New-York daily tribune., 1849-06-08
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.

I've" iCIA sod ~ donA whey
The interest Of an Anniversary Discourse sell
dom extends beyond the occasion OF its delivery
The orator may deem himself fortunate, Il by the
selection Of hrs topic or the felicity Of It's 1srs-
ton, be affords an epbemersl qualification 70 the
most Intelligent portion Ci his audience. IL -
rarely within bis power 20 develop subject Oi
wide and permanent interest, 10 throw fresh light
on the most lofty or the most profound themes Of
human speculation or to arouse a stronger faith IL
those truths which wake, 20 perth never" on
which the life Of the soul and the Advancement o.
Humanity essentially depend. He may win the
pleased attention by the adaptation Of his subject
u the wants Of the times by bis skillal reference
% local, passing events, by bis ssies Of spOrtiye
humor, his play Of sarcastic wit the bril'isncy Of
his eloquence the ingenuity Of his illustrations,
and the vigor Of bis arguments but We are sell
dom authorized TO class lis Grafton among those
works which are % be studied and digested, and
which We treasure in our Libraries, as store o.
important information, or stimulant to Orls;aal
thought.
Ths Anniversary Dsoourses Of Mr. SCMSER form
an exception to the rule we have above alluded
to. We have never had the good fortune to listen
to him, on such an occasion, and know only from
general report the immediate effect Of his orato
~ Such genuine sincerity, however-the first
spring of eoquence-such sfillence Of classical aln-
sons and Illustrations, such flowing grace OF compo-
sitiou such old English heartiness OF thought ana
expression, could not faii to make deep impress
sion on a popular assembly and to crown the
speaker with "glory enough for one day But
we have his printed Discourses before US, and
can testify from personal knowledge to their SID
guar merits They are pregnant with thoughts OF
profound and universal interest. They are not
productions to be laid aside with the occasion
that called them forth but to be preserved for our
future instruction and delight They derive this
quality, in a great measure from three charactsr-
istlcs of the authors mind his esrnestness-lle
union Of moral fearlessness and intellectual eau
ton in the statement OF his opinions-and bis rev.
erence for original principles In comparison with
popular customs or fashionable beliefs. His VII
tings have the identity that grows out Of the in
luence Of these traits and hence, it is imposs-
bic that they shC uld not possess something of the
permaueuce of the elements from which they pro-
coed
The present Grafton honorably fulfls the prom
ise tf its predecessors. Its subject, " The Law
Of Human Progress,' requires more than a super
fetal discretion TO treat wisely and truly. Mr.
SuMNER first considers the history of this Law
its origin, aud It's gradual development aud recog
milton; and then discusset its character its con
ditons and limitations, the duties which 1t seems
to enioiu, aud the encouragemen's which it si
fords Previously to the advent of Christianity he
fl nds but slight and imperfect traces OF the recoe
milton of this Law. A dim vision Of It seems O.
have inspired the Ecogue of the Roman poet
" hen " he breaks for.h in words OF vague aspIrs-
tion, which have sometimes been supposed 10 aus
picate from Hesthen lips the coming of the Sa-
viour" But the Christian Religion is the religion
Of Progress. The Sermon on the Mount reveals
the vital truth that all the commands Of Deity,
marking the final distant goal OF all Progress
among men, shall one day be obeyed "One joi
Or one title shall in wise pass from the law TIL
all be fulfilled" There is 40 degree of good SO
vast or beautiful, as not to be included withn the
sphere Of this sublime promise. Still, the essen
tlsl law OF Christianity failed to be understood
There was undoubted progress in the development
of events But the principles which underay
and governed these events were hid from the
minds, from whom we might have expected a
true appreciation OF their phosophy-were recog-
pized neither by Mschiavelli, the most consum
m ate historian and politician of his age, by Bodin
the able Spectator on governmeutby Bossuet the
eloquent teacher of religion aud history, nor by
Grotius, the illustrious founder of the Law of Ma
tions 1t was reserved to Vico Neapolitan Pro
lessor in the early part OF the last century to de-
clare the existence OF a Law, by which the move
ments of the Past had been effected.
After paying Just and discriminating tribute
to Vico. who though he recognized Humanity as
governed by general Laws, did not perceive that
these same Laws promise to conduct 1t through
unknown aud infinite stages, Mr.. SUMNER gives
sn admirable description of the position of Leib-
ntz and proceeds to consider the recognition OF
the Law of Progress in it's successive stage, 10y
/ essing, Herder, Descartes, Pascal Perrsult and
until we come to the more recent time
If Turgot and Condorcet. This historical sketch is
executed with mastery skill, condensing grea,
earning into a small compass.
The author then enters upon the second part OF
lis subject. and defines the Law OF Progress In
he following sentence MAN, as an individual,
$ capable of indefinite improvement. Societies
md nations which are but aegregatons Of men,
md finally the Human Race or collective Human
ty, are capable OF indefinite improvement And
his is the Destiny OF Man, OF Societies, of Ma
ions and Of the Human Race" This does not
mply the attainment OF absolute perfection as
appears to have been supposed by Leibnitz, Tur
,oi. aud Cordorcet. God only is perfect Know
edge and virtue which are his attributes are in
iaite; nor can man hope, ia any lapse OF time to
hend this immensity. As the asymptote,
o geometry constantly approaches its curve, yet
an never reach it, so are human souls the ssymp
otes OF God.
In comprehending the Law of Progress, We
must recognize two conditions OF Humanity, first,
,s unity or solidarity and second indefinite dura-
Jon upon earth We must also consider that grad
.al change is necessary condition OF this Law
Nothing is accomplished except by time and exer
ion Nature sbhors violence and suddenness
she does everything slowly and by degrees. II
$ sometime before the seed grows into the
brighter consammate flower Hence, the i'm
,ortance OF lust M deraton, OF the reconciliation