361 On the Substratum of Matter. terms, I leave to be considered. This, I think, I may at least say, that we should have a great many fewer disputes in the world, if words were taken for what they are, the signs of our ideas only, and not for things themselves. For when we argue about matter, or any the like term, we truly argue only about the idea we express by that sound, whether that precise idea agree to any thing in nature, or not. And if men would tell what idea they make their words stand for, there could not be half that obscurity or wrangling, in the search or support of truth, that there is."* 362 of bodies, or to denote the aggregate of bodies in the universe, in both these senses matter exists. It is, however, in reference to the former of them, that a substratum is denied; and in this sense, I shall continue to deny its existence, until I discern the necessity of admitting it. For the existence of a solid extended insentient substance, termed matter, I have evidence which satisfies me; but of an unseen, mysterious, unknown substratum of matter, I have no evidence whatever; nor do I believe that it has any being in nature. It is a pure ontological fiction! If Your correspondent suspected that Is not the existence of a material my rejecting a substratum of matter, substance, subject to the control of would plunge me into the matterless an infinitely wise and powerful Being, abyss of Berkeley. This, however, is sufficient to account for all that we not the case. And I am resolved that experience? Where then is the necesno sophistry shall ever draw me beyond sity or use of a substratum, if all phethe margin of that vacuous gulf. I nomena may be accounted for without believe in the existence of matter,-I it? Besides, what is its nature? This cannot help believing it,—and I will may seem an impertinent question, believe it. And therefore I object to as it is said to be unknown; but matethe phraseology of Locke, in the pre- rial, or immaterial, it must be. ceding passage, in reference to the material, and matter requires a subnon-existence of matter in general. stratum, what is the substratum of On this subject, I doubt not that philo- this substratum?* If a substratum sophical investigation will terminate of matter be once admitted, this quesin a full confirmation of the first dic- tion will recur ad infinitum. And tates of common sense. With this why not call it the matter of matter? conviction, I cannot approve of any This, if any such thing exists, is certainexpression that implies the non-exist-ly its proper denomination. And if it ence of matter as a real entity. That matter and individual bodies have not independent existence, is certain. The latter are but certain aggregates of atoms, subjected to particular laws, which give birth to their diversified forms, appearances, and effects. It is these whose existence is adventitious, successive, and evanescent. And were all these phenomena destroyed by a suspension of those laws by which at present they are produced, it would not affect the existence of the former. Matter is the constituent principle of bodies. It is that, which in all the successive transmutations and denominations that bodies undergo, invariably preserves its identity. And that which renders it permanent, as far as I know, is, its exclusive occupancy of a definite portion of space; and this renders solidity or impenetrability inseparable from its nature. Whether we understand the term matter to indicate the component parts Locke's Essay, vol. 2. page 96. No. 26.-VOL. III. be not material, then matter is ultimately resolved into an immaterial, mysterious, unknown, nobody knows what! And if so, who can tell, revelation apart, but that all things are so many different modifications of the same substance? To this conclusion, it appears to me, we must come, if we admit the existence of a substratum distinct from, but essential, to the being of matter. Nor do I think that your correspondent has succeeded either in establishing its existence, or in removing the consequences deducible from it. ΤΟ See King's Origin of Evil, Vol. I. page 3. Note 1. (To be continued.) On the Aspect of Science towards THE EDITOR OF THE IMPERIAL SIR, If you deem the following let 363 Aspect of the Arts and Sciences towards Religion. the Arts and Sciences bear towards Religion, worthy an insertion in your valuable miscellany, its early insertion will oblige your's, &c. A. B. D. 364 dency to elevate his views of the Divine Being above those of that man who is not acquainted with it. On a survey of the heavens, and the countless multitudes of revolving worlds they contain, he will be led to exclaim, like pious David, "When I consider the heavens, the work of thy hands, and the sun, moon, and stars, which thou hast made; Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him?”