New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-25
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
TEN DAYS IN LoNDoN.-No. ".


BADEN BADEN Aug. 2.-Amone the eminent scien
tfc men of London. there is probably no one whose
| name is more familiar to circles of the highest
culture in America. or which awakens q more pro.
found interest among them than that Of Herbert
| Spencer The edition of his writings which is now
passing through the press in New-York has beer
received with friendly cordality, even if from the
nature of the subjects which they discuss they have
not attained an especially wide circulation. Many
readers have found in their statements and sugges.
tons impulse to their intellectual life they
have given a fresh coorng to their whole course of
thought and reasoning; and even in cases in which
they have failed to produce conviction. believe
one has hestated to acknowledge their rare eombna-
ton Of depth subtlety, and acuteness.
Mr.. Spencer is emphatlcallya profound thinker--sO
profound that he easily passes beyond the reach of
rapid and superficial readers One must have been
in some degree cognizant of the difficulties of the
problems Of which he has attempted the solution,
before he fully appreciate the mastery strength
with which he has addressed himself to his theme.
He views every subject in the light of the pure
intellect. He has no fayOrite theories to support no
personal sympathies to crafty party interests TO
promote in his sincere and exclusive devotion to the
pursuit of truth. | am persuaded that no moro
honest an inquirer set up his tent of observation
in the field of science. His power of ANALYSIS
dertu If he does not discover the ultimate elements
in the objects of his study. it not because he
neglects to search for them, or submits them 10 a
careless examination but account of the nscruta-
Die character of their contents. He follows the line
Of inquiry with persistent endeavOr until it is lost
sight of in the nights Or depths which human eye
has yet been able to penetrate. Nor is Mr. Spencer
less original than he is profound 1t is true that the
hint of his great doctrine of evolution had been sug
nv nh hutfh a
which he has made of it TO the phenomena of the
Universe novel they fruitful in inn
portant consequences. He has rounded the frag-
mentary details of other thinkers into an integral
system and given it the stamp and expression of his
own intellect.
But the most striking feature of Mr.. Spencer
az a philosopher is the cOnsunlmate degree IN
which he unites the power of abstract
thought with the knowledge of scientific con-
illusions He is as keen an analyst az is
known in the history of philosophy. l do not
except either Aristotle or Kant, whom he greatly
resembles in the trait to which allude They also
were equally remarkable for their metaphysical
acumen, and their love of physical research. But
Aristotle was acquainted only with the scattered
facts in the imperfect natural sciences Of his day,
and made no attempt TO bring them into harmony
with the results of abstract reflection. Kant also
devoted student of astronomy. and the laws of the
physical universe, but hisgeat works the analysis
of the mind show but slight traces of those studies,
and derive few illustrations from his knowledge in
that department of research. Mr. Spencer on the
contrary is equally at home in physics and in meta
physics. He is familiar with the whole domain OF
the Universe. whether that of consciousness OF
observation His outsIght, so TO speak is as Keen
his insight No abstraction is TOO delicate aud subtle
for his mental grasp but he always knows how TO
sustain and illustrate the facts of consciousness by
the results of physical science. His knowledge in
the latter branch of study is exceed by that of few
men at the present day. 1t is not the knowledge OF
an amateur but of an experimentalst not picked mp
from books to serve special purpose. but the fruit
of accurate and laborous personal research. lie IL
equal to the cultvatOrs of material science on their
own ground while in his own peculiar fed,-the
analysis of mental phenOmena-he has evinced a
mastery which no other scientist of the present day
has approached In this respect, Mr. Spencer stands
alone. As metaphysical thinker he certainly COM
pares favorably with Sir William Hamilton, or any
other eminent modern writer that can be named his
attainments in natural science are fully acknowl-
edged by the prominent cuvators of that speciality;
while his ability and resource in both departmensOf
mental activity have probably never been equaled
in the history of thought.
The fact that MI Spencer has made the physical
conditions of mental phenomena the subject of
special research and fully recognizes the mutual re-
atons and interaction of the two spheres Of ex-
pcrIence has subjected him the charge of material
ISM in the purposes and scope of his philosophical
system. But this is a confusion of thought. MIR.
Spencer earnestly dsclaims the mputation not from
the cowardly dread Of an unpopular name, but be-
cause it msrepresents the nature of his CONCLUSIONS
IT, as he more than once expressed to me in CONVEX
sation we were compelled to choose between an ex-
elusive sprituasm and an exclusive materialism,
rs philosophical systems his preference would be for
the former. Mr.. Spencer is no more materialist,
than he is a disciple of COmte "A LABEL Profes-
sor Huxley remarks in his recent essay the sub
iect whose adheSiveness Mr.. Spencer is still en-
gaerd in eluding, and like good man struggling
with adversely, ready to tear away skin and all,
rather than let it stick
Of the peculiar traits Of Mr.. Spencer's personal
character. the many kindnesscs ] received at ms
hand during my stay in London do not permit mo
TO srcah with perfect impariiaty. Nor can engage
i'm the critical dissection OF . man who became Ia
mliarly known to me in tho intimacles oil private
hospitality will only say that the love OF truth
which permeatcs and inspires his writings Is proni-
ucnr in his words and his actions. Without any
formal and pedantic precision, he evidently weighs
III. o,nressions with the conscicntiOusness Of one
who wishes 10 make his language the exact represen
t,tion of his ideas. lie speaks ilucntly, but not
volubv and with certain grave earncstness that is
more impressive than any attempt az conversational
elooueuce Ills interest is by no means confined 10
thc points of his habitual meditation but he is fond
of discussing the various aspects of literature poll
ties and social affairs. which the prevailing snb-
jccts of talk among cultivated people. Indeed he
rather avoids conversation In general society on
topics that require much exercise Of thought ms the
state of lis health greatly regret 10 say eonpcIs
III al mot
10 Shun the excitement OF argument and contro'eNi
=. I.,..it IL .t,hino INV hnurs cNerN tiIA.