The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-23 00:00:00

JUNE 23, 1855.

culate belongs to one temperament, to act to
another. The man of one idea is often a great
and beneficent working power in the world ;
but in the present day Mr. Mozley regards it
as a favorable sign that men have a suspicion
of their own ignorance. We cannot resist
quoting the eloquent passage in which this
idea is conveyed :

Whether the time, indeed, will ever come when men in
general will see that on this and some other questions
truth is twofold, and is not confined to either side singly,—
that our perceptions are indistinct and contradictory, and
therefore do not justify any one definite position,—re.
mains to be seen. Philosophers have from time to time
prophesied a day when a better understanding would com-
mence of man with himself, and of man with man. They
have risen up from the survey of the past with the idea
that it is impossible that mankind can go on for ever
?vesting the same mistakes ; that they must one day see
the limits of human reason, distinguish what they know
from what they do not know, and draw the necessary con-
clusion, that on some questions they cannot insist on any
one absolute truth, and condemn each other accordingly.
But the vision does not approach at present any very
clear fulfilment. The limits of human reason are perhaps
better understood in the world now than they ev.r were
before ; and such a knowledge has evidently an effect upon
controversy, to a certain extent modifying and chasten-
jog it. Those who remind men of their ignorance use an
argument which, however it may fall short of striking with
its full philosophical strength, and producing its due effect,
appeals to an undeniable truth, before which all human
souls must bow. And the most ardent minds, in the very
heat of controversy, have an indistinct suspicion that a
strung ground has been established in this quarter. On
the other hand, this knowledge of the limits of human
reason is not, and perhaps never will be, for reasons which
I have given, very acute or accurate in the minds of the
mass ; while the tendency to one-sided views and to hasty
assumption is strong, and is aided by passion and self-love,
as well as by better feeling misapplied. On the whole,
therefore, while improved philosophy has perhaps entirely
destroyed some great false assumptions which have reigned
in the world, so that these will never rise up again, it can-
not subdue the temper and spirit which makes such
assumptions. It is able occasionally to check and qualify,
but it cannot be expected that it will ever habitually
regulate theological thought and controversy. It will
from time to time step in as a monitor, and take advan-
tage of a pause and quiet interval to impress its lesson upon
mankind, to bring them back to reflection when they have
been carried too far, and convert for the time a sense of
error into a more cautious view of truth ; but it will never,
perhaps, do more than this. Unable to balance and settle,
it will give a useful oscillation to the human mind, an
alternation of enthusiasm and judgment, of excitement and
repose.

It is from a conviction of the profound
ability, large knowledge, comprehensive rea-
soning, and, on the whole, irrefragable views,
contained in Mr. Mozley's book that we
strongly recommend it to all persons who feel
concernment in those lofty themes of thought
and those sublime truths which, by the in-
stincts of our nature, we continually aspire to
yet never full) apprehend. Scope must be left
for faith; and to believe without understanding,
is a good part of our earthly education. That
straining of the intellect to comprehend the
Incomprehensible may be carried too far, yet,
as a general rule, it enlarges its powers, and
raises it above the earth, while teaching it—a
most salutary lesson—its weakness and its ig-
norance. Hence it comes that the largest
minds are the most modest, and that dog-
matism in any shape, but, above all, in that
most odious, repulsive, and calamitous shape—
belief in individual infallibility—is abhorrent
to the spirit of true philosophy.
To the noble library of English ratiocination
Mr. Mozley has contributed a volume which
we believe will live with its finest specimens.
His plummet has sounded the depths of con-
troversies which have engaged the most lumi-
nous minds for ages, and he comes to the only
conclusion concerning them which it is in the
province of the human mind to form. His
conclusion is besides practical, tending to
exalt the faculties which reverence and adore
th 3 Deity, and to extend the sympathies which
unite men together in brotherly love.

Russia on the Black Sea and Sea of Azof.
By H. D. Seymour, M.P. London : Murk

ray.
MR. SEYMOUR visited the Crimea in 1844, and
paid two visits to Southern Russia in 1844
and 1846. Adding to the results of his per-
sonal observation the most trustworthy details
he could collect from competent authorities
on the past history and present state of
Southern Russia, he presents the whole to
the public in a compact shape and very read
able manner. Much of the information h