Oe, ee 
the Doétrine of Materialifin. of 
It is natural to expect, that proofs which convince: 
“ourfelves fhould alfo convince others ; yet, though: 
I confider the medical facts as almoft demonftrating 
that the Brain is the Inftrument only, not the 
Caufe of the reafoning Power, I entertain no hope 
of their converting one thorough Materialift. 
Hypothefis is a Miftrefs not eafily abandoned, and 
equally courted by Philofophers of both fides. 
Tt is faid of Democritus, that perceiving his 
figs to relifh of honey, one day, he made a problem 
of the incident, and was proceedivg to folve it, 
when his Attendant confeffed that- fhe had kept the- 
figs in a pot which had formerly contained honey. 
The Philofopher was enraged, and complained 
that by this familiar explanation, he was deprived 
of a more important Caufe of his own invention. 
Many writers feem to have inherited the fpirit 
of the old Grecian, in the prefent Conteft.. ‘They 
have run their Metaphyfical career without ftopping. 
to enqu re for facts, and there has been great fport, 
in the erection and demolition of the fanciful 
_ Opinious which each party has brought into play ; 
or Xr 
2%, Ore Tig Vadwabov wdis ayy Seddooys, 
7 24 a Ey s >fA./ é 
O¢ t Exel gy Tomo abupuera vyméeyor, 
a is > 
Awl duris Cuvéyeve wooly ual yepalv, &bvowv.* 
~ Your Philofophy is of mature age, and defies 
the application; but too many of the Materialifts 
have reckoned their doctrine eftablifhed, becaufe 
fome 
* Homer, Iliad. xv. 
