THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. 221 



when they sunk rapidly into the silent grave : but the blasted antici- 

 pations of those who have watched the early promise of genius and 

 wisdom are surely not to be regarded as fond illusions. On the con- 

 trary we may conclude that there is at all times, if we may be allowed 

 the comparison, a vast capital of inventive intellect floating around 

 us, which needs only to be directed in proper channels to enable it to 

 multiply a thousand fold the productions of its otherwise feeble 

 efforts. " Great occasions," says a talented scholar, " seem always 

 to call forth great minds," and that great mind which is best adapted 

 to the necessities of the times is instantly elevated to the 

 first rank. Whenever any important 'public exigency arises, we 

 generally observe some daring intellect already prepared to'gi*apple 

 with it ; and it is this happy coincidence between the commanding 

 mind, and the urgent necessity of the times, which perfects the 

 enduring monuments of human genius. 



Looking into society in past or present ages, some solitary indi- 

 vidual may be found — " Whose soul is like a star and dwells apart," 

 who may be far in advance of his cotemporaries ; an unintelligible 

 mystery in his day and generation ; but whose attainments and 

 actions are to be viewed with astonishment by remote posterity. 



How many there are in the various fields of philosophy, literature, 

 and the arts, who struggle with the difficulties of an adverse lot ; but 

 who pant after knowledge as "the hart panteth after the water 

 brooks." How many self-taught geniuses have been dragged through 

 every gradation of wretchedness and want, but who, by devoting 

 their little leisure to intellectual pursuits, have finally overcome a 

 combination of obstacles that seemed united to crush their aspiring 

 souls. 



Our own Goldsmith furnishes us with one among many instances 

 of a character that made every thing subservient to the ruling 

 passion for literary pursuits; concerning him Dr. Johnson beautifully 

 writes — " He left no si)ecies of writing untouched by his pen, nor 

 touched any that he did not embellish." We could select a host of 

 these self-taught geniuses who have risen from the humblest station 

 in life, many of whom, whilst pursuing their studies, have had to 

 earn their daily bread by the most laborious or the most sedentary 

 and ungenial occupations. Among these we may notice the names 

 of Purver, Wild, and Carey. PuiTcr succeeded in translating the 



