The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-15 00:00:00

4d.
STAMPED sd.

was in this year that the radiant in Leo was first estab-
lished.

It has been found that the average height of the No-
vember meteors above the earth's surface is, in'round num-
bers, ninety-five miles at first appearance, and sixty miles
at extinction. Extraordinary showers may occur in at
least two consecutive years; and though the pr sent No-
vember, so far as can be foreseen, is likely to offer the
most imposing one, the year 1867 may also bring a very
unusual shower.

EPIC TE TITS' NOBLE AND ALL ; BUT
CHRIS TIAN PiIILOSOPIIY.

In the course of a very beautiful criticism upon the
philosophy of Epictetus, the Saturday Review remarks that
—Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Epictetus is
the degree in which the religious element becomes pro-
minent in his teaching, and the way in which his morality
is combined with it and grows out of it. The Stoical
schools had been the founders of what we call natu-
ral theology—the attempt to ascertain and establish
the grounds in reason for religious belief. But in Epic-
tetus the belief has become an energetic practical prin-
ciple of the most pervading kind. His whole teaching
rests on the ides, of the great system and constitution of
things, governed by the wisdom and goodness of God, in
which man 'fills his part, and in which he is watched and
helped by God his Father. No Christian teacher could be
more penetrated with this thought, or could have it more
constantly present to his mind ; and it is expressed by
Epictetus in words which, for their devout earnestness and
faith, it is not easy to read for the first time without won-
der. Thus he exhorts to the praise of God: —" Aro these
the only works of Providence with regard to us ? And
what speech can fitly celebrate their praise ? For, if we
had any understanding, ought we not, both in public and
in private, incessantly to sing and praise the Deity, and re-
hearse his benefits? Ought we not, whether wo dig, or
plough, or eat, to sing this hymn to God? Great is God,
who has supplied us with these instruments to till the
ground; great is God, who has given us hands and organs
of digestion; who has given us to grow insensibly, to breathe
in sleep. These things ought we for ever to celebrate ; but
to make it the theme of the greatest and divinest hymn,
that he has given us the power to appreciate these gifts
and to use them well. But because some of you are blind
and insensible there must be one to fill this station, and
lead, in behalf of all men, the hymn to God ; for what else
can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God ? Were
I a nightingale, I would act the part of a nightingale ;
were 1 a swan, I would act the part of a swan. But since
I am a reasonable creature, it is my duty to praise God.
This is my business. Ido it. Nor will I ever desert this
post so long as it is permitted me ; and I call on you to
join in the same song." (I. 16). So he represents morality
as an offering of the whole man to God :—" Boldly make
a desperate push, man, as the saying is, for prosperity, for
freedom, for magnanimity. Lift up your head at last, as be-
ing free from slavery. Dare to look up to God, and say,
Make'use of me for the future as Thou wilt. lam of the
same mind. lam one with Thee. I refuse nothing that
seems good to Thee. Lead me whither Thou wilt. Clothe me
in what dress Thou wilt. Is it Thy will that I should
bo in a public or a private condition ; dwell hero, or be
banished ; be poor or rich ? Under all these circumstances
I will testify unto Thee before men." (11. 16.) Does any.
good man fear that food should fail him ? It does not fail
the blind ; it does not fail the lame. Shall it fail the good
man ? Is God so negligent of his own institutions, of his
servants, of his witnesses ? What, then, If God does not
bestow food? What else than that, like a good general,
He hath made me a signal of retreat ? I obey, I follow ;
speaking well of my leader, praising His works. For I
came when it seemed good to Him, and again, when it
seemed good to Him, I depart ; and in life it was my busi-
ness to praise God within myself, and to every auditor,
and the world. Doth He grant me but few
things ? Doth He refuse me affluence ? It is
not His pleasure. He did not grant it to Hercules hig own
son." (111. 26.) His language is equally impressive when
he looks forward to the end of life, and describes the temper
in which it should find men :—" At what employment
would you have death find you ? For my part, I would
have it be some humane, beneficent, public-spirited, noble
action. But if I cannot be found doing any such great
things, yet at least I would be doing what I cannot be re-
st►ained from, what is given me to do—correcting myself,
improving that faculty which makes use of the phenomena
of existence to produce tranquillity, and render to the seve-
ral relations of life their due; and if I am so fortunate,
advancing still further in the security of judging right•
If death overtakes me in such a situation, it is enough for
me if I can stretch out my hands to God and say, " The
opportunities I have received from thee of comprehending
and obeying Thy administration I have not neglected. As
far as in me lay, I have not dishonoured Thee. See how
1 have used my perceptions; how, my convictions. Have
lat any time found fault with Thee ? Have I been dis-
contented with Thy dispensation; or wished them other-
wise ? Have I transgressed the relations of life ?
thank Thee that Thou host brought me into being. lam
satisfied with the time that I have enjoyed the things
Thou hest given me. Receive them back again ; and
distribute them as Thou wilt. For they were all
Thine, and Thou gayest them me." (111. 10.) I would
be found studying this, that I may be able to say to
God, "Have I transgressed Thy commands! Have I
perverted the powers, the senses, the instincts which
Thou hast given me ? Have I ever accused Thee, or
censured Thy dispensations ? I have been sick because it
was Thy pleasure, like others ; but I willingly. I have
been poor, it being Thy will; but with joy. I have not
been in power, because it was not Thy will ; and power I
have never desired. Host Thou ever seen me saddened
because of this ? Have I always approached Thee with a
cheerful countenance; prepared to execute Thy commands,
and the indications of Thy will ? Is it Thy pleasure that
I should depart from this assembly ? I depart. I give
Thee all thanks that Thou least thought me worthy to have
a share in it with Thee; to behold Thy works, and to
join with Thee in comprehending Thy government." Let
death overtake me while I am thinking, while I am writ-
ing, while I am reading such things as these. (111. 5). We
cannot read Epictetus without being continually struck
with the coincidence of his thoughts, and even phrases,
with many of the sayings which we aro familiar with in
the New Testament.

