1863.] 239 



(Carleton. 



consciousness, they mean, if they understand themselves, that they 

 could do the contrary, under the influence of a contrary motive, and 

 not without. 



He is a free agent who does as he prefers ; a higher degree of 

 freedom cannot exist. If he commit a crime, he does as he prefers ; 

 if he abstain, this also is as he prefers. His perception of the great- 

 est apparent good is the sole and direct spring of action, as insepara- 

 ble from his being as gravitation from matter. It is impossible he 

 should prefer pain to pleasure. It is a necessity of his nature that 

 he should do what he prefers. When he swallows a nauseous 

 drug, or undergoes the amputation of a limb, his motive is not the 

 drug or amputation ; he suifers a present evil from the hope of a re- 

 mote and greater good. In this he is a free agent, and acts as he 

 prefers; he cannot act otherwise. 



It is now plain that Liberty and Necessity, or free agency, can be 

 aflBrmed of actions only, and never of the mind, whose thoughts are 

 governed by laws beyond the reach of outward force. 



Motive is but the preference of the mind for one action rather than 

 another, and if a man can do what he prefers he is a free agent, but 

 ceases to be so, as soon as put under external restraint. Free agency 

 is freedom from external restraint ; necessity is restraint by external 

 force. A bonfire may be made of all books written on Liberty and 

 Necessity ; as everybody knows, from childhood upwards, when he is 

 at liberty, or when he is prevented from doing what he pleases. 



Mr. Foulke exhibited a box of phantom leaves dissected 

 entirely by insects, and in a very perfect manner. 



Mr. Foulke also exhibited articles of bijouterie made of 

 woods and minerals from the Arctic regions, brought by the 

 last Grinnell Expedition under Dr. Hayes. 



Mr. Chase exhibited an alabaster cube or die, about seven- 

 tenths of an inch square, picked up by a traveller from the 

 floor of a Chinese temple, the angles and edges worn smooth, 

 and on two opposite faces two inscriptions, the other four 

 faces being plain. On one face the inscriptions read TA SIN 

 SHAN TANG, four characters, occupying four quadrants 

 within an octagon, and meaning Great Heart, Mountain Tem- 

 ple (or Mountain Plain).* The letters were in plain raised 



* The character Tang has various meanings ; " a palace ; a temple; a hall ; 

 a wide level place on a mountain ; high ; dignified ; illustrious," &c. It is per- 



