10 APRIL 1847, Page 14

SELF-KNOWLEDGE.

IN a slight autobiographical note which the celebrated officer General Drouot has left behind him, he makes this candid avowal- " During my retreat I endeavoured to write an historical account of the great events which prssed before my eyes: but my bad health, my utter blindness, and, above all, my want of talent, forced me to give up an attempt which was beyond my powers: I threw my manuscript into the fire; and I entirely disavow every- thing that may hereafter be published in my name upon any events of the time, or any other subject."

What true philosophy ! How excellent an example! If it were followed, what a world of useless books, of vain exertion, it would rave I How edifying it would be if Lord George nen- tinck's executors (distant be their day !) were to find among his papers such a record as this—" In 1847, I endeavoured to be a statesman and to ii vent practical measures ' ; but, owing to my earlier habits, my utter blindness to the realnature of things, and above all, my want of talent, I gave up the attempt, and returned to Newmarket." In art we might have much economy of vain endeavour—a Hurlstone might instructively record his attempts to be an historical painter, and his" whnt of talent." In popular politics, again, an Edward Baines might write—" I tried to be a leading man ; and, in order to make the requisite sensation, I undertook the task of convincing the well-informed classes that there is no want of education for the common people " ; and then he might record, like M. Drouot, the reason why he desisted.