Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25

Lorgts. BY ". III. LsceS London. Henry q. Bohn,
1853. Bangs, Brothers Co., New York.
Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON and Mrs. MoRELL have
united in expressing their surprise that an attempt
should be made to indoctrinate the English mind
with the philosophical teachings of AUGUSTA CoMTE
at time when he seems to be sinking into disre-
pute among his own countrymen; and this surprise
has certainly been shared by ourselves as we have
recently discerned similar attempt manifesting
itself in our own country. We have long known
that few profound but retired thinkers among us
have not hestated declare themselves in terms of
great admiration for the sagacity and learning of
she French philosopher, but that any considerable
portion of the educated mind of our country would
be aured BY the brilliant specuatons of the Posi-
tive Philosophy into an adhesion to the system itself
was a result which we have never contemplated as
among the probable contingencies of our develop
ment in systematic philosophy.
The metaphysics of Germany, we are aware, have
clouded and mystifed many once clear and prac-
tical head in New England, until the dction of GER
tain Germanizng disciples of Kant and Hegel has
become as little like our vernacular English the
style of their masters is like the "beloved German"
of Goethe. The Eclectic philosophy of Cousin has
also its patrons and defenders among us, while not
q few have constituted themselves the cxpounders
of system based on the principles enunciated by
Eoleridge, but not reduced by that wonderful man
10 a body of philosophy, as was his ultimate aim and
Intention for he, like that other Christian thinker
of kindred genius Blaise Pascal, had contemplated
such work as the browning and eliminating labor
of his life.
But, without entering at length into statement
of all the reasons which, in our opinion must for
preclude the philosophical spcculations of Au
guste Comte from obtaining any considerable cur
Iency in this country it may suffice to say that the
conclusions to which the system leads, as expound-
ed by its founder, are such must long deter the
best class of minds in this country from even an
examination Of its claims. NJ. Comte processes to
have exploded, by the logic Of the positive philo-
sophy," all those theological and metaphysical no.
tions which have occupied the minds of men during
the past ages; he persuades himself that he has
emerged from the cloud-land and dream-land of the
schools into the pure light of positive science, of
which he claims to be the great hlerophant He
would an convince that the mission Of Christianity
has ended and that the Religion of Humanity is to be in
stalled in its stead the Deity in whom fathers be-
ieved and whom they taught their to adore,
told has abdcated his throne, and the starry heavens
themselves, which, in the days Of the Hebrew bard and
king, declared the glory of Cod declare, rs NJ
Comte u.s. no other glory save that of Hippar
chus Of Keper of Newton and Of others who have aided
in discovering their laws philosophy which thus
aims make science of Atheism does not present itself
with credentials best adapted to propate the American
mind
But IL we are not surprised that the Positive Phloso
phy has heretofore met with limited currency in this
country do confess to feeling of surprise that it
should have made little progress and gained SO little
acceptance in France where the conclusions of the
would be likely among to deter inquirers
from examination into the merits of the system itself
Dr. Litre and Dr. Robin are, believe, the most dis
tnguished of the French who have as yet enroll
-. 80 Tho Rae
30 dcouragng indeed has been the reception OF his sys
tenn in France that NJ Comse hestated to declare
ahat looked this country for the realisation Of his
hopes as the founder Of science, religion, and So
esty In his preface to the second volume of his Sys
feme de Poltique Positive, find NJ Comte congratu
iating himself the prospective prevalence of the Po
shvist Religion and Philosophy in America We there
learn the first time he work in question appeared
only last year, of 'posvist influence and organza-
son which has recently sprung among u.s. or at least
ssamonr eminent American conservatives especially at
Philadelphia and New York" We there learn also for
the first time that it has been found impossible in this
country to surmount the communsc tendencies which
spontaneously from al social impulses other
rise than by the unrestraned ascendency Of posvism
This sole issue from the perilous condition Of modern
society isl assured, "already properly under
stood by the noble citizens of America, who more AM
more invoke the Positive Religion in the name Of order
xravey menaced but accepting in advance the just mo
raj discipline which the system processes to impose on thu
rich" This is certainly we imagine it is t
most Of our readers We have not been able to discern
any tendency towards posvism so decided or general
n Comte imagines himself to have discovered in " thi
vast appendix of the civilization, as he entise
country.
The most eminent disciple Of NJ Comte in this country
xas perhaps the late Horace Binney Wallace of Phla
delpha over whose early and untmely grave the whole
nation failed only because did not know its loss
and because his life too short in which to found
equal to his abilities and his virtuous ambition
Long before the Philo,ophs Positice much known
either in England the United States, Mr.. Wallace hac
made himself thoroughly acquainted with it, Indeed h
declares that he had himself begun to apply the nductv
method Of Bacon TO politics, morals and religion before
ne had heard Of Comte Just Coeridge informs
1ha reading the works Of Plotnus and the Neo Pla
that they contained. Hence it is without tina
N Com,e In the preface the third volume Of his Sy,
ne de fogxe Posture depores the loss Of so eminen
disciple destined, without doubt, become Of tn
principal pillars Of postyism" Newton did not viii
more regret the early death Of Coates than doe
Comte that of the temporal patron and spiritual client
whose sun went down even before it had reached its
tide.
AS to the works before u.s. we have not mnch to say
the way Of commendation. Such Of our readers as al