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Buckland was engaged in writing the book which I now have the
honour of editing； my mother sat up night after night； for weeks
and months consecutively； writing to my father's dictation； and
this often till the sun's rays； shining through the shutters at
early morn； warned the husband to cease from thinking； and the
wife to rest her weary hand。 Not only with her pen did she
render material assistance； but her natural talent in the use
of her pencil enabled her to give accurate illustrations and
finished drawings； many of which are perpetuated in Dr。 Buckland's
works。 She was also particularly clever and neat in mending
broken fossils； and there are many specimens in the Oxford Museum；
now exhibiting their natural forms and beauty； which were restored
by her perseverance to shape from a mass of broken and almost
comminuted fragments。〃
（20） Veitch's 'Memoirs of Sir William Hamilton。'
（21） The following extract from Mr。 Veitch's biography will give
one an idea of the extraordinary labours of Lady Hamilton； to
whose unfailing devotion to the service of her husband the world
of intellect has been so much indebted： 〃The number of pages
in her handwriting；〃 says Mr。 Veitch；〃filled with abstruse
metaphysical matter； original and quoted； bristling with
proportional and syllogistic formulaethat are still preserved；
is perfectly marvellous。 Everything that was sent to the press；
and all the courses of lectures； were written by her； either to
dictation； or from a copy。 This work she did in the truest spirit
of love and devotion。 She had a power； moreover； of keeping her
husband up to what he had to do。 She contended wisely against a
sort of energetic indolence which characterised him； and which；
while he was always labouring； made him apt to put aside the task
actually before himsometimes diverted by subjects of inquiry
suggested in the course of study on the matter in hand； sometimes
discouraged by the difficulty of reducing to order the immense
mass of materials he had accumulated in connection with it。 Then
her resolution and cheerful disposition sustained and refreshed
him； and never more so than when； during the last twelve years of
his life； his bodily strength was broken； and his spirit； though
languid； yet ceased not from mental toil。 The truth is； that Sir
William's marriage； his comparatively limited circumstances； and
the character of his wife； supplied to a nature that would have
been contented to spend its mighty energies in work that brought
no reward but in the doing of it； and that might never have been
made publicly known or available； the practical force and impulse
which enabled him to accomplish what he actually did in literature
and philosophy。 It was this influence； without doubt； which saved
him from utter absorption in his world of rare； noble； and
elevated； but ever…increasingly unattainable ideas。 But for it；
the serene sea of abstract thought might have held him becalmed
for life； and in the absence of all utterance of definite
knowledge of his conclusions； the world might have been left to an
ignorant and mysterious wonder about the unprofitable scholar。〃
CHAPTER XIITHE DISCIPLINE OF EXPERIENCE。
〃I would the great would grow like thee。
Who grewest not alone in power
And knowledge； but by year and hour
In reverence and in charity。〃TENNYSON。
〃Not to be unhappy is unhappynesse；
And misery not t'have known miserie；
For the best way unto discretion is
The way that leades us by adversitie；
And men are better shew'd what is amisse；
By th'expert finger of calamitie；
Than they can be with all that fortune brings；
Who never shewes them the true face of things。〃DANIEL。
〃A lump of wo affliction is；
Yet thence I borrow lumps of bliss；
Though few can see a blessing in't；
It is my furnace and my mint。〃
ERSKINE'S GOSPEL SONNETS。
〃Crosses grow anchors； bear as thou shouldst so
Thy cross； and that cross grows an anchor too。〃DONNE。
〃Be the day weary； or be the day long；
At length it ringeth to Evensong。〃ANCIENT COUPLET。
Practical wisdom is only to be learnt in the school of experience。
Precepts and instructions are useful so far as they go； but；
without the discipline of real life； they remain of the nature of
theory only。 The hard facts of existence have to be faced； to
give that touch of truth to character which can never be imparted
by reading or tuition； but only by contact with the broad
instincts of common men and women。
To be worth anything； character must be capable of standing firm
upon its feet in the world of daily work； temptation； and trial；
and able to bear the wear…and…tear of actual life。 Cloistered
virtues do not count for much。 The life that rejoices in solitude
may be only rejoicing in selfishness。 Seclusion may indicate
contempt for others； though more usually it means indolence；
cowardice； or self…indulgence。 To every human being belongs his
fair share of manful toil and human duty； and it cannot be shirked
without loss to the individual himself； as well as to the
community to which he belongs。 It is only by mixing in the daily
life of the world； and taking part in its affairs； that practical
knowledge can be acquired； and wisdom learnt。 It is there that we
find our chief sphere of duty； that we learn the discipline of
work； and that we educate ourselves in that patience； diligence；
and endurance which shape and consolidate the character。 There we
encounter the difficulties； trials； and temptations which；
according as we deal with them； give a colour to our entire after…
life； and there； too； we become subject to the great discipline of
suffering； from which we learn far more than from the safe
seclusion of the study or the cloister。
Contact with others is also requisite to enable a man to know
himself。 It is only by mixing freely in the world that one can
form a proper estimate of his own capacity。 Without such
experience； one is apt to become conceited； puffed…up； and
arrogant； at all events； he will remain ignorant of himself；
though he may heretofore have enjoyed no other company。
Swift once said： 〃It is an uncontroverted truth； that no man ever
made an ill…figure who understood his own talents； nor a good one
who mistook them。〃 Many persons； however； are readier to take
measure of the capacity of others than of themselves。 〃Bring him
to me；〃 said a certain Dr。 Tronchin； of Geneva； speaking of
Rousseau〃Bring him to me； that I may see whether he has got
anything in him！〃the probability being that Rousseau； who knew
himself better； was much more likely to take measure of Tronchin
than Tronchin was to take measure of him。
A due amount of self…knowledge is； therefore； necessary for those
who would BE anything or DO anything in the world。 It is a