Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-15

sary and the eternal while it taught the identity
and oneness of all being with an acuteness and pro-
fundity of reasoning which Spinoza himself may
have equalled but certainly has not surpassed Tor
it is hardly presumed that even the admirlng frof.
| Ore will rank the Dutch philosopher as head and
shoulders above Plato and Plounus. In TACT,
whether we scan the ancient speculallons OF
the Asatic world, the subtle dispositions OF the
Elealic school in Greece or the mystical Platonlsm
of the Alexandrians, we shall find the doctrine
which Spinoza taught perpetually re-appearing, II
not as distinctive and dogmatic system, at least
as tendency of the human mind," to employ
M Saisset's own expression OF this fact. But apart
from the wider view Of the subject the history OF
Spinozsm itself, as presented by M. Saisset, is in
direct contravention with this theory OF constant
progress and necessary development, as will appear
from the following rapid and cursory summary
after which our readers can form their own opin-
ion respecting the assertion that "nothlng In Pniio-
sopby is resuscitated."
The most dilie ent inquirer among the "curiOsi-
ties of literature might perhaps search in vain to
find parallel to the strange destiny which has at
tended the philosophical opinions OF Spinoza. by
his contemporaries of the seventeenth century ne
was actually prosecuted, driven into exile, beset by
assassins, mathematical by his Hebrew country
men, and abhorred alike among christians by Catho-
lies and Protestants, Lulherans and Calvinsts, TO-
marists and Armenians. Malebranche, in his
" Christian Meditations," styles him !" a villains"
Bayle, in his /" Critical Dictionary" loads him with
nvectves as "systematic atheists" Gravlus
calls him (" scourge OF his species, and qualines
his work as an "ill-omened gift OF He'll; the
Docter Musaous ihinka lite anthnr must he an g in
fernal spirit, or an emissary suborned by Satan !;
while the didactic Christopher Korholt descends TO
the petty malice and scurvy wit of "capfdfor
verborum," by attempting to render opprobrious
the very mime of its bearer, in passage which we
fear will puzzle the freshmen: Benedicfus de
Z Spinoza quem meiius maledictum direris, quod
z Spinoza, diUina er maledictione, Genesis 3, II
and 49, terra maledictum magis hon'inem et
cajus monumental tot spinis obsitG STINT, Uir ura-
guam, tMerif,' &c. &c. Portraits Of Spinoza
were at this period generally circulated, in which
he was painted with every hideous and revolving
trait, holding snakes in his hand, as mathematical
of confederacy with the "great red Dragon or
serpent of Paradise. Such was the estimation in
which he was held by his contemporaries, and by
at least three generations which succeeded them
The importance of his system, says Saisset from
whom we have derived in part the historical facts
above mentioned, could only be measured for more
than century by the weight and dignity of its
opponents. During an entire century it was buried
beneath the weapons of ridcule and of argument
by which it was assailed on its first PRONUNCIATION.
should have predicted the ultimate revival and pre-
valence of the Spinozistic theory of mental and
moral philosophy, among the most profound and
logical thinkers of nation which stands the ac-
knowledged head in all metaphysical studies, would
have been regarded bold prophet indeed. With
almost equal probability might one predict at the
present day the revival of the PtoIemaic system in
physical astronomy, or return to the vortices of
Descartes. Yet, improbable as was the prospect
in one stage Of its history, the system of Spipoza
has been "resuscitated" in modern times, and in
him we see the model on which the German ideal
lists have moulded all their speculatons. SchelliDg
somewhere says that Spinozism, as body of men,
tai science has no seminal principle of natural
life, and likens it to Pygmalions statue, that needed
to be endowed with vitality by the warm breath of
love. That which he asserts of Spinoza's doctrines
considered critically system of truth equally
true Of those doctrines considered historically as
fact in literature. They needed to be quickened
into life by spirits congenia with his own. Spnoza,
as Ore truly says, is the father of the new phi
losophy which at present overshadows all Germany.
The name which Kortholt once made the foot
ball of his clumsy ridicule has become clarum ct
venera5ile TO the philosophers and poets who have
shed such lustre on the Teutonc character. The
efhgy which was once exhibited with pious horror
as bearing on its visage the marks of reproba-
ton is inserted as the fitting frontspiece of
learned treatses subjects which, as Plato's Cor
gas would say, are the most honorable that can be
investigated. 1t being undeniable, however, that
the Dutch philosopher was lamentably deficient in
personal pulchrude, Oreli deems it necessary to
appeal in this extremity to the impartial Lavater,"
who, it seems, nclines to believe there was moth
ing SO fend like in his physiognomy as was fam
ced by his enemies; while Hegel explains his
sinister expression by characterizing ii as the
"sombre visage of deep thinker, the outline of
whose features may have been distorted by his ac-
tive disapprobaton Of the opinions, errors, and
thoughtless passions Of men," The works which
their once vilifed author was actually afraid to
publish, lest he might draw down upon his head
the heavy hand Of the civil power, and the mere
rumor of whose intended publication, as he COM
plains in letter to his friend Henry Oldenburgh,
excited against him the denuncations of theologi-
cal doctors and Cartesian philosophers, are now
quoted as the very Shastars Of philosophical and
in German rationalism, has published translation
in German of Spinozas complete works. A few
marginal notes which it was found Spnoza had
written on copy of his " Tractatus Theologco-
politicus" were subsequently published from the
original manuscript by the learned Theophilus de
MUIR, with the likeness and fac-simile chirography
of the writer. The copy consulted by De MUIR
had been left by Spinoza before his death in the
care of a friend who transmitted il to Reuwertsz,
printer in Amsterdam. Shortly after the appear
ance of De Murr's publication, a M. Book finds
in the library of Kongsberg another copy of the
/" Tractatus,' with few written notes on the mar
which forthyuith nresun,ad IN he from tho