45 



conformity of opinion with their own ; though conscious that 

 by the appUcation of force they can produce no other effect 

 than hypocrisy or even blasphemy. 



132. From sympathy we may also derive the pleasure we 

 receive from lively descriptions of the passions and emotions 

 not only of the milder kjnd, but even of the irascible, when 

 felt, by persons for whom we are interested, whether real or 

 fictitious, such as are presented to us by poets and writers of 

 romances or novels ; in this case the imagination deludes us 

 with a transient belief of their existence,* while we volunta- 

 rily abstract from, or are inattentive to, the circumstances 

 that would destroy the delusion ; the more easily and com- 

 pletely this abstraction is found, the stronger the delusion ; 

 hence theatrical representations exhibited by skilful actors, 

 accompanied with appropriate scenery, and allied with 

 suitable music, are of all others the most impressive and 

 fascinating. 



133. Expectation is an instinctive emotion, impelling us 

 more or less forcibly, to believe the future existence of any 

 object, its force being proportioned to its supposed certainty, 

 or probability. 



Hence 



• Such is the opinion of Professor Dugald Stewart, on the Mind, p. \5\. in 8mo, 

 and of Dr. Priestly, Lectures on Oratory, p. 80, 4to. It is stroni^Iy opposed by Dr'. 

 Johnson in his Preface to Shakespeare, 2d fugitive pieces, p. 114.. and Professor Scott 's 

 Elements of Intellectual Philosophy, p. 248. Both deserve to be consulted. 



