!

elle

MEMOIRS

OF

A WORKING MAN.

“IF I ONE SOUL IMPROVE, I HAVE NOT LIVED IN VAIN.”

LONDON:

CHARLES KNIGHT & Co., LUDGATE STREET.

1845.

CT
787
C33

London : Printed by WILLIAM Cloves and Sons, Stamford Street.

The celebrated Gibbon, in the introductory portion of his own 'Memoirs,' speaking of the autobiographies of various men of letters, says-“Such portraits are often the most interesting, and sometimes the only interesting part of their writings; and, if they be sincere, we seldom complain of the minuteness or prolixity of their personal memorials." This, no doubt, is perfectly true with regard to the self-executed portraits of men of any literary eminence. But shall we feel an equal interest in the “personal memorials” of a man of humble station, unknown to the world—who may, indeed, have had as strong aspirations after knowledge as the most illustrious author of his age, as