New-York tribune., 1868-09-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS
11rR OF RARnN BuNSEN.

BARoNEss BUNsEN. vols svO, PIP. 6l6, 637. London;
Iongmans & Co. Philadelphia; j. b. Lpplncott CO.
The portraits of Baron Bunsen which embeuish
shese volumes recall the high intellectually the Dig
nied selfpossess0n, and the masculine beauty thaS
characterized the features of Goethe In the benoed
Vgor and sweetness of expression which ther laCcS
exhibit, there is attractive harmony between INC
peet and the historian; they each illustrate to NO
best order of the mental cultivation and rehneneh1
of their day; but in other respects the resemblance
between the two great representative Germans was
purely external.
The main purpose of Goetho's life was the develop
xnont of his own nature, to which object he made
eyerytling subservient. Books study scientific re-
search. music, art society, even the transports Of
pnsson were regarded aids to the advancement Of
the individual mind. His religion was culture, his
worship the aspiration after intellectual perfection
Bunsen on the other hand, absorbed in the pur-
suit of knowledge as q for the attainment OF
truth and the rcvelaionlof God His vast acquisitions
In learning were not cherished rs ministry to per-
sona pride hut consecrated to the service OF human
Sly. In the reach and comprehensiyeness Oh MS
studies and in the possession of singuiarly niui'
yious erudton he surpassed Goethe as greatly as he
was his inferior in the orderly and harmonious pro
portions of his mental treasures and III the artsuc
ooun,eteness and grace of his literary execution.
The mind of Goethe was almost exclusively object
,e seiznc hold of the course of external phenomena
with tenacious grasp, and delghtlng IN the con
temptation of visible facts and relations; but with
no tendency TO profound introspection nor desire 10
plunge into the depths of abstract principles For
the aims and achievements of the supreme philos-
ophy, he cherished courtly indifference, II not
secular contempt His friendship for Scmller coud
not lead him to share the sympathy OF the latter Win
the speculations of Kant. Though addicted Tor
time 10 the study of SpnOZa his admiration OF that
great thinker was founded rather on his practical
ethics. than on the depth and symmetry of his
philosophical system. Bunsen was born with the IN
herent tendency to ideal speculation. He had the
inappeasabe passion for truth which s the strongest
stimulus to phiosophc research. He could never De
content within the pmits of "this ylsi-
bic, diurnal sphere" but was haunted by
restless desire to explore the secrets
Of the Absolute and Eternal Both by natural taste
snd intellectual habit he was a philosopher dwell
ing in the submated regions of puTest thought ana
mainly intent on the pursuit of supreme and ult-
mate principles. If he owned master in any sphere
of human inquiry it was Schilling, TO whose philo-
sophie genius he paid his voluntary homage content
10 sit at his feet as learner but not to sacrifice the
freedom of his own convictions. A passage IN one OF
BunSen's letters written at the age of twenty-uree
strkngly expresses the tendency of mind to which
we have referred and forcshadows his subsequent
achievements in this direction. "My acquaintance
with antiquity" he writes TO his friend Lucke " has
taught me TO contemplate the lndestructble IN the
lapse of centuries those eternal objects of all human
meditation,-relgion. language, art, civil pohty,-
and therefore to despse all the ring and transtory
forms and trappings annexed to them, terminating
and perishing with the course of generations"
At the same time Bunsen cherished love for the
concrete and practical which formed the basis OF his
eminence in the career of diplomacy and pohtcs'
His skill ia affairs was happily blended with ms pas
sion for study. He possessed native talent for
administration as was evinced in his sagacOus man
agement Of the complicated questions shat arose
durins his protracted residence in Rome and Lon
DON although he spurned the arts OF the mere potl-
sian with decisive and indignant scorn. His aptitude
for political life is cmiousy illustrated by the record
in his Journal addressed to his wife, of the impress
sions of his first VISIT to the British Parliament.
wish you could form an idea of what felt. saw
for the first time man. the member OF true Gernanc
State in his highest his proper place defending the
highest interests of humanity with the wonderful
power of speech-wrestling las the entire vigorous
man instinctively wishes, but with the arm OF the
Spirit boldly asping at, OF tenaclousy holding Iast
power in the presence of his felow-citzeDs, submit
ting TO the public conscience the Judgment of his
cause and Of his own uprghtness / saw before me
She Empire OF the world governed and the rest OF
the world controlled and judged, by this assembly;
Ihad the feeling that had been born in England,
would rather be dead than not sit among them and
speak among them" This inherent taste colored
the whole course of his life and greatly modified his
inclination for purely scholastic research. Unlike
the intellectual yOluptuary Of Weiruar he took the
keenest interest in the concerns of both Church and
State and though interfering with his fayorte
studies, was never more at home than when treating
the questions that grew ont of their relations. The
aversion of Goethe politics the fruit of his IN
difference TO humanity lie had but a scanty faith
In the capacity ofman for sefgovenment, denied the
right OF the people to political freedom and regarded
the vital problems of craftsmanship as of no more
Importance than the chatterng Of crows. Bunsen's
interest in politics was founded on earnest religious
convictions lie believed in the moral responsible
ness of nations as well Of individuals. His policy
consisted in applying the principles Of justice to
public affairs Self interest he writes, " as gov
erning principle is denial of the principle of grava
ton is the weaving Of ropes out Of grains of saud
The eternal laws of the moral KOsmos must be ac-
eepted the sole rule of conduct both in public and
private relations with the same absolute conviction
and conscious faith, that with which we accept
the force Of gravity IN the physical kosmOs This is
the only condition of national existence His words
this effect often possess the soemnity of prophetic
warning. I'VE are at an END" he says, in Europe
aud III the United States if we are not converted to
this belief in God in humanity, in moral individual
ttyn
The religious earnestness of Bmsen's nature ex-
hibted profound contrast to the apathy of Goethe
A regard 10 the spiritual interests of man. Bunsen
was religious in every fiber of his being. Ills soul
was saturated with the influences of domestic pety,
In which he had been brought up. The splendor Of
courts and the fascinatiOns Of society never onced
1 lr~I.I III