“Since, Sir, you have been so condescending as to
favour me with another epistle, I think it, from our former connection, my duty
(and I annex a real meaning to the term) to reply with all due respect, but
with all simplicity and integrity. I have often said that there might be a
volume collected from your work which would make, in my opinion, one of the
most valuable political systems that I ever perused, and, as far as justice,
equality, and liberty are recommended in it, I heartily wish the motives and
arguments were impressed upon the heart of every human being, particularly on
the rich, the powerful, and the learned. Viewing it altogether, I own it is a
wonderful production; but I must confess that it has such a cast of character
in it from its author, that
| NEWTON ON JOHNSON AND HUME. | 87 |
“I never affected the reputation of a philosopher, nor have I ever courted the countenance and recommendations of the reputed Literate; but I have for a number of years thought for myself, read productions on all sides of religious and political questions, and been very particular in my observations on the associations, habits, and character of my species. The result of my observations has been this:—Two sets of men have appeared to my view which I wish not to imitate. The one is composed of those who seek popularity, reputation, and interest by embracing the most fashionable systems in the religion and policy of the age, and by following the esteemed great with a sort of implicit confidence and submission. I suspect these have no genuine sincerity. The other set is composed of those who affect in everything singularity, who delight in contradiction, whose fort is objection, whose aristocracy is dictation, and whose pride is that of superior genius, accuracy, and judgment to all others. These may boast of sincerity, and treat the bulk of mankind as the swinish multitude who are not capable or worthy of examining and judging on the subject of religion and policy with themselves. In this spirit there is something in my view truly despicable; yea, I smile at a Johnson, or a Hume, when they assume the air of the latter set of men, and as I conceive resentment and indignation virtues, if properly, that is proportionably directed against vice and usurpation, without wishing to injure persons, I think myself justified by immutable justice, in allowing these sensations to pass in my mind. Yes, I feel not any remorse for indulging them, though I have as firm a belief as you can have in the most certain and indissoluble connection between moral causes and effects. But I use not the word necessarian because I think the philosophers who have adopted it are guilty of a vulgar error, in appropriating a word to a sense contrary to its general acceptation.
“That Goliath of critical and moral censure, Johnson, would, perhaps, have thought me a
most seditious and dangerous Sectary for rejecting all establishments of
religion, and for seriously
| 88 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
“Our associations of thought, and habits of mind are so
totally different, that it is no wonder we should determine very oppositely one
to the other on many subjects, and therefore you will not be surprised if I
should affirm, as I do with the greatest sincerity: the evidence for the being
of a God from analogy, or arguing from the effect to the cause, and of a future
state from our desires, and from the supposed justice of the divine government,
does not strike my mind so forcibly, nor afford it so much satisfaction as that
which it is impressed with, for the undoubted truth of the Hebrew and Christian
religions. You may think I have not examined as fairly and impartially as you
have done. I must think the same of you. Here your right to judge is the same
as mine. Here is the equality I would maintain. And if you think you have far
superior genius, that is a point I cannot dispute with you. Those of this
character I have found committing as many blunders, and run into as many
extravagant absurdities as any of more moderate abilities. In short, Mr Godwin, my views of mankind, the little
knowledge I have of myself, the account my religion gives me of man, which I
find confirmed by fact, prevent my boasting with an aristocratical air of any
superior talents, lead
| SENSITIVENESS TO CRITICISM. | 89 |
