tained. Those images, which are perceived to possess a peculiar congruity and fitness for each other, are united together, forming new and more beautiful compounds. While others, although no directly voluntary power is exercised over either class, are neglected, and soon become extinct. But no account of this vivid feeling of approval or disapproval, of this very rapid perception of the mutual congruity of the images for each other or for the general conception of the subject, can be given, other than this, that with such a power the original author of our intellectual susceptibilities has been pleased to form us. This is our nature; here we find one of the elements of our intellectual efficiency; without it we might still be intellectual beings, but it would be with the loss both of the reasoning power and of the imagination.

§. 353. Mental process in the formation of Milton's imaginary paradise.

What has been said can perhaps be made plainer, by considering in what way Milton must have proceeded, in forming his happy description of the garden of Eden. He had formed, in the first place, some general outlines of the subject; and as it was one, which greatly interested his feelings, the interest, which was felt, tended to keep the outlines steadily before him. Then the principles of association, which are ever at work, brought up a great variety of conceptions, having a relation of some kind to those general features; such as conceptions of rocks, and woods, and rivers, and green leaves, and golden fruit.

The next step was the exercise of that power,which we have of perceiving relations, which we sometimes denominate the judgment, but more appropriately the susceptibility or power of relative suggestion. By means of this he was at once able to determine, whether the conceptions, which were suggested, were suitable to the general design of the description and to each other, and whether they would have, when combined together to form one picture, a pleasing effect. Accordingly those, which were judged most suitable, were combined together as parts of the im

aginary creation, and were detained and fixed by means of that feeling of interest, which was at first excercised towards the more prominent outlines merely; while others speedily disappeared from the mind. And thus arose an imaginary landscape, glowing with a greater variety and richness of beauty, more interesting and perfect in every respect, than we can ever expect to find realized in nature. §. 354. Works of imagination give different degrees of pleasure.

Different persons receive different degrees of pleasure from works of imagination. The fact is well known. Something may be said in explanation of it, in reference to poetry; which is one of the creations of the power, we are considering. And the same explanation will apply in part to other efforts of the imagination. Although poetry is generally looked upon to be a useful and pleasing art, we find, that all have not the same relish for its beauties. The pleasure, which is felt by a reader of poetry will in general depend upon two circumstances, (1) the conformity of his experience to the things described, (2) the liveliness of his own imagination.

The pleasure received will depend, in the first place, on the conformity of the reader's experience to the things described. Accordingly, if the scene of a poem be laid within the limits of a commercial city,if it deal chiefly in the description of the habits of the people residing there ; and of their various turns of fortune, it will excite but comparatively little interest in those, who have been brought up wholly amid retired and rural scenes. And when, on the other hand, the scene of it is laid in the country, when it deals in the toils, and sorrows, and joys of country life, it excites comparatively little interest in those, who have never had any actual experience of that kind. Burn's Cotter's Saturday Night is an admirable poem ; but it is exceedingly more pleasing to those, who can clearly perceive, from what they have themselves seen and heard and felt, its accurate conformity to nature, than to those, who cannot.

The pleasure which is felt by a reader of poetry, will depend also in part on the liveliness of his own imagination. In poems the different parts are only imperfectly filled up; some describe more minutely than others; but the most minute describers only trace the outlines. These remain, therefore, to be filled up by the reader. But the ability to do this is found in very different degrees in different persons; some very rapidly and admirably finish the picture, and others do not. The latter, consequently, remain, in a considerable degree, unaffected, and perhaps condemn the poem as deficient in interest; while the former read it with great feeling and pleasure.This statement accounts for the fact, that the same poem gives to different persons different degrees of satisfaction; and also, inasmuch as it requires in all cases some power of imagination in the reader, explains the circumstance, that so many appear to be utterly destitute of any relish for the beauties of the poetic art.

§. 255. On the utility of the faculty of the imagination.

