International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1,: No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850Various
Science
International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1,: No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850
Various
Art -- Periodicals; Literature -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
THE DUC DE LA ROUCHEFOUCAULD's celebrated "Moral Reflections, Sentences,
and Maxims," have just appeared in a new and very much improved
translation, and with notes, pointing out similarities of sentiments in
ancient and modern authors, and sometimes proving that Rochefoucauld's
good things have been made use of without sufficient acknowledgment, by
moderns. There is also an introduction, which dissertates well on the
purpose and quality of the reflections. Such books were once very
popular; but in this country they have not been much read. We have indeed
had numerous editions of "Lacon," and Dr. Bettner's "Acton" has found a
thousand purchasers; but the Rev. Dr. Hooker's "Maxims," which, in our
opinion, are as good as anything of their kind in the English language,
we believe have not attracted attention, and Mr. Simms's "Egeria" has
been printed only in the columns of a newspaper.
* * * * *
A new theory has just been propounded at Paris in a book called
"Armanase," (a Sanscrit word, meaning the "Reign of Capacity"). The author
asserts the present forms of administrative government are injurious
instead of useful to society, and ought to be replaced by institutions of
a new and different order. His principle is, that the sovereignty of the
individual ought to be instituted for that of governments, and that great
associations of mutual assurance may be advantageously substituted for
the existing system of management by office-holders. The author shows
also that the progress of the natural and mechanical sciences will
deliver man from the pressure of the more painful sorts of labor; and
that wealth, freed from the barriers which now hinder its circulation,
would be distributed freely throughout society. Intellectual property
would be seriously guaranteed, and would enrich the men of genius, whose
inventions and discoveries are now profitable, not to the authors, but to
the capitalists who take advantage of them. By this means an important
element of revolutions will be removed. The author proposes, that in
order to prevent all suffering, a civil list shall be set apart for the
people, who will be the king. This civil list is to be composed of a tax
of one per cent., levied on all who have property in favor of those who
have nothing. But, says he, let no one imagine that all would be
dissolution and ruin in this system, without law or government. Crimes
and offenses will be tried by juries, that is to say, by a living code.
Property will no longer be seizable for debt, and the courts will become
useless. Everybody shall have the absolute right to buy land by paying
its possessor ten per cent, on its value: this is to give a chance for
carrying on all sorts of grand public enterprises without trouble from
the proprietors of little pieces of land. It may perhaps be doubted,
whether the "Reign of Capacity" has exhibited any astonishing endowments
in that respect.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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