—and with Milton,— "These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, then, Almighty! thine this universal frame! divine." MY DEAR FRIEND,-According to your request, I sit down the few minutes I have to spare, to write a few lines on the Aspect which the Arts and Sciences bear towards Religion. It is positively asserted by the pen of divine inspiration, that without knowledge the heart cannot be good: but it must be admitted that there are some kinds of knowledge very injurious to the morals of men, and opposed to the welfare of society. This assertion only includes such knowledge as is calculated to promote the happiness and usefulness of man in this world, and prepare him for a And whilst his mind is thus inspired state of eternal felicity beyond the with the most sublime and exalted grave. I conceive that an acquaint-ideas of the majesty and greatness of ance with the Arts and Sciences, is the supreme Being, he will sink into calculated to render a person more nothingness and insignificancy in his useful and respectable in the world, own estimation, and exclaim, like than one destitute of a knowledge of Watts, them. But it is most important and essential that a man should have a correct knowledge of himself, as a sinful and accountable creature, and of God his Creator, and Christ his Redeemer; without this knowledge, every other kind will avail him nothing in a dying hour. But where learning and piety concentrate in a person, they shine brilliantly. I am fully aware, my dear Friend, I am quite incompetent to do justice to the subject; for I consider, in order to treat it properly, it is necessary I should possess a good knowledge of the Arts and Sciences. But this not being the case, you must expect my views of the subject to be very contracted. "Great God! how infinite art thou!" And not only Astronomy, but Natural History and Philosophy, in all their branches, are calculated, when properly pursued, as studies subordinate to religion, to have a very beneficial influence on the mind. The individual who is acquainted with these sciences, under the influence of pious feelings, will be constrained to admire the power and wisdom of God, as displayed in the work of creation. At his sovereign mandate, worlds upon worlds burst into being, and were peopled with countless tribes of creatures. At his all-powerful voice, the sun, that source of light and heat, with all the innumerable host of stars which roll along the immensity of Whether we consider the subject as referring to the state of religious feel-space, sprang forth. Who can coning in an individual, or with respect to template the whole universe of mathe cause of religion in general, I terial being, in connection with the conceive that the study of the Sciences vast magnitude and number of heaunder proper regulations, and in sub- venly bodies, and not entertain reveordination to religion, instead of prov-rential thoughts of that Almighty ing injurious, will be found to be advantageous. I would not be understood to say, that I think the study of all the Sciences will prove equally and alike profitable. But to begin with Astronomy; I conceive it to be as beneficial as any. Being, who by a word brought them into existence? The prophet Isaiah seems to have been under similar feelings, when he exclaimed with astonishment, "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold; who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number? he calleth them all of piety, must necessarily have a ten- by names, by the greatness of his The study of this science, by a man 365 Fragment of a Day-Book. might; for that he is strong in power, not one faileth." 366 ing; that is, they have not been obliged to confine themselves to topics which children might explain, but have encountered, with success, subjects which required the exercise of forcible reasoning powers. Do you wish a proof of this? I need only direct your thoughts to India; there witness what has been achieved by a Carey, Ward, and Marshman, and many other men of learning and piety. And I would ask, has their piety, or did the piety of Watts, Doddridge, Newton, Hervey, and others, appear the less conspicuous, on account of their acquaintance with the Sciences? I think not; neither was their usefulness in the cause of religion obstructed thereby. I therefore conclude by saying, that the Arts and Sciences bear a favourable aspect towards Religion, rather than otherwise. FRAGMENT OF A DAY-BOOK KEPT BY STANISLAUS AUGUSTUS, LAST KING OF POLAND, FROM SECOND MARCH, 1797, UNTIL TWELFTH FEBRUARY, 1798. sidence and at Moscow, Stanislaus dictated bulletins, addressed to his friends in Poland; but as he had no great reliance on the sanctity or secrecy of the Russian post-office, he left a large white border, on which he wrote with sympathetic ink whatever he thought not fit for the perusal of strangers, and several passages of the manuscript are written in this manner. Kotzebue obtained possession of the whole, under condition of suppressing what might compromise any living person. The manner in which the emperor received the king, and how the latter bore his fate, as also. his remarks, cannot fail to interest the observers of mankind. I conceive also an acquaintance with Anatomy is very useful, and calculated to promote religious thoughts and feelings. At a survey of the structure of the human body, the regular organization of every part, the use of every muscle, of every nerve, and the great skill displayed in their formation and regular motion, will naturally lead us to say, "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well." With this, I