A

VIEW OF NATURE,

IN LETTERS

TO A TRAVELLER AMONG THE ALPS.

WITH

REFLECTIONS

ON

ATHEISTICAL PHILOSOPHY,

NOW EXEMPLIFIED IN

FRANCE.

BY RICHARD JOSEPH SULIVAN, Esq.

F. R. S. AND F. A. S.

Mala enim, et impia consuetudo est contra Deos disputandi, sive ex
animo id fit, sive simulate.

IN SIX VOLUMFJ.

VOL. IV.

CICERO

CONTENTS.

LETTER LXIII.

DIFFICULTY and importance of metaphysical in-

quiries---Of the soul---The known properties of mat-

ter not sufficient to account for the phænomena of mind.

---these not explicable on the theory of organiza-

tion---mind as well as body only known in its proper-

ties---the distinct existence of each equally capable

of proof---the union of mind and matter inexplicable

---Various and contradictory opinions of the ancients

concerning the soul---personal identity dependant on

consciousness---The utility and importance of the

doctrine of immortality---proofs, from the nature of

the soul---from the general sense of mankind---how

far this doctrine was received among the ancient

Jews.

LETTER LXIV.

Analogical arguments for a future state---Moral argu-
ments from the influence of the doctrine on the virtue
and happiness of mankind---the folly and inhumanity
of attempting to deprive men of this hope---our know-
ledge of the mode of future existence very imperfect
-Doctrines of the ancients-pre-existence and trans-

VOL. IV.

a 2

migration

migration---Difference between the souls of men and
inferior animals.

LETTER LXV.

Of the existence of Deity---necessity of supposing a

first cause---Mind the source of all motion and ac-

tion---The phænomena of nature inexplicable with-

out the supposition of Deity---Atheism the offspring

of vanity and prejudice---Various opinions of the

ancients---extravagance and absurdity of modern

atheists---these not to be confounded with sober

deists.

LETTER LXVI.

Universal agreement of mankind in the belief of a Deity

---this the effect of obvious traces of divinity in the

established order of things---the universe not the work

of chance, but of intelligence---The divine essence

unknown, but agency manifest---futility of atheisti-

cal reasoning---Of time and eternity---The unity of

the divine nature---folly of scepticism---arrogance

and mischievous tendency of atheism---characters of

goodness written on all nature.

LETTER LXVII.

The age of the world uncertain---Various changes in

its surface by fire and water---The Atlantides a

people who existed before the Mosaic deluge, and

whose island is lost---The South sea islands the re-

mains of an ancient continent---The most ancient

fables founded on natural phænomena, or suppose a

cultivated

3

cultivated state of society, prior to that of written re-
cords---Numerous proofs, natural and artificial, that
the present surface of the earth has been covered with
waters---The state of America no objection to this
notion--high antiquity of Peru and Mexico---Marks
of affinity between Europe and America.

LETTER LXVIII.

The Scythian monarchy the most ancient on historical
record---the superior elevation of the country a strong
argument for the superior antiquity of the people---
the vast extent of its dominion---monuments still re-
maining in this country of an ancient civilized nation
---its interior situation no objection---its elevation
superior to that of any other part of the globe---his-
torical accounts of the Scythian empire---astronomy
probably first known here.

LETTER LXIX.

Historical memoirs concerning the antiquity and ac-

curacy of Indian astronomy---derived from Scythia

---The Sanskreet language of the Brahmans, not

the primitive language of India, but transmitted from

a more ancient people---The knowledge of the wes-

tern world derived from the east---Bacchus, a Scy-

thian conqueror, the Brahma of India---European

superstitions of Asiatic origin---Pure and sublime

notions of Deity among the ancient Indians----

their superstitions symbolical---their early discoveries

in the arts.

LETTER