The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06
ole Ssbitiu.

NV C~~<~Se
rnr CugsrAv LIVE. Social and Individual. BY Peter
isayne. VI. 4. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. ISIS
Here is a new writer, whose name we do not
rarolect to have met with before. But he is a
man Of no mean power, and grapples with his
subject as one who is conscious of his strength.
We thank Messrs. Gould & Lincoln for intro
dacing him so well to the American reading
public. His aim is to meet the pantheistic phi
hsophy of Carlyle. and the atheistc materialism
o'C,mte. Perhaps there is little danger in gen.
erl from the latter, since comparatively few, we
believe, will be disposed to toll through the
haayy volumes of the French philosopher in the
original or even the large single one of Miss
Narneau's abridgment. But the writings of
CARLYLE are more to be dreaded, as they come to
Us invested with such strange power of style
aal thought, and thus insinuate their poison
Tlcn hardly apprehended. Mankind so love to
hear Of the nobleness and dignity of human ma
TIRE, to defy as it were themselves-at least,
hToSorshp and its kindred alterations are SO
-rteid to the weakness and depravity of the
human heart, that the pantheism which seems
% give both a form and All essence to such WIS.,
ions of perfecdbiity is TO be apprehended. We
ind, accordingly, these views diffused in many
latent shape through the literature of the
present day. Mr.. Bayne, protesting himself
great admirer Of Carlyle as an artist in what he
puts his hand to by way of literary effort, man
iully, however, comes forth to break his lance
win him, and, in our view, has successfully car
ned down by his bold thrust this champion of
new form Of infdelity. He admits that Carlyle's
biographies Of Burns and others are master
pieces Of skill, especially that of Burns and
has endeavored. by similar mode of illustra-
ton, to present the influence of Christian Life
The biographies be has given us are three, under
Tie heading. Christianity the Basis of Social
Lle, VIZ: those of Howard; and the Rise of Phi
AHthrophy, Wilberforce; and the Development
o. PhllanthrOphy, and Bridget the Christian
freeman; also, three Others-those of John Eos.
''r' Ihonas Arnold, and Thomas Chalmers,
Under the heading of Christianity the Basis of
'ividual Character. They are preceded by
sumo very clear statements of principles and ex-
h.lon' OF the Effectiveness of the pantheistic
D'ory IN relation to life, social and individual;
'.l beloved by n shorter exposition of Comte's
pl"sophy, with its bald atheistic hypothesis.
MI haEne volume has met with high commend
''n Ia Treat britain, where it was first pub
-''yl' and we think deservedly so. 1t is book
must make ITS way among all lovers of that
|-'ln Is solid and useful, combined with what
~ attractive and interesting. His biogra-
f".'' a'e line specimens of his powers as
'''e' IN this branch of literature; his style is
gear graphic, and forcible; many of his illus
'.On' beautifully set forth the truths they are
5Hei 10 convey, and the characters depict
'',"O' Out Impress the mind of his reader
ma 'ne correctness of his Judgment in select
'1ern as examples to place in the rich frames
LIS portrait gallery. One of them and not
e1'' IN point of interest, Bridget, is a new
" Us But he was indeed worthy to stand
r'Dssiae Of Howard and Wilberforce, humble
~" he was in his origin, and his sphere of
:, ' WAS different in its nature. We should
MAKE some extracts from this volume, if
~ 1 room; but we have not, and, too, would
say TO our readers, examine the work
u'Se'es, and you will feel that a few passages
'' mere and there would fail to do Justice to
+ 'nole blended power of its interest, as it
"''nin the compass of some five hundred or
h.. pages The type and paper are such as we
q hoo
p "iSftRES Explained and Exposed. In four
mn Cairvoyan, Revelations of A j. Davis
II, r'non'ena ef Spirualism Explained and E,posed
ofn. maj the Bible is given by the Inspiration
Ma, P't OF God, compared with the Evidence
II p, manifestations from the Spirits OF Men,
Bgp ~! AM Revelations of Emanuel Swedenborg
81, . = 'iahan, first President of Cleveland Univer-
"ONon; John p. Jeweu & Co. 1855
h.. all the various works which have
a.. s'''eu forth by the spirituaIists, as they
l,.' ''l'e'' OF the present day, none that we
,o5. en has entered on the purpose of ex-
d.n 'nelr high pretensions, and placing
n,L "a d correct, well-defned basis, with so
AL. slcal precision and careful induction
IN '-,S Oh President Mahans. Whether or not
as -. succeed IN opening the eyes of any of
70 0'@fieS OF this new species of revelation,
s,,u say; but on the candid reader his
MT, y seem likely to have effect. He ad-
EN-. 'ne facts of various sorts adduced that
aoyina 1'iarY exhibitions take place, of the
Mr.;' @oles, and similar developments Of
Ora. 'orce' lie admits, too, the frequency
lion r.Hgs' the correctness of answers to ques.
a,,S al Kinds proposed up to certain lin.
ceii,a a numerous effects strangely fitted to de-
and wv aOSe who do not carefully investigate,
ADJ Who are prepared to be thus deluded. he
'ne perfect honesty, too, of many by