Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-06
PUBLISHED DAILY BY
MIrEI. SNOW ID IL n,
From the Boston Daily .4drertiser.

from the manuscript of Jeremy Bentham'; and
nrincipally with the view of removing false I'M
pressions In regard to the character and personal
habits Of that distinguished philosopher, has pre-
fixed TO the work a biographical notice. Mr.
Neal complains. that Mr. Bentham's character
is not generally understood: and we have been
convinced of the truth of the assertion, by cur
sorv examination of this work. We shall there
fore hermit the author to speak for himself:
From what know Of Mr.. Bentham, have
TO doubt of his being an atheist. l have been
told so. by those who know him; good many OF
his more Youthful followers are so-if they them,
selves may be credited! and though we never mad
any conversation together that satisfied me, still,
as have said before have 10 doubt OF his be-
inc an atheist. And | mention tins here. that
[ NAV not be charged with blindness, to what
iookupon as not only the greatest, but as the on
IL error of that mans faith. Not that ne 6et'eces
there is no God do not say so; but he Is not
thoroughly satisfied, believe, that there IS Tod.
If he would inquire, and it Is not even yet 100
late, he would perceive. what he must deiight IN
hopinq. even fit were not proved. the existence
Of One. who is emphatically the Father of such
men as he is. Peradventure, it is not so much
atheism, after all. as 1t is mistake
Doubtless, it is mistake-and pretty I'M
.nortaut one. Mr.. Neal. however, thus proceeds
:. We may be sorry for such things. but if they
are otherwise good men, our sorrow will lead us
rather to pity than to rage or hatred for them.-
As well might we rebuke those troubled with te-
yer. as them that require TO be confirmed BY
touch, or taste, or cipherng, of the existence
of Deity. Why may not men be suffered to
believe what they please. what they can rather,
about God and future state. and all the mystic
ries of theology. as about any other subject oil
dispute or inquiry. We do not quarrel with
men now about their belief Touching wizards. or
the motion of the planets, or the origin oil the
blacks. Why should we, about their belief re.
specting their Father above! What say, be-
leye. am no atheist-if were should ayow
il in the face of heaven and earth, and abide the
consequences.
Iii painful to see man like Mr.. Neal, mad
yertentiy without question: treating the belief In
the existence of Deity as matter OF compare
lively unimportant speculation. We turn from
this subject, to give a few specimens of the de-
scription of the personal habits of the philoso-
pher. On the occasion of Mr.. Meals dining with
him for the first time
- He began with removing a cover-judge of
nv amazement to see one potatoe IN the dish,
and but one. 1t was large and mealy. be sure
but hardly mouthful for hungry man, who had
lone passed his regular dinner hour. But while
| was wondering at the simplicity and straight
forwardness of the philosopher, who fell upon the
potatoe, broke tup. and began pealng it with his
fingers, a turcen of capital soup was served: and
| was directed to bottle Uf Burgundy that stood
on my right. and botte.of Madeira on my left,
which. "a the philosopher never tasted wine,
were probably intended for his two secretaries
and myself To the soup succeeded oyster pat
ltcl no
of his cook Then we had plum pudding. apple
pie and beef; and while he ate of the two former
as first course, such being the fashion of his
youth, we were served with the beef: and while
we partook of the plum pudding and apple-pie.
he took beef, as we say here. | mention the
courses. and the very dishes, and the order in
which they appeared, thus particularly, because
of the strange stories that are abroad on the sub
ject all of which are not only untrue, but ridicu-
lously untrue. He talked good deal after the
heavy work of the dinner was through; and his
conversation was delightful, not so much on &C
count of the subject or the language, though the
former was full of interest, and the latter good
enough to satisfy me, as on account OF the gene
raj. unaffected pleasantly of his manner, with
here dash of good-natured sarcasm, aud there
a sprinkle Of downright rogueishness."
Il do not know that ever saw finer pic
ture than this old man. hurrving away on a re-
spectacle trot, with cane that he calls dapple.
after the favorite mule of Sancho Panza: plain.
single-breasted coat, ola dark greenish olive:
white hair, as white, as plentiful; and curved a
bout as mucl as the name of horse; at straw
hat. edged and banded with bright green rib
bon: thick woollen stockings rolled up over his
knees outside of pair of drab trowsers (he hates
breeches-never could look at himselfin breech-
es without laughing. he SAYS; waistcoat of thin
striped calico, all open at the bosom-a dress.
take it all together, which he wears not only in
the depth of winter. but in the heart of summer y
"a5. Sunday Mr.. B. sleeps standing after
dinner: fell once, he says, and hurt himself on
the elbows: the approaches Of sleepar extremely
delightful, he adds, being half asleep at the time.
He Sits up in bed in the morning to enjoy the ap-
proaches of sleep-uot to sleep And here it
may not be amiss to describe the bed. The
philosopher sleeps in bag, sometimes with his
coat on: the bed not being made up for month
together"
"Mr. Bentham, observe now, has way Of
walking with one leg held up stif-his wooden
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