354 
gion, and’to avoid the absurdities 
which attend the established system, 
on'the one hand, and the doctrines 
of infidelity, on the other. From 
Sorde, he was nominated to a pro- 
fessorship at Altona. He now em- 
ployed his leisure hours in commu- 
nicating.to the world the result of 
his theological inquiries. It was in 
vain that bis friends advised bim to 
tread in the path of discretion: in 
vain did they preach to him the 
necessity of imitating their exam- 
ple, in believing one set of doctrines 
and professing another. His mental 
optics were so peculiarly construct- 
ed, that he could not see the honesty 
of this conduct; and he was, not- 
withstanding his general acumen, 
so dull of apprehension, that he was 
not able to conceive how any one 
couid be a faithful minister of Jesus 
while he preached doctrines oppo- 
site to the genuine spirit of Chris- 
tianity. He had the imprudence, 
therefore, to beccme the strenuous 
advocate for what he deemed to be 
truth, in opposition to systems and 
creeds established by law. 
The writings of M. Bassedow, ex- 
cited the most violent opposition on 
every side, particularly among the 
clergy ; and more especially among 
his townsmen, the clergy of Ham- 
burgh; among whom the Rev. 
Messrs. Gosse, Winkler, and Zim- 
merman distinguished themselves: 
they not only preached but pub- 
lished against him, seconding their 
arguments with all the force of in- 
vective. They represented his doc- 
trines as inimical to religion and mo- 
rals. They calumniated him as a vi- 
sionary and dangerous sceptic, a mad 
projectorof reforms, a detestable he- 
retic, andan apostate from Christiani- 
ty unworthy of station or stipend, and 
* deserving exemplary punishment. 
The populace of Hamburgh were 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
excited to tumults; and it becom- 
ing the universal opinion among 
them, that to stone the apostate to 
death would be a meritorious act, 
he was obliged to absent himself 
from the city. At length, the ma- 
gistrates, partly from the importu- 
_nity of the clergy, and partly to ap- 
pease the clamours of the people, 
prohibited the publishing and read- 
ing of his works; warned citizens 
not to put any of his institates ‘into 
the hands of their children; and for- 
bade schoolmasters from using them 
in their schools, under the pain of 
banishment; while, on: the other 
hand, they encouraged every pub- 
lication against him. 
M. Bassedow, however, stood firm 
against the violence of opposition, 
continued to justify his sentiments. 
from misrepresentations, and sup- 
ported them with additional argu- 
ments, by every method which 
those parts of Germany, more dis- 
tant from the seat of contest, left 
open to him till the time of his 
death, which happened at Magde- 
burgh in 1790. 
To a quick, comprehensive, and 
penetrating genius, and a sound. 
judgment, were united unusual vi- 
vacity of disposition, strength of 
feeling, and warmth of imagination. 
’ He thought and philosophized on 
every subject that presented itself: 
but the discovery of traths, which 
promised utility, was his chief de-: 
light. He had little taste forno- 
tions merely speculative ; his most 
earnest attention was fixed on prin= 
ciples that could be made operative. 
His mind was an_ inexhaustible 
source of plans and projects, but 
it applied itself too much to gene- 
rals. He pressed forward with im- 
petuosity in every undertaking, and 
had neither the patience nor the 
perseverance necessary to survey’ 
every 
age ag 