think, Logic, or Intellectual Philosophy, might very profitably be studied, for it is absolutely necessary a man should possess a knowledge of the powers of his own mind, and be able to think, judge, reason, and communicate his thoughts to others with precision and accuracy. He should also be well acquainted with the various operations and faculties of his mind, else he will be liable to confound them one with another it may also be useful in many more instances than I have time now to enumerate. As well during the journey to PetersRespecting the study of Mathe-burgh, as during his stay in that rematics, I think it is very useful to strengthen and invigorate the reasoning faculties; the truth of this you know by experience, therefore I need not say any thing more concerning it. Now, as to giving you my decided opinion, whether or no the Sciences bear a favourable aspect towards Religion, I will merely assert this, that if we take a view of the good and evil resulting from the study of them, we shall find the good evidently to preponderate: and, in conclusion, if we consider the subject with respect to the general cause of religion, we shall find them favourable rather than otherwise. It is true, the Christian's religion is characterized by its simplicity, and the gospel does not stand in Mietau, 2d March, 1797.-Only need of human wisdom, to add to its the day before yesterday did the king dignity and excellence, for, without arrive here, at eleven o'clock in the any embellishments, it is able to make night; because a thousand obstacles men wise unto salvation through faith had united to delay his arrival, and in Christ; nevertheless, an acquaint- to make his journey as disagreeable ance with the Sciences has never ren- as possible. Nobody was, however, dered the ministers of the gospel less more sorry for it than the general useful, I believe; but, on the contrary, Count Besborodke, who had relied they have found this knowledge a on the preparations of general Torvaluable acquisition to them, in ob-masoff; unfortunately, the latter had viating that laboured stiffness in their been displaced a few days before out composition, and sameness in preach- of his government, and all had been 66 Fragment of a Day-Book. 367 368 point of the imperial sceptre; he has embellished the place with much expense and taste. A splendid supper had been prepared; and the marshal to the court Wielohursky, waited upon the king with five courtiers in their gala dresses, who welcomed him in the name of the different branches of the imperial family. The emperor had suspended the mourning for three days, on account of the king's arrival. On the next morning "This forced slowness allowed the the king took prince Stanislaus in his king to visit, at Poraysire, the con- carriage, and both proceeded to the vent of the Kartusians; a remarkable seat of the countess Skawronska, two monument of the riches of the chan- versts from this town. He found cellor Paé, and the use which he there the vice-chancellor prince Kumade of them. The only painting | rakin, with a great suite, and the that appeared valuable, was the meet-court equipage. The king stepped ing of Maria with the mother of Johannes. Another curiosity of the place has disappeared, viz. the bodies of Paé and his wife; they were still in preservation forty years ago, but have since perished. To make up for this, a pompous and badlystyled inscription informs the curious, that lady Paé had been of the Mailly family, related to the princes of Savoy, the Bourbons, and a couple of Greek emperors. Mietau has been very much enlarged and embellished since the king was there last. To increase the singularity of his present situation, the old Stackelberg, formerly ambassador in Poland, has been appointed for the office of chamberlain during the stay in Petersburgh. The former secretary of the embassy, who is likewise here, thinks that the emperor made this nomination to humble Stackelberg, with whom he is displeased." 66 Narva, 8th March.-Mr. Von Tiesenhausen, the governor, has received the king with distinguished civility; and, generally speaking, it would be impossible to behave better in this respect than the whole nobility of Livonia has done. In the governor's conduct, was there a certain kind of cordiality, by which the king was much affected." "Petersburgh, 14th March.-On the 9th, the king arrived at Ropseha, a country seat, 35 versts from here, where Peter the Third died. The count gave it as a present to prince Orloff, who sold it to a very rich Armenian from Ispahan, called Lasaroff; this man is the same who sold the large diamond which now adorns the into the state carriage, and sat alone on the back seat, with prince Kurakin and prince Stanislaus on the front: the imperial pages hung themselves to the coach-doors, and the master of the horse, Prince Galitzin, rode on the right side. A detachment of the garde-noble opened the procession, and another of hussars concluded it. A great concourse of people accompanied it up to the Marble palace, in whose rooms the king found the emperor, who embraced him cordially, and conversed with him during an hour in private, before he returned to his residence. The grand dukes, Alexander and Constantine, were