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and it is for these qualities that I have selected you。〃 Darn
complied with the Emperor's wishes； and eventually became his
Prime Minister； proving thoroughly efficient in that capacity； and
remaining the same modest； honourable； and disinterested man that
he had ever been through life。
Men of trained working faculty so contract the habit of labour
that idleness becomes intolerable to them； and when driven by
circumstances from their own special line of occupation； they find
refuge in other pursuits。 The diligent man is quick to find
employment for his leisure； and he is able to make leisure when
the idle man finds none。 〃He hath no leisure；〃 says George
Herbert； 〃who useth it not。〃 〃The most active or busy man that
hath been or can be；〃 says Bacon； 〃hath； no question； many vacant
times of leisure； while he expecteth the tides and returns of
business； except he be either tedious and of no despatch； or
lightly and unworthily ambitious to meddle with things that may be
better done by others。〃 Thus many great things have been done
during such 〃vacant times of leisure；〃 by men to whom industry
had become a second nature； and who found it easier to work
than to be idle。
Even hobbies are useful as educators of the working faculty。
Hobbies evoke industry of a certain kind； and at least provide
agreeable occupation。 Not such hobbies as that of Domitian； who
occupied himself in catching flies。 The hobbies of the King of
Macedon who made lanthorns； and of the King of France who made
locks； were of a more respectable order。 Even a routine
mechanical employment is felt to be a relief by minds acting under
high…pressure： it is an intermission of laboura resta
relaxation； the pleasure consisting in the work itself rather than
in the result。
But the best of hobbies are intellectual ones。 Thus men of active
mind retire from their daily business to find recreation in other
pursuitssome in science； some in art； and the greater number in
literature。 Such recreations are among the best preservatives
against selfishness and vulgar worldliness。 We believe it was
Lord Brougham who said； 〃Blessed is the man that hath a hobby！〃
and in the abundant versatility of his nature； he himself had
many； ranging from literature to optics； from history and
biography to social science。 Lord Brougham is even said to have
written a novel； and the remarkable story of the 'Man in the
Bell；' which appeared many years ago in 'Blackwood；' is reputed to
have been from his pen。 Intellectual hobbies； however； must not
be ridden too hardelse； instead of recreating； refreshing；
and invigorating a man's nature； they may only have the
effect of sending him back to his business exhausted；
enervated； and depressed。
Many laborious statesmen besides Lord Brougham have occupied their
leisure； or consoled themselves in retirement from office； by the
composition of works which have become part of the standard
literature of the world。 Thus 'Caesar's Commentaries' still
survive as a classic； the perspicuous and forcible style in which
they are written placing him in the same rank with Xenophon； who
also successfully combined the pursuit of letters with the
business of active life。
When the great Sully was disgraced as a minister； and driven into
retirement； he occupied his leisure in writing out his 'Memoirs；'
in anticipation of the judgment of posterity upon his career as a
statesman。 Besides these； he also composed part of a romance
after the manner of the Scuderi school； the manuscript of which
was found amongst his papers at his death。
Turgot found a solace for the loss of office； from which he had
been driven by the intrigues of his enemies； in the study of
physical science。 He also reverted to his early taste for
classical literature。 During his long journeys； and at nights
when tortured by the gout； he amused himself by making Latin
verses； though the only line of his that has been preserved was
that intended to designate the portrait of Benjamin Franklin：
〃Eripuit caelo fulmen； sceptrumque tyrannis。〃
Among more recent French statesmenwith whom； however；
literature has been their profession as much as politicsmay
be mentioned De Tocqueville； Thiers； Guizot； and Lamartine；
while Napoleon III。 challenged a place in the Academy by
his 'Life of Caesar。'
Literature has also been the chief solace of our greatest English
statesmen。 When Pitt retired from office； like his great
contemporary Fox； he reverted with delight to the study of the
Greek and Roman classics。 Indeed； Grenville considered Pitt the
best Greek scholar he had ever known。 Canning and Wellesley； when
in retirement； occupied themselves in translating the odes and
satires of Horace。 Canning's passion for literature entered into
all his pursuits； and gave a colour to his whole life。 His
biographer says of him； that after a dinner at Pitt's； while the
rest of the company were dispersed in conversation； he and Pitt
would be observed poring over some old Grecian in a corner of the
drawing…room。 Fox also was a diligent student of the Greek
authors； and； like Pitt； read Lycophron。 He was also the author
of a History of James II。； though the book is only a fragment；
and； it must be confessed； is rather a disappointing work。
One of the most able and laborious of our recent statesmenwith
whom literature was a hobby as well as a pursuitwas the late
Sir George Cornewall Lewis。 He was an excellent man of business
diligent； exact； and painstaking。 He filled by turns the offices
of President of the Poor Law Boardthe machinery of which he
created；Chancellor of the Exchequer； Home Secretary； and
Secretary at War； and in each he achieved the reputation of a
thoroughly successful administrator。 In the intervals of his
official labours； he occupied himself with inquiries into a wide
range of subjectshistory； politics； philology； anthropology；
and antiquarianism。 His works on 'The Astronomy of the Ancients；'
and 'Essays on the Formation of the Romanic Languages；' might have
been written by the profoundest of German SAVANS。 He took
especial delight in pursuing the abstruser branches of learning；
and found in them his chief pleasure and recreation。 Lord
Palmerston sometimes remonstrated with him； telling him he was
〃taking too much out of himself〃 by laying aside official papers
after office…hours in order to study books； Palmerston himself
declaring that he had no time to read booksthat the reading of
manuscript was quite enough for him。
Doubtless Sir George Lewis rode his hobby too hard； and but for
his devotion to study； his useful life would probably have been
prolonged。 Whether in or out of office； he read； wrote； and
studied。 He relinquished the editorship of the 'Edinburgh Review'
to become Chancellor of the Exchequer； and when no longer occupied
in preparing budgets； he proceeded to copy out a mass of Greek
manuscripts at