The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-10
RICHMOND, VA.
ATHENEUM.


by the Rev. Mr.. Hoge, ofBaltimore, in accord
ance with the announcement made in this and
the other papers of the city. The subject,
1.-THE prevalence of spurious philosophy, was
handled With great judgment by the lecturer,
who traced back to the writings OF Plato, the
spirit of mysticism SO captivating to mediocre
ty, and so prevalent in certain modern sys-
TENS of philosophy. The rich imagery, glow
ing fancy, and unrivalled diction OF that extra
ordinary man, who, it was said, if he had writ
ten in metre, would have been equal to Homer,
subjected the mind Of the ancient world to an
influence, which was not readily overcome
even by the spirit of christianity, but diffused
itself through the writings of Origen, and oth>
ers Of the fathera, and for FIVE hundred We ars,
corrupted the very fountain Of christianity
The extent and power of this influence forms
one of the most interesting, as it is one of the
most wonderful circumstances connected with
the history Of philosophy. Hand in hand with
the Lyeeum, the Academy conquered the
world, and preserved the conquest with a tena-
city, parallel to which it were vain to seek in
the history Of military or political trumphs.
Dir. II. drew proper and palpable distinc-
ton between the philosophy of antiquity, s
represented by the riiings of Plato and Aris-
totle, and the system of Bacon-between the
lesson which teaches that the mind should be
superior to all the accidents Of fortune, and
that, which taking i! for granted that such &C
cidents will occur, employs itself in discover
ing remedy for the grlevance-between spe-
cufaton without base. and theories which are
capable of being reduced to practice. The
philosophy which proceeds to build up its py-
ramid of thought, from the firm basis of estab,
lished facts-which takes not q step in ad-
vance until ii has secured ali the ground over
which it has passed as great General closes
up his rear when he makes a movement in
front-which deals with speculation only so
far as it grows out OF, and is consistent with,
established fscts-it was very evident to our
minds was The only species for which the lee
turer entertained the slightest degree of re-
spect. 1t is proper to say that the revelations
Of the sacred writings seemed to form por-
ton, and by far the most considerable portion,
o. that foundation composed Of truths, upon
which he supposed all true ethical science te
rest. AS 10 modern German philosophy which
reyerses this order OF rati0cination-begin
ming at the top and building its pyramid down.
wards, as Herodotus says the Egyptians did
theirs-it of course found no favor in his sight.
The object of those philosophers, who pro
fessed this system, seems always the attain
ment o f something which lies beyond the linn
lis of human intelligence, and is based upon
the assumption of certain principles, the truth
Of which cannot bear the ordeal Of crtIcism.-
Being altogether beyond the comprehension
Of ordinary men ii is necessary to invent for it
jargon. and style of its own. The impos-
sibility of understanding it, has formed no OBJ
stacle to its progress, for the large majority of
mankind are but too apt 10 believe that what is
easiiyIcomprehended is not worth knowing, and
that what is unint Eligible is lone valuable
The language which these systems supply is
great acquisition, also, to certain ambitious
persons whose ideas are so desperately COM
monplace, that il was found impossible. before
It's invention, to clothe them in respectable
garb .........
Mr.. II. dwelt with considerable force upon
tae doctrines Of Kant, and OF others who had
refined upon his theories, one of whom had
gone SO far as to doubt his own existence and
TO declare that there was nothing pOsitice in
the world, but that everything was relative.-
The tendency which such teachings impa:t
to every mind which surrenders itself to their
guidance, cannot be doubted for he who
doubts his own existence, and the reality of
the material world, has already, like the fool of
Solomon, said "in his heart, there is no God!'
Some of these pseudo-philosophers have. in
iadeed, long since claimed that there is no Su.
preme Being, other than, and distinct from,
the Unirerse. The deplorable consequences
that have resulted, not only to individuals, but
to communities, and even nations, were de-
picted with vigorous and faithful handby MIR.
II. Having once convinced themselves that
there was no Supreme BE ng, each one of
these philosophers has chosen substitute
One bows before the great qualities Of any
man who has manifested an unusual degree of
that one call ed srii, and INDUCES in species
Oh pd0t06lSul WHICH ne CuUOScs I'D ucSISudte
Hero Worship. Another is a God to himself;
the centre, circum ference and area of his own
system, being SO entirely absorbed in the con
temptation of his own projections, as to allow
room for no other thong his
idea of infnily by the personal pronoun ego
like THE man of whom Coleridge tells, who
never spoke ofhimself without taking off his
nat, and making reverential bow.
We have attempted to give rather an idea of
the ground over which the lecturer. travelled,
than to sketch the lecture itself. Upon the
whole, il was an excellent discourse-sound,
practical and useful. We should like to hear
more such.
THE CLAYTON AND BULWER TREA.
Tf.
The resolution of Mr.. Cass, calling for in.
formation with regard to British colonization
Of Central America, has disclosed singular
siate;of affairs. ltappears that before the rati-