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a great amount of close and accurate thought The absence of a very minute factor in the operation may make a very great error in the conclusion. The other method, is to take the existing state of facts in connection with all the known acting and counteracting forces, and apply to them the well ascertained results, in other similar facts, which brings you at once at the true answer. By this means, we have a short and satisfactory method of determining with a good degree of precision, the future position of any nation. Let no one conclude, that he can be prepared for this final process at one leap.— Years of close and accurate study of the annals of the past are necessary to settle satisfactorily, the laws of the philosophy of so

mander giving directions to take in all sail and make all things ready. Why is this order given? Wait a few moments and all is revealed. Now the dark and lowering clou's appear, and the moaning winds show you that the storm is here. The secret of all is, that the practiced eye of the mariner saw in the distance, what you saw not, and he knew what was coming; so by familiarizing yourselves with the laws of storm and calm, in the social heavens, you may as clearly descry the rising storm, and indicate as clearly the necessary preparations to meet it. To arrive at such a result, the observer must regard all, even the minutest indications, such as would escape the notice of the casual reader of passing events. Happy is that people who can see these shadowy indica-ciety, unless we take on trust what others tions, and prepare to meet them. In a diligent and careful study of the faithful records of the past, we have clearly marked before us the history of the present. In the philosophy of human society, the proposition that like causes produced like results, in like circumstances, holds as true as in natural philosophy. Ascertain the existing, operative causes in society, and the accelerating and counteracting forces, and you have this proposition with the means of its solution, what will be the end or future condition of that society or nation?

have ascertained. Fatal errors in both physical and mental science have been foisted upon the world for sober truth, for the want of a little more patient investigation. A few facts may have been collected and from these few a law has been inferred, while, if the investigation had been carried a little further a different conclusion would have been form

ed. In this view I confess there are difficulties connected with the question, in either method of solution. These arise mainly from not apprehending or fully appreciating all the facts and forces, which must enter into the consideration of the problem, which, This proposition is susceptible of two methods of solution. One of them is long selves, will nevertheless greatly affect the though they may be very minute in themand laborious, and so much so that most result. There is one element in this calcumen would abandon the effort-give it up lation, very generally overlooked, which still in despair, or else jump at a conclusion, contains a controlling power in the problem. which would be as likely to be false as true From this element or factor, if you please, The process is this: take the known laws of which will be introduced in a moment, havhuman nature and apply them to certain ing the starting point, you can see the end, hypothetical occurrences, and reduce from in the material course of things, settled and them the results, which must follow; having fixed according to both methods of solution, done this, you must apply them to the as suggested above. When once the ball is known state of facts, and by another process put in motion on the inclined plane it goes of reasoning arrive at a final conclusion.-on with accelerated velocity till it reaches This when done may not be very satisfacto- the terminus. Again having been moved ry, for the reason there may be a variety in that direction, the force requisite to arrest of disturbing forces thrown in the strength of which we may not be prepared fully to estimate. Hence, arises also, the necessity of'

it, is greater than what was necessary at first to have given it a different direction. This must be considered and weighed well. It is

a proposition stated and demonstrated in ple, or even by those who stand behind the natural philosophy, that descending bodies s reen and work the wires of society, the acquire velocity with distance. A like law philosophic historian, must and will both holds good in the social body as demonstra-see and admit the fact. The next difficulty ted by the Philosophy of History. This is, in determining how far this remedial Philosophy of History, by the way, is not agency may be brought to bear on the afthe mere reading or study of History; neith- fected body of society. This too, I think is er is it a heaping together of a heterogeneous more in appearance than in fact. If we sit mass of facts without, form or order; but it down and philosophise, we might be led to is taking the mass of facts as furnished by very erroneous conclusions, because the truth the histories of different nations in their ori- appearing very plainly to us, we would supgin, progress, ascent, and decline, and from pose, that all others would see it equally so these facts recorded, ascertain the cause of Herein we are mistaken. Galileo thought their various states, and then after collating he could satisfy the savans of his day, that a sufficient number of these facts, to deduce the earth rolled over from west to east, but the law governing in like cases. This, by he found chains and threatened death, were the way, in my estimation, is one of the harder arguments than he could offer, and most interesting and profitable studies that he renounced, though adhering to his opincan engage the attention, of the scholar and ion still. especially the statesman of this country.

