New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-12

Indeed, he was always seeker, never dogma
tist-cherishing profound attachment to every
truth which he in clear light, and herolcal'y
resoute in apply ing il to the conduct OF life, bat
never claiming to have exhausted the anfsthoma-
bic ny stories Of the unverse-more sensitive to
difficulties in speculation, than inclined sponts
neity of faith.-and accordingly failing to attain
the spiritual center Of repose, ia which the mere
consciousness Of life would become joy, and the
daily performance Of duty resound with the mel
ody Of holy hymns.
Hi. natural instincts, however, were all pure,
reverent, and aspiring.-not entirely hopeful, but
often irradiated with divine trust-pervsded
with anoble humanitsry spirit-and with strong
tendency to the faith in spiritual freedom and pro-
gress, which underlies the great reformatory move
ments OF the present day.
With bis clear sighted pentration into the evils
of modern society, he could not be Indifferent, to
the claims presented by the large ystems for social
melioration, which have oflate years attracted so
much both of sympathy and opposition from lead
ing minds in this country and In Europe. Ac-
cording to the statements Of those who knew him
best, he was Christian Socialist, as that term IL
used by most writers. He was neither Com
sed with any distinct school of social reformen,
for he was too ndividuslistic in the formation OF
bis opinions, to enlist under the standard OF any
leader. He was fully convinced OF the great
social need,-to which the masses are now open
ing their eyes every where, however 1t may be
concealed from the pretended wise men OF the
day,-of substituting cooperation for competi-
ton in the organic alton OF industry, commerce,
and the usual pursuits OF business Without
this as he supposed the daily life Of society can
not be brought into accordance with the demands
of Christianity Still he did not believe that any
Social science had yet been discovered. This was
In perfect harmony with the scePtcal character oil
bis mind to which we have already alluded
The same caution which characterized Mr. Per-
kins in the advocacy Of Socialism was manifested
in his treatment of the subject OF Slavery. he
was believer in gradual emancipation proceed
ing from course oflegisaton, that should act on
the whole Slave population, raise the character
Of that degraded multitude, and prepare them for
the enjoyment of freedom.
The literary character of Mr.. Perkins, to judge
from the productions Of his pen contained in these
volumes, il not of the highest order, was distin-
guished for many qualities which entitle its pos
SCISSOR to an eminent position among American
scholars. His culture, though not systematic, was
generous and comprehensive, embracing wide
circle of subjects, and, with his strongly Impress
lille nature, Importing richness and variety to
his mental furnishings which could be surpassed
by few students even of much greater pretensions.
As a prose writer his compositions included an
extensive range-from the light and humorous
tale to grave dispositions on philosophy and his
tory His fictitious attempts are generally marked
by sprightliness of tone, colloqsial ease Of ex-
preston, and an inventive power always in sub
section to the restraints Of chaste and cultivated
| taste His more elaborate productions especially
those on various topics of American history evince
profound research, an exquisitely keen perception
of characteristic traits and genuine patriotic en-
thusissm. With lively, but earnest, and, at
times, somber imagination, and peculiar sensi-
tiveness to every form of external beauty, he was
not SO successful in his poetical efforts as might
| have been anticipated from the delicacy and mo-
| biIity of bis organization He would, no doubt,
have found his most congenial labors, as well a.
his purest fame, in another sphere Of intellectual
activity, if bis life had served for the full develop
meDt Of bis powers.
CRITICISM OF THE MEMOIR.
The peculiar relation existing almost from birth
10 death between Mr. Perkins and his bOgrapher
gives charm TO the narrative Of his life resembling
that which always attaches to personal confessions.
Born within two months of each other, contested
by close family ties, their mothers being sisters.
residing almost in the same house in Boston dur
ing the Winter, and at the distance Of short
half mile from each other in Summer, in the pic
turesque enyirons Of that city, guarded from pro-
miscuous intercourse with other children and kept
much within the select domestic circle, they grew
up from the cradle like twin-brothers. congo
niaty of temperament and disposition was mani
tested at an early age, which 30 far from dimin-
ishing with the lapse of years, gathered fresh
strength from the experience OF life. Itisrare in.
deed, that such sincere mutual sympathy springs
up between two masculine minds, while at the
same time, there were strongly marked idiosyn-
cracies in each sufficient to give the interest Of
action to their intimacy.
We do not perceive, however, that Mr. Chan.
ming has been betrayed by bis partialities into
any exaggerated or too highly colored statements
in regard 10 bis friend. The memoir bears the
evident stamp of truthfaness. As far az posi-
BILE. Mr. Perkins is made to describe his own cha
racter by the naive revelations Of his familiar cor
respondence. The story Of bis mental conflicts.
Of bis transition from the vanishing lights Of tradi
ton to the higher views Of personal conscious
ness, and Of bis increasing devotion to practical
efforts for humanity in place Of unsubstsntal sps-
culations, is Swallowed forth with the deicacy ap-
proprate to the theme, without the attempt TO en-
BODY details of which the character must be d.
vined by congenisl minds, rather than exposed 10
the searching freedom of analysis.
The style of the memoir is q striking specimen