The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-06 00:00:00

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN

MIND.

The philosophy of the human mind (and this is not
the least of its excellencies) will fill the soul with charity
and keep the sacred flame always alive, and always
bright. His equable and complaisant feelings who un-
derstands it, will seldom be interrupted, and but for a
moment. The errors of his fellow-mortals, will not
lever the link which binds him to all of human kind.
Willing to sacrifice on the altar of truth all that is dear
in life and life itself, he will deeply lament whatever
obstructs his progress, and will exert himself to the
utmost of his ability to remove it ; but even the
grossest and most pernicious errors will excite in his
bosom no resentment. He will bear in mind that
mens opinions result from circumstances over which
they have themselves little or no control ; that if they
are really and conscientiously believers in any doctrine,
they have such evidence of its truth, as appears to them
solidland conclusive ; that they cannot believe it without
such evidence, and with it, if their discernment enable
them to detect no fallacy in it, they cannot avoid
believing it ; that it is not in the power of the mind to
adopt or reject what opinions it pleases ; that the men-
sure of knowledge possessed by the individual deter-
mines entirely, independent of volition, the conclusion
on which he rests ; and that to regard him with aver-
sion because he rejects or receives a particular doctrine,
is as absurd as to resent his thinking the colour of an
object red which is black, or which, from some defect in
his organ of vision, or some deception in the medium
through which he views it, appears to him to be so. If
be perceives that his own mind is better informed than
those around him, he will avail himself of every means
in his power to impart the light of which they are des-
titute ; but that he should regard them with for
this which is their misfortune, that he should exclude
thorn from his society and heart, torture their bodies
and enchain, as far as he can enchain, their minds, is as
impossible as that he should seriously propose to am-
putate their hands or their feet in order to remedy a de-
fect of their sight. Not even on account of their crimes
does he cherish the least degree of bitterness against them.
Viewing them as placed in unfavourable circumstances
for the cultivation of the better principle of their na-
ture, either not knowing or not considering in what
their true dignity, honour, and happiness consist, and
accustomed to confound their immediate gratification with
their ultimate felicity, and their direct gain with their
final well-being, he regards them with unfeigned com-
passion ; and because these errors are productive of a
deeper misery than any bodily maladies, he feels on
their account a more profound sorrow. Never does he
think of the prison, or the manacle, or the lash, or of
the infliction of punishment in any shape, but as it may
be the means of correcting their evil propensities, and
of establishing better views and forming better dispo-
sitions. And the influence of these enlightened and
generous principles extends to the closest and dearest
connexions in life, imparting to the father, the husband,
the friend, the master, a benignity, which can be pro-
duced so fully and sustained so equally by no other
means.—Dr. Southwood Smith.

FATAL COAL-PIT ACCIDENT.—Last week
two of those distressing accidents, explosions of fire damp, so
tfrequently fatal to human life, took place at the Victoria mal-
p t, on nothwell Haigh, near Leeds, whereby six persons were
'idled, and several others severely burnt. The men had safety
lamps with them lighted, but were using naked candles, feeling
perfectly secure. No blame attaches to the masters or their
agents, who had used every precautionary means in their power
1 for the workmen'c safety. lhe first explosion happened within
! little more than 100 yards from the shaft. It appears to have
I been one of the fatal misfortunes to which the miners are ex_
posed, which no human ingenuity can prevent or knowledge
foresee, and has entailed on three unfortunate families lasting
wretchedness and misery, which can only be partially alleviated
b public sympathy and b. nevolenee.—Leeds Intelli9encer.