A LIST OF BOOKS - JScholarship

106 LETTERS.
to its tribunal: metaphysics are mere nonentities,
but as they exist in the human mind
or human invention.
The vanity of the ancients, and the shame
of their inability to solve the natural and moral
phenomena, which could be effected only by
the aggregated mental labour and experience
of ages, firstled them to invention of suppositious
causes ; whence they deduced effects or
conclusions in opposition to truth, and inimical
to the liberty, moraUty, and happiness, of
mankind.
Not perceiving that the scheme of
nature was founded on general harmony or
perfect liberty, they began with erecting an
imaginary tyranny in the clouds, which, once
estabhshed, administered most conveniently,
in their ideas, to all kinds of useful purposes
below.
Thus authority first usurped and
fixed itself upon the seat of reason and
truth.
Ever yours,
p. B. SHELLEY.