Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-27
NEW BOOK.

1 New York
Aot without diahdence do We approach the work Of
naseer-sprit-a theme at once the most sublime, the
most profound and nscrutable Of those which have en-
gagged the medtations of philosophers the HuMAs MIND
SLOW indeed has been the progress Of mental philosophy
from the days OF Cadmus to Plato and from Plato TO
Brown The Scotch metaphyscian have with mach toll
mapped out those misty regions but thew still remain
ike the interior Of Newfoundland enveloped in the aoat
ing fogs of uncertainty.
Man has natural repugnance to the study Of pure
distractions and the University of France in nerdct
ing the use of diagrams TO students geometry appears
to have gained step in discpinng youth in the exer
| else of that difficult process.
The Ethics Plato the of Euclid and the Ing;
of Aristotle remain unmpaired, unmproved and unex.
celed In physical Investigations the other hand and
in eiiclng and combining physical dynamcs, far
strip forefathers By the agency of vapor for in
stance we have nearly annhlated time and space and
have attained the compendious modes for the RENE
dy or removal of surplus population river or rail-
road, demonstrating at the time the innumerable
forms in which the vital spark may be extracted from it's
quiyerng tenement, and the uncomfortable varieties OF
torture which may be applied in mangng and mulat-
ing the human frame
The treatise before presents new system of
tai philosophy and exhibits array of reconcile learn
ing just logic, aud sound morals. Here is brief anay
sis of the contents
Chapter is introductory We shall quote an extract
Chapter proves chat matter is not only distinct from
spirit but contrary IT, both in oil Its cssenoA proper
ties and ts nature and laws The mysterious connexo1
between matter and mind is formed by the electric Aud
operating by two poles the positive and negative the
one influencing the motor nerves. the other the
And hence follows that motion and sensation reach the
spirit from magnetic action organized matter Eec-
tricy positive negative, pervades all matter Poar;
y, attractive and repusye is inherent quality Of
matter and is the Of motion in bodies and also OF
chymcal ainityhe Of the adhesion of particles
in bodies of the motion of the planets and organic
life and vegetation Thus forming grand power rul
ing and controlling nature by single law embracing
unity Of design and multiplicity of operaon-the beau
tiful testimony of an all-wise Creator.
Chapter treats of spirit its nature and properties.
The essence Of spirit is activity in feeling in thinking
and in willing "By ceaseless action all that is exists
The language by which express these modes of action
comprises sensations feelings, and emotions acts OF
the IDEAS notions, and judgments as acts of the
Understandings and affections, DESIRES and voitions
acts Of the H BY series Of close enthymemes is thea
proved the ndetrucbity of spirit and the consequent
immortality of the soul.
Chapter traces the origin of ideas. Mill in INTEL
ectu quod prius in sensu" the authors doctrine
BY elaborate train of strict logical argument il is
proved that all ideas suggested by sensation, by the
mind form idea; the actual type must exist
| in nature.
Chapter closes with the application Of the foregoing
The standard of all philosophical truth in the ndiviiu
al mind of man. the standard Of all physical truth is
placed in the experience of the and the standard
of all external moral truth in the crediby of the wit
ness. The standard Of moral ideas and judgments.
being the intuons Of spirit the decisions coa
science, belongs Thus INTERNAL moral meta
4 nd frufb be;u allp
tai, also identical.
hallowed strain Of morality through the whole
texture of the composition, blended with the soundes
maxims of civil polity.
Chapter l. The most dangerous rock for the young
/ philosopher 20 eneoanter, and on which, thousands
their happiness is that spirit of false and deceitfuL
philosophy which boasts about the rights and privi
eges of man, but hides his duties in oblivion which
calls in question the principles Of morality,
lgion into mockery, publishes abroad the fascinating
doctrines Of universal equality and community of goods
presents delusive promise Of happiness, but secretly
works its insdious way darky undermine oil virtue
and all religion to sap the foundation Of all justice and
order and TO break every link in the chain Of society
To avoid this rock, we must be cautious in what We
read and examine seriously whatever position tends to
reverse received opinions nothing must be lightly
taken on authority or hearsay Passion, precipitation,
and party-spirit be carefully stunned We must
guard against the dreams of magination and build
idle theory of We must take enlarged views.
reason deeply and comprehensiyey and scrunize each
We must be strict and rigorous in logic shrewd
suspect the most artfu sophistry, and very slow to
adopt what is novel reject what is old We must
miugle little wholesome doubt in all read hear or
Judge. We must observe facts study their sing
~ and connectiyely draw conclusions but beware
how we decide against common belief sQuod nunc,
ouod semper qnod Unique"
As neat compend Of mental and moral philosophy
with just much Of physics may to illustrate
the mysterious agency connecting mind with matter this
frpntis has not been surna sged
We close with Acknowledgements for the lights she'd
over path from the classic pages Of Prof HART
"Qu quid sit puchrum quid turpe, quid utile auid nou
''Piqniui melius Scotorunu hirtd gregg dica" O.
THE CONGRESS LIBRARY
The CONGRESS LIBRARY waanp Tuesday thrown open to
the public for the first time its restoration But
opinion prevails the exceeding beauty and taste
of the architecture of the hail. its superior adaptation to
the purposes Of library, its convenience for reference
comprehensyeness and simplicity Of There
three ranges Of acove the other for the
cepton Of books of which from twenty to thirty thou
sand volumes are already in place. Considerable add
tons have been made to the furniture ofthe hail. all Of it
made for the purpose and in harmony with the sur
roundingssyt