59 tions of Providence in the adminiftration of human affairs; to diffuse as widely and equally as poffible, among his fellow-citizens, the advantages of the focial union; and, by a careful study of the conftitution of man, and of the circumftances in which he is placed, to modify the political order, in fuch a manner as may allow free fcope and operation to thofe principles of intellectual and moral improvement, which nature has implanted in our fpecies.

In all these cafes, I am very fenfible, that the utility of fyftematical rules has been called in queftion by philofophers of note; and that many plausible arguments in fupport of their opinion, may be derived from the fmall number of individuals who have been regularly trained to eminence in the arts, in comparifon of those who have been guided merely by untutored genius, and the example of their predecessors. I know, too, that it may be urged with truth, that rules have, in fome cafes, done more harm than good; and have mifled, inftead of directing, the natural exertions of the mind. But, in all fuch inftances, in which philofophical principles have failed in producing their intended effect, I will venture to affert, that they have done fo, either in confequence of errors, which were accidentally blended with them; or, in confe. quence of their poffeffing only that flight and partial influence over the genius, which enabled them to derange its previously acquired habits; without regulating its operations, upon a fyftematical plan, with steadiness and efficacy. In all the arts of life, whether trifling or important, there is a certain degree of fkill, aided which may be attained by our untutored

powers,

by imitation; and this skill, instead of being perfected by rules, may, by means of them, be diminished or deftroyed, if these rules are partially and imperfectly apprehended; or even if they are not fo familiarized to the understanding, as to influence its exertions uniformly and habitually. In the case of a musical performer, who has learned his art merely by the ear, the first effects of fyftematical instruction are, I believe, always unfavourable. The effect is the fame, of the rules of elocution, when firft communicated to one who has attained, by his natural taste and good fense, a tolerable propriety in the art of reading. But it does not follow from this, that, in either of thefe arts, rules are useless. It only follows, that, in order to unite ease and grace with correctness, and to preserve the felicities of original genius, amidst those restraints which may give them an useful direction, it is neceffary that the acquifitions of education fhould, by long and early habits, be rendered, in fome measure, a fecond nature. -The fame obfervations will be found to apply, with very flight alterations, to arts of more ferious importance.In the art of legislation, for example, there is a certain degree of fkill, which may be acquired merely from the routine of business; and when once a politician has been formed, in this manner, among the details of office, a partial ftudy of general principles, will be much more likely to lead him aftray, than to enlighten his conduct. But there is neverthelefs a fcience of legislation, which the details of office, and the intrigues of popular affemblies, will never communicate; a fcience, of which the principles must be fought for in the conftitution of human nature, and

in the general laws which regulate the courfe of human affairs; and which, if ever, in confequence of the progrefs of reafon, philofophy fhould be enabled to affume that afcendant in the government of the world, which has hitherto been maintained by accident, combined with the paffions and caprices of a few leading individuals, may, perhaps, produce more perfect and happy forms of fociety, than have yet been realized in the hiftory of mankind.

I have thus endeavoured to point out, and illuftrate, a few of the most important purposes to which the philofophy of the human mind is fubfervient. It will not, however, I flatter myself, be fuppofed by any of my readers, that I mean to attempt a fyftematical work, on all, or any of the fubjects I have now mentioned; the moft limited of which, would furnish matter for many volumes. What I have aimed at, has been, to give, in the first place, as diftinct and complete an analyfis as I could, of the principles, both intellectual and active, of our nature; and, in the fecond place, to illuftrate, as I proceed, the application of these general laws of the human constitution, to the different claffes of phenomena which refult from them. In the selection of thefe phenomena, although I have fometimes been guided chiefly by the curiofity of the moment, or the accidental courfe of my own studies; yet, I have had it in view, to vary, as far as poffible, the nature of my fpeculations, in order to fhow how numerous and different the applications are, of which this philofophy is fufceptible. It will not, therefore, I hope, be objected to me, that I have been guilty of a blameable violation of unity in the plan of

my

my work, till it be confidered how far fuch a violation was useful for accomplishing the purpofes for which I write. One fpecies of unity, I am willing to believe, an attentive reader will be able to trace in it; I mean, that uniformity of thought and defign, "which" (as Butler well remarks,) "we may always expect to "meet with in the compofitions of the fame author, "when he writes with fimplicity, and in earnest.”

[63]

ELEMENTS

OF THE

PHILOSOPHY

OF THE

HUMAN MIN D.

CHAPTER FIRST.

Of the Powers of External Perception.

SECTION I.

Of the Theories which have been formed by Philofophers, to explain the Manner in which the MIND perceives external

Objects.

AMONG the various phenomena which the hu

man mind presents to our view, there is none more calculated to excite our curiofity and our wonder, than the communication which is carried on between the fentient, thinking, and active principle within us, and the material objects with which we are furrounded. How little foever the bulk of mankind may be difpofed to attend to fuch inquiries,

there