[BERKELEY had crossed to England early in 1713 to publish his "Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous" (see vol. i. of this edition). The brilliant literary society of that time welcomed him with enthusiasm, and was captivated by his exquisite charm of manner. Steele, his impulsive compatriot, seems to have shown him especial regard, and we presently hear of Berkeley contributing to the Guardian," Steele's new paper." No essays can be assigned to Berkeley with any certainty; but all except one of the following are described as his in the various editions of the "Guardian." No. 3 is usually attributed to "Steele or Berkeley;" and, though No. 69 is often ascribed to Steele, yet a writer in the "Gent. Mag." (1780) positively assigns it to Berkeley. The matter of the papers is such as might well have come from Berkeley; and we find therein the raw stuff of much of "Alciphron."] NUMB. III. The GUARDIAN. "Quicquid est illud quod sentit, quod sapit, quod vult, quod viget, coeleste et divinum est, ob eamque rem, æternum sic necesse est. CICERO. Whatever that be which thinks, which understands, which wills, which acts, it is something celestial and divine, and, upon that account, must necessarily be eternal. I Saturday, March 14, 1713. AM diverted from the account I was giving the town of my particular concerns, by casting my eye upon a Treatise which I could not overlook without an inexcusable negligence, and want of concern for all the civil as well as religious interests of mankind. This piece has for its title, "A Discourse of Free-thinking, occasioned by the Rise and Growth of a Sect called Free-thinkers." The author very methodically enters upon his argument, and says, "By free-thinking I mean the use of the understanding in endeavouring to find out the meaning of any proposition whatsoever, in considering the nature of the evidence for or against, and in judging of it according to the seeming force or weakness of the evidence." As soon as he has delivered this definition, from which one would expect he did not design to shew a particular inclination for or against any thing before he had considered it, he gives up all title to the character of a Free-thinker, with the most apparent prejudice against a body of men whom of all other a good man would be most careful not to violate, I mean men in holy orders. Persons who have devoted themselves to the service of God are venerable to all who fear 1 By Anthony Collins. See also "Alciphron."-Ed. |