III.—An Essay on accidental Association. By Rev. James Wits. 
Begun 9th December, 1845, and ended 24th February, 1846. 
In my examination into Mr. Stewart’s theory of the association of Ideas, I was 
led to observe a more elementary application of the same principle ; and I then 
stated the conviction I felt, that this principle, if rightly stated, and applied with 
a strict regard to observation, would afford a more simple and sure basis for intel- 
lectual theory than any which has yet been applied. 
In endeavouring to follow out this course of inquiry, I shall adhere, with the 
most undeviating strictness, to the simplest method of observation, and of direct 
inference from the facts of observation, and with an entire exclusion of the dis- 
cussions or the conjectures of previous theories. There is, indeed, hardly an 
opinion that has any foundation, that may not be found somewhere among the 
speculations of theory. But, so far as my reading has gone, I would submit that, 
with very slight exception, such results, so far as they shall be found to coincide 
with the facts of observation, are rather incidental reaches of sagacity, than deduc- 
tions from their theories. If this be allowed, it will be felt that I cannot, consis- 
tently with the method here proposed, encumber a very simple statement with 
the discussion of mere opinions; and I beg to suggest to the Academy, that if the 
inferences which I shall here state, shall appear to be the plain results from the 
principle of investigation which I have adopted, and from the facts which I shall 
offer in its illustration, it is all that can in right reason be required. They who best 
know the vast complication of metaphysical theories, the general vagueness, incon- 
clusiveness, and subtle perplexity with which they are conducted, and their nearly 
total disregard of observation, will most readily admit that I have no other course 
to follow. 
There is one more consideration to be premised. ‘The strict observation of 
intellectual phenomena must necessarily be internal ; it must be self-recollection 
