SECOND SECTION. ว Letter from Mathetes (Professor Wilson and Mr. caution. I. Relation of morality and religion: pamphlets of III. Greek sophists: their character and principles: IV. Method, in the will and in the understanding: illustrated from Shakspeare: founded on obser- vation of relations of things: want and excess of generalization: necessity of a mental initiative: V. Two kinds of relations in which objects of mind VI. 2. Theory: method in the fine arts intermediate: IX. Investigation of the Baconian method: shown to be essentially one with the Platonic, but in a dif- life and charac- X. Existence of a self-organizing purpose in nature and man: illustrated: operation of this idea in the history of mankind: patriarchal state: cor- rupted into a polytheism: early Greeks: their idolatry checked by the physical theology of the mysteries: portion which they represented of the education of man: their discoveries in the region of the pure intellect and success in the arts of imagination contrasted with their crude essays in the investigation of physical laws and phænom- ena Romans: Hebrews the mid-point of a line, towards which the Greeks as the ideal, and the XI. Trade and Literature essential to a nation: conse- quences of the commercial spirit preponderating: II. Impression left by Sir A. B. on the author: state III. Personal memoir of Sir A. B.: anecdotes of him. IV. Ball and Nelson: Nelson's reliance on him: Ball V. Ball's habits of mind: conduct during the siege of VI. Ball's popularity in Malta: jealousy of him in the *FRIEND! were an author privileged to name his own judge, —in addition to moral and intellectual competence I should look round for some man, whose knowledge and opinions had for the greater part been acquired experimentally; and the practical habits of whose life had put him on his guard with respect to all speculative reasoning, without rendering him insensible to the desirableness of principles more secure than the shifting rules and theories generalized from observations merely empirical, or unconscious in how many departments of knowledge, and with how large a portion even of professional men, such principles are still a desideratum. I would select, too, one who felt kindly, nay, even partially, toward me; but one whose partiality had its strongest foundations in hope, and more prospective than retrospective would make him quick-sighted in the detection, and unreserved in the exposure, of the deficiencies and defects of each present work, in the anticipation of a more developed future. In you, honored friend! I have found all these requisites combined and realized and the improvement, which these essays have derived from your judgment and judicious suggestions, would, of itself, have justified me in accompanying them with a public acknowledgment of the same. But knowing, as you can not but know, that I owe in great measure the power of having written at all to your medical skill, and to the characteristic good sense which directed its exertion in my behalf; and whatever I may * Dedication to the second edition.-Ed. xvi have written in happier vein to the influence of your society and to the daily proofs of your disinterested attachment;-knowing, too, in how entire a sympathy with your feelings in this respect the partner of your name has blended the affectionate regards of a sister or daughter with almost a mother's watchful and unwearied solicitudes alike for my health, interest, and tranquillity; -you will not, I trust, be pained,—you ought not, I am sure, to be surprised that |