412 ON SENSORIAL VISION. 



tion of visible form to the sensorium. Still, even grant- 

 ing that such reflex action is possible, and the retina is 

 SO impressed, the question remains Where does the 

 pattern itself or its prototype in the intellect originate ? 

 certainly not in any action consciously exerted by the 

 mind, for both the particular pattern to be formed and 

 the time of its appearance arc not merely beyond our 

 will and control, but beyond our knowledge. If it be 

 true that the conception of a regular geometrical pattern 

 implies the exercise of thought and intelligence, it would 

 almost seem that in such cases as those above adduced 

 we have evidence of a thought, an intelligence, working 

 within our own organization distinct from that of our 

 own personality. Perhaps it may be suggested that 

 there is a kaleidoscopic power in the sensorium to form 

 regular patterns by the symmetrical combination of 

 casual elements, and most assuredly wonders may be 

 worked in this way. But the question still recurs in 

 another form : " How is it that we are utterly uncon- 

 scious of the possession of such a power ; utterly unable 

 voluntarily to exert it ; and only aware of its being ex- 

 erted at tmies, and in a manner we have absolutely no 

 part in except as spectators of the exhibition of its 

 results'?" 



(i6.) But again, it may be urged that the particular 

 geometrical forms presented are famiHar ones, and are 

 not created or invented pro re 7iata, but simply old ones 

 reproduced their reproduction being an act, not of 

 invention, but of memory. But against this view of the 

 matter tliere appears to me to exist an insuperable objec- 



