Mr. Bew on Blindnefs . i6$ 
ciie j and the fame is remarkable, though in 
a Hill higher degree, with refpedt to the effects 
of exercife and habit, on the faculties of the 
mind. From this wife regulation, in the ceco- 
nomy of nature, refults a train of refources, 
which the blind are found capable of deriving, 
from the exercife of the other fenfes ; and which 
may be fo far perfected, as to compenfate, in 
a great meafure, for the lofs of the darling fenfe 
of fight. The delicacy and precifion, with which 
l'ome eminent blind people have employed the 
other fenfes, particularly bearing and touch , would, 
indeed, exceed the bounds of credibility, were 
we not allured of the fads, as well from a&ual 
experience, as from undoubted authorities. 
Dr. Saunderfon loft his fight, by the fmall- 
pox, fo early in his infancy, that he did not 
remember to have ever feen. He had no more 
ideas of light, than if he had been born blind. 
Notwithftanding this misfortune, he acquired 
fuch profound and perfect knowledge in the 
fcience of mathematics, that, by the influence 
of his merit only, he was appointed to the 
profeflforlhip in the Univerfity of Cambridge. 
The addrefs of this celebrated philofopher, was 
no ways inferior to the knowledge he polfelfed ; 
a circumftance, which we do not always meet 
with in thofe who have the full powers of 
fight. His lectures on the different branches 
of mathematics, natural philofophy, aftronomy. 
