are reflected from a piece of metal. Pleased but not satisfied, as the mind acquires strength, he traces the direction and the rapidity of its progress from planet to planet, till he finds its source in the sun, whose form, and magnitude, and revolution he is able to estimate. At first, too feeble of judgment for the simple operation of combining syllables into words, he shortly reads the Principia of Newton, and interprets from the evanescent aspects and facts of nature the hidden and immutable laws, by which she is governed. Such being the nature of the human mind, so vastly capacious in its progress, though weak indeed in its beginning, it is, in itself considered, a most rational and worthy object of examination.

§. 6. Mental Philosophy teaches us where to limit our inquiries.

But there is another view of the mind, necessary to be taken, which is somewhat different from the foregoing, although equally true. That the human mind possesses a natural energy and is rapidly progressive is certain; but it is not less so, that it has its boundaries. And here we find another of the good results of a knowledge of Mental Philosophy, that we are taught by it to limit our inquiries to those subjects, to the investigation of which our capacities are equal and are adapted.

The Supreme Being is an all pervading mind, a principle of life, that has an existence in all places and in all space, and whose intelligence is like his omnipresence, acquainted with all things. But man, his creature, is made with an inferiour capacity; he knows only in part, and it is but reasonable to suppose, that there are many things, which he will never be able to know. But, although it be justly admitted, that man is subordinate to the Supreme Being and is infinitely inferiour to Him, his Maker has kindly given him aspirations after knowledge, with the power of satisfying, in some measure and under certain limitations, such aspirations. If, therefore, man be a being, formed to know, and there be, moreover, certain restrictions, placed upon the capacity of knowledge, it is highly

important to ascertain the limitations, whatever they may be, which are imposed. Nor is this always an easy thing to be determined. There is oftentimes a difficulty in ascertaining precisely the boundary, which runs between the possibility and the impossibility of knowledge, but whenever it is ascertained, there is an indirect increase of mental ability by means of the withdrawment of the mind. from unprofitable pursuits, in which there is an expense of effort without any remuneration.

The necessity of ascertaining what things come within the reach of our powers and what do not, was a thought which laid the foundation of Mr. Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding.

§. 7. Remarks of Mr. Locke on this point.

"Were it fit to trouble thee with the history of this Essay (he remarks in the Epistle to the reader) I should tell thee, that five or six friends meeting at my chamber and discoursing on a subject very remote from this, found themselves quickly at a stand by the difficulties, that arose on every side. After we had awhile puzzled ourselves without coming any nearer a resolution of those doubts, which perplexed us, it came into my thoughts, that we took a wrong course, and that before we set ourselves upon inquiries of that nature, it was necessary to examine our own abilities, and see what objects our understandings were or were not fitted to deal with. This I proposed to the company, who all readily assented, and thereupon it was agreed, that this should be our first inquiry."

Such were the sentiments on this subject of a man, who has probably contributed more largely than any other individual to help us to the correct understanding of the mind; and whose writings, such is their singular originality and acuteness, can hardly be too strongly recommended for perusal.

§. 8. Helps us in the correction of mental errours.

A third advantage, resulting from the study of the Philosophy of the Mind, is, that it teaches us in many cases

to correct whatever deficiencies or errours may exist in our mental constitution.

In our present state of imperfection, while we are found to experience various kinds of bodily evils, we are not exempt from those of the mind; and we know not, that it can any more excite surprise, that some people exhibit mental distortions, than it can, that we daily see not only the healthy and the well-formed, but the maimed, the halt, and the blind. If then it be asked, how are these various mental defects to be remedied, the answer is obvious, that we should act in regard to the mind as we do in promoting the restoration of the body; we should commit the business of ascertaining a remedy to those, who are in some good degree acquainted with the subject and with the nature of the disease. A physician, altogether igno

rant of the anatomy and physiology of the human system, would be poorly fitted to restore a fractured limb, or subdue the ravages of a fever. But if knowledge be necessary, in order to heal the weakness of the body and restore it to its proper soundness and beauty, it is not less important in the restoration of analogous evils in the mental constitution.