We have proceeded thus far in endeavouring to explain the nature of imagination; and we here turn aside from this general subject, for the purpose of remarking on the utility of this power. And this appears to be necessary, since there are many,who seem disposed to prejudice its claims, in that respect; they warmly recommend the careful culture of the memory, the judgment, and the reasoning power, but look coldly and suspiciously on the imagination, and would rather encourage a neglect of it. But there is ground for apprehending, that a neglect of this noble faculty in any person, who aspires to a full developement and growth of the mind, cannot be justified either by considerations drawn from the nature of the mind itself, or by the practical results of such a course.

In speaking on the utilty of the imagination, it is certainly a very natural reflection, that the Creator had some design or purpose in furnishing men with it, since we find universally, that he does nothing in vain. And what design could he possibly have, if he did not intend that it

should be employed, that it should be rendered active, and trained up with a suitable degree of culture? But if we are thus forced upon the conclusion, that this faculty was designed to be rendered active, we must further sup pose, that its exercise was designed to promote some useful purpose. And such, although it has sometimes been

perverted, has been the general result.

No where is the power of imagination seen to better advantage than in the Prophets of the Old Testament. If it be said that those venerable writers were inspired, it will still remain true, that this was the faculty of the mind, which inspiration especially honoured by the use, which was made of it. And how many monuments may every civilized nation boast of, in painting, architecture, and sculpture, as well as in poetry, where the imagination, in contributing to the national glory, has at the same time contributed to the national happiness! Many an hour it has beguiled by the new situations it has depicted, and the new views of human nature it has disclosed; many a pang of the heart it has subdued, for who can indulge in the reminiscence of his own humble sorrows, when plunged in the mysteries and the woes of the Hamlet and the King Lear; it has cherished many a good resolution, and subtending, as it were, a new and wider horizon around the intellectual being, has filled the soul with higher conceptions, and inspired it with higher hopes. Conscious of its immortal destiny, and struggling against the bounds that limit it, the soul enters with joy into those new and lofty creations, which it is the prerogative of the imagination to form; and they seem to it a congenial residence. Such are the views, which obviously present themselves on the slightest consideration of this subject; and it is not strange therefore, that we find in the writings of Mr. Addison, who was not easily led astray on questions of this nature, such sentiments as the following." A man of polite imagination is led into a great many pleasures, that the vulgar are not capable of receiving. He can converse with a picture, and find an agreeable companion in a statue. He meets with a secret re

freshment in a description, and often feels a greater satisfaction in the prospects of fields and meadows than another. does in the possession. It gives him, indeed, a kind of property in every thing he sees, and makes the most rude, uncultivated parts of nature administer to his pleasures ; so that he looks upon the world, as it were, in another light, and discovers in it a multitude of charms that conceal themselves from the generality of mankind."

§. 356. Of the importance of the imagination in connection with the reasoning power.

In remarking on the subject of the utility of the imagination, there is one important point of view, in which it is capable of being considered; that of the relation of the imagination to the other intellectual powers. And, among other things, there is obviously ground for the remark, that a vigorous and well-disciplined imagination may be made subservient to promptness, and clearness, and success in reasoning. The remark is made, it will be noticed, on the supposition of the imagination being well disciplined, which implies, that it is under suitable control; otherwise it will rather encumber and perplex, than afford aid.

Take, for instance, two persons, one of whom has cultivated the reasoning power, exclusive of the imagination. We will suppose him to possess very deservedly the reputation of an able and weighty dialectician; but it will be. obvious to the slightest observation, that there is, in one respect, a defect and failure; there is an evident want of selection and vivacity in the details of his argument. He cannot readily appreciate the relation which the hearer's mind sustains to the facts, which he wishes to present; and accordingly with much expense of patience on their part, he laboriously and very scrupulously takes up and examines every thing, which can come within his grasp, and bestows upon every thing nearly an equal share of attention. And hence it is, that many persons, who are acknowledged to be learned, diligent, and even successful in argument, at the same time sustain the reputation,