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the importance and the extenfive utility 
of the Kantean Philofophy,. who only 
reads a few remarks on fome principles 
which have been torn from their con- 
nection with the grand and ingenious 
whole of this celebrated fyftem. At.ail 
events, the whole muit be fludied, every 
part of it muft muft be clearly viewed 
in its coherence with the whole; other- 
wife, neither the whole, nor any part ot it, 
will be properly underitocd. . And I may 
add, that if the whole of the Kantean 
philofophy were found to be falfe, yet 
the plan and articulation of that fyftem 
alone wiil greatly reward the trouble of 
its ftudy, and for ever remain a fubject of 
admiration ; insependent of the confi- 
deration that the refutation of the fup- 
pofed new errors of KanT, might lead 
40 the difcovery of new truths. 
“‘ But (fay {ome men of experience and 
Jearning) as the favourable and unia- 
voufable accounts of the Kantean fy {tem 
have hitherto been very vague and un- 
fatisfactory ; and as mankind, in dubious 
eafes, are inclined to believe rather the bad 
élian the good reported of a foreign author; 
sot only great doubr is {till generally en- 
tertained of the importance of Kanv’s 
metaphyfics, but this doubt has degene- 
rated into fuch a degree of inactive and 
frigid indiflerence, that if a man of prc- 
perty does not ftep forward to get them 
tranflated at his own expence; Kawnr’s 
works, though they might have been 
examined twelve years ago, will, in all 
probability, not be tranilated for many 
years tocome. For what man will un- 
dertake the tatk of tranflating Kanr, 
if it is difficult for him to find a pub- 
Hither; and what bookfeller will have any 
thing to do with them, when he fears it 
will be difficult to procure readers ; and 
how many readers can be reafonably ex- 
eéted, when the public at large are pre- 
‘jJudiced againft Kanr; and how, and 
when, will thefe prejudices be removed, 
when fo many unfavourabie reports are 
daily circulating againft him, and when 
this philofopher has fo few friends to re- 
commend him, and to defend his preten- 
fions from calumnies, invented and propa- 
> 
eee by ignorance, and, not unfrequent- 
y, by malice ?’ 
But whatever may be faid. of the dif- 
pofition of the public towards Kanr, I 
cannot believe that it is fo unfavourable 
as has been reprefented. - Suppofe it, for 
a moment, to be pathbie (and i defy any 
body to prove the contrary) that KANT’s 
works ffould, after much firuggle, and 
_. againfi all expectation, fnally appear to 
Mr. Nitfeh on Kant’s Philofophy. 
(708 
contain thofe very truths which human 
reafon has fought in vain for many cen- 
turies,-and which it wants, to become 
confiftent with itfelf, particularly ia 
thofe more important and fill contro- 
verted queftions regarding the properties 
and powers of the mind perceivable. to 
man, the origin and principles of human 
knowledge, the fource of moral and re- 
ligious ideas, &c.; thould this be the cafe, 
what man is there, that has a heart warnt 
for truth, who who would not fincerely 
lament, that in our enlightened times, fo 
many years fhould have elapfed betore 
fuch valuable ditcoverics could obtain a 
candid examination ? r ; 
Having, therefore, a more favourable 
opinion of the impartiality and juitice of 
the Briti/h public, and being convinced 
that if teath is to.conquer in the .end, 2 
time muf approach when the Aarrean. 
principles will be as generally admired and 
adopted, as they are at pretent unknown 
and defpifed; and although it is true, 1 
have as yet met with littie encourage- 
ment, 1 am fill firmly refolved not to 
relax in thofe exertions which I have 
made for three years psf, to bring thofe 
principles to the barof the public; and, 
therefore, refpeétfully invite the genuing 
friends of truth and philofophy to fup- 
port me with their encouragement in this 
great and difficult undertaking. 
The means 1 propofe for the accom. 
plifhment of this object, are: Writing and 
Leétures. If the firft is ufed alone, tae 
progrefs of truth and enquiry will be 
flow; for as Kawr’s notions do net 
{quare with the common run of popular 
opinions, they willeither be confidered as 
falfe, or as infignificant, and in either cale 
be very litule examined. Andif the lai is 
employed alone, few perfons will be able 
to get acquainted with Kan7i’s ideas, 
and the advancement of truth and en- 
guiry. will be equally flow. Ir is, there- 
fore, beit to combine them; for it 1s by 
this combination alone, that the princi- 
ples of KANT can gain the meft ample 
publicity, and excite a fuffcient numbey 
of refpeétable opponents and defendants 
to bring the truth to light. " 
t is therefore my intention, provided 
it fhould meet the approbation and en- 
couragement of the public, in the courfe 
of the enfuing winter, to read Lectures. 
and to publifa An Analyfis cf thePer- 
ceptive and Reafoning Faculties of the 
Human Mind.” 
FLA, NiTscH. 
Ty IT ee ea Dt 2 
No. 34, i ALT ACL AL =pee Ckiy t- 
i622) REO area a 
Ogio?) Sy 17 GG: 
THE 

