New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-01-22
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.


REPRESENTATIVE MEN SEVEN LECrUREs, by r
W EN.psos l2mo. PIP s85 Boston Philips, Samp-
son1 Co NeNYOrk Sold by Francis CO
The reserve Of this tite-pace IS to a certaiu dc.
gree. an indication OF the character Of the book
Mr. Emerson alwsys uses the tewost words for the
expression OF his thoughts. He seems to with
hold tar more than he communicates HIS speech
consists OF small number OF isolated, luminous
points. relieving a vast back ground oi silence His
words have somewhat the AIR OF prophecies or
oracles, bret ambiguous suggestive, variously
interpreted according to The condition vi the hearer
and like the books Of the Sybil iucreasins III value
as they diminish in number
This is one cause of their extensive popularity.
People are charmed nth mystery, when they De
lieye It 10 be laden with meaning There ~ pos
tive pleasure IN the excitement OF sounding It's
depths /, eratifes selflove, ii any result is Oh
tanned. One values the pearl he has had to dive
deep Tor though IT should be only common oyster
shell II the waters abound not only with true
pearls, hut with precious gems the fascination be.
comes irresistible No one can deny that Mr.
Emersous writings are filled with temptations OF
the latter hind We apprehend that even his
darkest sayings reveal less cause tor suspicion IN
proportion as they are brought to the light
With the admiration that Mr. Emersons works
have called forth 20 40 remarkable an extent, Tor
be has enthusiastic admirers IA almost every intel
lectual clrce who have nothing else ia common
il would bc tt poor compliment to the understand
inc Of his readers 10 question their extraordinary
merit There must be something IN their intrinsic
character which touches deep chord IN he
human heart for they are amos, entirely desti-
tate oimany OF the qualities, which are usually the
conditions Of high reputation.
One is inmedatel, struck with the pssson!ess
tone in which Mr. EmenOns statements are set
forth They seem like the uuerance OF a being
who has no part III flesh aud blood. He is never
beguled into error by the indulgence OF his sym
psthles Whatever the object that commands his
attention, whether production OF genius,
sceno Ia Nature. fash OF generous sentiment an
oa!pouring ot religious Inspiration, deed OF sub
hme hercism. a revelation OF the sweetest human
ties OF character, the energy Of raan, or the love
hness Of woman, he fixes upon IT his calm clear
intellectual eye, with no glance OF recognition TIL
he has weighed it in the golden scales Of his tine
AMI terrible criticism. His words are dealt out
with all elaborate nicely as II they were the dread
orecles of fate. This hsbitusl reucence gives
peculiar coloring Ia his style. II has the purity
the radiant wilderness Of the Viryin snow, but also
It's oodness Ii We could separate the dominant
thought from the person, We should say that the
heart had been dissolvodin the irresistible men
sruum Of the intellect This is the spirit of NJ. Els
philosophy We are sure it cannot hold OF his
character
"of progressive souls De tells AL loves and friend
shps documentary 10 ,os isre means, do you
ne SAM truth II yea do we are happy with The sane
happiness but presently Of passes ina the efce
non Of ae~ truth divorced, and no ,vuson n
usurc can hold US to zach other know how delicious :
ms cup "t oVe-i existing TOR yoa You existing for ME
bur tie ehids elin ging 10 his attempt 70 eCrugc
he hrcsde ard uepuS chamber tokeep The pieureaPhs
hei through which cur hs' lessons prrriy conveyed
The Eden Of God ia esre ami grand ke The out door land
sape remembered from the evening 6reside seems cold
shred sgA We pity those VITO iorso tie
Of nsisrc for cNndle-ighi ard cards
The passionless tone OF his writings combined
with the tendency TO a sharp and unrelen,ng
analysis, preserves Mr.. +. irom every symptom o,
asec,arian or party bias He woalj no more con
sen, to be sab,uested by party than by an indi'
vidusl With him II is 10 recommendation o. sn
idea. that il has met with fsvcr irom majority.
Nor is any man more free from the petty ambition
Of beng the leader OF sect or cVterle' ne Va"V'
think with crowd around hun. He guards bis
Rental individuality with jealous and sleePless
vigilance He is the last man 70 drill IA any resu-
lar organization. His standard Of truth has DO
dependence on the opinions OF others not even on
the traditions Of ages bat rests solely on ms private
1as1itions From this test, nothing Is exempt.
With less susteFe mparnslity, he would have
become the center Of wider and more prVnliscu'
Gus circle, than that which now looks ~ hlm Tor It's
highest light
In isct Mr.. Emersons aversion to System would
prevent him. under any circumstances from ex-
ef'me more than individual influence. his
Vanse magnetism draws around him cluster OF
sdnirers, warmed with an enthusiasm that is tor
s'sn 10 his own nature bat the subtle charm hss
@ysv~ over large masses, and cSa.d not b made