Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-18

fers from The COLLECTION OF sdW0osse' ~
che REQ. Joseph BsringtOn. Svo.
No. l.
Seldom has the attention of mankind been
30 steadily fixed, or SO well deserved as oy
the History of Abeillard and Heioisa. The
prolonged curiosity with which they have
been regarded, and the vigilance that has
a,,eayored 10 detec. their adventures amid
the ponder ous annals Of an uninyiting age,
result from union Of circumstances which
never before combined to render universal
" interesting the incidents ofindividual life.
The merits indeed of these eminent persons
were, as willpresently be shown, by.no means
equal. nor have their claims to public con-
sideratien been always accurately dehned.
Attractiog sympathy and wonder by series
of calamiious yicissitudes, they are often
viewed only as the slaves ola romantic pas
sion, the origin at once oftheir celebrity ana
their sorrows. A very slight acquaintance
with the history of the middle centuries is
however adequate to enlarge this narrow
speculation. and to identify the chief OF
nanents Of their science with the iar-iameo
founders OF the Paraclete, The metaphy-
sician, in tracing the triumphs othls subtle
craft. finds among its pIoudest records the
name OIL Abeillard theology may ackno"-
ledge him as her ingenious and rational ex-
pounder-religious liberty as one OF Inc
countless martyrs whose happiness on EARN
has persisted in her cause. In regard to Hell
oisa. there is no description OF readers from
her virtues viii not elicit esteem, and her
genius admiration.
To our acquaintance with these iilastrl-
Gus subjects Of his biography, it cannet De
pretended that Mr.. Berington has added
much He has told nothing new, nor has
he told old things very gracetuily-yet by
accumulating many facts which previously
lay loosely among chronicles and memoirs
he has Supplied their scattered intelligence
by methodical and connected narrative =
His book will disabnse young ladies OF an 10
pinion that Aheillard and Heloisa were only
remarkable for being desperately in love
with each other, and in his numerous hl>torl-
cal excursions he has gathered facts and ex-
posed mistakes, which the general reader
might be too indoleat to Investigate in
more authoritative document. For exam
ple he has shown, to the surprise OF many
well disposed Professionals, that christianity
before the Reformation was not system of
idolatry. aud that the Popes were not all
tyrannical debauehees By carefully exam
lining the edition of Abeillard's works con-
tanning lis memoirs of himself, published by
Amboise and illustrated BY De Chesne. Mr..
Bennington has detected various misrepresen-
tations which the great but malignant mind
OF Bayle had imposed on the world. That
he has avoided the enthusiastic partiailty OF
Dom Gervaise as diligently as he processes,
may be questioned f; and the question Will
not be soon answered, as it is perhaps one
rather of feeling than OF tact,
Peter Abeillard was born in the year 1919
in Little Brittany. Under the guidance OF
Roscellinus, he was instructed in th. phllo-
sophy which, under the name of pominalism,
then divided with realism the empire ofnind,
and on which are founded The modern met
aphysics of Scotland. So rapid was the pro-
gress of the aspiring novice, that in his 10th
Year be deserted his master. and after re-
ceiying for years all the qualification which
provincial praise could furnish, went TO Paris 4
in the year lo99 Here he attended the
lectures of William de Champeaux, a learn
ed and eloquent polemic, bat soon doubling
the infallibiliiy, and opposing the dogmas Of
his master, he withdrew from what he deem
ed an inglorious pupilsge, and at the age OF
22 established a philosophical school at Me-
lun. dissatisfied By the eagerness with
wbich multitude Of scholars frequented his
lectures, or by the universal praise which
crowned them, he resolved to place his glo-
ry beyond the influence of rivalry or change,
by vanquishing the logical archimage OF Pa
ris. After many controversies on the fash
;onable doctrines of the day, the veteran De
Champesux at length yielded to his pupil,
& the victory of the nominahsts seemed for
ever to FIX the fame of Abeillard. After re-
manning for two years in his native country,
whittier he had retired for the recovery OF
his health. which assidous labor had impair