1822.] 
philosophy, while there can be no 
excuse that there is lack of ability or 
profound critics. 
In your last Monthly Magazine, 
criticising the work of Professor Du- 
gald Stewart, p. 413, you observe, 
“The reviewer complains that Mr. 
Stewart has not afforded more com- 
prehensive views of different meta- 
physical systems; we apprehend the 
defect arose more from the subject 
than the writer.” Yct this conduct, 
allow me, sir, to say, is in Mr. Stewart 
extremely culpable, since he has had 
opportunitics to be conversant with 
the immortal system of the German 
metaphysician. 
It is, however, with this, as it was 
with that of Copernicus, and all systems 
that innovate upon the common opi- 
nionsand knowledgeof theage. When 
first promulgated, there are few ad- 
mirers ; the advocates are persecuted, 
—yea, contemplated as maniacs; and 
thus, however important the conse- 
quences, the science is contemned. 
Forbid that such should be the fate 
of the system of the illustrious profes- 
sor of Germany, of whom it may be 
said, as was observed by Voltaire of 
Locke, “ Jamais il ne fut peut-etre un 
esprit plus sage, plus methodique, un 
logicien plus exact.” He, as Coperni- 
cus, is a genius, a mighty and tran- 
scendant spirit, who, in a hectic fit of 
nature’s vagaries, at intervals appears 
among us to astonish and enlighten 
man; and so, as to Apollo, Ceres, 
&e. niches were bestowed in the Tem- 
ple of the Gods, if we were not in 
possession of a purer faith, might to 
him, with equal justice, a consecrated 
seat be given. 
A Copernicus new modelled the 
order of the heavenly bodies; Kant 
purified the system of ethics. <A 
Copernicus has really made astrono- 
mers, will Kant philosophers? So, as 
the one discovered the true order of 
the conjunction of the stars, has the 
other the form of the mind. Yet, as, 
in consequence of the researches of 
the former, beauty of design, har- 
mony of association, and sublime or- 
der were developed; so, in conse- 
quence of the investigation of the lat- 
ter, will man be taken from a state of 
warfare, confusion, slavery, and mi- 
Sery, to be placed in one of peace, 
order, liberty, and happiness. These, 
Sir, are not assumed positions, they 
_ are not mere hypothetical statements ; 
but found in the very nature of the 
Defence of the Philosophy of Kant. 
Itt 
science ; since, as there ts an order, 
which, in association with the princi- 
ples of the mind, can produce these 
results, is this the one, as explicated in 
the system of Professor Kant? 
He has shown the order of mind, 
from the state of the most physical 
and sensual to the highest, as that 
which is most metaphysical and ra- 
tional, developing, in the connexion of 
the sensual, the intellectual and ra- 
tional, the three universal properties 
of the power of judgment, in the 
agreeable, the beautiful, and sublime; 
separating the one from the other 
with the most critical and profound 
acumen. He has explicated the pure 
knowledge as distinct from the empi- 
rical, describing, in reference to the 
former, the moral principle; henee ex- 
pounding how it is possible for man 
to be either under laws of freedom or 
necessity. 
Truly, sir, he has unfolded all the 
powers of man, physical and metaphy- 
sical; fully exhibiting the mastery of 
a great and lofty genius over the most 
abstruse, complicated, and almost di- 
vine science. It is for man to study, 
to investigate the principles, and reap 
those riches which no longer are con- 
cealed by a vacant and unmeaning 
jargon; and, in the irradiancy of such 
a treasure, to cause its splendor to 
suffuse its charms, so that— 
Nations unborn your mighty names shall 
sound, é 
And worlds applaud that must not yet be 
found. 
June 1822. A KAnTeEsIAn. 
ii 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
LITTLE expected that in the 
nineteenth century it would have 
been necessary for any person (consi- 
dering the progress which had taken 
place in the previous century in the 
arts and sciences, which lead to civili- 
zation,) to offer his strong and decided 
oppugnance to, and abhorrence of, 
those laws which enable the judges of 
this country, in discharge of the duties 
of their office, to pass upon any pri- 
soner who is tried before them, for 
murder or other capital crimes, the 
following sentence:—*That you be 
taken to the place from whence you 
come, and from thence to the place of 
execution, and be there hung by the 
neck until you are dead.” 
I am persuaded that I state the 
truth when I say, that every person 
possessing: 
