"the mind may be put in fuch a train, that it fhall perceive, by a kind of scientific fenfe, that propriety, "which words can but very feebly fuggeft *." 'SECTION V. Application of the Principles flated in the foregoing Sections of this Chapter, to explain the Phenomena of Dreaming. ITH refpect to the Phenomena of Dreaming, W" three different queftions may be propofed. Firft; What is the flate of the mind in fleep? or, in other words, what faculties then continue to operate, and what faculties are then fufpended? Secondly; how far do our dreams appear to be influenced by our bodily fenfations; and in what respects do they vary, according to the different conditions of the body in health, and in ficknefs? Thirdly; what is the change which fleep produces on thofe parts of the body, with which our mental operations are more immediately connected; and how does this change operate, in diverfifying, fo remarkably, the phenomena which our minds then exhibit, from thofe of which we are confcicus in our waking hours? Of these three quef tions, the first belongs to the Philofophy of the Human Mind; and it is to this queftion that the following inquiry is almost entirely confined. The fecond is more particularly interefting to the medical inquirer, and docs not properly fall under the plan of this work. The third feems to me to relate to a fubject, which is placed beyond the reach of the human faculties. *Difcourfes by Sir Joshua Reynolds. 329 It will be granted, that, if we could afcertain the state of the mind in fleep, so as to be able to refolve the various phenomena of dreaming into a fmaller number of general principles; and still more, if we could refolve them into one general fact; we should be advanced a very important step in our inquiries upon this fubject; even although we fhould find it impoffible to fhew, in what manner this change in the ftate of the mind refults from the change which fleep produces in the state of the body. Such a ftep would at least gratify, to a certain extent, that difpofition of our nature which prompts us to afcend from particular facts to general laws; and which is the foundation of all our philofophical refearches ; and, in the prefent inftance, I am inclined to think, that it carries us as far as our imperfe&t faculties en able us to proceed. In conducting this inquiry with respect to the state of the mind in fleep, it seems reasonable to expect, that fome light may be obtained from an examination of the circumftances which accelerate or retard its approach; for when we are disposed to reft, it is natural to imagine, that the state of the mind approaches to its state in fleep, more nearly, than when we feel ourselves alive and active, and capable of applying all our various faculties to their proper purposes. In general, it may be remarked, that the approach of fleep is accelerated by every circumstance which diminishes or fufpends the exercise of the mental powers; and is retarded by every thing which has a contrary tendency. When we wish for flecp, we naturally endeavour endeavour to withhold, as much as poffible, all the active exertions of the mind, by difengaging our attention from every interefting fubject of thought. When we are difpofed to keep awake, we naturally fix our attention on fome fubject which is calculated to afford employment to our intellectual powers, or to rouse and exercife the active principles of our nature. It is well known, that there is a particular class of founds which compofe us to fleep. The hum of bees; the murmur of a fountain; the reading of an uninteresting difcourfe; have this tendency in a remarkable degree. If we examine this class of founds, we fhall find that it confifts wholly of fuch as are fitted to withdraw the attention of the mind from its own thoughts; and are, at the fame time, not fufficiently interesting to engage its attention to themfelves. It is also matter of common obfervation, that children and perfons of little reflexion, who are chiefly occupied about fenfible objects, and whofe mental activity is, in a great measure, fufpended, as foon as their perceptive powers are unemployed; find it extremely difficult to continue awake, when they are deprived of their ufual engagements. The fame thing has been remarked of favages, whofe time, like that of the lower animals, is almoft com. pletely divided between fleep and their bodily exertions *. From *«The existence of the Negro flaves in America, appears to participate more of fenfation than reflection. To this must be "afcribed, their difpofition to fleep when abftracted from their "diverfions, From a confideration of these facts, it seems reasonable to conclude, that in fleep thofe operations of the mind are fufpended, which depend on our volition; for if it be certain, that before we fall asleep, we must withhold, as much as we are able, the exercife of all our different powers; it is fcarcely to be imagined, that, as foon as fleep commences, these powers fhould again begin to be exerted. The more probable conclufion is, than when we are defirous to procure fleep, we bring both mind and body, as nearly as we can, into that state in which they are to continue after fleep The difference, therefore, between the ftate of the mind when we are inviting fleep, and when we are actually afleep, is this; that in the former cafe, although its active exertions be fufpended, we can renew them, if we pleafe. In the other cafe, the will lofes its influence over all our powers both of mind and body; in confequence of fome phyfical alteration in the fyftem, which we fhall never, probably, be able to explain. commences. In order to illuftrate this conclufion a little farther, it may be proper to remark, that if the suspension of our voluntary operations in fleep be admitted as a fact, there are only two fuppofitions which can be formed concerning its caufe. The one is, that the power of volition is fufpended; the other, that the will lofes its influence over thofe faculties of the mind, and those members of the body, which, during our waking "diverfions, and unemployed in their labour. An animal whose "body is at reft, and who does not reflect, must be disposed to "fleep of courfe." Notes on Virginja, by Mr. JEFFERSON, p. 255. hours, hours, are fubjected to its authority. If it can be fhewn, then, that the former fuppofition is not agreeable to fact, the truth of the latter feems to follow as a neceffary confequence. 1. That the power of volition is not fufpended during fleep, appears from the efforts which we are confcious of making while in that fituation. We dream, for example, that we are in danger; and we attempt to call out for affiftance. The attempt, indeed, is, in general, unfuccefsful; and the founds which we emit, are feeble and indiftinct; but this only confirms, or, rather, is a neceffary confequence of the fuppofition, that, in fleep, the connection between the will and our voluntary operations, is disturbed, or interrupted. The continuance of the power of volition is demonftrated by the effort, however inef. fectual. In like manner, in the course of an alarming dream, we are fometimes confcious of making an exertion to fave ourfelves, by flight, from an apprehended danger; but in fpite of all our efforts, we continue in bed. In fuch cafes, we commonly dream, that we are attempting to escape, and are prevented by fome external obftacle; but the fact seems to be, that the body is, at that time, not fubject to the will. During the disturbed reft which we fometimes have when the body is indifpofed, the mind appears to retain fome power over it; but as, even in thefe cafes, the motions which are made, confift rather of a general agitation of the whole fyftem, than of the regular exertion of a particular member of it, with a view to produce a certain effect; it is reasonable to conclude, that, in perfectly found fleep, the |