SIR: 



There is no doubt that the senses were ^iven to Rea- 

 son by the Supreme Architect as aids to the better com- 

 prehension of natural things. They are Hke windows or 

 doors through which she may look out on those things, 

 or through which they may come in and make them- 

 selves known. Still better said: the senses are scouts, 

 or spies, that seek to discover the nature of things, and 

 report these observations to Reason within, who passes 

 judgment on everything, describing with more or less 

 clearness and precision, according to the validity, alert- 

 ness, and accuracy of her informers. Hence it is that 

 in order to verify observations, we frequently approach 

 or recede from the object that we wish to examine, 

 change its position or its light, and perform many other 

 actions relating not only to the sense of sight, but also to 

 those of hearing, smell and touch. In fact, no one of 

 the slightest intelligence would attempt to exact judg- 

 ment from Reason in any other way than this. There- 

 fore, I believe Nature could not possibly choose any 

 more useful gift for man than his five perfect senses. 

 It is evident that a man searching for the truths of Nat- 

 ural History would go far astray if he did not keep his 

 senses clear, for Reason, if set to work on a superficial 

 report of the senses, would render a hasty and faulty 

 verdict. Thus it happens that even young men new to 

 the schools hold this opinion, which is but common sense, 



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