Manhood Suffrage in New York.
_ _

The article in the North American Review on the
corruption of the municipal boards of New York is
too strong a card not to be played as effectively as
possible in England by the opponents of manhood
suffrage. It might be supposed a new discovery
had been made, and the article in question contained
the proofs, so triumphantly has it been paraded
before the people of England. The story is indeed
a very old one ; the old, old tale of plunder and
corruption recorded in the annals of every nation.
Wherever one body of men can with impunity
plunder another body of men they will most as-
suredly do so. The means by which this is generally
accomplished is by a combination of the leaders
with the refuse of society, the former acting on
the ignorance and cupidity of the latter, and drown-
ing the remonstrance of intelligence and honesty by
the noisy clamour of an interested mob. The Con:
•
Con-
servative papers have not taken up the story of
corruption told by the Republican periodical, thou°
be
against the evils of manhooddsubff;acuitei,
cause the whole plot has been organisce
of New York, who called themselves
found in the
Conservatism in America has always _lli_
t supporters. u
most ignorant Irish its strongest
versal suffrage is a sure means 01:1
ignorant populace.
Conservatives.
and plunder in the hands
No where is this fact moreat
aimof
all the patriotic
than in America. The g
toof distinctly despotism,
recognisedtyranny,
statesmen there if 3
properly the high
may exercise
pain difficulty lies in the fact
The educatereh.htliperipveiloepglee
ofth that they
the country.
tu f eucxe -f
itghnaotratnhceey
and most of the dregs of the
ahnadvevictoei; lealolvviitrhorak
icsotnsetangtreai
How, which tends
so much to fertilise the Union,
the hands of an unscrupulous
steatctlleesfoirn thist
hntsctriteay. n
party this ignorant mass of poverty could easily be
turned to account, and this is just what has hap-
pened, and which will happen wherever a similar
po offers, until the vice grows unbearable,
aotpidiri
tttnit
becomesy the lesser of the two evils to face the
iniquity and suppress it at all hazards. The body
organised for the plunder of the property holders
of New York is simply a combination to use the
quickest means open to them of enriching them-
selves at the expense of their neighbours. The
readiest way was to obtain votes for those who had
no property, and use those votes to overwhelm the
opposition of those who represented property. The
property-holders were few and wealthy, and on
them the taxes were levied. The votes which
gave the corporation the power of levying the
taxes represented no property. The corpora-
tion plundered the property, and distributed
a portion of the plunder to those who had