The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-11
"PIIRpON,n

Or Dialogue on he Immortality Of he Soul By
pLAro. frdnsiated from The origi ndl Greek BY
MADAM DAerA ; . Mn Notss and lamentations,
10 ,rhich is prS6rea NE Lifs ef he duthor by FEs-
ELoS.'
II Is recorded by Miss ArREs, that DR.. RoeER AS
CRAM, when on u visit 10 the family OF the Marquis
OF Dorset, at his Broadgate, he found on his
arrival that Lady Jane Grey was alone the rest OF
The family being engaged in IA hunting party. To his
great snfprse, he found her reading the Phadoa Of
Plato" She observed to him that the sport which
her friends were enjoying, was but shadow COM
pared with the pleasure she received from this sub
lime author.
In the present state Of fashionable society, we
doubt whether any Lady Jane Grey could be found
anywhere; for our modern damsels eeem 10 prefer
the writings of Eugene Sue George Sands, and Pau
de Kock, and other French loose moralists, TO those
higher productions Of either the heather or christian
world, which leach US our dniies here and reveal
cur destiny hereafter II is really surprising with
what ayidiy the emoralizIng and licentious novels
Of the doy ARE sought after and read and we regret
that the ess-that mighty epgine of power for
good OF for evil has not spoken our more earlessy
boldly, and uncompromlsingly against those scan
ialous writings With which our country is flooded.
In many Of the fashionable book stores of our large
cities these publications found in every variety
and 10 render them more attractive many Of them
Illustrated with asciyious and hIs-ssciling plates
What are we 10 expect, when streams Of cor.
ruption nre flowing throneh our land What
dreadful consequences may not be anticipated By
the philnlhropist and philosopher, when he be.
holds polnting and pornicious writings circulated
among the thoughtlesa, transporting, youthful and
Innocent And when 10 this we add The display Of
"Mode Artiste7,N can il be expected that virtue lib
cry and independence win long hold sovereign sway
in our favored land
We trust that better state Of things is at hand ;
and when We found copy Of the g PhGdoa Of
Plato on our table we felt assured that there was
redeemng spirit abroad THAT ii we had the i'bancn
Providence in his ordination, had also henevolently
laid the antidoic before u.s. Its not my purpose,
however, on this occasion TO write trade against
The infdel and corruptine writings Of the lay-our
present business is with Plato ION whose life and
divine conceptions we purpose 10 make few obser-
gations. He was born in Athens In the eiehty-eighh
Olympiad, and was descended from one OF The most
innsfrions families in that classic city. The name
Of Plaio's father was Aristo-who was descended
from codrus-and by his mother Perictone, his
genealoey could be traced TO Solon the wise law
maker OF Greece.
Plato was originally called Ar!stoces, but being
forehead and broad shoulders he was afterwards
called Plato by which name he was afterwards
Ii is said that whilst vet in his era
die bees shed honey on his lips; which was eonsid-
cred as an omen OF thar captivating eloquence, by
which he distinguished himself above oil his con-
temporaries. In his youthful days, poetry was his
favorite study, and he then composed two tragedies
and several elegies, all OF which when he resolved 10
devote himself 10 philosophy he threw into the
fire.
When Plato arrived ut twenty years Of age, his
father presented him 10 Socrates, TO instruct and
form his mind. The night prior 10 this, Socrates
had dream, in which be seemed to have in his
bosom, young Swan, which when the feathers
were come upon it, displayed lis wings aud singing
with inexpressible sweetness, with intrepid fight
ased Itself TO the highest regions of the air. That
philosopher did not doubt but il referred to Plato to
whom he applied demonstrating 1t as pressge OF
that unboundod fame, which his pupil was one day
destined to enjoy. A, the age Of twenty-eight Plato
with the other followers of Socrates, went Mega
%, 10 study under Euclid. He next went to Cyrene
where he studied Mathematics under Theodorus;
rom that place he passed into Italy, hear the les
ons Of Philolas Archytas, Of Tarenmm and Euri-
ns the three lannon's Pythagoreans of that period
Not contented with all be could learn from these
.reat masters he travelled into Egypt, TO receive /
he instructions Of the doctors and priests Of that
country, and he had formed the design Of going TO
India also, but was prevented by the wars by which
Asia was al that time conyulsed. Cpon his return |
o Athens alter all his travels he settled in quarter
allied the Academy, an unwholesone place, which
he purposely chose as necessary corrective TO that
Jyergrown state OF body, with good health which he
hen possesaed. The remedy had the desired effect
or he there had qnarian ngue which lasted year
ind half but by temperate and proper regimen, he
managed SO well tina, he recovered from that fever
which confirmed his health and strengthened bis
constitution On three different occasions he served
q soldier, The FIRST lime Tanagro the SECOND at
1orinth, and the third AZ Deloa, in which last expe
iition his party was victorious He was three times
a Sicily also the frat occasion he was induced
~ curiosity TO visit that Island that he might sac
he Volcano of Mount Rtna; he was then forty years
d age, He appeared at this time at the court OF
Dionysius the elder yrant Of Sicily who hal express
"a desire % zee him. The freedom with which
Plato spoke against tyranny would have cost him
lis life, had II not been for the snoi Offices Of Dion
md Aristomsnes. Dlonysus put him. notwithsan-
ling, into the hands Of Lacedemonian ambassador
? olides 10 whom be gave orders 10 sell him for
lave. By this embassldof he was brought 10 Eeina
where he was sold
There was in Egfna n law by which all Aihenians
were prohibited on pain 81 death from coming no
that island Under preience OF enforcing This law
ono Charmander accused him rs worthy of being
put TO death; but some having alleged that The law
was made against men, and not against phlloso.
pliers, itwna thought fl 10 profit by Inc distinction
nnd accordingly 10 scl him. Happily for him Ami.
ceris Of Cyrene who was Then nj Egina bought him
for twenty MIMI son him bacl; 10 Athens and lhua
restored him 70 his friends polides the Lacedemo.
man, who sold Plato was defeated nv Chabrias and
afterwards persisted by sea-
Dlonsysits the elder, knowing thai Plato had re-
Irncd 70 Athens, and fearing thai he should ay1nee
himself by aspersing bis character, condeseended
o write TO him md in some measure 10 ask his par.
ion. Plato in his answer, assured him thu, he might
make himself easy on tina, head Tor that philosophy
gave him too much employment TO leave him any
line 10 think Of him. Some Of his enemies having
approached him for having been abandoned BY the
yrant Dyonisius, at is NOT said he " Donysus
hat has abandoned Plato, II Il Plato who has aban.
.onei Diopysius.n
He went a second time into Sicily in the reign of
Dionysius the younger in the hope Of inducing thar
yrant TO restore their liberty his fellow citizens OF