"I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind."
— Montagu [née Robinson], Elizabeth (1718-1800)
Work Title
Date
January 28, 1753
Metaphor
"I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind."
Metaphor in Context
[...] Dr Berkeley had formerly made his addresses to Mrs Donnellan, what were her reasons for refusing him I know not; friends were consenting, circumstances equal, her opinion captivated, but perhaps an aversion to the cares of married life, & apprehensions from some Particularities in his temper hinder'd the match; hoever their friendship always continued, & I have always heard her give him for virtues & talents the preference to all Mankind, still his admirers say he excelled every one in teh arts of conversation; as to his writings they are some of them too subtile to be even the object of most peoples consideration. He has had the hard fate of not convincing any one, tho he cannot be confuted; a judgment of his metaphysical works must be pass'd by superior intelligences, it falls not within the measure of 5 senses. I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind: he considered them as pernicious to the public which is partly true, yet so happily have things been Contrived by the allwise artificer that not a vanity is given in vain. Ambition, avarice, & many passions that hurt the wearer serve the public weal. I do not mean that such persons should not be discouraged, but that we should not always be as much in wrath as others appear in the wrong. Every honest & gratefull man would have hazarded even his life for such a Person as Dr Berkeley, & what can one say for Dr Frewin's behaviour? I suppose he must excuse himself on the accounts representing the Bishop as already dead. I think it was happy for that good man he could not be recall'd; so to end the heart ache & the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, is a consumation devoutly to be wish'd, but when one considers this to be the Eve to an Eternal day how happy!
(pp. 2-3)
(pp. 2-3)
Provenance
Reading Peter Walmsley's The Rhetoric of Berkeley's Philosophy (Cambridge UP, 2006), 1.
Citation
G. N. Cantor, "Two Letters relating to Berkeley's Social Circle." Berkeley Newsletter, 4 (1980): 1-3. <Link to Berkeley Studies>. Cantor cited in Walmsley, Peter. The Rhetoric of Berkeley's Philosophy. (Cambridge: CUP, 1990), 1.
Date of Entry
01/09/2004
Date of Review
05/20/2011
