Sketches, Philosophic and Religious. By William Benton Claim- (Longraans.)—A series
of carefully written and carefully thought-out essays, by a man, we should say, of much reflection and little or no originality. His views, usually just and always tolerant, are too often expressed in paragraphs like this, in which there is not one word to which thoughtful men will object, yet which add nothing whatever to the strength with which men already believe the principles therein laid down :—" The greater part of current opinions are entertained by the majority without evidence, intellectual or experimental; being trans- mitted from one to another as an heir-loom, and differing in fact little from what may be called stereotyped views of things. Most persona who hold truth, do so on the same principles that determine others in the adoption or retention of error; namely, education, fancy, connections, interest., or the like ; and the truths which they profess they are incap- able of proving to be truths, however susceptible of demonstration. The consequence often is, that many are willing enough to look at both sides of a question within certain precincts, but once touch their own sentiments or faction, and their seeming impartiality vanishes." That is all just ; but Bacon expressed the entire idea in the two words idola trams. Essays of this kind to be profitable should either tell us of some new truth or vigorously repeat an old one. We cannot perceive that Mr. Clulow does either, and it is hard to believe that among the class capable of reading his involved sentences there can be many to whom paragraphs like these will seem instructive or beneficial. "In the present state of being, those things by which man is most ennobled are the least commonly possessed. Air, light, food, aro enjoyed by all ; the distinctions of intellect appear in more sparing measure ; those of grace with still stricter limitation. What a. happy circumstance would it be, if the most valuable fruits of divine beneficence were co-extensive with the meanest ! if purity and devotion of the heart to God were uni- versal as the light !" "The earthly-minded and sensual place the chief value on objects lower than themselves, namely, the material or the transient ; those spiritually enlightened, on objects infinitely nobler and immortal, namely, God and heavenly realities." Would not Tupper, slightly sleepy, write very much like that ?
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