Our forefathers appear to have conveyed much of their instructions in
Business Life by way of apophthegm. In the _Spectator_, No. 109, it is
observed that “the man proper for the business of money and the
advancement of gain, speaking in the general, is of a sedate, plain,
good understanding, not apt to go out of his way, but so behaving
himself at home that business may come to him. Sir William Turner, that
valuable citizen, has left behind him a most excellent rule, and couched
it in a very few words, suited to the meanest capacity. He would say,
‘Keep your shop, and your shop will keep you.’” [Alderman Thomas, the
mercer in Paternoster-row, made this one of the mottoes of his shop.]
“It must be confessed, that if a man of a great genius could add
steadiness to his vivacities, or substitute slower men of fidelity to
transact the methodical part of his affairs, such an one would outstrip
the rest of the world: but business and trade are not to be managed by
the same heads which write poetry and make plans for the conduct of life
in general.”
However, Bacon thought otherwise. “Let no man,” he says, “fear lest
learning should expulse business; nay, rather, it will keep and defend
the possessions of the mind against idleness and pleasure, which
otherwise, at unawares, may enter to the prejudice both of business and
pleasure.”
The proper time—“_rerum est omnium primum_.” “To choose time,” says
Bacon, “is to save time; and an unseasonable motion is but beating the
air. There be three parts of business: the preparation; the debate, or
examination; and the perfection; whereof, if you look for despatch, let
the middle only be the work of many, and the first and last the work of
few.”
Sir Robert Walpole had in his mind a man not apt to go out of his way,
when he described Henry Legge, his Chancellor of the Exchequer, as
having “very little rubbish in his head;” meaning that he was a
practical, useful man of business.
There are few persons who have not met with cases of hypochondriacs who
have been relieved and made more happy by useful and disinterested
occupation in promoting the welfare of others. Dr. Heberden used to
relate a striking case of this kind. Captain Blake was a hypochondriac
for several years, and during that time every week or two he consulted
the Doctor, who had not only prescribed all the medicines likely to
correct disease arising from bodily infirmity, but every argument which
humanity and good sense could suggest for the comfort of his mind; but
in vain. At length Dr. Heberden heard no more of his patient, till after
a considerable interval he found that Captain Blake had formed a project
for conveying fish to London, from some of the seaports in the west, by
means of light carts adapted for expeditious land-carriage. The
arrangement and various occupations of the mind in carrying out this
object entirely superseded all sense of his former malady, which from
that time never returned.
Innumerable are the instances of men retiring from business in middle
life, yet yearning to return to it,—so strong is the habit of
occupation. We all remember the story of the city tallow-chandler, who
retired into the suburbs, having sold his business, with the proviso
that he should come to town on a melting-day. One of the partners of a
large publishing house, some years since, retired into Wales; but did
not long survive the change, to enjoy his well-earned fortune. Another
instance occurs: a tradesman retired from business with a fortune, and
travelled for some time to divert _ennui_; but this not succeeding, he
returned to active life in manufacturing and patenting lamps and
kettles, night-lights and potato-saucepans, and, in such small
ingenuities, finds himself happy again.
The late Mr. Charles Tilt, the well-known publisher in Fleet-street,
retired from business in middle life; travelled many years in each
quarter of the world; and wrote a pleasant little book, entitled _The
Boat and the Caravan_. He had been articled to Longman and Co.; then
lived with Mr. Hatchard, in Piccadilly; and next established himself
with great success. Notwithstanding his long retirement, his business
habits never forsook him: he generously acted as trustee in the
settlement of the affairs of his late partner, Mr. David Bogue, who had
succeeded to the entire concern in Fleet-street; and he next officiated
as executor to the estate of the late Mr. Hatchard, with whom he had
formerly lived. Mr. Tilt died in 1862, leaving the large property of
180,000_l._
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