I \Q ON REVERIE. 



Every man is conscious that his mind is often imper- 

 Manner in . , •' _ r , i • , 



which themlnd ceptibly conveyed away from tne objects that are prc- 



becomcs ab- sented to his senses, and led to other catenations of ideas. 



scn^, c. Among these it ranges for some time, till at length, in a 



manner apparently inexplicable, it perceives itself brought 

 back to its immediate employment: but is equally at a 

 loss to explain how it broke loose, how long it has been 

 absent, or what has occasioned its return. 



Medical views. Physicians, who have treated this mental infirmity as a 

 disease, have confined themselves to a description of the 

 constitutional frame, which renders us liable to it *. Hav- 

 ing 



Reverie of the certain operations of the mind to the former or the latter of these 

 ^oct* terms. Poetry is one example — But a little reflection will solve the 



dilHculty. Some of the poets* finest ideas may be derived from 

 reverie :-*but to embody them In words, to give them a local habi- 

 tation and a name, close abstraction is certainly required. 

 Two kinds of ^^ "iay» also, be proper to observe, that there are two distinct 

 reverie. species of reverie ; each of which Interrupts study. The one is 



unconnected with the object of our study, and is occasioned by a 

 strong Impression on our mind, which disturbs the power of at- 

 tending to another subject: as if after witnessing an execution, I 

 should attempt to read a book of philosophy, the horrid spectacle 

 would in this case intrude upon my thoughts, and render attention 

 impossible. The other species arises from the subject, and is fre- 

 quently produced when the mind is at ease. Cato's Soliloquy on 

 reading Plato's Treatise on the Soul's Immortality, may be sup- 

 posed to bean example of it; — and this species of reverie may easily 

 be confounded with abstraction. 



The sensorial * Dr. Darwin, vol. I. p. 361, says that " people with Increased 

 power employ- sensibility, who may be known by high coloured lips, dark hair, 

 ^. ?" J"^y,^"5 and large eyes, are most liable to enthusiasm, delirium and reverie. 

 ', •,• " In this last afFectlon, they are seen to start at the clapping of a 



door, because the more intent any one Is on the passing current of 

 hit ideas, the more is he surprised at their being dissevered by ex- 

 ternal violence. But owing to the great expenditure of sensorial 

 power on these sensitive motions. It follows, that there will be a 

 deficiency of it In the irritative, which will be performed with lesa 

 energy. 

 ,-- and renders " Hence these persons do not attend to slight stimulus; but when 

 vs less sensible ^ stimulus is great enough to excite sensation, it excites greater 

 fo surroim mg g^j^gj^j^g actions than in other constitutions. This is the case In 

 * * delirium or inflammation.— Thus persons addicted to reverie arc 

 absent in company;— sit or lie long In one posture, and in winter 

 have the skin of their legs burnt in various colour* by the fire. 



They 





