New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-09
pI,ckWOOD MAGAZINE.

The February number is one OF more thsn usual
interen Besides the usual propor' on Of political
discussion, ard the continuation Of the serial ro-
msnce Z-idee il has the novelty Of a readable
article on Metaphysics, apropos of Prof. Terriers re-
cent woik on the subject. Witness, for instance is
defense Of the legitimacy OF the science;
What is Metspbysc Imagine a front ruiely
taken out Of q deep brown pool in a broad river
where it either lie in luxurious ease and wait for
the rolling worm. or darling off, in lie more lively
moods arros ate 10 itself with large unchartere1
liberty, the whole breadth of the cleN, msuy-
pla,biDg stream; imagine the smooth shining,
rspd, well conditioned creature suddenly llfted up
from thee large waters, and Transported INTO z
esrden.poId of moderate dimensions; and then
rslder what will take place. DO you conceive
the fDpy animal will cit down at once, satisfied
with its condition, aud make no attempt 10 explore
the character and the boundaries of it, new hsblta-
toni As-uredly DO hsh, though Psychologists sag
they have very email brains, was ever go stupid.
Depend upon it, the creature will make msny
desperate bolt, and not few magnificent Leaps ana
glorious plupges, before IL settles doSn contentedly
IN one quiet nook of this very limited corner of the
watery world within which your human masterdom
bss copfred it. Before II has consumed its fret
worm in This narrow tabernacle II VIII certainly
have made the range OF i's whole confinement aud;
after pokiDg its Dose against hall a-dozen ragged
promontories and binding itself more tn an once IN
uLkI own beds of slime aud reeds, will beake itself
10 lie first meal in somewhat Of sullen temper
sId after dinner suffer for the hrst time IN It's lie,
perhsps, DO doubtful indications Of incp'ent dy.-
pspsy Its first sleep in the narrow world Will.
Ia ike mapner be- troubled with very dssgreeaole
dreams; insgiLstons Of grinDing vampires aid
Wa er kepies sitting upon l,s stomach-of merciess
stepherd.boys graspiDg its slippery throN with nrm
hsld-and half d dozen other sensations Of pleasure,
structure and bDatic anxiety about the chest Alter
wskin from this first troubled sleep, the creature, in
stead OF sslutin the fret winknes Of the bright morn
ingsun with q clear, serene joy will. no doubt,
fsoa Tia srpip mi bp her o.
pediiion. Every little creek, formerly passed over,
will nov be miLutey explored; every troubled eddy,
indicative Of the entrance OF some meas ar brooket,
"a feeder of the stsgnsnt water will be shot
through, with many an impatient dash and che
little brooktt itself tsversed eagerly, TIL scarcely
afordibg water for so large q traveller it ende in
waterfall thiDly FLASHING down high, stone faced
wall. which alas to trout OF trout born, there
10 10 leaping; for my lady certainly did not make
her pond in such 9 foolish fashion, that brsot-
scaled tenant once in, might, by any possibility get
out; except, OF course IN the desperate, suicidal
way which no wise fish will attempt-of leapng,
with white spotted belly clean upon the dry grass
and the butter cups. There is plainly no hope for
the fsh TO get beyond the watery boundary thus set
but the feb will not believe this, and ought not to
believe it till il has made every possible trial TO get
out. After having made these trials however it will
begin to consider how best it may make the most OF
its altered condition; 1t will fret cease exploring,
and then forget even to grumble; it will make
minute and accurate survey Of its narrow realm, and
timing eye is revealed even within the limits Of what
to the frs gaLc CO, appeared very weary and dresry
monotoDy. In a word it will gradually Do de-
veoped, out Of cullen grumber and a desper ste
kicker against the pricks, into a very bland benign,
phoscphc trout, talking TO ITSELF like old Goethe,
largely, Of the benefits Of limitation aud painting
out in Imagination, With milt, artistic satisfaction,
the dangers which arise to fish and men from too
large liberty, and the VARIOUS frghtfal accidents Of
storm and food.
These thDgs to the nor meta ysicsl reader, may
serve as an sllegory. Metaphysics, according 10
notion, is the science which teaches man the length
of biz tsther Phiosopby-we use the word With
Professor Terrier and the GerInsnss tnat system Of
reasoned frstruths that ts..hes the delicate pumed
human soul where and how lar il can flap its wings
with comfort and prosperity. 1t teaches man thst
be may NOT fly TO the moon; that he cannot know
what lie not movable; that he cannot walk before
his own nose, or leap out of his own skin. In q
word. ii 10 the strict Systematic, scientific statement
of the ultimate circumambent and inherent necss-
sites Of our nature
From metaphysics to monstrosities the transition is
easy, and We coon come Ia datribe on Tom Thumb,
Joice Heth, The Mermaid ard the whole race of b n
nunisms. The venerable Snowman is poked up With
sharper stick than he would with bis own bean
and lions, and, in fact, comes off with a decidedly
:" sore head sketch of the late Lord Me.calfe,
and Q critical estimate Of Bulwer, are able papers.
Scott s. Co.