68 Length and Space. 



longer, it would be perceived whether the one was equal 

 to two of the other. If the mind had been familiarised to 

 higher numbers it could, in like manner, be ascertained, 

 whether the one contained three or four times the other, 

 or contained it any number of times whatever. Thus, the 

 idea of a measurk would be acquired, and its name 

 required in conversation. 



6. — The utility of a measure would be still more apparent, 

 when the mind came to compare two immoveable objects, 

 which could not be brought together, for the purpose of 

 determining which was longer or shorter. The application 

 to them both successively, of the measure, the one being 

 longer than itself, though it appears to us a simple expedient, 

 was undoubtedly the fruit of much reasoning in the infancy 

 of human intellect, and must have been hailed as a beau- 

 tiful and useful invention. It appears, however, to be 

 known in the rudest states of society ; and may be consi- 

 dered as the common property of the species. It does not 

 appear that the inferior animals ever attempt to measure, 

 or determine the comparative length or size of objects in 

 any other way, than by looking at them, and touching 

 them, though they must have acquired these impressions 

 first by touch, as well as ourselves ; yet, it is demonstrable 

 that they judge much more frequently by the eye than by 

 the other sense. We invariably consider it as a mark of 

 extraordinary sagacity in an animal, when we see it turn 

 over an object with its foot for the purpose of perceiving 

 its size and form. 



7. — When two things are severally equal to the measure 

 employed we see intuitivelj', that they are equal to another. 

 By contemplating a number of conclusions of this sort, we 

 come to this general conclusion that, " things which are 



