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I have no new system to introduce into the country. I have neither the ability nor the wish to found a school. I have no complete speculative system, but only some fundamental principles. I do not believe in the possibility of any philosophy of the universe, any system that shall speculatively comprehend at once the finite and the infinite, giving us the positive cognition of the infinite. In the words of one of Cousin's English critics-whose consummate ability and profound philosophical learning, and whose genial admiration and respect for Cousin, even while confuting him on this the fundamental peculiarity of his system, are equally in contrast with the shallow and contemptuous spirit of his American assailant —I believe in that philosophy by which "we are taught the salutary lesson that the capacity of thought is not to be constituted into the measure of existence; and are warned from recognizing the domain of our knowledge as necessarily coextensive with the horizon of our faith."*

I published this examination of Locke because, independently of any systematic peculiarities of the author, and independently of my own personal opinion of his system, I believed it calculated to establish the very foundations of morality and religion against the subversive principles of Locke and Paley. In regard to these great truths, as against the principles and systematic results of the Sensual philosophy, this work is in perfect harmony with Cudworth, Price, Butler, Reid and Stewart.

* Sir William Hamilton, professor of philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. Edinb. Review, Oct. 1829.

With this view, therefore, and regarding the study of this examination of Locke as also a profitable exercise of critical analysis, the work is again commended to the use of those who, like myself, not adopting the whole of the author's system, can yet appreciate the nature, direction and value of this portion of his labors.

University of New York, Oct. 1841.

C. S. HENRY.

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