tyG Mr. Bern on Blindnefs. 
awake, purfues its internal perceptions and con¬ 
templations with unconfounded ferenity. The 
blind unlettered projedtor of roads could reply 
to me, when I exprefied myfelf furprized at the 
accuracy of his difcriminations, “ that there was 
“ nothing furprizing in the matter; You, Sir,” 
fays he, iC can have recourfe to your eye fight 
** whenever you want to fee or examine any 
“ thing; whereas, I have only my memory to 
* c truft to. There is one advantage, how- 
<c ever,” he remarked, that he pofifelfed. <c The 
<c readinefs with which you view an objedt at 
“ pleafure, prevents the neceffity of fixing 
ft the ideas of it deeply in your mind, and the 
“ impreffions, in general, become quickly obli- 
tc terated. On the contrary, the information I 
tc pofiefs, being acquired with greater difficulty, 
“ is, on that very account, fo firmly fixed on the 
“ memory, as to be almoft indelible.” Such, 
indeed, is the wonderful influence, refulting 
from the union of exercife and habit, on the 
faculties of the blind, that the permanency of 
their knowledge in a great meafure, compen- 
fates for the labour required in its attainment! 
The inffantaneous facility, with which, by the 
aid of fight, we are able to afeertain the pecu¬ 
liarities of any place we furvey, and the eafe 
with which we review and recognize them, 
renders dependence on the memory, to us, lefs 
neceffary. For inflance, the dimenfions of the 
apartment 
