1 82 Edivard Livingston Yoiimans 



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have presented the leading points of the system. The 

 theological aspect especially you have presented in such a 

 way as is very well calculated to serve the purpose you 

 had in view — to act as a breakwater against the sectarian 

 storm. No doubt the favourable reception given to the 

 book by some of the theological journals has been in 

 great part due to this. . . . 



I have quite decided on making the reorganization of 

 the second part of First Principles. The further develop- 

 ment which will be given to the doctrine is too important 

 to let it stand over. . . . 



I find good reason to be glad that I have published a 

 distinct repudiation of Comtism, for the impression that I 

 am a Comtist was far more widely spread than I had sup- 

 posed. One of the reviewers of the pamphlet says: "By 

 this publication Mr. Spencer has completely removed the 

 impression that he was a mere slavish adherent of Comte ! " 

 My estimate of the average intelligence has never been 

 very high, but really the degree of stupidity implied by 

 such a remark exceeds even my anticipation.* The preva- 

 lence of such perverse interpretations makes me feel, even 

 more than before, how desirable it is that the pamphlet 

 should be extensively circulated in the United States. 



I am inclined hereafter to follow your advice respecting 

 the amounts due from the Appletons, and, instead of having 

 them remitted here, invest them in America — perhaps in 

 railway stock, of which I already hold a little. I name this 

 now not with a view of making any immediate decision, 

 but lest I should forget to name it before the next account 

 becomes due. 



* For it was really very much as if one had said : " Mr. Theodore 

 Parker has completely removed the impression that he was a mere slavish 

 adherent of Jonathan Edwards ! " It would be difficult to find in all the 

 history of philosophy a more intense and radical antagonism than that be- 

 tween Spencer and Comte. 



