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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
^^ jEfe'l' *?? f ^ 3 &i ^?| B ^ ' ^? fS 9 S ?? ^ flt erwRajri ^ s one of th « e most ' , 4 & $ Jfiui > ug opponents $ v $$$ ^ l *^§ Si $ j d , $ cN > Ms pewereioa and ntfsappjic ^ ionso Kaij ti had S ^ . 3 $ | i ¥ § f ^!^ 5 ? d 5 j ^ e 4 r ^ h ( a p eculiar terrninqlog y w hipfcj has , iiftfcferecl Hh * MwSHMft f ^ posjlic ^^^ philosophical principles so obscure , but was accij ^ ri ]^ f ^ tb |^ p ^^ , ii ||^ self with perspicuity and eloqueB ^ e ^ r Herder jam * gined tiiat he bad formed a juster conception of Kant ' s philosophy thiai some fof hisJater disciples . The metaphysical lectures of KantAppear * however , to have been those in which Herder took the least interest . At the conclusion of one of them , he would hasten into the fields with a fa *
vounte poet or witfe a volume of Rousseau , in order lo get rid of the un * pleasing impression which it had left on his mind , Kant , on his part , terd a very high opinion of the judgment and abilities of his pupil , and frequently submitted his manuscripts to his consideration . One of Herder ' s principal friends at Kdnigsberg , and one who perhaps exercised the most powerful influence on the future bent of his tasfce and genius , was John George Haniann , a man of original mind an <§ e ] egant
acquirements , who was then filling some unimportant ecclesiastical office , and chiefly occupied himself with polite literature . He had resided for some time in London , and was acquainted with the English language . He first introduced Herder to Shakspeare , Shakspeare and Ossian were Herders favourite poets ; and to the impressions produced on his mind at this period of his life may perhaps be traced the development of that peculiar ibiidness
for national poetry 5 which always distinguished him , and the elements of avhioh had been already deposited in his mind by his familiarity with the poetry of the Bible * The high tone of moral and religious principle in the character of Hamann formed a bond of peculiar strength between him and Herder . A letter from Hamann was a moment of delight for the latter ; he would escape into the fields to enjoy the luxury of reading it undisturbed . Fpom tbis valued friend he parted , on quitting Konigsberg , never to see him
more . During Herder ' s residence at Konigsberg he lost his father ; and the small patrimony , which accrued to him in consequence , he made over to his mother , whom he was afterwards able more effectually to assist . Towards the close of the year 1764 , he received an invitation to fill the office of Coadjutor in the High-School at Riga ; a situation to which the kind interference of his friend Hamann contributed to advance him .
Before Jierxfer quitted Konigsberg , he was fated to be the witness of an awful conflagration which lasted five or six days , and which gave occasion to one of his early poems , distinguished , like many of his others , by a pervading application of scriptural language and imagery . An incident oqcurred at this time which forcibly realizes to the mind the misery and degradation inflicted on every rank of sdciety by a despotic , and more especially by a military , gbvernment . Herder , a man of genius , a scholar , and a student in theology , was actually compelled , before he was allowed to set out for Riga ,
to take an oath before the military tribunal , that he would return if he should be wanted as a soldier . Most unwillingly he took the oath , and bade his country ' - ' a bktfer farewell . At filga we : fin ( J Herder besides entering on his duties in the Hig h-School , ftpjpfeaji ^' in thfe nkw Character of a preacher . In both of the § e functions he , gfcwfe great g ^ tWfaction and acquired di stinguished reputation ; though his elegant acquirements , his liberal views , and his growing literary fame , rendered film obnoxious to the envy and jealousy of his weaker brethren . He was afternoon-preacher at a remote church m the suburbs ; but , notwith-
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734 Life and fFriting's of Herder .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1830, page 734, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2590/page/6/
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