In looking round to see, whose minds are disordered, and whose are in a sound and healthy condition, we notice, for example, that some persons are troubled with a very weak memory. We have a very candid confession on this point in the writings of Montaigne. He informs us, that he did not trust to his memory. "I am forced (says he) to call my servants by the names of their employments, or of the countries where they were born, for I can hardly remember their proper names; and if I should live long, I question whether I should remember my own name." It appears, however, from his acquaintance with the principles of the ancient philosophers that he had not much reason to complain, except of his own inattention to this valuable mental susceptibility. He remembered principles; he could keep in recollection the outlines of the sciences, but could not so well remember insulated facts, especially if they related to the occurrences of common

life. This peculiarity in the operations of the memory is not unfrequently found among men of letters, especially if they possess a vivid imagination. But it must be considered a mental defect; one, which it is not only important to understand, but to try to remedy.

Montaigné is a striking instance of failure in one of the varieties of memory, and others fail equally in the power of reasoning, that is, in forming judgments or conclusions by combining together a number of consecutive propositions. And this happens from a variety of causes, as from weakness of attention, or the influence of prejudices, or an ignorance of the nature and sources of evidence, or from other causes, which may be guarded against and controlled. In other cases the mind is thrown into confusion in consequence of such exceeding vividness in the conceptions, as to lead one to mistake the mere objects of thought for real external objects. And again we have the still more formidable evils of idiocy in its various forms of origin, and of partial and total insanity.

Since then it must be admitted, that there are diseases. and distortions of the mind no less than of the body, and that we cannot expect a restoration from those evils without an intimate acquaintance with the state and tendencies of our intellectual and sentient powers, such an acquaintance becomes exceedingly desirable.

§. 9. Is a help to those, who have the charge of early education.

This study, in the fourth place, furnishes many very valuable hints to those, who have the charge of early educa tion. It is well known that children and youth adopt almost implicitly the manners and opinions of those, under whom they happen in Providence to be placed, or with whom they much associate, whether they be parents, instructers, or others.

Let it, therefore, be remembered, that passions both good and evil may then rise up and gain strength, which it will afterwards be found difficult to subdue. Intellectual operations may at that period be guided and invigora

ted, which, if then neglected, can never be called forth to any effective purpose in after life. Associations and

habits of various kinds may then be formed, which will defy all subsequent attempts at a removal, and will follow the subjects of them down to the grave. In a word, the soul may be trained, in no small degree, either to truth or falsehood, to virtue or vice, to activity or sluggishness, to glory or infamy.

When we take these things into view, and when we further recollect the frequency of characteristic, if not original differences in intellectual power and inclination, no one certainly can be considered properly qualified for the great undertaking of a teacher of youth, who has not formed a systematic and philosophic acquaintance with the principles of the mind.

§. 10. Has a connection with other departments of science.

It is to be considered in the fifth place, that this department of science has an intimate connection with others, which are of great importance; and this connection may be regarded as increasing the urgency of attending to it.

For instance, Mental philosophy has an intimate connection with Moral. In the latter science we bring under consideration injuries, benefits, the nature and obligation of contracts, and the various duties of men ; but such inquiries would be exceedingly fruitless without a thorough acquaintance with the emotions and passions, and with other modifications, both simple and complex, of the mental principle.

The philosophy of the mind has also a close connection with the most important applications of Criticism and Taste. It would not be possible to give any rational account of the excellencies or defects of a poem, painting,. edifice, or other work of art, without a knowledge of it. For, although we often call such works beautiful and sublime, it is certain, that they cannot possess the qualities of beauty or sublimity, independently of our mental frame, and we never apply those epithets to them, except it be with reference to certain feelings excited within us.