Chapter 9

MEN OF BUSINESS. Hazlitt’s definition of the man of business—The chief 263–289 requisite qualities—Men of genius men of business—Shakespeare, Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Newton, Cowper, Wordsworth, Scott, Ricardo, Grote, J. S. Mill—Labour and application necessary to success—Lord Melbourne’s advice—The school of difficulty a good school—Conditions of success in Law—The industrious architect—The salutary influence of work—Consequences of contempt for arithmetic—Dr. Johnson on the alleged injustice of “the world”—Washington Irving’s views—Practical qualities necessary in business—Importance of accuracy—Charles James Fox—Method—Richard Cecil and De Witt: their despatch of business—Value of time—Sir Walter Scott’s advice—Promptitude—Economy of time—Punctuality—Firmness—Tact—Napoleon and Wellington as men of business—Napoleon’s attention to details—The ‘Napoleon Correspondence’—Wellington’s business faculty—Wellington in the Peninsula—“Honesty the best policy”—Trade tries character—Dishonest gains—David Barclay a model man of business