Chapter I: Preface

These records of the Triumphs of Perseverance and Enterprise have been written with the view to inspire the youthful reader with a glow of emulation, and to induce him to toil and to advance in the peaceful achievements of science and benevolence, remembering the adage, “Whatever man has done, man may do.”

CONTENTS

TO

THE TRIUMPHS OF PERSEVERANCE.

CHAPTER I.

LINGUISTS.

PAGE

Sir William Jones—Dr. Samuel Lee 1

CHAPTER II.

AUTHORS.

Shakespeare—Spenser—Johnson—Gifford—Gibbon 22

CHAPTER III.

ARTISTS.

Canova—Chantrey—Salvator Rosa—Benjamin West 45

CHAPTER IV.

MUSICIANS.

Handel 69

CHAPTER V.

SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERERS AND MECHANICIANS.

Sir Humphrey Davy—Sir Richard Arkwright—Dr. Edward
Cartwright—James Watt—Columbus—Sir Isaac
Newton—Sir William Herschel—Reaumur—Hon.
Robert Boyle 80

CHAPTER VI.

MEN OF BUSINESS.

Sir Thomas Gresham—Lackington 112

CHAPTER VII.

PHILANTHROPISTS.

John Howard 122

CONCLUSION.

Dignity and advantages of Labour, and encouragements of
Perseverance 141

CONTENTS

TO

THE TRIUMPHS OF ENTERPRISE.

INTRODUCTION.

PAGE

Enterprise—a distinguishing trait of civilisation 145

CHAPTER I.

Enterprise as displayed in Man’s combats with, and mastery
over the Wild Animals—General Putnam’s engagements
with Wolves—Lieutenant Evan Davies’s capture
of a Tiger—Combats with Wild Elephants in India—Account
of the Whale Fishery, its dangers and its excitements—Is
Whale Fishery justifiable on humane
grounds? 148

CHAPTER II.

Enterprise as displayed in overcoming natural difficulties
in visiting new Regions of the Earth—Travels of the
African Discoverers, Major Denham, Dr. Oudney, and
Captain Clapperton—Arctic Travellers, Dr. Edward
Daniel Clark, Captain Cochrane—Perils of Mr.
Temple’s journey from Peru to Buenos Ayres—Humboldt’s
description of South America—Suffering occasioned
by Mosquitoes—Captain Back’s Arctic Land
Expedition—Annoyance of the Sand-flies—Sir John
Franklin’s gentleness 165

CHAPTER III.

Enterprise as displayed in Maritime Discovery—Increased
dangers attending the Voyage—Perilous condition of
Ross and his companions—Terrors of an Iceberg—Wearisomeness
of an Arctic Winter—Departure from
the Ship across the Ice—Singular return to his Vessel—Wretched
plight of himself and companions—Drake’s
Voyage round the World—Safe return and knighthood
by Queen Elizabeth 190

CHAPTER IV.

Belzoni’s Discoveries in Egypt 214

CHAPTER V.

Enterprise as displayed in construction of Roads, Harbours,
Bridges, Lighthouses, &c—Gibbon’s description
of the great Roman Highways—Bell’s account of
the Great Wall of China—Porcelain Tower of Nankin—Famous
Slide of Alpnach in Switzerland—Monument
to the memory of Peter the Great—Eddystone
Lighthouse—Plymouth Breakwater 243

CONCLUSION.

Gradual reception of the truth that War, under an
circumstances, is an evil to be deplored 279

THE

TRIUMPHS OF PERSEVERANCE.