[ 7' ] 



afFedion, like crying, coughing or fncczing ; it is defined by fome 

 writer that I have feen to be a fuccefTion of nafcent or imper- 

 fe<a fhrieks* ; it fometimes indicates an emotion of the mind, but 

 often proceeds from caufcs purely mechanical and external, like 

 any other convulfion ; tickling, for inftance, or the fight of vio- 

 lent laughter in others, will produce it ; in hyfterical patients it is 

 a mere difeafe, equally fo with the cytiic J'pafm or the dance of 

 St. Fitus. 



To define the nature of mirth, in other words, to explain the 

 caufe of that pleafure which we derive from ridicule, we muft 

 recur to the theory of Hobbcs, which is conformable to the defi- 

 nition of Ariftotle, and will on examination appear to be founded 

 in nature. Mirth (fays the philofopher of Malm/bury) arifes from 

 a fudden conception of fome eminency in ourfelves, by compa- 

 rifon with our own infirmity formerly, or that of others. Here 

 we muft obferve the force of the cxpreflion fudden conception, 

 which implies that the whole pleafure of the mirthful fenfation 

 does not proceed from confcious triumph, any more than it does 

 from the truth of the reprefentation : Part is to be attributed to 

 the odd and unforefeen fituation or condud of the ridiculous 

 thing or agent ; thus we find, by experience, that our mirth is 

 anticipated and deftroyed by any thing which checks or prevents 

 the furprife of this fudden conception ; for example, when the 

 perfon, who means to be facetious, prefaces his obfervation or his 

 tale with the promife of a good jeft or a laughable ftory, whereby 

 we are prepared for fomething ludicrous, and lofc the pleafure of 

 the furprize. 



'• As well as I can recolleft:, by Dr. Hayley, a profound writer on metaphyfics,, 

 from whom the iogenious Dr. Pritjlley has taken many valuable hints. 



As 



