82 Rev. J. Wills on Mr. Stewart's Explanation of 



but carried on in the progress of its operation to a much more complete result 

 than that contemplated by Mr. Stewart. 



Let me call your attention to the actual Instance : two or more notes are 

 marked for the right hand to strike together, and perhaps as many more for the 

 left, all at the very same time, and by one movement in which several others, all 

 distinct in their effect and intent, are absolutely and indivisihly combined into one 

 act: a single impulse giving simultaneous movement and synchronous directions 

 to several members, and constituting, therefore, one conception in the mind of the 

 mover. The difference between such a process and the most rapid succession that 

 the nature of the thing can admit of, — say the vibrations of sound, — is as great 

 as the difference between the mere confusion of substances called mixture, and 

 the substantial union caused by chemical affinity : as that substance is one, so is 

 the effect in this case absolutely one, executed by one act, governed by one con- 

 ception — a single complex idea, the result of association. I agree with Mr. 

 Stewart, or rather with the common notion, in assigning this complex act to habit ; 

 but habit acting, not by mere acceleration, but by a maturer process to which it 

 is always tending, and which forms its main department of the mind; the combi- 

 nation of ideas which have been frequently presented, into recogiiized groups, of 

 which each, losing its features of aggregation, acquires an integral and distinct 

 identity of its own. Though I am anxious to avoid the adoption of any system 

 of metaphysical language, yet it will be convenient to keep in view, that the re- 

 sults here described are the same which are called complex ideas by Mr. Locke, 

 which term I shall retain through this Essay. 



Let us dwell for a moment longer on this first case, and take one glance at 

 the general progress of the performer in the acquisition of the art by which those 

 complex movements are effected. 



At first those signs must be separately observed by the learner, and the an- 

 swerable movements separately made ; two notes cannot be at the same instant 

 observed, still less their movements (altogether amounting to four distinct acts of 

 thought for one simultaneous act of the hands), be performed; though all are fully 

 recognized, no velocity of will and attention can impart the simultaneous execu- 

 tion required : the movements can only come separately, and, therefore, cannot 

 operate together. Slowly, however, and by continual repetition of the same 

 efforts of attention, the combinations begin to be seen as combinations, and be- 