The element of calculation to which I referred above is this, that there is in human nature, when left to itself, a downward tendency-a strong aptitude to take on the injurious forms of influence-a stronger affinity for evil than for good. Downward, I say, because its tendency is to destruction and ruin. Add to this, that there is no recuperative energy in human society, so that when once it has taken a direction toward ruin, of itself, it cannot stop. But society is made up of individuals, and these individually affect and operate upon each other, and as these have universally taken the direction to evil, and are evil, so the whole mass is affected. This corrupt state of society must progress, as the consuming cancer on the human frame, until the whole frame-work of society is involved and the vital parts are wasted, unless a corrective power is brought to bear upon it from without. Without this lost element thrown into society, the history would be short-easily written and certainly determined before hand. The difficulties which suggest themselves here are two, to wit:the constant disinclination to consider or admit the downward tendency. This difficulty, however, is only an appearance; for though it be denied by the body of the peo

Let us, however, get away from the philosophy of hypothesis, and turn to the philosophy of fact or of History. What is the answer here given? The restless ambition of man is never satisfied. Some there are, who are ready to make any sacrifice for their country, but these are so few as not to ma

terially change the result, though they may the controlling spirits, the boasted "amor postpone the catastrophe for a time. With patria" is an empty sound, and the much decried love of self is the moving power. These, being so also bed with self, submit not to any correcting influence. The same restless ambition, leads to a resort to every kind of effort, which offers any prospect of attaining the desired end.

As an illustration of the foregoing princi ples, we may refer to almost any ancient nation, or even to any modern nation of sufficiently long standing to have performed its cycle. What was the cause of the downfall of the great Roman Empire? The cause was one, and only one; though it developed itself in a variety of forms. That cause was the corruption of the controlling authority. Mr. Gibbon has labored to show, that the introduction of Christianity, had a strong influence to bring about that event. But bad it in fact, any tendency in that direction at

? He, himself, has shown in his History

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that none of the emperors submitted to the things, and as fickle as the wind. Few, inclaims of Christianity at all, except in name, deed, would find in them any appetency for with the exception of Constantine, shortly the hard toil and fatiguing labor of producbefore his death. He has further shown, ing from mother earth, the necessary stock of that fraud, corruption, bribery, intrigue, de-provision for man and beast, while he posbanchery, and effeminacy characterized the sessed no more than the gentleman of the court, the senate, the forum, and the camp. glove and cane. This is equally foreign to Christianity had some influence on the minds the disease of society and has proved to be of multitudes of the common people, and so but a useless nostrum. "Hold," cries a far as that influence was felt in the higher third, "I have found the real philosopher's circles at all, it tended to stave off the event, stone and a panacea for all the ills that flesh which must certainly arrive at some time. is heir to, education, universal education.— In the light of History what is that correc- Give the people, the whole people education tive principle to be thrown in and finally to and you will have revolutionized society become interwoven with the very elements and corrected all its evils." How far this of society, for its proper preservation? This will succeed, we can easily determine, from question is answered variously by the differ- an application of historic philosophy. Hapent schools of social doctors. Among them pily we are not left to supposition. It is a there exists as wide a difference as between fact, which cannot be denied, that as indithe different shools of corporial doctors, and viduals and smaller communities are affecteach as bitterly decrying the other. One ed by certain causes, so would the whole class has fallen out with the distribution of body of society be, if under the operation of property, and ascribe all the social evils to the same causes. Has education, however the inequality in this respect. They propose long continued or faithfully bestowed, any as a remedy, a system of complete agrarian-power to curb the ambition, to soothe the ism. Demolish everything-shake it all up passions, to control the affections, to assuage together and parcel it out anew-make it all grief, or correct the disorders of the soul? equal. The unequal distribution, being the cause, a perfect equalization is the perfect How absurd! Let this be done, and would it affect the moral nature? This would remain as before. This remaining as before how soon violence and fraud would intro

cure.

duce the same state of facts again. They have mistaken the cause, and of consequence the remedy. The cause is not external but internal to man. Though you wash and lustrate the fox a thousand times, he is the

same sly, cunning animal as before, because

you change not his nature. Whatever changes you may make in the externals of society, you only change for a time the mode of developement.

