New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

X
cussion is rare production in the Iterahne ~
this country. Works Of this character are IT !,
accordance with the prevailing public taste' We
demand something more practical, more sshHin
more broadly stamped with the impress Of nnse. |
rial utility. Few readers have any interest b I'll
solution of the problems, which form the ssAjeet
of philosophical inquiry. In most cases, e. ~
cessary mental organization is wanting: in sthrn
different order of studies has taken the place Al
the search for ultimate principles aud in Il II
practical tendencies Of American society sesvs I'll
divert the attention from the distractions Of a. |
losophy. We delight in the application Of geuessl|
truths; we are surpassed in this by few mat u
but the processes by which general truths ~ q.
covered at present find but little affinity via IL
American mind. Certainly, this should "a b
made a matter of complaint. Oar inteleetsd
tendencies are in accordance with our cond(isA
With the vast material work before us a tssP N
the subtleties of speculation would be an iapn-
venence. The time for philosophy in this cUnfy
is not yet.
Still the private devotion to the highest tAsns
of inquiry, of which we have some spomiES h
stances, cannot be chilled by the general faei6y
of the philosophical atmosphere. Human nsnn
cannot wholly repudiate its Unborn passion for ~
ing the solution of the mysteries Of the uuivcvss
There will be reflection. There will be deep sr.
nest, critical, and creative thought There WI b
austerc, lonely, mcditatve nquirers,-mcn bonl
to explain existence, rather than to ENJOY il, with
whom the love of truth is stronger than tle Iovs
of fame,--who are not content with the mhe-
believes of tradition, instead Of the real bclee Of
interior conviction,---and who inspired with ~
scious sense of the Divine Presence in man, dsvvts
themselves with passionate intensity to fathcming
the depths of his mysterious being.
The absence of dominant philosophical qits
in our community, is no disadvantage to studsuss
of this character. II improves the quality d our
philosophy, while it diminishes its quantity Tsew
is no temptation to engage in abstract spcculstms
apart from the innate promptings of genius. No
man would be guilty of the idiotic hope to esis
distinction by philosophical eminence. He wbo
engages in such pursuits at all, must do so b y
6ance of popular taste. The influence ofcsston
and fashion is quite in contrary direction Hencs.
his productions will be the genuine otfshoot a he
cessity which led Milton to the composition Il hs
inevitable poems. The spontaneous origin II ks
writings will form a natural presumption Of TIER
excellence. They will at least bear the signafsss
ofbis individuality, and not be the stale repctifSs
of borrowed theories. They will command "
attention of thinking men, by the fact tbattwy
are the acts of thinking man, and not the ess
pilations of mere book-maker.
In other countries, especially in Germany ~
existence of professional class Of philosopktnl
writers has had pcrncious influence on tfp&-
velopment of thought. With splendid she's d
intellectual prOductiveness, there has been bel .
diminutiye proportion Of originality. When ~
have named four prominent names, You have ~
the sum total of German philosophy. Kant, Fnaas
SchelIing, and Hegcl. This is all. The rest arseue
"leather and punella." They form u huge, unwt3g
mob of writers, over whose grabbed tones "lna'
eyed patience folds her hands in despair VA ~
troop of literary hodmen, commentaries, azS"'
tail grocers, crowding on the steps Of the soyer1Is
Of thought, and reproducing the massive wcaln~
their intellect in the diluted, portable conysns
form, in which it may be deemed ft for ga
consumption. There is no temptation to
course in this country. No man is boun6
write a work on philosophy unless he is
thereto by an in appeasable interior impulse. ~
have no imposing cavalcades in honor Of an -
where the intellectual aspirant is st least amb'a~
of being an outrider.
The volume on our table by Mr.. James hDe
duced US into this train Of remark, of wbiches
itself signal illustration. Every page Of ~
trays it's origin in profound passion for pbleess
ical creation. 1t was produced, we will no
in the convuIsiye throes Of plastic thegs1
genius deals more kindly with hes fayontssj@
as the irresistible outbirth Of convictions, pssu1
ing from the very hfe-blood Of the spids. -
tone of noble earnestness with which It
vaded, must give it almost pathetic charm
readers of kindred earnestness. They must
come such frank, manly, sincere expresssos
personal experience, whatever estimate my
placed on the authors conclusions. In the
of such numerous echos of opinion, resona
meaningless as the carvings Of the solemn CO.,
true word spoken in "sad sincerity no"
depths Of the soul must be hailed as pre-
boon, even though it may fail to meet our ov' =
perience, or to call forth an answering toaS
he harnonies Of our nmost being.
Nor is this work less original, than t . -
Curious readers may find coincidcnccs -. -
Mr.. james and previous writer's Oh s'iS'M
jects. But these are rare. He makesi" - -.
the character ola bookwonn. With tbeeDes.
ofSwedenborg and the Bible, there is nos'Sas -,
present volume to show the infncace -
minds ON the anthor. Clearly he is an ao'D -.
Swedenborg. But he is no slave TO ;he g'e''
He does not use him for authority, b'' - =.
ton. lie interprets him by the sp;ris, a." =.
the letter. He never permits him TO e'n'a' ~
impede the freest exercise Of his own fhoosn'-
accepts him as friend, but calls him not =
denborg's doctrines, accuse Mz. James - q.