to' anaKz^ the method, by whicli mind and 

 body act and rc-act on each other, they have 

 failed to trace the dUease to its source ; &nd in 

 point of jepiedy, i haive left -it^wher^t^^th^ 

 found it. 



In the course of reading or reflection, the 

 subject which engages us may be a task, or a 

 pleasures it may either be indifrereilt to us, or 

 deeply interesting, If ^libe of; the latter der 

 scription, (or even iWith^ c^Sfi^j^f the former, 

 if we;- happen to postos a strength rof mind) 

 attention will be collected from every quarter, 

 .where it may usually be dissipated, and gathered 

 to this single focus. . It seem^ to leave the 

 organs of sense;— :whicb, hence, bejcoine callous 

 to impressions, at other. times forcibly percepti- 

 We* ;A bell may toll, atid the hail may rattle 

 on-i.their windows; but both mgy be alike 

 unheard. To this stateof the mind, philosophy 

 gives the name of abstraction.— If; on the con- 

 trary, l have a more favourite study,, than that 

 in wiiich I am engaged ; or if, when I am en^ 

 gaged in study, there be some pleasure whicli 

 I expect or have lately enjoyed 5. or some mis. 

 fortune which I iipprehend, or h.i\^e lately siis- 



anci interr'jptiiig others in (iiscoufse wim irrelevant ob- 

 scrvallons. Deaf people adhere longer than bttiers to one 

 mbject, as thc^r train bf-'KJefH ^re in-no<!irngH''ft'<iWi 6M 

 infelof disiiirbance. 



