"spiritual conditions and influences," in the same manner that I find the origin of all diseases and of all insanities, in material conditions and causes. I have followed Bacon's method, because there is no other that can lead to any discovery and practical results, or represent nature. I have but one earnest desire in life, which is to acquire knowledge; and a knowledge of human nature in particular,— that being the most important and the most needed. And I would freely utter, on all occasions, what I know and believe, honestly and without reserve, or regard for the opinion of a world which is full of superstition and hypocrisy on the one side, while on the other we see the mental powers of men crushed by excessive labour, or excessive indolence and indulgence. Man is everywhere against his fellow-man, and every nation is ruled by the sword, or other symbol of force, and none by knowledge and virtue. No moral principle or religious system or belief will elevate men and set them free, except such as is based on a knowledge of causes, and the result of a true science of human nature. This position I think we may stand on, as upon a rock, " and thence observe the wanderings up and down of other men." But I do not wish to dispute with any men, about their belief or their morals, or their laws of expediency; for I say that all the systems of the whole world are wrong; they being all founded on error in the ignorance of natural causes and material conditions. I have nothing to say to any, but that we must turn aside and begin afresh, from the beginning. What use is there in disputing with the Mohammedan about his prophet or his hareem? or with the Roman Catholic about his saints and his transubstantiation? or with the English Protestant about his dull formalism, his services, and his worldly pride, and vulgar regard for wealth? We must begin at the beginning, and exhibit the inherent causes of all the various beliefs and passions which have so long triumphed over truth and Man's better nature. We must exhibit the real, fundamental and material causes of men's thoughts: and out of a knowledge of human nature will grow a wisdom and revelation of principles which will revolutionize the world, and become the guide of man in legislation and education. Let us not assume anything, but interpret the book of nature. Thus may we lay hold of the Science of Human Nature and till we recognise this science, we live in a barbarous and dark age, and have no health in us. : III. H. M. TO H. G. A. Yes, the reason why I want to understand your views is that which you assign;-that you have abjured idols, and come with a free mind to the study of a subject which is rarely entered upon from the beginning. It appears to me that men come to the subject with antecedent notions of "dignity of origin" for man; with words upon their lips about man being made in the image of God; and then, in the fear of impiety, if this notion is invaded, they lose their freedom, and desire to find the truth lying in one direction, rather than another. Now, from the moment that a man desires to find the truth on one side rather than another, it is all over with him as a philosopher. I doubt whether I have ever met with any one but yourself who was perfectly free from such leaning. I have sometimes supposed that I had met with a truly impartial inquirer,judging him by the sacrifices he had made for his convictions. But, sooner or later, out it comes ! He lets out, in one connection or another, that he should be sorry to believe this or that, which he has not yet the means of fully comprehending. He may have gone further in free inquiry than his neighbours, and he rejoices in what he has attained; yet, not the less does he pity those who have out stripped him, as the brethren and friends whom he has outstripped are pitying him. He says that his brethren and ancient friends cannot judge for him, because they have never been in his state of mind,have never looked from his point of view; and he straightway forgets that this is precisely his own position with regard to those by whom he is outstripped. This pitying, this mutual judging, is so wholly incompatible with an effectual pursuit of truth, that I am concerned to hear it going forward on every hand,-concerned to see that you are perhaps the only person of all my acquaintance that is altogether above it. I dare not say that I am. I can only say that I ought to be ashamed if I am not, for I have had some blessed lessons on this matter. Feeling, as I do, daily comfort in the knowledge of some things which I should once have shrunk from supposing, it would be weak,-as foolish as cowardly,-ever again to shrink from knowing anything that is true, or to have any preferences whatever among unascertained matters of speculation or fact. As to the notion about dignity of origin that inquirers bring with them as their first misleading partiality, it seems to me premature, in the first place. What we want to know is what our powers are, and how they work and it would be vitiating the research at once to conclude, on moral grounds, against admitting evidence of physical fact. Such a kind of objection appears also to be worse than premature; even foolish. Surely it is the quality of the : powers alone which can determine the quality of their origin and if we set about objecting to the universal law, or to any of its applications, whereby great things invariably issue from small beginnings, we may safely conclude that it is our notion of dignity that is wrong, and not any one application of that universal law. -some For me it is enough that I am what I am ;thing far beyond my own power of analysis and comprehension. By what combination of elements, or action of forces, I came to be what I am, does not at all touch my personal complacency, or interfere with my awe of the universe. If, because I can at this moment think abstractedly and feel keenly, I abjure an origin in matter which cannot think, and forces which cannot feel, I cannot reasonably stop short of despising myself for having once been a babe, "mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.” But it is enough to say that we are satisfied with the truism," Here we are! We are what we are, however we came to be so." As to the great point of controversy between you and the holders of popular views and language,the question whether there are two methods of access to knowledge of man's nature open to us, or one,I think the onus rests with the holders that there are two, to prove their point against him who declares that one suffices. You are satisfied with observation of phenomena manifesting themselves through matter. Others insist that there is also an interior consciousness which teaches us things not only unattainable |