The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-31
Corresponding Of tbe Republic.
BosToN, August 2s, Is49.
THE CAPTURED MARINER.

The prompt action OF the Secretary of the Navy
in directing the United States sloop- of war Van
dalia TO stop al Procession Bay, in the Straits of
Magellan, in order that search may be made for
Mr.. Bourne, of the New Bedford schooner John
Allyne, made captive by the natives of Patagonia,
has been highly gratifying to the commercial com
Straits will enable the officers to make valuable
Investigations in respect 10 region to which our
information is scanty and dubious. The report
that il is the intention of Mr. Preston TO visit New
England during the autumn has called forth many
cordial expressions of welcome from journalists.
STARRING CASE.
There unpleasant collision last evening in
our neighboring city of Charlestown between MIR.
Crowningshield, secretary of Commodore Downs,
and Lieutenant Edward G.. Bowers, U. S. N. in
which the latter stabbed the former with dirk
knife in the region of the heart. The wound is not
considered dangerous Domestic suspicion is said to
have been at the bottom of the quarrel Bowers has
been arrested. He about to sail in the German
town, with which he dissatisfied, supposing that
Crownngshield had been instrumental in having
him ordered off Bowers examined before a
justice to-day, and fully committed for trial. He
is said to have borne an irreproachable character
hitherto, and to be man much esteemed and re-
spected II is said that the plea of insanity will be
set up in his case.
NEW PAMPHLETS.
Divinity School in Cambridge, by Rev. +. H.
Hedge" has Just made its appearance from the
Cambridge press. 1t is eloquently written. The
author takes the view that theological controversy
and criticism are not for the church, but for the
school. The function of the church is worship and
instruction in the practical wisdom Of life. The
church, especially in its sacraments and purely
ligous movements and acts, must be understood to
occupy ground above the possibility of dispute,
or the reach of the understanding. II must be the
fellowship Of the spirit the communion Of all souls
No is idle to expect that religion shall
cape the nqusition of that faculty which brings all
things into judgment, seven the deep things Of
Cod. No one is so unreasonable as to desire it.
But let the inquistion be confined to the school,
and let the church know not of it, little may
be. "Let the distinction says Mr.. Hedge, sbe
broadly marked and rigidly maintained, which
divides philosophy and religion. The Office of phi
losophy is to comprehend to explain to lay hold of
with the understanding, to satisfy the understand
ing. Religion lives and moves and has its being in
that which passeth understanding. The aim of
philosophy is knowledge; it values only that which
can be known, and only so far as it can be known.
The aim Of religion is repose in the unknown. the
unknowable.
"Let us beware, as Protestants, of giving dispro-
portionate emphasis and action to the intellect in
religion;I mean the lower intellect, the dialectic
faculty, the carnal understanding. This has been
all along the vice of the Protestant movement, as
it was of the Greek movement in the second and
third centuries.
Revelation, in its origin, transcends, and, as
revelation, must transcend historic investigation,
and the measures and methods of the understand
ing This Is Its SPECIFIC distinction, without which
it is not revelation, but philosophy. The divine
origin of Christianity must be postulated it
be proved. i should esteem the religion less
it capable of demonstration. That must be a poor
religion which could be proved. believe in the
divine origin of Christianity, because not how
any thing short of this account for its history
accept the miracles recorded in the gospel, be-
cause find in them no difficulty so great as en-
counter if reject them. But ] do not believe that
these things are susceptible of demonstration. ! do
not think it wise TO insist upon them. Attempts to
prove the truth of Christianity to me like at
tempting TO prove the luminousness of the light.
The light is its own demonstration; no argument
can make it so evident as il makes itself So this
moral light, the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
what can say of it What can say in de-
fence of the Christian revelation authoritative as
its own voice, convincing it's worka'
The other pamphlet that the day sends forth is
entitled GA letter to young man who has just
tered college" II is from the press of Crosby and
Nichols. From glance here and there, Ct have
not had ii two minutes in my hand y should infer
it cleverly written. On page ~ the writer
says: 81 is universal rule that perfect and
healthy mind cannot exist in am unhealthy body.
Even genius is subject TO this immutable law, and
there Il no broader line TO be drawn in literature
than that between the healthy and the unhealthy.
Can you not see scrofula in Dr. Johnson? Do not
Byron and Bulwer smell of gin and tobacco? (See
the latter's confession in his water cure) How
the mighty thoughts of Coleridge obscured by the
fumes of that pernicious drug which his ruin"
&c. The man has opinions Of his own, you see.