New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
EMERsoN's CONDUCT OF LIFE.


volume is that of an expounder Of certain frss.
rnentary ethical principles. 1t lays no claim to
the character Of complete philosophical system,
propounds no code Of action that may be nicely
fitted to the adjustment of all human relations,
and. in spite of any intimations on the tle.page,
is free from the presumption of attempting to
regulate "the whole duty of man." Indeed, as
we gather from these pages, as well as from the
previous writings of the author, be has little faith
in the pretensons of philosophy. A connected,
systematic exhibition of truth in any department
of knowledge, is. in his view, an iupossiblity.
No one but charlalan or on ignoramus would
engage in such desperate task. The wise man
confines his vision to Hunted sphere, aud has
only to report faithfully the gances and glimpses
Of reality that may be vouchsafed to him. The
universe ia too vast to be explored by the re-
searches of man, and cur faculties are too i'm.
perfect to inspire much confidence in their de.
cisions. Although MIR. Emerson is sometimes
spoken Of az . philosopher, we think . that is the
last character to which he would wish to assert
fitla. Some have even represented him "a an expo
nent Of German philosophy, or of French philos-
early age. Nothing could be more absurd. Mr..
Emerson is the exponent Of nobody but himself.
Certain wiseacres have traced his inspiration to
Fichte. or Scheiling, or Carlyle, or some other
famous master Of speculation. There is not the
slightest ground for thus assumption. Mr.. En-
erson is utterly his own master, bows to no su-
thOrity, respects no system, represents no the
ms Do
faith in ones SELF Truth, according TO him, is
the fruit Of intuition, not the reward OF investl-
cation. He makes no use Of tho slow processes
of research and analysis, but looks out on the
world with open eye, and takes what comes.
His writings, accordingly, owe their chief value
70 their subjective sincerity; he makes frank
confession OF his perceptions or fancies ut the
moment; consistency is not among his jewels;
bis pages TEEN with perpetual surprises; be
loves to present an old thought in new light;
his illustrations are sought from oil the realms of
nature, "a well us iIom every department OF liter
sture; a brave egOtisn is curiously blended
with natural modeSty; end be is rich in fresh
and piquaut suggestions, no less from the unex'
peoted relations 10 which no presents q familiar
idea than from the fine pOetical rhetoric with
which he enbelshes thought that has been the
pstrimony of ages.
The present volume consists Of series ST lee
lures addressed to various popular audiences, and
preserves throughout the character Of ddactic
Illustration. The topics Of which it treats, Fate,
Power Wealth, Culture, Behavior, Worship,
Beauty, and Illusion, afford ample scope for the
genius of the lecturer and exhibit unity of
taste and feeling, though no unity of thought.
Hence il is not easy to give just view of its
merits as whole, although numerous passages
attest the felicity of Mr. Emersos's diction, and
the ineOherence of his method.
In the lecture on Fate, he shows that he Is
not one Of the dreaming enthusiasts who expect
paradise of delights in the bosom Of the world,
but is fully alive to the terrOrs which lie con
cealed beneath the smile Of nature.
But Nature is 10 sentinentalis- not coSset or
pamIer us. We res that tue world is rough and
surly, and will not mind drowning woman;
but swallows your slip like grain of DUST The cold,
inconiderae OF PersO les your blood, benumbs
yosr feet freezes like an apple. The diseases,
the elements fortune, gravity lightning respect no
persons. The way Of Providence is little rude. The
hatit Of snake AID ider tue snap of tie tiger and
ether leaers al bl,Ody Jumpers, the cracSle Of the
bones Of Lis prey Ia To coil the anaconda
In the system, ard hatiis like theirs. You have
just dned and however scrupulOusly the daughter
house is concealed IN tie graceful distance Of miles,
there Is CONF ity-eXpebsjve races-a5e living at
the expense OF race. lie plauet is liable 10 shocks
from e0mtts pertubations Tom planets, rendings from
earthquake and voauo alterations Of climate, preces-
sioDs of eeuiuoAes kiNeIs dry up by opening Of the
forest. Tine Sc changes is bed. Towns and counties
fall into It. At Lsbol, an earthquake killed men like
flies AT MAJ les, three ears ago. ten thousand persons
soSre cru6hed in few minutes. The seurveY al sea;
fbe a. ord of the climate in the west Of Africa at Cay
anne at fsnau a, a. Ne" Orleans, cut OIL men like
massscIe. Our Western ;,iairiv shakes with fever aud
ague. The CT oera, tne email p0x have proved NOR
tai 70 tribes, frost to The criekets, which,
wing filled T. S INNER with noise, are senced by
fall Of the temperature of bigit. Without uncOv
eaing what does not concern U.s. or counting how many
sPegss OF parasites lang on bombyx; or cropping
1Cer intestinal pGTatites, ufus0Ty bleIs OF the Oh
ecurities OF alieIIate generation the forms Of the
shark the LqJTns the jaws Of TIE sea-wolf paved with
crushing teeth, the weapOns OF the grnps and other
warriors lidGen in the sea,re hints oil feroeity IN
the ineliors Of nature. Lot us not deny 1t up ana
down. Providence Las wild, rough, ncaculA6ie
road 10 is end is Of try towhitewash It's
huge, mixed nsrumebtlliies to dress up that ter
rife beTeA1to in tan shirt and white neckcoth OF
student in divinity.
No culture, he maintains, can do away the
influence of temperament. A man becomes what
be was born to he. and the vices of the race, as
well as the features of the family, are inexoraby
impressed on successive generations.
How sball man escape from his ancestors, or draw
on from bis veirs tie black drop which he drew from
bis fathers or his hers lie Ii often appears in
family as if al the qualities Of the progenitors were
poted in several arfsoIDe rung quality In each son
OF daughter Of the 10 st-an imes the unni ied
temperament the rank unfni igttd elixir the family
vice. drawDofin pIIare individual and the others
are propoi;ionally relieved. We sometimes BEE
n N