GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OF MILITARY MEN, STATESMEN, AND OTHERS. Selected and Arranged by the Editor of THE ENGLISH ESSAYISTS,' 'THE TREASURY OF BRITISH ELoquence,' 'riSEN BY BIBLIOTHECA SEP: 80 BODLEIANA WILLIAM 210 EDINBURGH: PREFATORY NOTE. T is probably allotted to few to achieve great things in an average lifetime; the common duties of every day bounding and filling up the horizon, and giving no opportunity for the performance of any great deeds, or any displays of talent or heroism, which might challenge the admiration of the world. Perhaps the best kind of heroism is that which shows itself in the cheerful and right performance of daily duty, of which the world shall hear little or nothing. Doing right and guiding one's own life wisely and prudently may be considered as no mean performance, and a task in which some of those blessed with great talent and genius have not always succeeded. It is none the less interesting and important, however, to keep great examples and the heroic deeds of the world's great ones before the mind. These examples have a stimulating and. invigorating effect on character. The present examples have been chosen from copyright matter placed in the hands of the Editor, by the Publishers, for the present purpose. |