*Qnd 8, No 7., Fre, 16. °56.] 
’ AND “INSTINCT.” 
“RigHT” AND “LEFT HAND,’ 
(24 S. i. 84.) 
He must be either a very learned, or a very 
bold man, who would venture to give a definition 
of instinct; and, being neither the one nor the, 
other, I decline the attempt. Nevertheless, I 
have much pleasure in answering Mr. Coxtyns’s 
question, as far as:my own opinion is concerned ; 
and in stating, that I believe instinct to be an 
irresistible impulse to the performance of certain 
actions: the wisdom and object of which are 
never the subjects of the performer’s considera- 
tion; Nest-building is a sutlicient example. It 
would seem to imply foreknowledge and the wis- 
dom of making provision for the future, and to 
require an amount of handicraft skill, together 
with the judicious choice of materials, shape, site, 
&e., which would be unattainable by man with- 
out, long practice and experience. Yet to, the 
bird, none of these things are. necessary.. The 
process is, accomplished by a blind inspiration of 
what to do, and by a mysterious influence that 
compels it to be done. Perfect in its origin, how- 
ever,—and Pope long ago told us, in defining 
between instinct and reason, that 
“ One must go right, the other may go wrong,” — 
it admits of neither choice nor variety, and in this 
respect is perfectly distinguished from what Dr. 
Alison admirably calls the “ voluntary effort which 
results from a train of reasoning.” 
In what sense Mr. Cottyns’s friend uses the 
word mind, 48 applied to the instinct of animals, I 
aii At a loss to conjecture. Tt is a ticklish ex- 
pression to use in these days, when Horne Tooke’s 
explanations are winning..their wiy to the public 
ear. Mak. Coxryns calls the miiid “a function of 
the brain.” I cannot pursue that staterient either. 
What inspires the impulses of instinct is be- 
yond our mortal ken, The impulses miiy work 
through the mechanisin or the structure (which- 
ever is the proper word) of the brain ; but, beyond 
all that human observation can reach, there re- 
mains still — 
“A higher height, a deeper deep.” 
Deus anima brutorum” has been quoted by 
Dr. Alison, in his admirable paper on instinct, in 
pe Pa ene of Anatomy and Physiology ; and 
‘ope declares — 
“In this ’tis God directs.” 
Assuredly, as Dr, Alison remarks, nest-building 
is the process of a reasoning mind ; -and inasmuch 
as we deny the reasoning mind to the bird, we 
must grant it to Him who implanted the instine- 
tive propensity in the unreasoning bird. . 
Hermes, 
PS. Iam half anticipating, in these remarks, 
4 little work, now in the press, by a friend of 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
137 
mine, wherein an attempt is made to simplify 
this interesting subject. Its title is Worlds not 
Realised. , 
SONG OF THE REVOLUTION. 
(i S. x. 423.) 
The following, which is one of the celebrated 
Protestant songs (so common to the present day 
among the Orange party in Ireland) to which the 
Revolution gave birth, is the song inquired for by 
your correspondent R. WArRDE. FB. 
“POPISH TYRANNY. 
“Tune: Vicar of Bray. 
Ly 
“ When James, assuming right from God, 
Enslav’d this free-born nation, 
His sceptre was.an iron rod, 
His reign a visitation. 
High Churchmen cried ‘ Obey, obey! 
_ Let none resist a crowned head ; 
He who gainsays, what tyrants say, 
Ts a rebellious Round-head.’ 
Then let us sing, while echoes ring, 
The glorious Revolution ; 
Your voices raise to William’s praise, 
Who sav’d the Constitution. 
2. 
“ The Bible was no longer read, 
But tales of sinners sainted ; 
The gods ador’d were gods of bread, 
And sign-posts carv’d and painted. 3 
Their priests and monks, with cowls and ropes, 
Arriv’d here without number; 
With racks and daggers bless’d by Popes, 
And loads of holy lumber. 
Then let us sing, &c. 
3. 
“ Our trade abroad, our wealth at home, 
And all things worth desiring, 
Were sacrifie’d to France and Rome, 
While Britons lay expiring. 
The monarch, a2 Church-ridden ass, 
Did whate’er priests sugested, 
And trotted day by day to mass, 
The slave of slaves. detested. 
Then let us sing, &e. 
4. 
“By cruel Popish politics, 
Were Protestants affrighted; 
When, to convert poor heretics, 
New Smithfield fires were lighted. 
But hope soon sprung out of despair, 
So Providence commanded ; 
Our fears were all dispers’d in air, 
When god-like William landed. 
Then let us sing, &c. 
5 
“ Our Church and State shook off the yoke, 
And lawless power was banish’d ; 
The snares of priestcraft too were broke, 
And superstition yanish’d, 
