ly be admitted that, as the greatest multiplier
of books in his day, and as one of the most effective practical
labourers for the diffusion of useful knowledge, his name is entitled
to be permanently associated, not only with the industrial, but also
with the intellectual development of our time.

CHAPTER IX.

CHARLES BIANCONI: A LESSON OF SELF-HELP IN IRELAND.

"I beg you to occupy yourself in collecting biographical notices
respecting the Italians who have honestly enriched themselves in other
regions, particularly referring to the obstacles of their previous
life, and to the efforts and the means which they employed for
vanquishing them, as well as to the advantages which they secured for
themselves, for the countries in which they settled, and for the
country to which they owed their birth."--GENERAL MENABREA, Circular to
Italian Consuls.

When Count Menabrea was Prime Minister of Italy, he caused a despatch
to be prepared and issued to Italian Consuls in all parts of the world,
inviting them to collect and forward to him "biographical notices
respecting the Italians who have honourably advanced themselves in
foreign countries."

His object, in issuing the despatch, was to collect information as to
the lives of his compatriots living abroad, in order to bring out a
book similar to 'Self-help,' the examples cited in which were to be
drawn exclusively from the lives of Italian citizens. Such a work, he
intimated, "if it were once circulated among the masses, could not fail
to excite their emulation and encourage them to follow the examples
therein set forth," while "in the course of time it might exercise a
powerful influence on the increased greatness of our country."

We are informed by Count Menabrea that, although no special work has
been published from the biographical notices collected in answer to his
despatch, yet that the Volere e Potere ('Will is Power') of Professor
Lessona, issued a few years ago, sufficiently answers the purpose which
he contemplated, and furnishes many examples of the patient industry
and untiring perseverance of Italians in all parts of the world. Many
important illustrations of life and character are necessarily omitted
from Professor Lessona's interesting work. Among these may be
mentioned the subject of the following pages,--a distinguished Italian
who entirely corresponds to Count Menabrea's description--one who, in
the face of the greatest difficulties, raised himself