ON EETEUIE. Ill 



ing omitted to anallze the method, -by which mind and 

 body act and re-act on each other, they haye failed to 

 trace the disease to its source ; and in point of remedy, 

 have left it where they found it. 



In the course of reading or reflection, the subject When the at- 

 which engages us may be a task, or a pleasure ; it may gaged\y Ih' 

 either be indifferent to us, or deeply interesting. If it straction, the 

 be of the latter description, (or even in the case of the organs of sense 



xi. r • IN xi. become xnac- 

 former, if we happen to possess a strength oi mind) atten- ^ly^. 



tion will be collected from every quarter, Avhere it may 

 usually be dissipated, and gathered to this single focus. 

 It seems to leave the organs of sense; — which, hence, be- 

 come callous to impressions, at other times forcibly per- ' 

 ceptible. A bell may toll, and the hail may rattle on 

 their windows ; but both may be alike unheard. To this 

 state of the mind, philosophy gives the name of abstrac- 

 tion.— -If, on the contrary, I have a more favourite study «.but some 

 than that in which I am engaged; or if, wherf I am prevailing ob- 

 engaged in study, there be some pleasure which I expect ^^^^ ^^^ i^^ 

 or have lately enjoyed; or some misfortune which I ap- reverie, 

 prehend, or have lately sustained, dwelling upon my 

 mind: I shall find it difficult to fix my attention — my 

 thoughts will be perpetually recurring to this more inte- 

 resting subject ; my inclination to wander, and my desire 

 to improve will carry on an equal contest ; and I shall 

 discover, on laying aside my book, that I have been read- 

 ing one thing, and pondering on another. This double ' 

 operation of the mind, constitutes that species of reverie 

 which is peculiar to literary persons. 



Our train of thought is disturbed, when any of our External im- 



senses is acted upon by some quality in an external object, P^^essions may 

 ,.,,,,.,, -^ . ,. „ . 'draw the mind 



which tends to introduce a new series oi reflections, fmm its sub- 

 ject. 

 They are fearful of pain; covet music and sleep;— and delight in 

 poetry and romance." As the motions excited in consequence of 

 increased sensation, are more than natural, and thus expend a 

 greater portion of sensorial power, the voluntary motions, like the 

 irritative, are less easily exerted — Hence the persons we have been 

 describing are indolent with regard to all voluntary exertions, 

 whether of mind or body. They are also known by interrupting 

 others in discourse with irrelevant observations. Deaf people ad- 

 here longer than others to one subject, as their train of ideas are in 

 no danger from one inlet of disturbance. 



Thus, 



