■of the Will over Senfation, 46.9 



Senfation itfelf is probably different in dif- 

 -ferent perfons. It depends on the date both of 

 the bodily organs, and of the percipient mind. 



It is therefore varied, by age, by culture, and 

 by every circumftance which can affe<5t the tem- 

 perament, either of the mind, or pf the body. 

 Some fyftems are naturally more irritable; 

 others more firm. In fome, all bodily impref- 

 iions are extremely pungent; in others, compa- 

 ratively languid. The fame habit is probably ^ 

 not equally difpofed, at all times, to the endu- 

 rance of pain. The temper of the mind, and 

 the ftate of the nerves, admit of fo much ine- 

 quality, that it may demand much greater 

 fortitude to fuffer calmly, at one period, thaa 

 at another. 



In general, whatever fixes the rnind in in- 

 tense THOUGHT, or roufes it to strong passion, 

 makes it lefs fenfible to organical irapreffion. 

 ** How often, fays Mr. Locke, may a man ob- 

 ** ferve in himfelf, that whilfl: his mind is in- 

 " tenfely employed in the contemplation of fome 

 *' objed, and curioufly furveying fome ideas 

 " that are there, it takes no notice of imprefiions 

 ** of founding bodies made on the organ of 

 *' hearing ? A fufficient impulfe there may be 

 " upon the organ j but it not reaching the ob- 

 " fervation of the mind, there follows no per- 

 '* ception."* Effcds fimilar to this almoft 



-* E% on Hum. Und. Lib. II. Ch. 9. § 4. 



H h 3 cwQvy 



