56 



not a cause. The man who plants an apple-free is not the cause of 

 an apple; he is concerned as a cause only in the planting of it, 

 which was an act accomplished by his powers; but the growth of 

 the apple is dependent upon the causes which constitute it, these 

 upon others; some are retained in them and are essential to the 

 identity of the apple, and still preserve the character of causes ; 

 others, of remote connection, have passed into different forms, and 

 as an apple is identified without them, so they, in respect to it, cease 

 to be causes. We will however admit the term for the sake of a short 

 expression, and thus conclude our exhibition of the order of the world. 



67- Effects are portions of the whole, -which by us are con- 

 sidered separately, because such is the relation between them and 

 our faculties. These effects are the most conspicuous to us when 

 they appear in the shape of gross bodies. By analysis, combina- 

 tion, &c. gross bodies may be rendered some fluid and others 

 gaseous ; and then we only recognize certain properties which 

 belonged to them. Previous to this decomposition they appeared 

 homogeneous, and holding a perceptive relation perhaps with all the 

 senses, at least with those of vision and touch : subsequent to it, 

 they appear to be composed of properties which have a perceptive 

 relation with only some of the senses, or perhaps with only one par- 

 ticular sense, and then losing the characteristic of an aggregate of 

 the properties of matter, the body ceases to be material. These 

 component properties are not self-existent, if there is any truth in 

 the article on causation, but are constituted by others in infinitnm. 

 But analysis being imperfect, the force of the causes which make 

 these properties has remained unchanged, and their respective 

 identities are still preserved, or suffering, spontaneously, decompo- 

 sition, are no longer objects either of sense or inference, and are 

 therefore considered as elements. These, causes were not thrown 

 in the way of combination by themselves, but by that which has 

 been called a remote cause, but which might be no cause at all. 

 For every thing which takes place there is an adequate process of 

 causation, simple and undeviating, and the combinations which do 

 take place, are those of which these are the causes which produce 

 them. 



These are the outlines of a mode of philosophising, the detail 

 of which will be best developed by extending the application ; for 

 which purpose I select the general history and condition of man, as 

 a subject which of all others stands most in need of elucidation, and 

 at the same time is more agreeable than any other with my habits 

 and pursuits, hoping that if these principles do not conduct us to a 

 satisfactory understanding of this complex subject, they will at 

 least serve as a clue to the proper manner in which its investigation 

 is to be attempted. 



An apology or justification of another sort, may to some appear 

 to be required for the discussions which this section comprises. 



