The North British Review (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844. Excerpt: ... THE NORTH BRITISH REVIEW. AUGUST, 1844. Art. I.--Lettres ecrites a un Provincial par Blaise Pascal, precedees d'un Eloge de Pascal, par M. Bordas Demoulin, Discours qui a remporte le Prix decerne par 1'Academic Francaise, le 30 Juin 1842, et suivies d'un Essai sur les Provinciales, et le style de Pascal. Par Francois De NeufchaTeau. Paris, 1843. In looking back on the great events by which civilization and knowledge have been advanced, and in estimating the intellectual and moral energies by which their present position has been attained, we cannot fail to perceive that the master-steps in our social condition have been the achievement of a few gifted spirits, some of whose names neither history nor tradition has preserved. We do not here allude to the progress of individual states, strug fling for supremacy in trade or in commerce--in arts or in arms, ut to those colossal strides in civilization which command the sympathy and mould the destinies of mankind. Every nation has its peculiar field of glory--its band of heroes--its intellectual chivalry--its cloud of witnesses; but heroes however brave, and sages however wise, have often no reputation beyond the shore or the mountain range which confines them; and men who rank as demigods in legislation or in war, are often but the oppressors and the corrupters of their more peaceful and pious neighbours. Traced in the blood of their victims, and emblazoned in acts of strangled liberty, their titles of renown have not been registered in the imperishable records of humanity. Without the stamp of that philanthropy and wisdom which the family of mankind can cherish, their patents of nobility P VOL. I. NO. II. U passports to immortality. The men who bear them have no place in the world's affections, and their name...