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A Search of Truth in the Science of the Human Mind (Philadelphia, 1822); Book IV: pp. 559–61.
Frederick Beasley
On Frederick Beasley (1777–1845) and his A Search of Truth in the Science of the Human Mind (Philadelphia, 1822), see selection #22. Beasley’s passages on “Hume’s last moments,” reprinted below, concluded an extended attack on Hume’s philosophical writings. Those were often connected in the minds of Hume’s early American critics.
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BOOK IV.
I shall conclude this article by giving a single case more in point. From the account which is given us of Mr. Hume’s last moments by his friend, Dr. Adam Smith, it appears, that he made himself merry concerning a future state, conversing with great coolness and pleasantry about Charon and his boat, and the insufficiency of all those excuses which he should be able to allege to that celebrated ferryman for remaining longer upon earth. From these circumstances, we have reason to conclude, that both Mr. Hume and his friend, wished it to be understood, that he died with great philosophick firmness, and under a full conviction or belief of an extinction of his being at death. Now if this was the firm and sincere belief of Mr. Hume, I would not say that he still retained his unreasonable belief derived from the tales of the nursery, which prevailed over his belief as a philosopher and man of sense; but I would most decidedly maintain, that he has failed in demonstrating that philosophical fortitude and self-possession, to which he pretended. Although he did not discover the agitation and anguish of his illustrious friend and coadjutor, Voltaire, under similar circumstances; yet, still in spite of all his studied efforts to conceal it, he has displayed a deep dread and apprehension about the event of death, which he affected to despise. Death is too solemn an event to all human beings, to become an object of sport and pleasantry to any man who is in a sound and natural state of mind. The very brutes appear to give up life with reluctance, and feelings of solemnity. Mr. Hume’s feelings, as affected to be exhibited, are too artificial and unnatural to impose upon those who have any insight into the constitution of human nature. His conduct on that occasion recalls strongly to mind, that of the timid boy who whistles, sings and makes merry as he passes the churchyard in order to keep up his courage. Mr. Hume’s fortitude and self-possession would have appeared to be genuine, had he acted with at least that gravity which became the occasion. As the facts are related to us, notwithstanding that artificial veil which he has attempted to throw over his emotions, when by a close inspection we penetrate through it, and obtain access to the real state of his mind, we find it to be by no means an enviable one, or free from solicitude. Suppose Mr. Hume’s opinions to be well founded, and the matter ascertained, that, at death, we shall all fall into utter annihilation; would not that great event, under this view of it, be solemn and afflictive? Friends must still be parted from, the sweet light of the sun must never more visit our eyes, the sublimities and beauties of creation must become effaced to us, the joys of social intercourse, of the understanding and the heart, must be relinquished; and, added to all this, we must pass through the agonies of our expiring moments, be laid in the silent grave; and, then, have this pleasing consciousness of being dissolved into the shades of an eternal oblivion. Is there any one, in a sane state of mind, who could undergo such privations and encounter such evils, without sentiments of, at least, seriousness and solemnity? Is not he to be regarded as either partially mad, or having a mind by no means at ease, although artificially wrought up to a state of indifference and levity, who shall dare to make them a subject of derision and amusement?
The intelligent reader will perceive that we have arrived at the conclusion of our volume, without having exhausted our subject. Many of the most important powers of the mind remain to be treated of, and its most interesting phenomena to be solved. The powers of abstraction, composition, comparison, imagination, reason, the will, the affections, together with all the social and moral faculties, will, on a future occasion, we trust, should our life and health be continued, open to us a large and interesting field of investigation.
FINIS.