JB/015/394/001

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72

As respects In the pursuit of pleasurable thoughts, what infinite regions are open to the
explorer – "The world is all before him" – & not this world only
but all the worlds which roll in the infinite if measureless unmeasured
abyss tracks of space – or the not measureless heights & depths of
imagination The past, – the present – the future – all that
has been – all that is, – of great & good – of beautiful & harmonious –
and all that may be. Why should not the high intellects of
the days of old that are gone be summoned into the presence of the
inquirer & dialogues between or with the illustrious dead
be fancied on all the points on which they would have
enjoyed to discourse had their mortal existence stretched into
the days that are. Take any part of the field of knowledge in its present state of cultivation
as it now exists and fancy summon into it the illustrious sages of former time. Place Milton with his high-toned spirit & sublime philanthropy amidst the pleasure stirring events of
the French revolution – pursuing these consequences & which are
bringing about the emancipation of nations. Imagine Galileo
holding intercourse with Laplace. Bring Bacon – either
the Friar or the Chancellor or both – into the laboratory of any eminent modern chemist –
listening to the wonderful development – the pregnant results
of the great philosophical mandate. "Experimentalize" –
Every man, – pursuing his own favorite tendencies, – has thus
a plastic gift of happiness, – which will become stronger by
use, – and which exercise will make less & less exhaustible. All
the combinations of sense with matter – the far stretching
theories of genius – the flight of thought thro eternity –
what should prevent such exercises of the mind's creative will!
How interesting are those speculations of in long last which convey men beyond the
degree of regions of earthly men at are exalted into intellectual
& exalted spheres be he conveyed himself – where he describes
creatures endowed with capacities far more expansive – with
senses far more exquisite than observation had ever offered to
human knowledge are brought into the regions of thought. How attractive & instructive are some even some of the
Utopian fancies of imaginative & benevolent philosophy – & Regulated & controlled by the
utilitarian principle. Imagination becomes a source of
boundless blessings.

Identifier: | JB/015/394/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	394	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f72
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[feathers motif]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5610
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