Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-22


omniscient Power, the eternal Controller oil
the universe. But your comparison Of the
worm supposes the immortality Of the soul
and by what is il demonstrated TO my rea.
son 7"
by the instincts Of the human soul,
which irresisiiblJ impel us to look forward
with hope and JOY. Our life is a life Of ex-
peciation. From infancy to old age, hope is
the dominating pole of our destinies. In
what savage nation Of the earth has not the
doctrine Of future state been found exis-
lent And why should not the hope thus
conceded be accomplished Is the power
OF God more infinite than the mind Of his
creaturosf do not invoke the authority
Of revelation and the Holy Scripture. All
convincing to myself; for you they possess
no authority. The breeze which impels the
ship, is poweress to move the rock for the
rock has no expanding sails to receive its
impulse. and its feet are buried in the pom
derous immobilily Of earth. Shall we be-
lieve in the eternity Of matter, and not in
that Of the intelligence which serves 10 reg
ulate our opinions concerning matter Or
are we to suppose that love, virtue, genius,
result from the affinity OF certain terrestrial
Inoeculesl Can that which is devoid OF
thought enable US TO think : Can brute
matter be the basis Of human intelligence,
when human intelligence is able to direct
and govern matteri Why then do not
stocks aud stones think and feel as we dol"
Locke. the great English me,aphysicinp,
was inclined to suppose that matter might
be endowed with IDEAS" observed Charney.
There was contradiction, indeed, in his
theory, since he rejected the doctrine of
innate ideas, and seemed to admit the pos.
sibility Of inluitive knowledge" Then in.
terrupting himself with laugh, the Count
exclaimed, Have care. my kind instruc-
tor see you would fain involve me once
more in the quicksand of doubt, or plunge
me into the bottomless pit Of metaphysics %
81 have no knowledge of metaphysics %
said Girardi. gravely.
"And l but liite," observed Charney
mot, however, for want Of desotinp nv time
to the study. Bullet us drop a subject un-
profitable, and, perhaps injurious. You
believe, rejoice in your belief Your faith
is dear to you; and If, perchance, should
shake its foundations"
81 defy you to the contest - cried Cir.
ardi.
What have you TO gain by the result p
"Your conversation; nothing less, my
dear young friend, than your conversation.
Just now you quoted Locke. or that en-
inent philosopher know but single trait
that through life, end even on his DEATH
bed, he asserted the true happiness Of man.
kind to consis, in purity of conscience, and
hope in eternal life"
81 perfectly comprehend the consolation
10 be derived from such creed but my
better reason forbids me to accept it. n
enireat you, let us drop the subject" said
The Count de Charney.
And a constrained silence ensued.
Soon afterwards. something which had
been circling overhead, suddenly alighted
on the foliage Of the plant; greenish in
sect, OF which the narrow corslet was I'M
dulated whilish stripes.
"Sirw cried Chsrney, "behold in good
lime new text enabling you TO enlarge up
on the mysteries OF creation"
Girardi took the insect with due precau-
lion: examined il carefully paused for re-
fection; and suddenly an expression Of
triumph developed itself in his countenance.
An irresistible argument seemed 10 have
fallen from heaven into his hands. Com
mencing in his usual professional tone, he
gradually assumed more sublime ex-
preston, as the secret object OF his lesson |
through his language.
Mere ny-catcher rs l am" he began
with an arch smile, IL must restrict myself
10 my humble aitributions. and not presume
10 affect the pedantry of the scholar"
1.-THE most enlightened mind, said Char
ney, ''the mind which has pro6ted most
largely by the requirement Of knowledge, is
that which soonest discovers the limitation
Of its own powers, after vainly attempting to
penetrate intothe hidden mysteries Of things.
Genius itself breaks its wings against such
obstacles, without having extracted from the
wall Of flinis, by which il is obsiructed, one
spark Of the light to truth"
"We ignoramuses," observed Girardi,
arrive sooner at our object, by taking the
most direct road. If we do but open our
eyes, Con deigns 10 reveal himself in the
august sublimiiy of his works"
"On that point we are agreed" inter-
fupteu Onarney.
Proceed we then in our course. An
herb of the field sufiiced to prove to you the
existence of Providence butterfly, the
law Of universal harmony the insect before
US. Of which the organization is of still
higher order, may lead US still farther to-
wards conviction"
Charney, at The instance of his friend.
proceeded to examine the little stranger
with curious attention.
"Behold this insignificant creature re-
sumed Girardi. "All that human genius
could effect. would not add one title to an
organization, perfectly adapted to its wants
and necessities. II has wings to transport
Il from one place to another elytra to
lncase and secure them from the contact of
any bard substance. Its breast is defended
by cuirass, its eyes by a curious network
that dehes the prick of a thorn or the sting
Of an enemy. II possesses antenne to in
Ierrogate the obstacles that present them
sci, feet 10 attain its prey,--iron man.
dibles TO assist in devouring il, in digging
the earth for n relu0e or n denositorv Cor