observation〃 and
〃insight into all seemly and generous arts and affairs。〃 （18）
Locke held office in different reigns： first under Charles II。 as
Secretary to the Board of Trade and afterwards under William III。
as Commissioner of Appeals and of Trade and Plantations。 Many
literary men of eminence held office in Queen Anne's reign。 Thus
Addison was Secretary of State； Steele； Commissioner of Stamps；
Prior； Under…Secretary of State； and afterwards Ambassador to
France； Tickell； Under…Secretary of State； and Secretary to the
Lords Justices of Ireland； Congreve； Secretary of Jamaica；； and
Gay； Secretary of Legation at Hanover。
Indeed； habits of business； instead of unfitting a cultivated mind
for scientific or literary pursuits； are often the best training
for them。 Voltaire insisted with truth that the real spirit of
business and literature are the same； the perfection of each being
the union of energy and thoughtfulness； of cultivated intelligence
and practical wisdom； of the active and contemplative essencea
union commended by Lord Bacon as the concentrated excellence of
man's nature。 It has been said that even the man of genius can
write nothing worth reading in relation to human affairs； unless
he has been in some way or other connected with the serious
everyday business of life。
Hence it has happened that many of the best books； extant have
been written by men of business； with whom literature was a
pastime rather than a profession。 Gifford； the editor of the
'Quarterly；' who knew the drudgery of writing for a living； once
observed that 〃a single hour of composition； won from the business
of the day； is worth more than the whole day's toil of him who
works at the trade of literature： in the one case； the spirit
comes joyfully to refresh itself； like a hart to the waterbrooks；
in the other； it pursues its miserable way； panting and jaded；
with the dogs and hunger of necessity behind。〃 （19）
The first great men of letters in Italy were not mere men of
letters； they were men of businessmerchants； statesmen；
diplomatists； judges； and soldiers。 Villani； the author of the
best History of Florence； was a merchant； Dante； Petrarch； and
Boccacio； were all engaged in more or less important embassies；
and Dante； before becoming a diplomatist； was for some time
occupied as a chemist and druggist。 Galileo； Galvani； and Farini
were physicians； and Goldoni a lawyer。 Ariosto's talent for
affairs was as great as his genius for poetry。 At the death of
his father； he was called upon to manage the family estate for the
benefit of his younger brothers and sisters； which he did with
ability and integrity。 His genius for business having been
recognised； he was employed by the Duke of Ferrara on important
missions to Rome and elsewhere。 Having afterwards been appointed
governor of a turbulent mountain district； he succeeded； by firm
and just governments in reducing it to a condition of comparative
good order and security。 Even the bandits of the country
respected him。 Being arrested one day in the mountains by a body
of outlaws； he mentioned his name； when they at once offered to
escort him in safety wherever he chose。
It has been the same in other countries。 Vattel； the author of
the 'Rights of Nations；' was a practical diplomatist； and a first…
rate man of business。 Rabelais was a physician； and a successful
practitioner； Schiller was a surgeon； Cervantes； Lope de Vega；
Calderon； Camoens； Descartes； Maupertius； La Rochefoucauld；
Lacepede； Lamark； were soldiers in the early part of their
respective lives。
In our own country； many men now known by their writings； earned
their living by their trade。 Lillo spent the greater part of his
life as a working jeweller in the Poultry； occupying the intervals
of his leisure in the production of dramatic works； some of them
of acknowledged power and merit。 Izaak Walton was a linendraper
in Fleet Street； reading much in his leisure hours； and storing
his mind with facts for future use in his capacity of biographer。
De Foe was by turns horse…factor； brick and tile maker；
shopkeeper； author； and political agent。
Samuel Richardson successfully combined literature； with business；
writing his novels in his back…shop in Salisbury Court； Fleet
Street； and selling them over the counter in his front…shop。
William Hutton； of Birmingham； also successfully combined the
occupations of bookselling and authorship。 He says； in his
Autobiography； that a man may live half a century and not be
acquainted with his own character。 He did not know that he was an
antiquary until the world informed him of it； from having read his
'History of Birmingham；' and then； he said； he could see it
himself。 Benjamin Franklin was alike eminent as a printer and
bookselleran author； a philosopher and a statesman。
Coming down to our own time； we find Ebenezer Elliott successfully
carrying on the business of a bar…iron merchant in Sheffield；
during which time he wrote and published the greater number of his
poems； and his success in business was such as to enable him to
retire into the country and build a house of his own； in which he
spent the remainder of his days。 Isaac Taylor； the author of the
'Natural History of Enthusiasm；' was an engraver of patterns for
Manchester calico…printers； and other members of this gifted
family were followers of the same branch of art。
The principal early works of John Stuart Mill were written in the
intervals of official work； while he held the office of principal
examiner in the East India House；in which Charles Lamb； Peacock
the author of 'Headlong Hall；' and Edwin Norris the philologist；
were also clerks。 Macaulay wrote his 'Lays of Ancient Rome' in
the War Office； while holding the post of Secretary of War。 It is
well known that the thoughtful writings of Mr。 Helps are literally
〃Essays written in the Intervals of Business。〃 Many of our best
living authors are men holding important public officessuch as
Sir Henry Taylor； Sir John Kaye； Anthony Trollope； Tom Taylor；
Matthew Arnold； and Samuel Warren。
Mr。 Proctor the poet； better known as 〃Barry Cornwall；〃 was a
barrister and commissioner in lunacy。 Most probably he assumed
the pseudonym for the same reason that Dr。 Paris published his
'Philosophy in Sport made Science in Earnest' anonymously
because he apprehended that； if known； it might compromise his
professional position。 For i