第3部分(第7/7 頁)

d　seem　as　if　Thought　must　be　subordinate　to　what　is　given　to　the　realities　of　fact；　that　this　is

its　basis　and　guide：　while　Philosophy　dwells　in　the　region　of　self…produced　ideas；　without　reference

to　actuality。　Approaching　history　thus　prepossessed；　Speculation　might　be　expected　to　treat　it　as　a

mere　passive　material；　and；　so　far　from　leaving　it　in　its　native　truth；　to　force　it　into　conformity　with　a

tyrannous　idea；　and　to　construe　it；　as　the　phrase　is；　“à　priori。”　But　as　it　is　the　business　of　history

simply　to　adopt　into　its　records　what　is　and　has　been；　actual　occurrences　and　transactions；　and

since　it　remains　true　to　its　character　in　proportion　as　it　strictly　adheres　to　its　data；　we　seem　to　have

in　Philosophy；　a　process　diametrically　opposed　to　that　of　the　historiographer。　This　contradiction；

and　the　charge　consequent　brought　against　speculation；　shall　be　explained　and　confuted。　We　do

not；　however；　propose　to　correct