THE BENGALEE INNER TEMPLE.

139

was on one occasion a fine scene: a lower court passed a decision; the judge reversed it on appeal; the Sudder reviewed the proceedings, and ordered a retrial;-counsel were arrayed on both sides, and opinions advanced with the depth, earnestness, and learning exhibited in actual forensic strife. Regulation so-and-so of this code supported one view, while commentary so-and-so reversed it; the case was analysed, principles sought after, and Harris's ability and shrewdness carried the day. He was warm and earnest in the debate, and his view settled the adjudication. What a bright ornament to the bar was pinned to the dull desk by the caprice of fortune!

And here is a fine lesson for any one to learn. Harris never went to college, and yet he became a great and influential man-one who was admired, while living, for his varied accomplishments, and regretted universally for his beneficence when dead. He was a mere school-boy when he entered life, but, by vigorous study, became famous in the world. It is this, after all, that is of use, and distinguishes between man and man; for no school or college is intended to make the perfect man--and, even were it intended, it were quite impracticable,

in the nature of things themselves. Think of Harris, the son of a beggar Brahmin, tasked to support a family at the early age of thirteen, occupied the whole day in laborious work, and yet reading extensively in English literature, digesting English views, and meditating on English politics. He truly is a model for each one of us to imitate-reading and studying at every stage of his life, from fourteen onwards even to thirty and seven-and-thirtyhis last stage of existence,--to prepare himself for the one grand object of his life, the conduct of an English journal with spirit, learning, and He had this goal before him. There may be one before every one-as absorbing, perhaps, as the establishment and conduct of the Hindoo Patriot* was to him; and it behoves every one, therefore, to prepare himself for it. There is nothing more likely but that a thousand apples might have fallen before us, dear reader, without awakening any answering thought; and all the apples in the world might have tumbled about us before we arrived, from hints like these, at a knowledge of

success.

* Harris had tried two journals before the establishment of the Patriot-the Bengal Recorder, already noticed, and the Hindoo Intelligencer,—both of which failed.

PREPARATION NECESSARY.

141

the universal law of gravitation. The suggestion fitted the mind of Newton, because that mind had been prepared to receive it, by previous study and application. In everything-in matters of discovery or invention; in trade, business, and dealings; in war or politics; in the run of common life; from the obscurity of a penny-a-line scribe to an author of reputation and wealth; from the counter as a clerk to the counting-house as a partner-success will come to him who has prepared himself for its reception.

142

CHAPTER VII.

IN WHAT RESPECTS WAS HARRIS A GREAT MAN? A PERNICIOUS conception of greatness.-Genius and talents over-estimated by the world.-Another class of heroes.— Heroes of the heart. Their fate.-The most apparent not always the most important or most interesting.-Profession of Literature.-Charles Lamb's advice thereon.-Peculiarly apt for Young India to bear in mind.-Harris's works.Patriots of all classes have a family likeness.-Harris no less a Patriot than the greatest patriot of the world.—Harris's real staff of greatness.-The rights and position of a great mind. Difference between it and the insignificant.

A NOTION, erroneous and dangerous in its tendency, has captivated mankind, that sparkling talents and much intellectual pomp are real eminence and dignity. Want of real discernment has led to thus placing boundless faith in brilliant and magnificent minds-in fact, in mind as mind; and who does not acknowledge that this is carried to an unworthy extreme in this country-this idolatry of the human mind this worship of the idol of endowed

PERNICIOUS NOTIONS.

143

intelligence? Indeed, it cannot be otherwise in a country which lacks it to such a shameful extent, and where every writer swells himself into the importance of an author of eminence. True, we cannot find fault with the tendency; for where would our race have been had talents and genius never lent their ministering influences; what revolutions--material, intellectual, social, moral, political-do not owe their origin to the majesty of their power?

We may award to genius and splendid talents their real worth; but it is not the less to be recollected on that account that the truly great men have been those earnest workers in the cause of humanity who, without heeding the noisy glory of the world, take their stand-point on a surer foundation than passing fame-aspiring to become known among the spirits in Heaven, if unknown among men on earth. Are they not real heroes, who lived with their hearts directed now upwards in holy communion with the music above, and then downwards, alleviating the wrongs of suffering humanity; and yet, how many such realised the true purpose of their life, even though their lot was cast in the ranks of humble life, never so much as emerging from the dull round of ordinary toil? Yes,