Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-04-27
RICHMOND. April a.
FOR THE ENOul
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
ON TIE PROPRIETy OE Ey7.aBLLSHlhG n
NEJy PR0FESy0RSiffP, IN THE UNfyER
yfI'y or OXFORD. IN ENGLAND.

II was subject Of astonislln,ent in the age
of SIR ISAAC NEWTON, and it remains
! ordinary advances In science should be made
by an individual.
A singular felicity attended also the career
Of that llustrious man. He had the happiness
Of enjoying, during his lite. the tame. the non
learned and the great; but which, as DIR.
LEMPRIERE judiciousIy remarks, are often
lavished, with insulting profusion, on their rr-
mains o. their Eo; NSWN NE e doG,raes sna
In his own day, an universal reception in tue
scientific world; and TO him. and 10 POPE,
were literally. though not unjustly, assigned
that living distinction, and that cote'nporane-.
ous admiration, which the capriciousness of
mankind withheld from MILTON, aud from
a SHAKESPEARE.
Tile philosophers of France, aud especially
D'ALEMBE1T, endeavor to account for both
these remarkable particulars in the destiny of
NEWTON by attributing IL to cause, which
ii is, unquestionabiy. honorable in them to as
sign ; but which. ii true. would rebound inf
nitcly more to the honor OF the English nation.
They ascribe to that people agenerous sensibiify
u The merits Of their men NJ intellectual ennence.
MIR. HUME concurs in attaching this fine
quality TO the English character but the Edi.
tors of the Edinburgh Review give the preem-
hence, in this respect, to the Itaiians.s Perhaps
every people has certain proportion OF this
disposition while none can boast of an entire
exemption from the opposite delinqaency....
IL
unnrerIted neglect; but il is also updemiable
that TO the merits of LINN US his country
was just. and that neither FRANKLIN. nora
WASHtNGTON, was left 10 receive the
tardy veneration of America.
There are, however, circumstances In rela-
ton to SIR ISAAC NEWTON, which, if at
tentively regarded, may afford aid in account
ing both for his extraordinary advances, aud
his early aud welI-earned celebrity.
Without deviating into the history of either
of the sister seats of British learning the esta.
blishment Of the LUCASIAN mathematical
professorship, in the University OF Cambridge,
may be regarded as permanent link in that
concentration of causes by which, under di-
vine providence, this most exalted intellect
was TO he reared Nor less importaat in its
ultimate results was the appointment OF the
celebrated DIR ISAAC BARROW 10 that pro-
fessorshiP. Titus The whole mass of msfhc-
establishment, extended almost to its i'm.
eassab'e limits, was. at an early period of life,
delivered over TO the capacious mind of NEW
TON, TO be Ivy him so successfully and glori-
ousiy applied to physical science, for the bene-
fat Of new age and for the wonder OF many
ages, which are yet to follow.
Although the right of claiming NEWTON
as its alumnus is justly esteemed high and
honorable distinction by the University of
Cambridge; yet, il is presumed that, on fair
and impartial consideration, the palm OF lite
rary aud scientific einiHence and usefulness
appertains 10 the University Of Oxford. Ii is
on this accOuBt that the suggestion ola new
professorsbip; which might, in due course of
time, produce grand and unexpected results /;
has been made in relation TO that University.
A sentiment has very geaerally been enter
fained since the advances of Newton in natu.
raj philosophy, since the brilliant discoveries
which succeeded them in chemistry, and since
the general sRtHAnescenee, 1T that expression be
admissible, of every department of learning !;
that from its diversity and extent, the eutire
mass of human knowledge can never be re-
trced TO system.
The sboriive attempts OF PYTHAGORAs,
of ARISTOTLE, of BACON, of LOCKE, Of
D'ALEMBERr, have tended greatly TO con-
firm and strengthen this Impression,
The iterati of Scotland have long abandon-
ed the expectation of such an Improvement in
science. The most recent ex pressiou OF their
despair is contained in the Edinburgh Review,
fer September 1851 They notice DIES CAR.
TIES as harins made ar atts~pt TO gire q system,
IF al the scienses. Such do they iuagin The
difficulty of this task, that they regard the at
tempt as alone ercusa6fe, uhen lectures are The
sole means Of instructioa and Uhen at instruction
must be expected from a single lecturer.t This
barbareus stage science has long since passed !;
and, therefore, in its present improved state,
they use, with reference to such system, the
discouraging language: THIS IMPRACTICAL
The learned and ingenious gentlemen are
however. by no means insensible of the value
Ofsach system and lean to the idea of its
practicability, in relation to the subordinate
divisions.
The following remarks are as elegant, as
they are judicious.
1.-The very general decisions seem to us
Tapch less useful subject OF Reconsideration than
of these last in the phi steal sciences mf,st be
regarded both as an indication. and as cause
of their great advances in modern times"
The very detective nomenclature. and
Imperfect subdivision of the moral and poIiii-
cal sciences liz attended with practical incon-
veDieHcss; of which hetter example cannot,
perhaps, be given, than the want of line OF
demarcation between politics and I,olsiicoi eco
nysdf trtca Of .st..
nomical reasoniDgs in the most important
legislative discussions II
More generous. and less Responding, is the
English mind. Those gentlemen who, in En-
gland, preside IN the department OF criticism
when discussing the same subject, and prompt
ed by the same occasion tke appearance OF
professor STEWARDS erudite and far-fam ed
dissertation use langasge which is far from
being compatible with tile idea that il is al
this era in science. inaccessible TO make such
an attempt. On4he contrary, fhey expressly
say, that it Ia an attempt rhich ,couid giue them
pleasure.
aspirations of hope.
Had our author tried his strength with
D'ALEmBERf,. indeed, it would have been
another matter"
preface TO the Frencil Encyclopaedia, was OH,
OF exceeding difficulty; and, OH that ac-
count, quite beyond his powers, which, ex
cePt IN mathematics, were only moderate"
But philosophical account OF the objects
aud limits OF speculative science, of the rela
ton in which the various branches stand 4
each other, of the progress which cach has
made, OF the causes Ivy whirh their turtle
advancement has been respectively retarded
of their present state, and of the problem
which til remained nndiscus or uDdeier
mined; Is desihcrainm in philosophy, wbic
IL would have given us pleasure TO find th
eloquent pen OF MIR, STEWART employe,
in supplying bat which, we willingly admit
he is not TO he blamed Tor 10. having attempt
ted, on the present sccasion"T
May not the lone delay in cflecfinr this nh