&40 Ht;AIlING AND SEEIKfi, A VISION. 



through the fields of space ; or, at times, might be seen the livid glare 

 of the marsh, flitting now with quick and irregular motion, and then 

 suddenly vanishing altogether ; but except these transitory coruscations 

 of flame, it was a night of thick and heavy darkness. In a large 

 chamber, hung round with black tapestr}', to which the old man con- 

 ducted me, and upon a lofty throne, erected for the purpose, sat 

 Reason, justly proud of her elevated position ; her mien and appearance 

 •were dignified beyond description ; in the expression of her features 

 there was a calm composure, a tranquil majesty of thought, that seemed 

 to arrest attention while it commanded respect; serene and placid, she 

 seemed not likely to be swayed by enthusiasm. Slow and reflective, she 

 was not in danger of deciding with precipitance. The room was 

 thronged with a numerous auditory. Reason waved her hand majestically, 

 and called upon the Sense of Hearing to state her claims — who rose, 

 and spoke as follows : — 



" Imperial Queen ! sovereign arbitress of the actions of men ! thou 

 ■who decidest truly between Right and Wrong, whose decisions are 

 accurately weighed in the scales of deliberation ; and whose conduct 

 is shaped in conformity with the most scrupulous justice — you have 

 this night to decide a long- continued dispute; the arguments upon 

 which I rest my claims are these : and which, as the time allotted to me is 

 brief, I shall endeavour to compress into as small a compass as possible." 



" In the first place, then, I hold that the operations of the sense of 

 hearing are more dependant upon, and connected with, the intellectual 

 faculties, than those of seeing ; sounds can be perceived by the ear, 

 only when the mind takes cognizance of such, while the eye may gaze 

 upon objects, and does frequently without the agency of the mind at 

 all. This argument, however, leading perhaps into too metaphysical a 

 disquisition, I am content to waive, and will rest my case solely upon 

 the following; which, to make the stronger, I will deduce directlv from 

 your own experience." 



" !Music, music, oh ! how my thoughts expand, and my conceptions 

 dilate, at the very mention of that soul-thrilling name ; Vi-hat a throng 

 of rapturous associations rush upon me ! Have you ever listened in 

 mind-delighting ecstasy, when the magnificent swell of heavenly 

 music first strikes upon the attention ? Music, music, spiritualizes, 

 exalts, refines ; our thoughts are tranquillized, all our feelings and 

 emotions bathed, as it were, in the ambrosial dews of heaven ; we 

 become almost divested of our corporeality, and our souls emancipated 

 from this earthly thraldom, float through an imaginary empyrean of 

 dehght, supreme and transcendental. As the coming of the Fabled 

 Halcyon used to still the tumultuous heavings of the billows, so the 

 soft illapse of sweet music upon the soul softens down all its agitations, 

 and brings the chaos of its troubled musings into sweet harmony and 

 concord. Or, to use another simile, music is to the darkness of mental 

 disquietude, as the sun to the dreariness of the world, when he breaks 

 from out a weight of clouds, and sheds his golden beams, chasing away 

 the temporary gloom, and restoring all things to their pristine loveliness 

 and beauty. Even the adoration which the celestial spirits are said to 

 offer before the throne of Omnipotence, is poured out in sweet strains of 

 music, as is beautifully described by Milton — 



