CHAP. V.] OPENING MANHOOD 1847 TO 1850. 125 



To THE SAME. 



Glenlair, 19th October 1849. 



Here is the way to dissolve any given historical event in 

 a mythical solution, and then precipitate the seminal ideas 

 in their primitive form. It is from Theodore Parker, an 

 American, and treats of the declaration of American Inde- 

 pendence. " The story of the Declaration of Independence 

 is liable to many objections if we examine it a la mode 

 Strauss. The Congress was held at a mythical town, whose 

 very name is suspicious, Philadelphia, brotherly love. The 

 date is suspicious: it was the fourth day of the fourth 

 month (reckoning from April, as it is probable that the 

 Heraclidse and Scandinavians, possible that the Americans, 

 and certain that the Ebrews, did). Now 4 was a sacred 

 number among Americans : the President was chosen for 4 

 years, 4 departments of affairs, 4 political powers, etc. The 

 year also is suspicious. 1776 is but an ingeni\pus\ ? com- 

 bination of the sacred number, thus 



444 

 4 



1776 



Still further, the declaration is metaphysical and presupposes 

 an acquaintance with the transcendental function on the part 

 of the American people. Now the Kritik of Pure Reason 

 was not yet published," etc. 



' it 



To THE SAME. 



. October 1849. 



Since last letter, I have made some pairs of diagrams 

 representing solid figures and curves drawn in space ; of 

 these pictures one is seen with each eye by means of 

 mirrors, thus . . . 



This is Wheatstone's Stereoscope, which Sir David 

 Brewster has taken up of late with much violence at the 

 Brightish Association. (The violence consists in making two 

 lenses out of one by breaking it). (See Eeport). Last 

 winter he exhibited at the Scottish Society of Arts Calotype 



