Footprints of Famous Men: Designed as Incitements to Intellectual Industry — John Shaqi
Footprints of Famous Men: Designed as Incitements to Intellectual IndustryEdgar, John G. (John George)
General
Footprints of Famous Men: Designed as Incitements to Intellectual Industry
Edgar, John G. (John George)
Biography; Biography -- Juvenile literature
inferior men, his intellect had not suffered in the slightest degree.
Doubtless, his counsels in regard to Continental affairs were somewhat
fierce, arbitrary, and impracticable, as was not unnatural at a time
when blood was flowing like water. But his genius and knowledge were
still gloriously conspicuous; and this crowning effort of his powers as
a writer was more than equal in strength, ability, and imagination to
the splendid achievements of his earlier and more vigorous years.
In 1795 a pension was bestowed upon him for his long and faithful
services to the State. This, although the slightest reward which a
grateful monarch could have bestowed on his most gifted subject for
labors on which Englishmen, to the latest generations, will look back
with pride, as they profit by his burning sentences and words of
wisdom, brought upon him most rancorous attacks. He was still mourning
the loss of his only son, a youth of great promise; but, nevertheless,
produced an answer characterized by his tried ability and scornful
sarcasm. But no defense was necessary; and he who had sacrificed his
repose, pleasures, and satisfactions to what he considered his duty
to the country, and who had ever, without fear, favor, or affection,
obeyed the dictates of conscience and the promptings of patriotism,
need have cared little for the puny assailants who now crawled forth
with their ragged mops to bespatter the wide and broad mirror that
reflected his unrivaled greatness to an admiring world.
At length, in 1797, his bodily health began, rapidly to decline, though
his mental faculties continued unimpaired to the last. On the 8th of
July in that year he expired, after a brief struggle, and was buried in
Beaconsfield church, where a plain mural tablet has been erected to his
immortal memory.
NECKER.
Ardent admirers of such mental and imaginative power as was displayed
by the marvelous man whose career has just been sketched, will be
unable to discover any striking signs of that sublime quality in
Necker. Yet history hardly presents a more impressive and agreeable
instance of moderate talents honestly exercised, and resolute industry
unflinchingly practiced, conducting an obscure individual――in spite of
countless obstacles――to boundless wealth and supreme distinction, in an
exclusive country of which he could not even boast of being a native.
His example is, therefore, of peculiar value to youth, and eminently
worthy of attentive consideration, as showing what may be achieved by
integrity and perseverance against all disadvantages.
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