120 <^N REVERIE* 



of any passion, joy, surprise, grief, indignation, whidh 

 deprives it of the ease and exemption from solicitude re- 

 quisite to its. applying with effect to abstruse researches 

 or what is called serious reading,--— it will then be its 

 philosophy to lure attention into the paths of literature, 

 with the elegant classic, or interesting narrative ; — with 

 the works of poets or dramatic authors ; and with com- 

 position on its favourite theme : — stimulants powerful in 

 calming the soul, and charming sorrow into tranquillity, 

 when rarely and prudently applied ; but which would lose 

 their effect, if they were daily administered. 

 Objects which Another expedient, which it will be prudent to adopt, 

 tion"are^to"be ^^ the removal of our place of study, beyond the reach (if 

 avoided. possible) of every object and circumstance which being 



presented to any of our- senses, is apt to seduce attention* 

 The fragrance of flowers, the voice of music, the portrait 

 of a friend, the hum of men, has each its train of associated 

 ideas, to pursue which, the mind of the student may in- 

 sensibly be drawn off from the object of his study. And 

 if the student wishes to, obtain a depth of thought, a 

 closeness of reasoning, dispatch, or perfection in study, he 

 will reserve these luxuries for the hour of relaxation. It 

 was one of the maxims of Lycurgus, that ornaments should 

 not be placed in the council halls, as they tended to alien- 

 ate the attention of the judges, when listening to the 

 pleaders. 

 Artofmemory. The art of memory has been said to be the art of atten- 

 tion ; — theartof r^* VI"' 'jg^ the operations of the mind 

 from being broku; ..j ouOit reveries, to which weak minds 

 are decoyed by every sound or sight that passes. It is 

 possible for a Newton to be so deeply absorbed in thought, 

 and to have practised abstraction so thoroughly, that the 

 Remarks on firing of a cannon will not break the train of his ideas. — ' 

 men supposed gy^ common minds, conscious of their inferior strength, 

 8Uaction"in\ll ^nd of their greater aptitude to be interruptecl, should 

 situations. cultivate letters in places where the fewest and the weakest 

 be?r'*^"' ' stimuli are applied ;— in the shade, remote from noise, 

 and not exposed to passing objects. Colbert's having said 

 that his mind was always mos't active in the midst of Paris, 

 if not fully solved in thg former part of this essay, may be 

 considered as a pro^f, that that minister possessed a warm 



- imagination. 



