AND BODILY STATES UPON THE IMAGINATION. 189 



mind, of spiritual essences, and those enchained in the fetters, or 

 bewildered in the light of a false religion. The folly of metaphy- 

 sics is fast disappearing ; demonology has no more advocates ; and 

 the insanity of the recluse and the devotee are scarcely to be met 

 with, save in the followers of Brahma or Mahomet, among the in- 

 dividuals and nations of the east. Grief, labour, care, pale sickness, 

 miseries, fear, filthy poverty, and hunger, are, according to Burton, 

 *he appenage of the speculative student ; his income, his benefice, 

 and his patrimony — 



" Vainest of all ! — the student's theme, 

 Ends in some metaphysic dream." 



The mind has, doubtless, different faculties, which, in their 

 action, are independent of each other, and which are excited or 

 depressed by agents which do not act in a similar manner upon all. 

 Thus, the imagination, memory, and judgment are properties dis- 

 tinct in all their phenomena. We have noticed the effect of soli- 

 tude and study upon the former. We have seen it rendered more 

 brilliant, gloomy, and despotic by the influence these several agents 

 have exercised over it : on the other hand, the memory has not 

 been at all affected, whilst the judgment has been materially 

 weakened or altogether paralized. The effects which these produce 

 upon the mind, are of a more lasting character than those I am now 

 about to speak of: they are long in producing any morbid changes 

 in its action ; but these changes are of a serious character, and it 

 requires a considerable period of time to restore the mental func- 

 tions to their pristine strength, balance, and vigour, even after the 

 causes affecting them have been removed. Alcohol, in its varied 

 states of combination, and opium have marked and striking effects 

 upon the imagination of some individuals, though not equally upon 

 all. The minds of men of lofty genius possess a susceptibility and 

 delicacy of structure which unfit them for the gross atmosphere of 

 human nature as it is. Mr. Smellie, the friend of Robert Bums, 

 observes that, "no sentient being, with mental powers greatly 

 superior to those of man, could possibly live and be happy in this 

 world. If such a being reaUy existed," continues he, " his misery 