likewise present. The description of the Marble palace would fill a book. "On the next day, the king dined with the emperor, seated betwixt him and the empress; the latter, and the young grand duchesses, presented a very fine group; the two grand dukes are patterns of politeness and civility: but nothing surpasses the manner in which the emperor himself displays the goodness of his heart, and the fine attention which he bestows; the most friendly intimacy has animated his conversations with the king. "The Marble palace has cost several millions, but it is nevertheless so badly arranged, that the king's suite is not only lodged in a confined manner, but even very uncomfortably: it is said, that when the grand duke celebrated his marriage there, some of his people took away tables, chairs, and even the locks from the doors; every thing must be bought anew. Stackelberg has not been named as officiating chamberlain; but he stands 369 Observations on Theft, by Homo. so badly at court, that he has resolved to withdraw to his estates." "17th March. The king has been visiting, yesterday, the hermitage which constitutes a part of the imperial chateau, and which one would call in other places, museum, cabinet of curiosities, picture gallery, &c. The gallery of Arabeskes, of the Vatican, copied after Raphael, belongs likewise to it. The whole is so extensive, that the king was nearly two hours in walking through it without stopping, and merely casting now and then a slight glance on the different objects. The last thing he saw, was a model of Voltaire's seat at Ferney, together with his library; which becomes particularly interesting through | the notes and remarks in his own hand-writing, which he had affixed to many books, and which contain in part his opinions on the most important points of religion, morality, and politics. One finds also here, miniature and oil paintings, from the pencil of the empress herself, which would do credit to any artist: a copy after Grenze is so well finished, that one might take it for an original. This is no compliment, but the real truth; and the king has seen, moreover, works of the same hand in ivory and precious stones, whose numbers and value excite astonishment. 370 on account of the approaching coronation, the roads were almost like ploughed fields. In the palace which was assigned to the king, the servants of the late governor have behaved nearly as bad as the above-mentioned people had done in the Marble palace; in all the rooms of the suite, have tables, chairs, and locks, been taken away; the horses and carriages could only be accommodated in part." "Moscow, 13th April.-On the 7th, the king looked at the house of the minister, count Besborodko, which the emperor is to inhabit. There exists, most likely, not in all Europe a building in which more splendour and taste should be united. Particularly remarkable are the bronzes, the tapestry, and the chairs; the latter are as convenient as they are richly ornamented. One values this palace at 700,000 rubles. Count Besborodko, who had come to pay his respects to the king, said it had been built in nine years: his house in Petersburgh, contains more precious paintings, but in other respects it is by no means equal to this: people who have seen St. Cloud at the moment the queen of France had finished it, affirm, that the ornaments of Besborodko's palace are by far the richer and more tasty. The gilded carved work, and the costly chairs, are mostly To-day the king visited the Tau-made in Vienna; the fine bronzes are rish palace, which contains a prodi- bought from French emigrants. In gious number of rooms. In the sa- the dining-room is a side-board, whose loon where prince Potemkin gave the degrees are covered with more than last treat to the late empress, his pre- two hundred excellently worked vases, sent majesty had since a whole batta- of gold, silver, ivory, corals, &c. The lion to go through the military ma- most precious tapestry has been furHere hang the original nished partly by foreign countries, and paintings of the victories of the Rus- partly by Russia. Chinese furniture sian fleet in the Mediterranean, and is also to be found here in abunthe taking of Oczakow and Ismael. dance." Catharine II. liked this palace very much in the latter years of her life, because she had there her dwelling on the first floor, and could go into the adjoining garden without going up and down stairs. One made the king observe, that she had written on the door the day on which she had been here for the last time." 66 noeuvres. "Moscow, 5th April.-The king has made the journey hither in nine days and a half, which was two days more than he had reckoned upon; but fifteen carriages broke on the road, and some of them even twice, because the weather changed every moment; and (To be continued.) Observations on Theft, by Homo. MR. EDITOR. SIR, There is nothing so extravagant, but it may have entered into the head of man, and even into that of a legislator, or pretended philosopher. We need not travel to Greece or Rome to ascertain this point; nor have we any occasion to explore the occurrences of past ages for the purpose, since every day will furnish occurrences sufficiently strong and numerous to |