But there are money-making men who are better than mere money-grubs. Mr. Gompertz, born in London in 1799, the son of a Dutch diamond merchant, was a self-taught mathematician of very high attainments, who had distinguished himself early in life by the publication of new logarithms. At the age of thirty, having married Miss Abigail Montefiore, sister of Sir Moses Montefiore, Mr. Gompertz entered his name as a member of the Stock Exchange, doing a large amount of business, but without relinquishing his mathematical pursuits, which gradually turned to tables connected with life insurance. After working out a new series of tables of mortality, the subject took such a hold of his mind that he decided to quit the Stock Exchange and to devote himself entirely to actuarial science. Appointed actuary of the Alliance Company under its deed of settlement, he became, both in virtue of his position and through his high connections, its chief manager, doing his work to the satisfaction of the directors. Mr. Benjamin Gompertz, however, aimed to be nothing more than a man of science; his ambition being to make the best actuarial investigations, and not to do the largest amount of business. Another illustration we have of this higher life is afforded in the case of Mr. Grote. Mr. Samuel Rogers may also be quoted as another illustration. It is well to feel that, after all, there is something better than money-making—that man does not live by bread alone. The great lesson of London life is, that perseverance, industry, and integrity will win the day. In the City, daily, we see the poorest rise to the possession of great wealth and honour. Poor lads have come to town friendless and moneyless; have been sober, and steady, and true to themselves. They have been firm in their opposition to London allurements and vices; have improved the abilities God has given them, and the opportunities placed within their reach, and become, in their way, men of note and mark. Many a Lord Mayor has been an office-lad in the firm of which he grew to be the head. Mr. Herbert Ingram, the founder of the _Illustrated London News_—the tale is an old one, but none the less true—blackened the shoes of some of the men he afterwards represented in parliament. Mr. Anderson, of the Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and formerly M.P. for the Orkneys, rose in a similar manner. Mr. Dillon, of the great house of Dillon, Morrison, & Co., also rose in a similar way. Lord Campbell, when employment was scarce, and money ditto, held a post as reporter and theatrical critic on the _Morning Chronicle_. Mr. Chaplin, who at one time represented Salisbury in parliament was an extraordinary instance of a man rising from the humblest rank. Before railways were in operation he had succeeded in making himself one of the largest coach proprietors in the kingdom. His establishment, from small beginnings, grew till just before the opening of the London and North-western line.