Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. PEOM 1848 TO I852. The publication of my "History" brought me many letters, some nattering, and some critical. I set a great value upon most of them. But the one from Dr. George Croly, the Rector of Walbrook, pleased me most. He was an old acquaintance, and had, moreover, a more profound and accurate knowledge of mental philosophy in all its bearings than any man of his day. He had lived among philosophical and literary books of solid worth all his days; and no man was better known for his critical skill in London than he was. I shall insert his letter here: --3, Lansdowne Terrace, London Fields, Hackney, March 2nd, 1848. My Dear Sir, --I but yesterday, on going into town, received your volumes. From my knowledge of your abilities and their manly and intelligent direction, I was highly gratified by your completion of so important a performance. I have had time only to glance at the Introduction, which I think remarkably clear, spirited, and eloquent, and I have no doubt ef deriving great interest and instruction from the volumes. I rejoice, too, that you have not shaped your understanding to the advocacy of the German transcendentalism, which appears to me, in general, to be an offshoot of the German infidelity--to be an attempt to transfer into the science of mind the same mixture of presumption and perplexity with which they have dishonoured Scripture. The German seems to me to have no more capacity for truth than a drunkard has for soberness. He never tastes the reality ol things. He longs for some harsh, hot, and stimulating addition to the natural aliment, which perverts it into a sting and a poison. I must acknowledge that I cannot indulge in your generous expectations that the Continental philosophy of mind will grow...