Conjectures on the proximate Cause of Sleep. 335 



what he, in congruity of reason, ought to do*;" in other words, 

 what we, in our wisdom, shall prescribe to the wisdom of God. 



If there is a circumstance upon earth of value in the eyes of 

 Omnipotence, it is the search after truth. Every fresh instance 

 discovered of his ineffable arrangements cannot fail to add a new 

 measure to his glory. If the praises of men are acceptable to 

 him, to unfold the resplendent truths that kindle those praises 

 must be also acceptable. Yet the presumption of pedantry, the 

 ignorance of learning, will officiously thrust themselves forward, 

 and, in hopes of finding favour with God, trample under their 

 audacious feet whatever can do honour to his name. 



I have not the miserable arrogance to suppose that the truths 

 I have endeavoured to bring to light are truths such as these ; 

 yet the affectation of humility would just be as miserable if I 

 pretended that I did not consider them of some little value. If 

 I was not satisfied in my conscience that they might fairly claim 

 some small portion of attention, they should never have trespassed 

 on moments too precious to be lavished on vanities and trifles. 

 But 1 trust I shall not be considered singularly over-zealous in 

 the performance of a duty so important as the vindication of 

 truths neither trivial nor common ; and if it was my duty, it was 

 not less my inclination — I might almost sav my passioii. — Were 

 I at liberty to change my heraldry and choose anew, this should 

 be my motto — " VVhither Truth leads, thither I follow." 



Postscript. — I have lately read an ingenious discussion On 

 the proximate Cause of Sleep, in an Essay by Dr. Park, published 

 in the Quarterly Journal of Literature, Science, and the Arts, for 

 July iS19 ; and I should perhaps have set a more adequate value 

 on his theory, if I had not been already ))rovided with one which, 

 to my own partial judgement, appears somewhat more satisfac- 

 tory. He designates sleep, as I do, a paralysis ; but he describes 

 it as resulting from Vl full and sloiv ciroilation of blood in the 

 brain. But I am persuaded Dr. Park will admit that, if this slow 

 and full circulation operates by pressure on the brain, pain, or 

 apoplexy, and not sleep, would be the necessary result. The 

 facts, however, which suggested Ids theory harmonize perfectly 

 with mine ; and the full and slow circulation which he establishes, 

 is the very state of the blood in which a deposit of new particles of 

 matter on the brain would be most abundant. The assimilating 

 process, thus in a state of activity, would, according to the fore- 

 going considerations, occasion a paralysis — but a paralysis not 

 bearing any relation to apoplexy, vet suf-Hcienlly manifested in 

 the gentler symptoms of bleep. 



• Hooker, 1st vol. p. 4liy. Oxford, 1807, quoted by Warburton, ^d vol. 

 p. 330. 



LVII. Oil 



