iygy. on physiognomy. 57 



they had time to discover this ? Is it the sympathy 

 of inclinations and humours ? They have not had 

 time to fhew they had any. What is this charm 

 then which tends and draws whether we will or not? 

 It is sympathy. A definition not very satisfying 

 and of which we know only the consequences. 



It will readily be granted to this writer that his 

 definition is not very satisfying, but perhaps he is 

 a little too hasty in the last part of his inference, 

 that it ig a thing which cannot be explained, and of 

 which we know only the consequences. The greater 

 part of people indeed know only the consequences, 

 because they attend only to these ; they content 

 themselves with dbserving the effects without taking 

 the trouble to inquire into the causes which pro- 

 duce them : but any one who attends to what pafses 

 within him on these occasions, who carefully consi- 

 ders the progrefs of his mind, and traces its various 

 steps, will find that what chiefly forms the secret, the 

 sudden prejudice in farour of any person at first 

 sight, is the appearance of the social, kind, benevo- 

 lent affections exprefsed in his looks and behavi- 

 our. 



Nothing gives the mind greater delight than a 

 strong and lively picture of a worthy and amiable 

 character. Nothing affects us more strongly than 

 the representation of generosity, benevolence, com- 

 pafsion, a strong love and earnest zeal for the 

 happinefs of mankind. These dispositions are al- 

 vays beheld with pleasure; and wherever they ap- 

 pear command respect and esteem. Strong indica- 

 tions of these amiable qualities exprefsed in the 

 VOL. xvi. H X 