But to History. What is the state of society in Germany or Prussia, the most universally educated nations in the world? We hear as much complaint of social evils here, as elsewhere? Education draws out and defor an enlarged sphere of action, but fosters velopes the capacities of man and fits him rather than curbs his ambition. If this be the philosopher's stone, it fails to secure the philosophers desire. In like manner every

thing that affects only the mental and phy

sical state, fails to afford the needed corrective for the evils of society. The more rapid our progress through the world, the more restless we become. From the same source “You are all wrong," cries another, "you of testimony we are advised, also, that it is must break up the present organization of sonot the opinions which may prevail among ciety, and form yourselves into communities, the common or uncommon people, which and every one be assigned his work accord- can afford this relief from impending disasing to his peculiar appetencies, and have one ter, whether these opinions be religious or common stock." How will this operate?-political, because there is somewhere a secret The appetencies are themselves whimsical spring of action, which over-rides our theo

A f.w ries, however well they may have been ma- sunk at the bottom of the Tiber. tured-a soul within, full of life and mo- of which have been raised from that river tion-restless, powerful. What is philoso- such as the "Boy in Prayer." (now in the phy, reason, patriotism, opinion, before Museum of Berlin,) are tokens of what still awakened, aroused passion or lofty ambi- lie buried under the water and mud of the tion? "A reed shaken by the wind." The yellow river; and the longings of antiquaglittering diadem, the loud huzzah, intoxi- rians, though seemingly hopeless, have at cate the brain and demolish the barriers least been justifiable. There has been no heretofore reared in the way. Man in every lack of adventurous projects to obtain posage has the same essential elements of na- session of the marble and bronze gods and ture, and differs in their developement only goddesses, which many virtuosi assert were according to the circumstances and occanot taken away or destroyed by any of the gions, which call them forth. The study barbarian tribes which sacked Rome at difof History will exhibit the principles which ferent periods, and which, consequently, are here set forth. It will also prevent us must have been flung into the river. An extensive system of dragging the river was from being unduly elated, by the occaat one time recommended, but it proved a sional gleams of light from the changing operations of human society, and also from failure. Another plan was, to divert the being overcharged with sorrow at the dark Tiber into a new channel, and thus dry the clouds which rise upon the social horizon.-present bed. This plan, too, proved impracIn human nature alone there is no help. But ticable, for reasons which it would be needstill is there any reliable remedy for what less to state. But one of our countrymen— all admit to be a sore evil under the sun?a Mr. Vansittart-has lately proposed to There is, and which will finally triumph over all the earth. It strikes, as it must, at the root of the evil-at the inner, moving springs of action-at the heart of the individuals composing the body. The time is coming "to which hope looks forward with ardent joy, when one law shall bind all nations, and that law shall be the law of universal brotherhood." That remedy is found, and only found in the regenerative power of the gospel of the son of God.Our historic philosophy brings us to this conclusion.

ART TREASURES IN THE TIBER.

A correspondent of the London Literary Gazette, writing from Cologne, gives the following interesting piece of art-intelligence, which will excite the attention of Antiqua

ries.

"The latest news which has arrived here from German antiquarians at Rome, has produced great excitement among artists and virtuosi of all classes. You know that many of the treasures of the ernal city are still

search the bottom of the river by means of the newly-invented breathing apparatus, which, it is asserted, enables divers to remain under water for hours without the least difficulty or inconvenience. Mr. Vansittart's proposal was not by any means suggested by interested motives; he is ready and willing to sacrifice a large sum of money for a scientific purpose. He proposed that the rebetween the British Museum and the Papal sults of the investigation should be divided Government. If that government had acceded to his very rational offer, everything would have gone on smoothly. But the Pope's advisers have thrown unexpected difficulties in the way. They claim the right of reserving to themselves the lion's share, while all expense and risk is to fall to the share of the Englishman. They demand, in short, to reserve to themselves the right of prohibiting the export of very rare or valuab ntiquities. There the matter rests, for of course their impertinent demand has brought all the proceedings to a standstill. Researches, are, however, being carried on, on the banks of the ancient Aulium, where the walls of villas are still visible

TO YOUNG MEN.

With a library at home, every member of the famlly may be benefitted and improved. Look at Elihu Burritt, the learned Blacksmith, master of more languages than any college educated man in America. He read and studied books at home. The same is true of thousands of others who now fill the most important places in life

Then buy books-work and study-study and work-work at your trade, on the farm, on the lake, river, or sea. Work and study |-study and work, and your body and brain will become developed and enlarged, and your mind cultivated and expanded. Now is the time to begin.

The above is most excellent advice for those young men who are not favored with the privilege of a collegiate course; and it affords many most important and useful hints to such as are. Let none fail to profit by its perusal; an attention to these hints will prove equally happy in its effects both upon the mind and physical condition of man