Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-10-18
For the SPECTATOR
LOCKE'S ESSAYS.
IA FEW CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ]
Continued I

When I handed the printer last week
few sheets of my ''old friends" MSS.
on Locke's ESSAY on the Human
Understandings" he (ihe printer re-
marked that / had acted quite Thoughts
fully in Withholding the greater portion
of the MSS. for the present number of
this paper. did not very readily catch
the meaning of the remark ut the time,
but am now informed that the intent
was not to surfeit the good people who
read the SPECTATOR with too great q
dose Of Philosophy and Politics in one
Eumber of the paper, without little
warning and preparation in advance
for the secoad dose, which 1 expect will
prove qisantun sl6icit for ut least some
time In the political aud unphilosophi
cal future. The MSS NOW continue to
read in the following manner:
"And Just here. in this connection,
while have seen proper, in presenting
my humble views Of Mr.. Locke's ideas
as offered in his masterly Essay, to
quote from Dugald Stewart as the most
eminent authority on moral philosophy.
it may also be proper enough to .reter
briefly TO Mr.. Stewart, and repeat
raries concerning him and his claims to
the words eye. His philosophical
works are numerous and able. Among
them stands pre-. eminent his Elements
of the Philosophy of the Human Mind,
| which, being written In an elegant and
attractive style, enjoyed a great popu-
larity. Referring to Stewart as q lee
turer, Sir Walter Scott says that his
striking and impressive elOquence riv-
eted the attention even of the most vol
atile Student And Mackintosh says
Of him, Perhaps few men ever lived,
who poured into the breasts of youth .
more fervid and yet reasonable love OF
liberty, Of truth, and of virtue He
promoted the triumph or liberal opin
Ions in politics by his influence over
such men as Lord Brougham, Lord
Jeffrey, and Lord John Russell, who
were his pupils. i Without derogation
from his writings, 1t may be said that
his disciples were among bis best works.
One of the master minds Of his day,
in speaking Of him, observes that he
reminds US not unfrequentIy of the
character given by Cicero to one Of bis
contemporaries, who expressed refined
and abstruse thoughts in soft and trans-
parent diction.' 1T would be difficult
to name works in which 80 much re-
fined philosophy is Joined with so fine
fancy, 80 much elegant literature with
such q delicate perception of the dis
tinguishing exeellencies of great wri-
ters.' And thus we might continue to
enumerate his talents and genius as ex-
pressed by his great friends.
In Stewards Philosophy of the Ac-
tive and Moral Powers of Man. Vol. /,
chapter 4th, Mr.. Locke Is also taken to
task on his inmate ideas,' and Lord
Shaftesbury's writings are there quoted
from in support Of Mr.. Dugald Stewards
objectionsto Mr.. Locke's position. In .
letter of Lord 6haftesberry he observes
that 'all those called free s0rttors now-a.
days have espoused those principles
which Mr.. Hobbies set a-fo0t In this last
age Mr.. Locke, as much as I honor
him on account of other writings, ION
government policy, trade, coin, educa
ton, federation. &c y and as well a.
knew him, and can answer for his sim
cerity a. most Jealous Christian and
believer, did, however, go in the self
same track, and 10 followed by the Tin
dals and all the other ingenious free au-
thors of our time. 1t was Mr.. Locke that
struck the home blow ; for Mr.. Hobbes'l
character, and base slavish principles
of government took off the poison Of
his philosophy. 1t was Mr.. Locke
that struck at all fundamentals, threw
all order and virtue out of the world,
and made the very ideas Of these un'
natural, and without foundation In ouI
minds. Innate is word he poorly
plays upon the right word, though
less used, is c0nndturdl.' This strikes
me as being unduly severe, and
very unkind. when we consider theil
past relations Of master and pupil,
even If the argument be reasonably
just And Mr.. Stewart appears to have
been somewhat similarly impress ed, fol
he thus proceeds to notice, and then
comment In this last remark, Lord
Shaftesbury appears to me to place the
| Question concerning innate ideas upon
the right and only philosophical foot
ing, and to afford q key to all the confu
sion which runs through Locke's argu-
ment on this subject. The observations
which follow are not less just and valu-
able. These passages of Shaftesbury
In some of which the warmth of his
| temper has betrayed him into expires
sions disrespectful to Locke, have drawn
on him q number of very severe ami
madversions, particularly from War
burton, in the preface to his Divine Le
cation Of Noses. But although Shaftes.
bury's personal illusions cannot be JUS,
titled, some allowance ought to be made
for the Indignation of q generous mind
at q doctrine which however vel
meant by the proposer) strikes at ths
very root of morality. In this instance
too, 1t is not improbable that the discus
l'sion Of the general argument may havt
added to the asperity Of his style, by re.
/ Eviving the memory Of the private con,
! trovefsies which, It js presumable. hae
formerly been carried on between Locke
and him on this important subject. u
| 10 wen known that 6h6neebury VA
IT .nnlr - ,nsavnfl and a1a0 that khpfr tSffi-